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Flyingwedge Apr 21, 2022 9:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Pal (Post 9601366)

Find out which sitting President first visited Los Angeles: Any guesses first?

Presidential Visits: Days to Remember
by Richard Simon
TIMES STAFF WRITER
LINK


I'm pretty sure we have a photo of President Benjamin Harrison's visit to L.A. on April 22, 1891:


Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge (Post 7258861)
The photo below is identified as Los Angeles High School on Ft. Moore Hill, but it is clearly
the 1884 Spring Street School. There are four horses pulling a carriage, with lots of people
in the street and on the sidewalk. The photo is dated April 22, 1891:

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1urrqmfc.jpg

UCLA/Islandora/Seeing Sunset


Here's a closeup of the carriage. I bet the guy in the top hat is Harrison.

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5l6vxv43.jpg


mrfredmertz Apr 22, 2022 3:45 AM

The lower left of Page 2 is Fairbank's Robin Hood.

Mackerm Apr 22, 2022 7:57 AM

While browsing photos of church towers to find the one beside the Coolidge banner in a recent post, I happened upon this shot of Moreton Bay fig which was a dead ringer for one in another recent post:

https://i.postimg.cc/wjfs03B1/CHS-41297.jpg
USC Digital Library

Happily though, this tree is going strong, unlike the one formerly at Compton and 20th. (I hope somebody got punished for cutting that one down, but fat chance of that) In fact, it's considerably bigger now. 11000 National Blvd.

Back around page 2292 there was some discussion on big trees from a 1930s guidebook, and there was a mention of another fig on Cedar St. in Glendale. It didn't give an address, but the tree at 1253 Cedar puts Disneyland's Tarzan Tree House to shame.

Regarding the giant oak in Bouquet Canyon, here's an excerpt from Trails of the Angeles by John W. Robinson, 1971 ed. page 46:
Nestled in protected recesses on the north slope of Sierra Pelona are isolated groves of live oak, some of them patriarchal in stature. According to the American Forestry Association's Big Tree Register, the world's largest Canyon Live Oak - measuring 37 feet, 4 inches in trunk circumference - stands in a shallow draw on this north slope. Unfortunately, the tree was severely damaged in a brush fire a few years ago. Today only its burned hulk remains, stark fingers pointing skyward.

riichkay Apr 22, 2022 10:53 PM

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds


The 1920, 1930 and 1940 censuses all show the Purple family at 1840 Middleton Place (near Exposition Bl./Western Ave.).....


....GSV confirms this is the location, as the house with the chimney seen across the street still stands...

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds

....the Purple home is the handsome beige Craftsman.



This from Family Search.org.....


"The Life Summary of Samuel Maus Purple

When Samuel Maus Purple was born in 1878, in Illinois, United States, his father, Frank Purple, was 31 and his mother, Sue A Maus, was 26. He married Florence Regina Anders on 16 December 1905, in Los Angeles, California, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 daughters. He lived in Hyde Park Township, Cook, Illinois, United States for about 20 years and Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States for about 30 years. He died on 5 May 1965, in Monterey, California, United States, at the age of 87."


In the '20 census Mr. Purple shows as a furniture salesman, in the '30 count he's a "sales manager" at an "investment broker", I guess that means he was selling stocks, a ballsy move in 1930...


....here's the '40 book....


https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds




https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds

...so he's now a "consulting engineer" doing "research ____?".....apparently, archaeology was just a hobby.

Engineeral Apr 24, 2022 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riichkay (Post 9605945)


The 1920, 1930 and 1940 censuses all show the Purple family at 1840 Middleton Place (near Exposition Bl./Western Ave.).....


....GSV confirms this is the location, as the house with the chimney seen across the street still stands...


....the Purple home is the handsome beige Craftsman.



This from Family Search.org.....


