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Richard W. Lee Furniture/Ralphs/McKinley House
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Pleasant Family Shopping has much on the Ralphs architectural gems (plus other chain stores) for those who were looking: http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogsp...ish-style.html 1940's Ralphs anniversary poster: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ei2Ik5quiI...940+lineup.jpg pleasantfamilyshopping.com Yes moxie that's it. My fave pic of the house so far. The evening-wear-clad couple makes it look very glam. |
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I also found the Ralph's image interesting. I can't say for certain, but I think the building's foot print moved or was drastically enlarged over the years. I am pretty sure that it moved back (northward) and subsumed the area that was Irv White Buick. This increased the parking lot size too. The '61/'62 facade struck me as more business office than grocery store. I suppose I could be wrong but I remember some kind of anodized grillwork that obscured the store's interior florescent lighting. The black and white image does not appear to include this and makes the store seem more exposed. As interesting as the facade seems to be, I vaguely remember the interior of the store as small and poorly lit - not the vastly improved Ralph's of today and not as bright as the image would imply. Of course, abysmal weather during my quasi-memorable visit may have colored my impression, but the fact that the store has apparently been remodeled many times over suggests its design may have needed improvement. :rolleyes: I too would be interested in seeing more photos of the area including the Irv White Dealership. I also wonder about the leaded/stained glass windows of the 271 La Brea building, as it seems an odd fit with a drug store. |
Thanks GW and tovanger! :tup:
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Recall poking my nose in a large auto garage in the general La Brea vicinity, possibly near Pico or Washington. I think the shop was performing smog tests and this would have probably been in the early '80s. There was a very large "Simplex Piston Rings" sign covering much of a wall along with many references to the '29 Indianapolis 500. The sign looked something like the small image below and may have been hand painted. There was another large image I found amusing. It was similar to the ad below with the uniformed man bearing the caption: "You can have confidence in him - he is a trained Simplex expert." As I was absorbing this an elderly gentleman wearing a bow tie and a suit from another generation tried to explain something about the historical significance of the Simplex company and/or the preparation of the car or engine and its connection to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, he was difficult to understand. I did make the effort to look things up and only found references to Cleveland and Indianapolis.
When recently exploring the '29 directory I noticed a listing for Simplex Piston Rings at 1818 S. Grand Avenue. http://rescarta.lapl.org:8080/ResCar...ch_doc=simplex Unclear whether this was a franchisee/distributor or an actual fabrication shop. Much of 18th Street and Grand Avenue retains its antiquated industrial flavor. This antique store at 18th and Grand may offer a tiny glimpse of how the area looked in '29. http://s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com/bpho...uwN7xX9A/l.jpghttp://s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.com/bpho...Ae_GIU3A/l.jpghttp://s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com/bpho...yBqAcfoA/l.jpghttp://www.yelp.com http://worthopedia.s3.amazonaws.com/...a712e9e487.jpggoogle http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKnQ...sUORo!~~_3.JPGEbay http://i.ebayimg.com/t/CLEVELAND-OHI...0Og~~60_57.JPGhttp://i.ebayimg.com/t/CLEVELAND-OHI...cN!~~60_57.JPGEbay |
The Gray Building smolders - 336 South Broadway, November 6, 1939
http://www.google.com/url?source=img...4K8J3Xvugr6bnwPic2fly.com Evidently, this fire was significant for several reasons including it being the second to last time the LAFD used its LaFrance "water tower." According to one article the "water tower" as the pumper was called, was thought to be a good firefighting tool in case of a serious earthquake or fire due to its ability to move massive amounts of water. Unfortunately, in the case of the Gray building, the water tower put more water into the building than its fire-weakened upper floors could support, resulting in collapsed flooring and loss of life. Read more here> http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...1-1/#more-5956 http://www.google.com/url?source=img...NBCmWnqKgbm3_Q http://www.lafire.com/fire_apparatus...085_wt24_1.gifhttp://www.lafire.com/fire_apparatus...085_wt24_1.gifwww.lafire.com/fire |
Rather noirish car:
http://images.hemmings.com/wp-conten...00-700x484.jpgHemmings Daily 1936 http://images.hemmings.com/wp-conten...00-700x363.jpgHemmings Daily 1936 Harlan Fengler (on the right) along with Lucien Hubbard (producer of Speed), Jimmy Stewart, Wendy Barrie (Stewart’s co-star), Edwin Marin (director of Speed), and the Golden Eagle Special, as Fengler apparently called it. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...n_race_car.jpgWikipedia 1936 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-97kbYQp6o1...400/Speed1.jpgmotor life http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UF1sWbUg1D...SpeedCapsb.jpgmotor life http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6U2PNObH9p...40/Beastly.jpgmotor life http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyifYU5Icc...+Lot+Promo.jpgmotor life http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/u...aut/IMG002.jpgAUBURN CORD DUESENBERG CLUB http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/u...aut/IMG006.jpgAUBURN CORD DUESENBERG CLUB http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG014-1.jpgAUBURN CORD DUESENBERG CLUB Attraction for the Village Inn (try their salad bar) in Missouri. Don't despair...it is being restored in Arizona. |
Swanee Inn + Stand-Out
The scale of much of La Brea is so large it's easy to miss some of the nifty smaller buildings, including the Spainish-Moorish former Swanee Inn at 143 N. La Brea.
