Grayson's Inglewood
 

While looking around Calisphere for a picture of the Richfield station, I stumbled across this photo of a Grayson's Better Dresses store that used to be at Crenshaw and 85th. I am absolutely fascinated by the buidling design!

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4185/20693029.png
Calisphere

It almost appears to be basically a giant shadow box in scheme. I am now determined to find a head-on shot!

~Jon Paul

:previous:That's a great find Jon Paul!


Baxter Street in Echo Park, circa 1939.


http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4...eetechopar.jpg
Herman Schultheis at http://www.lapl.org/





http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/4...eetechopar.jpg
Herman Schultheis at http://www.lapl.org/



below: A view of Baxter Street today.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/541...treettoday.jpg
google street views

The Woolworth portion of this building has survived Jon Paul! Sadly, the elaborate Grayson's is gone. :(


http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/470...ldwoolwort.jpg
google street view

This is a long shot, but does anyone recognize this small streamline building?
It's unidentified in the lapl archive.


http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/1...iedbuildin.jpg
Herman Schultheis at http://www.lapl.org/

Besides the photographer's name, the biggest clue is clearly the address 4032 (minus the name of the street).


_________

:previous:
I wish I knew where that was, ethereal. Something about the pic makes me think that it's not along a major thoroughfare; I could be wrong, of course.

________________________________________________________________


Last week, Good Sam broke ground for a new "medical pavilion" that'll be built along Wilshire between Lucas and Witmer. Here's a rendering:
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6572/goodsam1.jpg
Central City Association of Los Angeles ccala.org

I assume, then, that the old retaining wall from the Shatto House will be removed.

Hmm, actually, I believe this new building will not extend all the way to Lucas. Maybe the Shatto House retaining wall will remain? Hmm...

Here's the corner of Wilshire and Lucas, dated supposedly from 1936:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00092/00092831.jpg
LAPL

Here's Wilshire and Lucas after construction/extension is completed:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00092/00092830.jpg
LAPL

Here's Wilshire and Lucas in 1968, showing the hearse of Robert Kennedy leaving Good Samaritan Hospital:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics45/00042101.jpg
LAPL

I could be totally off base here and please, someone correct me if so, but those matchbook images of Carl's looks strikingly similar to what I remember being a Margarita Jones near the intersection of Flower and Figueroa. If that is the case, it would have actually survived many years post-Harbor Freeway construction, only to eventually succumb to a fire in 2001. Just a hunch.

Hi Triple FFF,
Carl's was located at 3414 West Vernon Ave.

--Rick

Thanks ethereal_reality! I am glad at least something remains but I sure wish that incredible building did :)

~Jon Paul

Thanks Rick, As I suspected when I looked on Google Streetview earlier, the Carl's building has been replaced by a rather spaceage Chase Bank building.

~Jon Paul

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4185/20693029.png
Calisphere


http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/470...ldwoolwort.jpg
google street view

I don't mean to piss on anyone's petunias, but I don't think these are the same buildings. The older picture shows Grayson's on Crenshaw, but in the Google image, it would've been on 85th. I'm thinking the Google image is of another corner.

:previous:

The Eagle Eyes of Sopas

Woolworth's and Graysons were at 8485 and 8469 Crenshaw, respectively--the corner now looks like it's a schoolyard, empty of buildings; Hair Zone Beauty Supply is at 8501. The Hair Zone was an Owl Rexall Drugs in 1956, apparently built to more or less mirror Woolworth's across 85th.

Damn, you guys are good! My bad.

So you're saying Owl Rexall and Woolworth's were both at the same intersection and diagonally across from each other?

:previous:

ethereal-- not diagonally--the Owl and Woolworths were on the same (west) side of Crenshaw, with 85th Street in between

Excellent detective work sopas_ej and GaylordWilshire! I was, admitedly, a bit confused by the orientation of the buildings but now it makes sense.

"Look up JP, look up!!!"

~Jon Paul

Just stumbled across this short but interesting article about Poundcake Hill and Fort Moore Hill, posted yesterday at KCET's website:

The Lost Hills of Downtown Los Angeles

Went looking for shots of Crenshaw & 85th in Inglewood--nothing turned up, but I did find
an interesting photostream that includes detail shots of other Inglewood locations and
of other Calif locations--including downtown Los Angle-ess:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-D...2520AM.bmp.jpgorngejuglr's photostream


It was the doorway of a printing business, which was here:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...2520AM.bmp.jpgGoogle Street View
This is 214 S. Spring, still standing; in 1929 Wolcott's was listed at 226 S. Spring--
the building at what Google Maps gives as that address is now a parking lot--not sure
what that discrepancy is about.