"The Life Summary of Samuel Maus Purple

When Samuel Maus Purple was born in 1878, in Illinois, United States, his father, Frank Purple, was 31 and his mother, Sue A Maus, was 26. He married Florence Regina Anders on 16 December 1905, in Los Angeles, California, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 daughters. He lived in Hyde Park Township, Cook, Illinois, United States for about 20 years and Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States for about 30 years. He died on 5 May 1965, in Monterey, California, United States, at the age of 87."


In the '20 census Mr. Purple shows as a furniture salesman, in the '30 count he's a "sales manager" at an "investment broker", I guess that means he was selling stocks, a ballsy move in 1930...


....here's the '40 book....



...so he's now a "consulting engineer" doing "research ____?".....apparently, archaeology was just a hobby.

Research work.

ethereal_reality Apr 24, 2022 5:19 PM

.
I happened upon this photograph a few months ago on eBay.


It is an amazing OOAK photograph, dated 1918, of the backside of the viewing stand at the "Los Angeles Motordrome". (per the eBay seller)


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/9a1FFL.jpg


BUT I'm not sure if it's the track that was located in Culver City (just south of MGM Studios) or the track in Beverly Hills (where the Beverly Wilshire Hotel stands today).





As it appeared on eBay.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/BwN6UJ.jpg

.

ethereal_reality Apr 24, 2022 6:47 PM

.
I'll stick with my moto-theme with this photograph of motorcycle team members. . .

As described on eBay:..."Vintage 1947 MOTORCYCLE RACE - 'Smiling TEAM RIDERS' - 8x10 Original Photograph."

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/N16cdQ.jpg
eBay



The reverse.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/YGl1yJ.jpg

Additional information.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/2Z3y3e.jpg
SOLD / no longer listed




The skid-plate on this dude's boot is soooo cool.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/yyJAdv.jpg
detail


A closer look.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/rhh9vS.jpg
detail

It looks like a little toboggan.





.

ethereal_reality Apr 24, 2022 7:14 PM

.
. . .from the same eBay seller.


"Vintage 1947 MOTORCYCLE RACE 'Team Casper Rider Line-Up 8x10 Original Photograph"

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/RG084H.jpg
eBay



Info.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/iyWMio.jpg
SOLD

At least we have the team's name. . .Casper.

.

HollywoodRocker Apr 26, 2022 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 9596002)
.
Here's a bit of a mystery.


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/oVVA7G.jpg
eBay (no longer listed) unless I just can't find it again.


Hmm. . a museum. . .in a house. .in Los Angeles?



Let's take a closer look.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/2pzllf.jpg

Any ideas? :shrug:


.


Did a bit of digging but no luck on the house. I did find a listing on Etsy for the same photo:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1199107...9b&ref=hp_rv-1

The listing notes:

Quote:

an original vintage photo
a home in Los Angeles
on back is written "Home of actor John Wayne"
I know he owned several homes but I am listing this as his home because this is what is written on back.

Given the only attribution is what is written on the back of the photo, it is possible the house could have been one of Wayne's various property holdings in Los Angeles at on time or another and the museum was one of those "john Wayne Slept Here" sort of deals where someone tried to capitalize on the fame of the former owner; it is also possible Wayne never actually owned the place, but was merely a tenant at one time; I live in Hollywood and the area is rife with various homes and apartment buildings making claims of former occupancy by the famous and/or notorious. The house looks like the style and external layout one sees in the Larchmont/melrose Districts.

ethereal_reality Apr 27, 2022 4:59 PM

.
Thanks for your help, HollywoodRocker. ..I appreciate it.

I should have contacted the seller when I first happened upon the photo and ask them about the 'museum' part of their description.
..It doesn't make much sense that the house is now a museum because it's obviously located in a residencial area and, besides that, there's no parking for visitors.



Here's a slide dated 1968 / Los Angeles, California - showing road construction. .or rail(?) work.


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/9OAgwp.jpg

Does the area look familiar anyone?