It's is almost entirely untouched, even retaining it's small copper dome. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j...207%2520PM.jpg gsv Bob Lewis' Swanee Inn was a venue for what were then called "Sepia" acts. Nat Cole was booked for a long run in 1937. It was Lewis who suggested Cole form a trio before the run started and it was also Lewis who nicknamed Cole "King". Cole started to sing while at the Swanee, merely to break-up their, until then, exclusively instrumental act. If any building deserves to get a Blue Plaque, this one does. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--...91526%2BAM.jpg amalfi There was mail-order business at the back of the Swanee. 141 N La Brea's entrance is on the alley: http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/...auty_in_3d.jpg modernmechanix A boy could learn a lot reading the back pages of Weird Popular Science. |
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http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/276...21208at125.jpg There's also footage from 1994 showing the changes happening by then, so it must've been some time in the 1980s or early '90s that the 1962 structure was demolished and lots were consolidated to make for the current Ralphs. But looking at the earliest footage available, this 1948 shot shows what appears to be a decent-sized park on this block? http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5710/1948m.jpg It was gone by 1952...anyone know what that was? |
Retro Street Lighting
I know this is somewhat tangential to the thread, since it isn't about buildings or architecture as such; but even so I think many here will appreciate the following pictures of vintage styled street lamps. I noticed them on the Overland Avenue bridge over the 10 freeway.
I've noticed quite a few retro lamps here and there, particularly after street widening projects and the like. The standards and casings feature an extra curlicue here and there so you can tell that the designer was aiming for a vague quasi-retro effect; at the same time it's still obviously of contemporary manufacture. The same is true of these, but they do carry through the simulation much more effectively. http://imageshack.us/a/img221/3038/lampsmediumi.jpg Although I didn't notice them right away, I was mildly astonished by the fact that they feature what appear to be chimneys. Here's a closer look: http://imageshack.us/a/img818/8644/lampcloseup1.jpg Some days after I noticed them we were driving home over this bridge, after dark. I couldn't fail to notice the rich yellowish hue of the light coming from these lamps. Making a mental note to return next evening with the good camera, I did so and got this shot: http://imageshack.us/a/img822/8113/l...tcloseupiv.jpg Gadzooks! I was amazed to see what looks like a gas flame! In fact, I was so amazed that I groped instinctively for my smelling salts, only to remember that I had left them in my other suit. As it happens I've recently learned that there are other cities where, even today, gaslight is used extensively or even exclusively for public street lighting, so I had to wonder: Was it possible? As it turns out, not in this case. Lumec Philips, the manufacturer, offers a Victorian Series of electric street lamps intended to resemble the gas lamps of old. They're quite effective at that. Still, even from looking at my own pictures I can't make out exactly how they do work. Clearly, the light doesn't come from within the chimney, but rather above it. In the daylight closeup (second in this post) you can see a bulb-like structure that appears to be fastened to the top hanging down, as it were. But there seems to be a hole at the bottom of this "bulb" Now that I look at this picture again, I notice what appears to be a filament, or perhaps a tiny inner bulb; I now believe that in the nighttime shot, the brightness of this component is such that it washes out the details. |
[QUOTE=ethereal_reality;5926939]As many of you probably know Dave Brubeck died today.
