The subject station's history, especially in its well lit configuration, was likely very fleeting. The biggest problem probably being placement of the underground storage tanks. Inexpensive labor was plentiful in the '30s. As we have seen particularly with this area, Gilmore was no stranger to erecting and striking venues as needed, similar to film sets. Probably very few codes by which to abide. According to the LA Times, parts of Gilmore Stadium's grandstand eventually made their way to build or augment the Saugus venue. http://articles.latimes.com/1995-07-...augus-speedway So, for all we know, the same station exists . . . far far away or was partially re-erected on the Gilmore property. :rolleyes:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._company_2.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._company_2.jpg



To my amateur sensibilities, the gas pumps and the station footprint were from the '20s while the lighting was the avant garde of the '30s. The style pumps depicted provided proof both of fuel quantity and quality (blu-green gas in case of Gilmore). Although the pumps continued to be used, they were probably seen as old and cumbersome (not modern).


Look closely for the name "(D?) or V. L. Anderson.";)
http://theoldmotor.com/wp-content/up...l1-525x600.jpghttp://theoldmotor.com/wp-content/up...l1-525x600.jpg


http://www.laurelcottagegenealogy.co...on-tc-back.jpghttp://www.laurelcottagegenealogy.co...on-tc-back.jpg


Surprised we haven't seen any aerials of the recently discussed self-serve station. Maybe not 100, but it looks as though there close to 30 working pumps which means the station and its attendants expected far more volume/sales than the solitary station. Have to wonder how long this lasted.

In looking for images related to this station, I was reminded of what I thought was a popular image from the early '50s featuring the Standard Oil Station on the NE corner of Beverly and Fairfax. Bus with tourists? It may have even been part of a LIFE series. Anyone familiar with it?

I seem to recall that, in the 60's, the bottom part with the logs was pretty much in disrepair, probably due to whoever took her arms......it was made of rebar and there were large holes where parts of the logs were missing. The city probably could not save it due to rust on the rebar and disintegration of the cement and would have gotten a new base made, placing the repaired statue on top.

Excellent find Flyingwedge! I don't remember seeing the Excelsior Laundry building before.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/24/q5fs.jpg

Your 1907 photograph shows a gigantic flagpole attached to the corner of the building. By 1933 it's been replaced by a blade sign (it's rather hard to see), & at the corner on the roof you can see the old attachment that secured the flagpole. Also, in your 1933 close-up, you can see where the building has been seismic retrofitted (that was fast...since the earthquake occurred in 1933).

Here's FW's original post if you want to see what I'm blabbing about.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=20199

Anyway, good job FW.

It's V. L. Anderson, V as in Victor.


Just found this...it looks like you're on to something, Chuckaluck. It looks like Anderson's station may have been a Deco remodeling of an earlier Gilmore....

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...2520AM.bmp.jpgcruisin66.com


And someone mentioned the Gilmore history display at the Farmers Market...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K...2520AM.bmp.jpgcruisin66.com

I've never heard of Dead's Man Island before.

1912
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/401/9y3x.jpgebay

A 32 foot,7 ton Shark!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...90/59/yp3d.jpgebay

I can't quite make this out to be a shark. -looks more like a whale.

Is this the Pioneer Memorial waterfall?

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...90/24/3dpz.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...0/834/t3np.jpgebay

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/21/hew4.jpg
http://www.cardcow.com/381540/sharon...es-california/

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/42/owsc.jpg

Dead Man's Island was dredged away in 1928 as part of a harbor development effort. Rattlesnake Island, the other islet in the area, became Terminal Island. This photo dates from 1973:

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...mansIsland.jpg
Wikipedia

A previous mention:

Most likely a harmless whale shark.
http://img4.allvoices.com/thumbs/ima...hale-shark.jpghttp://img4.allvoices.com/thumbs/ima...hale-shark.jpg

In this photo, the building on the right--I first thought that read "Open Loins." :haha:

Although an aerial photo may exist, one reason why it may not have received much coverage is because this area was away from most of the Farmer's Market action on Fairfax. Instead, it seems that this was on the less-improved south side of Beverly Boulevard toward Gilmore Field, the Pan Pacific Auditorium and its unpaved parking area. In some of the shots, the background buildings would be on the north side of Beverly Blvd. http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=13282

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00097/00097769.jpghttp://jpg1.lapl.org/00097/00097769.jpg


Although the pieces do not exactly fit, in this instance, the fluted building (below) may be at the corner of Stanley and Beverly. It could also be that the building in the '48 shot no longer exists or has been remodeled. Looks like the large advertising sign across from the Bevonshire Lounge at 7605 Beverly is in one shot.;) See http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/show...ostcount=10714


http://i0.wp.com/pc-triage.com/blog/...size=600%2C600


http://i1.wp.com/pc-triage.com/blog/...size=600%2C600


http://s3-media3.ak.yelpcdn.com/bpho...kNFk7lWg/l.jpghttp://s3-media3.ak.yelpcdn.com/bpho...kNFk7lWg/l.jpg

http://www.bevonshire.com/images/Bevonshire.JPGhttp://www.bevonshire.com/images/Bevonshire.JPG



http://pics3.city-data.com/businesse.../1/6051511.JPGhttp://la.curbed.com/uploads/2009-07-terroni-thumb http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/show...ostcount=10714

Yes, there are also standing display cases with memorabilia inside them, including things from the Pan-Pacific Auditorium.