Here's a closer look.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/ng41bJ.jpg
eBay

Now I see that what I thought were rails are large I Beams.

.

ethereal_reality Apr 27, 2022 5:58 PM

.

Here's another slide dated 1968...Los Angeles, California. (but where in Los Angeles)

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/IuwExR.jpg
eBay



.

HenryHuntington Apr 28, 2022 12:22 AM

So e-r, I suspect but can't prove that the photo looks eastward on Wilshire Blvd. at Harvard St. in Santa Monica. The clues are (1) the street sign on that light standard in front of The Patio restaurant which reads "Ha___rd St." and (2) the upward slope of Wilshire that extends for a couple of blocks. The street name and topography comport, but otherwise this scene has been completely reconstructed since the photo was taken. Perhaps one of our other contributors can come up with something more definitive here or elsewhere.

HenryHuntington Apr 28, 2022 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 9609807)
.
Thanks for your help, HollywoodRocker. ..I appreciate it.

I should have contacted the seller when I first happened upon the photo and ask them about the 'museum' part of their description.
..It doesn't make much sense that the house is now a museum because it's obviously located in a residencial area and, besides that, there's no parking for visitors.



Here's a slide dated 1968 / Los Angeles, California - showing road construction. .or rail(?) work.


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/9OAgwp.jpg

Does the area look familiar anyone?





Here's a closer look.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/ng41bJ.jpg
eBay

Now I see that what I thought were rails are large I Beams.

.

_____________

Thus far, I've come up empty on this image. Directory search on "Jim's Radio and TV" took me to 911 S. Lorena Ave., which isn't the location pictured. "Humphrey Applicances" and "Vinal Texaco" yielded zilch. There's a hardware store across the street, but the name's obscured.

The one intriguing clue to my addled brain is the "283" prefix for Jim's TV. The photo dates from the era when the 213 area code would've covered most all of L.A. County (hard to believe, I know), and the prefix suggests the southwestern San Gabriel Valley (Alhambra, San Gabriel, Monterey Park). I grew up there but can't recall a street configuration like the one shown.

odinthor Apr 28, 2022 1:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryHuntington (Post 9610270)
So e-r, I suspect but can't prove that the photo looks eastward on Wilshire Blvd. at Harvard St. in Santa Monica. The clues are (1) the street sign on that light standard in front of The Patio restaurant which reads "Ha___rd St." and (2) the upward slope of Wilshire that extends for a couple of blocks. The street name and topography comport, but otherwise this scene has been completely reconstructed since the photo was taken. Perhaps one of our other contributors can come up with something more definitive here or elsewhere.

By George, I think you've got it, HH. We see a Sir George's in the distance about a block away. There was a Sir George's Smorgasbord at 27th and Wilshire in 1967:

https://i.postimg.cc/XYQgYjJ0/Sir-G-LAT-1967-4-23.jpg
LA Times, 4/23/1967

:tup:

unihikid Apr 28, 2022 2:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 9609807)
.
Thanks for your help, HollywoodRocker. ..I appreciate it.

I should have contacted the seller when I first happened upon the photo and ask them about the 'museum' part of their description.
..It doesn't make much sense that the house is now a museum because it's obviously located in a residencial area and, besides that, there's no parking for visitors.



Here's a slide dated 1968 / Los Angeles, California - showing road construction. .or rail(?) work.


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/9OAgwp.jpg

Does the area look familiar anyone?





Here's a closer look.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/ng41bJ.jpg
eBay

Now I see that what I thought were rails are large I Beams.

.