Nice little "Album" history and place of recording. |
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When you willfully take someone's life in a non physically threatening situation (murder), you take away everything they have and anything the might have had and possibly anything they could have given to anyone else. For what? The discussion continues. |
Since we have been discussing car dealerships I thought it would be interesting to see the evolution of Los Angeles police cars.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics50/00059608.jpgLAPL Ed Hunt, park policeman for Griffith Park, in open terrain, holding the reins to his saddled horse. Photo dated: 1912. http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics21/00060051.jpgLAPL Photo of Los Angeles' first horseless patrol wagon, which also served as an ambulance. It was bought in 1904, was driven by electricity and boasted 20 miles per hour. At right is George Home, who became Chief of Police in later days. Captain C. L. Johnson is second from left. Photo dated: June 27, 1927. http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics50/00074906.jpgLAPL No date. 1900's? Long Beach's first police patrol wagon. "Police Dep't" is painted on the bottom of the windshield. http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics33/00051430.jpgLAPL A driver is receiving a traffic ticket in 1926 from motorcycle police. Next to the car is a truck marked "Justice Court," perhaps with a judge to dispense instant justice? http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics04/00011697.jpgLAPL No date. Various units of the police department are lined up one behind the other in rows. In front are horses. Next comes a row of bicyclists, with the riders standing beside their cycles. Behind them are travel cars with several passengers, but marked "Police Department City of Los Angeles". http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8qEDwfHWKL0/S4...0166200a_j.jpgH.A.M.B. New Los Angeles police cars lined up in front of Albertson Motor Company building, circa 1925 http://m4.i.pbase.com/g4/64/382064/2...4.Lhgy6td8.jpg LAPD Museum http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics04/00011655.jpgLAPL 1927 The L.A. Coliseum was used to present police and equipment for review and inspection. Here the police cars are lined up in a row around part of the infield. http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics31/00035068.jpgLAPL A police car of the Pasadena Police Department equipped with a radio, in 1930. View l: A worker points to parts that will be installed into the police car. View 2: A worker installs the wiring on the police car. View 3: Two officers look at radio parts to be installed into the police car. http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics04/00011710.jpg LAPL View of a late 1930s police car. http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics05/00022020.jpgLAPL 1947 Los Angeles Police Department officers J. A. Burnett and C. J. Keeton on patrol, checking a list of stolen automobiles. http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1222/5...abf2b1b9_b.jpgflickr LAPD West Valley 1947 Ford http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5211/5...74fc15bd_b.jpgflickr 1947 squad car radio. http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-...t05-257218.jpgWashington Post A 1947 Plymouth police car joins a parade of vintage police cars. http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics31/00035059.jpgLAPL 1950 Officers display some of the equipment used by the Pasadena Police Department. Some of which are: a camera, safety flares, clip boards, shot gun, rifle, a broom and a police car. http://peaceofficersmuseum.org/uploa...ngram-1951.jpgSilver State Peace officers Museum Los Angeles (LAPD) Officer Ingram poses with his 1950 Ford Custom police car in 1951. http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics05/00022071.jpgLAPL 1961 nterior view of a Los Angeles Police Department freeway interceptor car with a special speedometer on the dashboard, a police radio which not only communicates with downtown headquarters but also listens to other cars' broadcasts on his channel, and microphone. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2151/2...79b9af1f_o.jpgflickr 1961 Dodge Seneca LAPD (last year of the tail fins) List of LAPD cars since 1956: 1956 Chevrolet 4 door sedan 1957 Ford 4 door sedan 1958 Chevrolet 4 door sedan 1959 Ford 4 door sedan 1960 Patrol: Plymouth Savoy 4 door sedan Interceptor: Pontiac Catalina 4 door 1961 Patrol: Dodge Dart 4 door Interceptor: none purchased 1962 Patrol: Plymouth Savoy 4 door Interceptor: Pontiac Catalina 4 door 1963 Patrol: Ford 300 4 door Interceptor: Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 4 door 1964 Patrol: Plymouth Savoy 4 door Interceptor: Oldsmobile 88 4 door 1965 Patrol: Plymouth Belvedere 4 door Interceptor: Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 4 door 1966 Patrol: Plymouth Belvedere 4 door Interceptor: Oldsmobile 4 door 1967 Patrol: Plymouth Belvedere 4 door Interceptor: Oldsmobile Delmont 88 4 door 1968 Patrol: Plymouth Belvedere 4 door Interceptor: Oldsmobile Delmont 88 4 door 1969 Patrol: Plymouth Belvedere 4 door Interceptor: none purchased, last year of Interceptor program 1970 Mercury Montego 4 door 1971 Plymouth Satellite 4 door 1972 AMC Matador 4 door 1973 AMC Matador 4 door 1974 AMC Matador 4 door 1975 Plymouth Fury 4 door 1976 Plymouth Fury 4 door 1977 Plymouth Fury 4 door 1978 Plymouth Fury 4 door 1979 No patrol cars purchased 1980 Plymouth Gran Fury 4 door 1981 Plymouth Gran Fury 4 door 1982 thru 1991 a mix of Chevrolet Impala/Caprices and Ford (LTD) Crown Victorias were used. 1992 unknown if cars purchased (LAPD a few 1992 Chevrolet Caprices, they got them from MTA Police that were merged into the LAPD) 1993 Chevrolet Caprice 1994 Chevrolet Caprice 1995 Chevrolet Caprice 1996-2007 Ford Crown Victoria 2008 Dodge Charger Ford Crown Victoria 2009-2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Car Web Site |