Anyway, here's another shot from the same photostream, identified only as "Broadway in
Downtown LA"--can anyone identify it?
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--...2520PM.bmp.jpg

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_fo...s-angeles.html

The Lost Hills of Downtown Los Angeles
by Nathan Masters
on October 13, 2011 3:35 PM

Interesting article from the KCET website that is dear to our hearts. Good history and representative photographs.

This is really a well done article. Good job KCET!

...and thanks for pointing it out Handsome_Stranger and Cyberider.

This is really beautiful but I have no idea where it is located on Broadway.
If I were in L.A. I'd go down and look for it.....treat it like a scavenger hunt. :) (sopas?)

An apartment at Vermont and Grand being moved for the Harbor Freeway, circa 1954.


http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/7...aptatvermo.jpg
http://www.lapl.org/



http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/8...reewayapta.jpg
http://www.lapl.org/

Looks as if it's been karate-chopped in half.

Ill take a look tomorrow, Ive seen it before, but cant remember exactly where it is.

In other news, it looks like the hotel clark might be coming back to life. I was walking up Hill and saw that the neon hotel clark sign was lit up, after it not being lit for I dont know how long. Ill take some pictures tomorrow though.

Sounds good Horthos!
Keep us informed about the Hotel Clark as well....sounds like a positive development.

View along the north side of Angels Flight in 1962.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/9805/...sflightnor.jpg
I found this on an old cd of mine. No details...sorry. If anyone knows the source please let me know.

Sure looks like Arnold Hylen - from his book of course ---

:previous:

it's actually from the Los Angeles Public Library Collection

The Photograph is dated May, 1962


the photo is not credited to Hylen, (it doesn't mean that it's not his though)

:previous: Thanks for the info on the photo guys.


There is a heart warming article and video in today's Los Angeles Times about the elevator operator at the old Desmond's building.

Here's the link:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,1134762.story


http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/7329/sentrance.jpg
http://www.lapl.org/

Here's a hidden little gem. The Galesia Apartments at 221 N. Rampart Blvd. Notice the two tiny trees in front of the building.


http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/5...s221nrampa.jpg
http://www.lapl.org/






http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2...aaptstoday.jpg
google street views

above: Yep, those two trees sure have grown!



below: Here is an aerial view showing the dense foliage in front of the apartment building.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/6...stodayaeri.jpg
google street view

I love nature and all......but why can't they hire someone to trim those DAMN trees.

So I checked out that bit of the sidewalk on broadway tonight. I am not sure what the building is as far as what it was historically, but now its just some typical greasy broadway shops, and the rest of the building seems empty.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/1-2.jpg
Image from Google Earth

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/2-1.jpg
Image from Google Earth

Also, here is the hotel clark sign lit up, as I had mentioned. The "R" doesnt seem to be working...oh well.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...-/P1010170.jpg
Photo by me...

Thank you for the image! This sign is very recently restored and as such its failed R is a bit disconcerting...

...there are some "bucket list" signs that I always figured I'd never see relit -- Bendix...the Palace blades...ad infinitum...but they were relit! ...and my natural-born cynicism warred against any optimism in hoping the Clark would be reborn: I do confess to having a bit of a fetish for the old girl. http://www.flickr.com/photos/3930393...th/4792823724/ (I'm not sure why; my passion just...is. If any member of the Chetrit Group is perusing this thread, uh, PM me, because I would love to aid you in restoring your building.)

Free rooftop screening Oct. 20 - Newly discovered 1949 color Main Street footage
 

WHAT: Of Scrap & Steel: free rooftop screening of rare 1949 color film set on Main Street, Downtown L.A.
WHEN: Thu, 10/20/2011 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm
WHERE: Rooftop garden of the Union Rescue Mission, 545 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90013

Dear friends of noirish L.A.,

Hoping you can join us on the rooftop garden of the Union Rescue Mission this Thursday for a free and very interesting film screening introduced by this thread's own Beaudry (Nathan Marsak) & Richard Schave, and picnic supper.