Just a shot in the dark, could it be PCH in Willmington/Lomita/Harbor City Area. I used to work off of President and PCH and it has a slight curve and hill thats pretty similar, also there's a Pep Boys (well used to be) in the same area?:shrug:

1315 Pacific Coast Highway is the current Pep Boys address.

Snix Apr 28, 2022 3:33 AM

"Old Los Angeles" was a tourist attraction, with restaurants and shops housed in historic buildings at 420-444 N. Los Angeles St. It was created by Lewis E. Hanchett, who owned an interurban railroad in San Jose and was part of the group that advocated for Union Station. It was demolished in 1949 and largely replaced by the Hollywood Freeway.
https://images.findagrave.com/photos...5097aacd6.jpeg
Hanchett
1872-1956
Findagrave

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5ba715ee_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...072c30ba_b.jpg
Los Angeles Times 5/1/49

https://cdn.calisphere.org/data/1303...9p0zh-FID9.jpg
https://cdn.calisphere.org/data/1303...p0zh-FID14.jpg
https://cdn.calisphere.org/data/1303...p0zh-FID11.jpg
https://cdn.calisphere.org/data/1303...p0zh-FID12.jpg
California ephemera collection
UCLA, Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb3...r=2&brand=oac4

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fe62cc83_b.jpg
Arnold Hylen Collection/California State Library


Quote:

Originally Posted by HossC (Post 9595517)
This is obviously a different sign, but the typeface and frame are virtually the same. The title is "Festival in Chinatown", and the description says "A large group of young women dressed in traditional Chinese costumes pose for a group photo underneath a sign 'This is Old Los Angeles.' Tents and Chinese lanterns in the background give this occasion a festive air." It's dated circa 1940. I haven't identified the building behind the sign, but its proximity to City Hall suggests we're probably near the Plaza.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...isIsOldLA1.jpg
LAPL

The awning on the left side of riichkay's photo appears to say "JEWELRY" or "JEWELER(S)". Could the trees behind it be in the Plaza?


HollywoodRocker Apr 28, 2022 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 9609807)
.
Thanks for your help, HollywoodRocker. ..I appreciate it.

I should have contacted the seller when I first happened upon the photo and ask them about the 'museum' part of their description.
..It doesn't make much sense that the house is now a museum because it's obviously located in a residencial area and, besides that, there's no parking for visitors.

...


Found a bit more on Wayne's residency in Los Angeles/Hollywood before he decamped to Newport Beach:


https://stevesomething.wordpress.com...-wayne-tour-3/


Quote:


HOMES OF WESTERN MOVIE FILM MAKERS

IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE CAMERAS

BY BOB SILER

THE JOHN WAYNE TOUR #3

PART THREE

BIT ACTOR TO MOVIE STAR

AND HIS FIRST TWO WIVES

1928 – 1931

FOX STUDIOS

Duke had worked here as a laborer before he became an actor. In 1928 he dropped out of USC to devote himself to acting. Fox fired him in 1931.

1933

HANCOCK PARK

THE SAENZ FAMILY HOME

JUNE 24

MARRIED FIRST WIFE JOSEPHINE SAENZ

...

1933 – 1936

436 NORTH ORANGE GROVE AVENUE – HOLLYWOOD

(or 1235)

THEY MOVED HERE AFTER GETTING MARRIED

1936

312 NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE – HANCOCK PARK

DUKE AND JOSIE NEXT MOVED HERE.

HE BOUGHT THIS SPANISH – STYLE HOUSE. WHEN THEY SEPERATED HE MOVED INTO THE HOME OF ACTOR PAUL FIX.

THEY DIVORCED IN 1944.


I did a Google street search of the addresses listed in the article, but the present day locations look nothing like the photo you posted. There is the mention of Wayne living in the "Saenz family home", in Hancock Park; this was the home of Wayne first wife's (Josephine) parents, whose father was the then Consul General for Panama, Cuba and the Dominican Republic (Dr. Saenz disapproved of his daughter dating Wayne since, when they couple first met, she was only 16 years old and Wayne was a poor, struggling actor, not anywhere near the major Hollywood star he would become). Even today, consular diplomats and other foreign officials have residence in the Hancock Park/Larchmont area and my guess the home in your photo was located in Hancock Park may be a fair guess.