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A little history of the northeast corner of 3rd and La Brea... 1921 http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9...bbaist1921.jpgHistoric Map Works 1923 http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8...ardearlyad.jpg LAT Dec 30, 1923 1932 http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/274...ard32compl.jpg LAT Nov 6, 1932 Similar ads appeared through 1939. According to the Westdale Homeowners' Association, "At Barrington and National was Paul J. Howard's Flowerland Nursery. It was a huge and beautiful nursery. Mr. Howard had moved his nursery from 3rd and La Brea to this location as he felt there was a great future here in the outskirts of Los Angeles.... 'Colonial Corners' was the name given to the intersection of National and Barrington when Howard's Nursery started in 1940. Meanwhile, back at 3rd and La Brea... after Howard's nursey decamped, it sounds like there might have been some temporary uses during the war and postwar years such as a "public hiring hall" in 1949. And then... 1952 http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5...aughncompl.jpg LAT March 28, 1952 Which was taken over by Irv White, who owned Beverly Buick (see http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=7523)... http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/8106/irvcomplete.jpg LAT Which, as we've seen, gave way to the bigger Ralphs... All illustrations aside from first: Los Angeles Times |
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1925 Studebaker Paddy Wagon...Los Angeles Police vehicle. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...paddywagon.jpg |
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The PC LAPD L.A. police change their paddy wagon to party wagon Irish groups complained about ethnic slur March 16, 1997|By LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS Still grappling with life in an increasingly politically correct society, Los Angeles police said they will rename the "Paddy Wagon" program that offers free rides home for St. Patrick's Day tipplers. This year, tipsy celebrants can pile into the LAPD-sponsored "Party Wagon," renamed because of objections to the word "paddy." "We received calls from groups in the Irish community who said: 'That's really not a nice word,' " said LAPD Cmdr. Paddy Wagon The word paddy wagon is of American origin. The precise origin of the term is uncertain and disputed, though its use dates back to at least the beginning of the 1900s. There are at least two theories as how the phrase originated. The most prevalent theory is based on the term "Paddy" (a common Irish shortening of Patrick), which was used ( often as derogatory slang) to refer to Irish people. Irishmen made up a large percentage of the officers of early police forces in many American cities. Thus, this theory suggests that the concentration of Irish in the police forces led to the term "paddy wagon" being used to describe the vehicles driven by police. An alternative theory is similarly based on the term "Paddy" but states that the term arose due to the high crime level among Irish immigrants.Wikipedia |
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Mack Sennett's "Mabel at the Wheel" - 1914 (Principal photography in Venice California)
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/looking-...WHEEL%20AD.jpggoogle http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/images/720/bfi-00n-grh.jpghttp://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/wp...motorcycle.jpggoogle http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md...t51mo1_500.jpgtumblr.com Eddie Rickenbacker - America's first Ace http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/im...-1-292x230.jpghttp://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/dr...o/rickenbackerhttp://8w.forix.com/rvm/1915winnersl...ortinglife.jpggoogle Quote:
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Carroll Shelby and Venice (aka Marina Del Rey) CA
(a whisp of noir?) 1042 Princeton Drive (recently sold - 2012) Shelby's former headquarters. http://autofluence.com/wp-content/up...121023-001.jpghttp://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CDEQ8g04Cg 1964 - Venice http://www.carrollshelbymerchandise....y_2_cobras.jpghttp://www.carrollshelbymerchandise.com Shelby's Venice production line http://photo-voiture.motorlegend.com...utre-74231.jpghttp://photo-voiture.motorlegend.com...tre/74231.html http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Speed-Merchan...6v!~~60_12.JPGebay 1964 (?) Carroll and some actor named McQueen http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QK...jpg_202851.jpghttp://autos.yahoo.com/photos/the-le...336768133.html http://mattstonecars.com/blog/wp-con...1-1024x764.jpghttp://www.bmwfaq.com/f7/ferrari-res...cqueen-687605/ http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-un9Bqz5qwf...0/IMG_6417.JPGhttp://www.morgansandphillips.net/bl...ost_california |
Venice clearly appealed to a wide spectrum of racing fans.
1920 ( monkeys + cars + traffic + cahuenga pass = ??) http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics18/00008870.jpg lapl Undated Dog races (Whippets according to source) ('20s - '30s ?) http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics19/00009074.jpghttp://jpg1.lapl.org/pics19/00009073.jpglapl For those who like to feel the wind in their hair? The Venice Miniature RR, ca., 1906. (Covered on this thread many times, more info here: http://www.westland.net/venicehistory/articles/rail.htm ) http://www.westland.net/venicehistor...en-vmrride.jpg 1905 http://www.westland.net/venicehistor...n-vmrhouse.jpg http://www.westland.net/venicehistory/articles/rail.htm |
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