Never heard of the glass blocks in sidewalks being for smoke relief.
It makes sense....I learn something new everyday on this thread. :)

Fun Site
 

Here's a great thread that does then and nows on movie locations as well as posting many other interesting L.A. historical tidbits.

http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

I really like this photograph of City Hall. Is that a giant ladder leaning against the street light?
Also, I can't recollect any information about the Natick Hotel.

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2...tel7241950.jpg
uscdl

It looks like they're renovating the upper reaches of City Hall. Could this be when the Lindbergh Beacon disappeared as gsjansen mentioned?
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=3938

At the northwest corner of 5th and Main is the former residence of John H. Jones.
Pictured here in 1901 it is now the Belmont Cafe (offering oysters).

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9...nhotelwasb.jpg
lapl

The Belmont Cafe is now called the Beaumont Cafe in 1907.

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/7...formerlybe.jpg
lapl

Eventually the Rosslyn Hotel would be built on this site.

Anybody know anything about the Natick Hotel? That is the original Massachusett (native American tribe) word for the town in which I was born, and two generations before me as well.

1886 advertisement for the natick house hotel

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/...4fc1c10f_b.jpg
Source: LAPL California Index

from the pacific coast architecture database

Natick House, Los Angeles, CA

ID: 3177

Construction Date:
Notes:
Demolition Note:
Alteration Note:
Building History:
E_R, the photo you posted above of the natick house, you can see that demolition is underway. the scaffolding around city hall is for the new roof. this work took place in 1950.

from the Arcadia book Historic Hotels Los Angeles and Hollywood

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/...cfb0c6f5_b.jpg

Source: Historic Hotels Los Angeles and Hollywood

May 8th, 1903 Program Itinerary for President Theodore Roosevelt's vist to los angeles for the Fiesta De Las Flores

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/...b67258eb_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/...72733b60_b.jpg
Source: LAPL California Index

of particular interest, (particularly for Scott), the presidential parade went up palm drive from adams, through singleton court and out on to flower!

:previous:
That is so great! I can totally understand why Pres. Roosevelt might himself insist on seeing Palm Drive while in L.A., though, because back in that time, it truly was considered to be one of the prime attractions of Los Angeles. Palm Drive was world famous in its day!

What really amazes me is that Roosevelt would publicize his itinerary like this. His predecessor as President was assassinated for doing just that – being too specific about where he would be, and when. You'd think he'd have better sense than to tempt fate like that. Then again, T.R. had already survived San Juan Hill! He really need not fear a stately drive though old Los Angeles. ^^

-Scott

jjjjjjjjjj

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/...7836f992_z.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/...7836f992_z.jpg

While studying page after page of this wonderful thread I came upon this pic of Carl's and bells started ringing. After searching through about 50 family photo albums, I found yet another connection to old LA!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/...ca17fc46_z.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/...ca17fc46_z.jpg

That's my grandma and grandma from my mom's side. That's right. The mom who married Bert Rovere's nephew Lorenzo!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/...7836f992_z.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/...7836f992_z.jpg

Came across this pic of Carl's that Sopas posted about a year ago. Some bells rang so I did some digging and sure enough, found a connection.

how do you delete entries??

Under edit....but the post 'box' will remain along with your name. So you might as well leave it the way is.

Mr. & Mrs. Mangel make a fine pair. :)

Speaking of presidents named Roosevelt visiting Los Angeles, here's FDR somewhere downtown in 1938. (I think he's in there. Can't quite spot him myself.)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x...525201938a.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9...525201938b.JPG

[source: eBay]

Here's an old brewery on the corner of North Main Street and I-5. Now it's one of the largest artists' lofts colonies in the world,
but the chimney and the old brick buildings are still standing and were originally built
for an Edison steam power plant in 1903. Then it was converted to a Pabst Blue Ribbon plant for a few decades,
and now it's the live/work lofts since 1982. I think there are about 15 buildings in the complex and twice a year there is an
artwalk so you can explore inside the buildings (the two oldest brick buildings weren't open yet the last time I went there).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...os_Angeles.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brewery_Art_Colony

:previous:
I'm glad to see these buildings still stand. When I was a kid, the sign saying "The Edison Electric Co." really stood out sharply, and I thought that was SO COOL. I'm surprised to learn now that it is a 20th century building, though. I always imagined it was older than that...

-Scott