It looks very different today.

Very interesting photos, ethereal. In 1939, this area was changed when the City built the Temple Street overpass over Figueroa, creating the first diamond interchange in southern California and perhaps the west coast. Flower Street no longer reaches Temple, it was truncated in the 1960s because of Bunker Hill redevelopment.

The intersection of Figueroa and Temple was prominently featured in the 1964 Bette Davis film "Dead Ringer." In the film you can even see the DWP building under construction.

Here are some photos of the intersection, courtesy LAPL:

1939, construction of the Temple St. overpass
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics44/00041869.jpg

Here is the completed overpass shown in December, 1939:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics24/00031889.jpg

The overpass still exists in all its Art Moderne glory. However everything else around it looks nothing like this picture now.

^^^Wow...that's some great information sopas_ej.

Only in L.A. could a fairly nondescript intersection be so interesting. :)

Check out Bette as Margaret in front of Edie's...not to mention the overpass and the DWP under construction. (Wait until 1:39 seconds.):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNqH...ayer_embedded#

Peggy Lee's L.A. song is great.

This is fun, too:

http://www.sweep.net/steve/Dead%20Ringers.htm

^^^Those are two great links GaylordWilshire. :)

These two photographs really show the immensity of Park La Brea.



Below: Park La Brea in 1954.


http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2...rea1954loo.jpg
ucla archive






Below: Park La Brea in 1954.


http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/627...abrea1954a.jpg
ucla archive





Something doesn't look right.........is one of these photos flipped? Help.
(Corrected, thanks to GaylordWilshire)

This is a mystery slide I found on ebay. I believe it's the leveling of Bunker Hill.




http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1...unkerposs1.jpg
ebay

Hollywood and Vine with a Melody Lane 'ghost' sign. I believe this is 1949.



http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9...dvine1949h.jpg
unknown

Another mystery slide labeled Los Angeles with no date or details.


http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/3...tteningbun.jpg
ebay

I take minor exception to the Wikipedia article regarding Park La Brea. To me, it has always seemed to be the only housing project of its kind that has NOT fallen into tenement status. Even at its supposed nadir in the 1970's-1980's, it was always physically well-kept, and the neighborhood has always been considered desirable.

I lived in the Miracle Mile district (still my favorite neighborhood in L.A.) from about 1991-1997, and from then until now, Park La Brea rents have always started just above my price range -- and these days, they peak in the mid-4-figure range. Moreover, neither I nor any Angeleno I know of has ever referred to Park La Brea as "the projects".

I would gladly correct the Wikipedia article, but of course I don't have specific references to support any of this.

The bottom pic is flipped.

ok...thanks, I'll change it.

That's the corner of Broadway and 1st, looking SW

That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure. I appreciate the help GaylordWilshire.

An elevated bicycle path from Pasadena to Los Angeles circa 1900.


http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2...dbicycletr.jpg
unknown

And here's another view of the elevated bike path from Pasadena to Los Angeles.
I believe this one was labeled pre-arroyo seco parkway.



http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8...niacyclewa.jpg
usc

Colorado Blvd in Pasadena around 1930.




http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/582...acoloradob.jpg
usc digital archive






Below: The Pasadena Athletic Club in 1929.



http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1...aathleticc.jpg
usc digital archive


Does this building still exist?

Unfortunately it does not. It's one of the buildings that was torn down in the name of "redevelopment," and in its place the horrible Plaza Pasadena shopping mall was built and opened in 1980. In 2001 or 2002 the Plaza Pasadena was demolished and in its place is now the Paseo Colorado mixed-use development; a better development than what it replaced, but of course it's not a replacement for the nice old buildings that were torn down.

Well that's a disappointment, but I appreciate the info sopas_ej.

The thread has been a bit moribund lately. :(
So keep checking back for more photos.

I still have thousands of photographs yet to post.

:previous:

I've been kinda thinking the same thing. I've been wanting to post some photos but I've been really busy lately with other things (though I notice I've been posting on other threads on these forums) being that I have funky work hours, and hehe I've been trying to cut down on my internet use at work.

I'll look for some photos to post when I get home from work tonight. I know there should be PLENTY. :)

I really like the color pic you posted of Park La Brea under construction; I'm thinking of figuring out where that vantage point is and maybe doing a before and after pic.

Sopas_ej, I like your idea for a before/after photo of Park La Brea.
My next project is to post before/after photographs of Sunset Blvd.



Years ago, I lived just south of Sunset on Hancock between Santa Monica & Holloway.
There were a trio of bungalows and I lived in the back half of the first bungalow (see below).



http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8...alowisseen.jpg
unknown



Above: This is a view north from Santa Monica Blvd., you can barely make out the three bungalows
behind the construction site and in FRONT of the larger apartment building. There is a square construction
trailer to the right of the 3 bungalows (ignore this).


I have no idea what this construction project is. I'm just amazed the three bungalows are still there. Out of sight, and to north of that apartment building are another six bungalows owned by the same lumber yard. I certainly hope they are still there. They were a classic example of 'Day of the Locust' architecture. Also, there was a red brick fire house on the opposite side (east side) of Hancock.
And directly across the street from my bungalow was the 'Golden Mermaid' apartment building (1950s).

If any of you are in this area I'd love to see some photographs. :)