The Google search actually is a bit fruitless, since the addresses given are in areas where a lot of older homes have been demolished over the decades and replaced by apartment buildings or newer home construction. I was unable to pin down a home address for Dr. Saenz since the city directories of the time only list the address of of the consular offices and not the homes of the Consul. If the home in the photo is actually in Hancock Park, there is a rather better then even chance it still stands, given there has been relatively little redevelopment in the area and it is still one of the more sought after higher end residential areas in LA and any existing home there is worth more than what would be gained by tearing it down to build, say, an apartment building or even newer housing; that plus the residents of Hancock park are in vehement opposition to anything that threatens the status quo.

riichkay Apr 28, 2022 6:45 PM

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds

This one is driving me crazy (thanks, e_r!).....I am willing to accept HenryHuntington's solution, it certainly looks like the cross street sign is Harvard....and odinthor's find of a reference to Sir George's located at 27th & Wilshire seems conclusive (although 27th does not cross Wilshire, 27th is Princeton St. at that point)....but I think we are looking the wrong way...if you go a few blocks west, to 25th and Wilshire, and face west, on the south side of Wilshire this appears....


https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds

....so we have a 1960-ish mid-rise office building, no windows on the side, partially obscuring another similar vintage office building....(by the way, the Surfer Rose building was, for many years, The Round Table Restaurant....after that there is a common driveway, for decades it was shared with Knoll's Black Forest Inn, owned and operated by the always-gracious Norbert and Hildegard Knoll)...

Note Douglas Park across the street, after the park there is a red building, that's a Jack-In-The Box, although without the tall pole sign, we see a Jack in e_r's photo at the same spot....off in the distance in the '68 photo is a Von's sign, there was then, and there is now, a Von's at Wilshire and 13th.


If we pull back a block east to 26th St. we get this....

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds


On the right can see a sliver of a gas station, for as long as I can remember that has been a 76 station, but previous to that it was a Standard Oil station, and there's a Standard sign in the original post....this from a '50's directory...


https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds


So we see a Standard station, a stretch of greenery, a Jack-In-The-Box on the right (north) side of the street in all images, and a distant Von's....

Now, to see all this from Wilshire/Harvard seems a stretch, the Von's sign is 15 blocks away, that's 3/4 of a mile....



P.S.....after composing the above I kept working this thing, finally found confirmation that we are indeed at Wilshire/Harvard, but facing west....


https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds

...the office building has an address of 2730 Wilshire, 2736 does not exist anymore...but it did in 1955....


https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds



Sir George's Smorgasbord was at the other end of the 2700 block, in the building that for many years housed the Santa Monica location of the Pacific Dining Car.....

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds




https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds



The elevated perspective of the photographer, the distance compression due to the focus, the lack of trees allowing a view of the storefronts, and a generally clear day all combined to play serious tricks on the eye.

ethereal_reality Apr 28, 2022 9:49 PM

.
Excellent replies EVERYONE! ... I'm impressed. :worship:

___________________________________________________________________________________



A mystery location.


RPPC-Los Angeles CA - Apartment Building - 1905 Real Photo

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/K3xibV.jpg
Currently on eBay


Does anyone recognize this apartment building?





Let's take a closer look at the man and woman walking up the hill.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/Ov6GRU.jpg
detail




And here's a closer look at the magnificent stone wall next door.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/1ZJRYl.jpg

The man appears to be looking up at the people on the balcony.





. . .these people

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/UFsuKU.jpg
detail






Here's the large building peeking around the corner of the apt. bldg.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...924/16b4gc.jpg
detail



.

ethereal_reality Apr 28, 2022 9:56 PM

.

oops, I forgot the back of the postcard.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...924/lXvobS.jpg
eBay


As you can see it was postmarked on April 22, 1905.



Oh, and while I have your attention. . . .what's this?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...923/WVHV3c.jpg
detail

......................................................................................boot scraper?

.


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