Hello, found this thread while doing a Google search for something Gilmore. Think I can answer a few of your Q's...

Yes, same location. I do not know if Vic Anderson operated it then/originally. Do not know when it was originally built. Earliest mention I have seen of it (the Beverly-Fairfax station) is late 1930.

Same station... http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/si...id/2109/rec/35

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps69785e90.jpg

Another shot of it on the USC site...

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/co...id/43536/rec/1

You'll notice in one of the photos, a shed-like structure on the right that says "GILMORE THE FLYING LION". The lion in reference is aviator Roscoe Turner's African lion flying partner/pet/mascot- Gilmore! After Gilmore's flying days were over, this is where Gilmore stayed for a brief period. Until, neighbors complained and city officials made Turner and the Gilmore Co. relocate him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pse5de65d6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psea2db342.jpg

GW, loved your pictures of Zamboanga and Chuckaluck, yours of the Singapore Spa!

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...jpg%7Eoriginal

It's my belief that the self-service station can be found in this aerial if you look under the word “Beverly.” In the close-up photos you can see 8 rows of gas pumps in each photo. In the aerial you can see what look to be those same eight rows of pumps. It’s set off the street which would also coincide with the street-level photos and the large “serve yourself” sign seen in the pictures, along with the pay station booth. From that location looking west (the night photo) you would also see the “Herbert’s” tower in the background and the Fairfax Theatre sign off to the right.

As for expecting “far more volume/sales than the solitary station,” that location with Gilmore Field, Gilmore Stadium, the Farmer’s Market, Fairfax Theater, Gilmore Drive-In and the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, surely would have provided that more than any other location I could think of in the city at the time!

Can't find the post at the moment, but there was a question as to what the track was that was behind the stadium, and at the site of where Gilmore Field was... the structure was a dog track that was built in 1933(?) but never came to operation, due to trouble getting permits. In 1934, when the Farmer's Market was proposed, lumber was taken from the track to built the market stalls, then buildings.

I believe in 1936, maybe '37, due to the success of the market, it was decided to move the Vic Anderson station closer to the market. After which, the address of the station became 3rd & Fairfax.

The Serve-Yourself Gilmore Gas-A-Teria was built in 1948. The Gilmore Oil Co. was not around at this time, having been bought out/merged with Mobil in 1945. The station did not sell the Gilmore gas brands.

Here's a larger version of the area near the word "Beverly" in my earlier aerial. It's dated at 1948, which ties in nicely with GILMORE's build date. I think it's also visible in the 1952 aerial, but the image is considerably more blurry.

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...veYourself.jpg
Historic Aerials

:previous:

Hello Gilmore--thanks for the great new info.


http://i.imgur.com/chV3US4.jpg?1?9684USCDL

In a couple of the USC pictures you mention is the actress Dorothy Burgess in a Packard at the Gilmore station. (The pics are dated 1932, so it seems that the new Deco canopies came after that.) As for Miss Burgess--seems she had a respectable career; it probably helped that her aunt was Fay Bainter, who had a great caeer and won an Oscar for in 1938.

After the Gilmore shoot, that December, a little noir for Miss Burgess...

"Burgess was charged with manslaughter following an auto accident in which she was driving. 17-year-old Louise Manfredi died in the wreck, in San Francisco, on the night of December 23, 1932. Burgess, driving alone, collided with a car driven by 18-year-old, Andrew Salz, a student at the University of California-Berkeley. Burgess' hearing was postponed and her bail was fixed at $50. She suffered from shock and was placed in a San Francisco sanitorium. Salz and Burgess each accused the other of responsibility for the accident. Burgess was sued by Italo Manfredi and his wife, Marie, in January 1933. They sought $25,000 in damages. A compromise payment of $6,150 was approved by the San Francisco Superior Court in August 1933. Earlier a compromise amounting to $6,000 was agreed upon for damages claimed by 18-year-old swimmer, Betty Lou Davis, who was injured in the same accident." (Wikipedia)

She died of TB in 1961.

Welcome and thank you for your posts. Thanks also to MartinP and HossC for aerial finds.


Another view of the Gilmore Gas-A-Teria
http://www.gilmorestation.com/gilmor...as-station.jpg http://www.gilmorestation.com/gilmor...as-station.jpg


Gilmore No. 7. Olympic Gas?
http://www.gilmorestation.com/gilmor...more-saves.jpghttp://www.gilmorestation.com/gilmor...more-saves.jpg

Per Wiki, Gilmore the Flying Lion died in '52 and currently resides with the Smithsonian.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Gilmore_2.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Gilmore_2.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/8...6411d1dc_z.jpghttp://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/8...6411d1dc_z.jpg

She looks like the Black Dahlia as a middle aged Women.