The "Lucy" video must have JUST been pulled. It worked fine yesterday morning, and I've watched it before here.

As for the Fleur de Lis, perhaps Ellroy was inspired by this one in Hollywood, "originally built for actresses — an apartment hotel for those on their way up." http://www.swelgroup.com/fleur.htm NOT that one still equates acting with prostitution--the ladies who built the original WCTU building downtown might have done so, but I would never make such an assumption, even in these days of Paris Hilton etc...hmmm, or would I?) Anyway, I wonder if the Grand Ave Fleur de Lis later moved itself to N. Whitley, or if it's just another hotel by that name. I know that the Black Dahlia was living in an apartment building on N. Cherokee when she died, also apparently for single young ladies, very close to N. Whitley--I'm sure Ellroy would have known about that building. Btw, I once made up a "James Ellroy Tour" using his book "My Dark Places"--centers on Hancock Park, Larchmont area, and other areas north of Wilshire toward downtown, his childhood addresses and young-adult haunts.... a good noir-in-the-daytime driving tour. I'l have to see if I can dig it out.

Wow...I didn't know something like the Mt. Lowe Railroad existed in SoCal.

Gaylord Wilshire, your "James Ellroy Tour" sounds interesting.
Ellroy's book about his own mother's unsolved murder is really haunting.
I found it difficult to get it out of my mind.

http://chuckpalahniuk.net/files/imag...s-ellroy-2.jpg


To be honest with you, I could never really get through his fiction because of his grating "patois"--I think the only novel I read all the way through was The Black Dahlia. But I agree that My Dark Places is superb. As you say, haunting. A must-read for anyone interested in Los Angeles noir. If I find that tour I made for myself, I'll let you know. But it seems you can have it directly from the source--apparently Ellroy gives his own tours. I found this as I was looking for the above picture: http://www.esotouric.com/jamesellroy . I may have to plan my next trip around one of them.

I hear you're being inundated with rain in the Los Angeles basin.
I hope everyone's safe.






Below: A 1948 rainstorm at 5th & Flower Street.

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/8...rmat5thflo.jpg
ucla archive




Below: A 1950 rainstorm at Sepulveda & Slauson.


http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/2...daslausona.jpg
ucla archives





Below: A 1910 rainstorm at 7th & Grand Ave.


http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/8...e7thstin19.jpg
ucla archives

Can't help but notice the semaphore signal in the 1948 pic and the signals in the 1950 pic that could almost be current. Great pics.

The Embers Lounge (1963) 11332 Washington Blvd. Whittier


http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/5...ounge1963f.png
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/3...123embers1.png
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8...123embers2.png
tikiroom.com


The bar features murals and portraits of nubile 'devil' girls tempting men by the local artist Frank Bowers.





Below are more photos of the 'she-devil' paintings posted by John-O at www.tikiroom.com



http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1...postedbyjo.png
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6...ers3ajohno.png
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9...23embers3b.png
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/3...23embers3c.png
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7...23embers3d.png
posted by John-O

In that last pic, it looks like there is also a muscular boy-devil far right.

http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/...53&forum=16&20


I had to posts these on NLA....the place drips L.A. noir.

__

Great pics, ethereal. So fitting too because of our current rain. It hasn't rained this hard in a long time, it seems.

The Embers looks mighty tempting; maybe if I'm in Whittier some time I'll grab a cocktail there. ;)

I posted the following photos today on the Aon Center thread,
so I thought I'd go ahead and post them here as well.




Below: Aon Center construction 1973.


http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6...kyline1973.jpg
ucla archives





Below: Another photo of the Aon Center several months later (still in 1973).


http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1...apers1973a.jpg
ucla archives

It will always be the UCB (United California Bank) Building to me. :)

I love all the advertisements and different font types in this photograph.


http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4...me123sbroa.jpg
usc digital archive


Above: 123 S. Broadway in 1949.

It looks like Broadway could use some curb work.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3...eandflower.jpg
usc digital archive


Above: Wilshire & Flower Street area in 1951. Far left is the art deco Richfield Building.
You can also see the General Petroleum Building under construction.



Today the Petroleum Bldg. is the Pegasus Apartments.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6...egasuscopy.jpg
cqkinla on flickr

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4...yh1richfie.jpg
usc digital archive


Another view of the General Petroleum Building, also known as the Mobil Oil Building, with a menagerie of wonderful buildings.
The art deco Richfield Building with it's ubiquitous tower is far right.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9...nlookingno.jpg
usc digital archive


Above: Looking north along Broadway from 11th street.





http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5...n8thstsmai.jpg
usc digital archive



Above: 8th Street & S. Main St.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7...northalong.jpg
usc digital archive


Above: Looking north along Broadway between 2nd & 3rd Streets.





http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2...ongmainbtw.jpg
usc digital archive



Above: Looking north along Main Street between 2nd & 3rd Streets.
I like the cafeteria sign with the clock.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1...mainbetwee.jpg
usc digital archive



Above: North along Main Street between 1st & 2nd streets.








http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9...tweenmainl.jpg
usc digital library




Above: First Street between Main & Los Angeles Street.

Belasco Theater.


http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/6...theater191.jpg
usc digital archiv


Above: No date or address.

This incarnation of the Belasco was on Main Street just north of Fourth.

Hi Guys:

That wasn't the only Belasco Theater...there was also the one that was adjacent to the Mayan Theater at Hill & Olympic:

http://sites.google.com/site/losange...-geocities.jpg

(I have a slightly better historic photo of the two, but I just realized it's on my work PC. Bummer...)

Both buildings still exist. The Mayan Theater is obviously still an active theater, and one with which I have a personal connection: My sister is co-creator, co-producer and performer in Lucha VaVoom, a quintessentially Los Angeles attraction whose "home base" is the Mayan.

The Mayan's current owners also own the former Belasco theater next door, but sadly that building is only used as a storage annex for the Mayan.

Such cool photos, you guys!

Here's one from outside the big city, in Alhambra, courtesy of LAPL; a car accident, 1941, on Valley Boulevard:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics48/00073540.jpg