For more info and a link where you can reserve your spot (required for this free event) click here

WHAT: Of Scrap & Steel: free rooftop screening of rare 1949 color film set on Main Street, Downtown L.A.

LAVA - The Los Angeles Visionaries Association is pleased to announce a free roof-top screening of a newly-discovered circa 1949 short color film of Main Street and other downtown Los Angeles locations, the Union Rescue Mission-produced Of Scrap & Steel. The screening celebrates the launch of a new series of downtown stories on the In SRO Land time travel blog, featuring material from the Union Rescue Mission Archives.

ABOUT THE FILM: In mid-1948 the Board of Directors of the Union Rescue Mission approved the expenditure of $5,000 to make the 30-minute film Of Scrap & Steel which portrays the redemption and good works of Arthur Hawkins, an alcoholic executive who ended up on the streets of Los Angeles and whose life was saved when he turned to the URM for help. Porter Hall (Arthur Hawkins) is one of only two actors in a film otherwise populated by real Los Angeles characters. (You may recall Hall's performance as the pesky guy on the train in Double Indemnity.)

Of Scrap & Steel was only shown in screenings organized by the URM or related organizations, and would have been completely lost if Liz Mooradian, URM historian, had not saved a deteriorating 16mm print and had it transferred to video before it was too late. Of Scrap & Steel is just one of the remarkable artifacts discovered in the Union Rescue Mission archives and explored in the In SRO Land blog.

This entertaining and powerful short film is a compelling snapshot of life on Skid Row (Main Street) circa 1949, and a fascinating document of the important work that the URM continues to do with the most needy in the community. Although downtown Los Angeles features in numerous noir films, it is extremely rare to see color images of eastern downtown, and rarer still to see full-color live-action footage of the vibrant street scene that included rescue missions, pawn shops, amusement parlors, bars, restaurants and the ever-patrolling paddy wagon in search of drunkards to haul away to jail or County work crews.

This free rooftop screening is jointly organized by LAVA - The Los Angeles Visionaries Association, the In SRO Land time travel blog and the Union Rescue Mission. Seating will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to dress warmly for the cool night air.

Gourmet box dinners: “Meals with a purpose” will be available for purchase ($7, cash only), with a choice of sandwich (vegetarian, roast beef or chicken), cookie, fruit, crackers and beverage. 100% of proceeds from your meal donation goes to the URM, and the proceeds from each dinner will feed two other people.

Limited free parking is available at the URM’s underground parking lot. Just tell the attendant you are there for the film. Please carpool: if each guest arrives with one other person in their car, there should be enough parking for all. Those arriving later will have to leave their keys with the parking attendant. Should the URM lot fill up, there is also off-site, paid parking available at Joe’s Parking Lot at 1st & San Pedro. A free shuttle will run between this parking lot and the Union Rescue Mission from 5pm-9pm. Nearest Metro station: Little Tokyo.

Rain check: if it's raining on October 20, this event will be rescheduled for October 27.

Schedule

6pm Doors open (reserved guests check in at the main entrance and are sent up to the roof)

6pm-7pm Box dinners available for purchase, guests can watch the sunset (6:13pm)

7pm

* Introduction to the URM by Rev. Andy Bales, CEO
* Historians Nathan Marsak & Richard Schave introduce the film in the context of the neighborhood's history, and their work on the In SRO Land time travel blog.

7:30pm Film screening

8pm Q & A

8:30pm Event ends

For more info and a link where you can reserve your spot (required for this free event) click here

:previous: I would love to attend this screening if I were in the city (I'm in the midwest).
I hope it's a great evening for everyone involved.

________


below: I tried to find this same view as it looks today on google street views to no avail.
Is it correct to say that this area was pretty much wiped out for the Harbor Freeway?

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/1...righton8th.jpg
http://www.lapl.org/

________

I dont recognize any of that, so Im pretty sure most of its been replaced by the freeway.

While out for a walk this morning, I came across this interesting scene on the corner of 6th and s. saint andrews pl.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b155/Pustulio-/05.jpg
Photo by meee....

I have no idea how long this has been like this. Does anyone know anything about what may have happened here? Im assuming a fire...

yeah, pretty much everything on 8th between bixel and francisco has been obliterated by either the harbor, or just plain ol' development.

at the lower right in this 1955 aerial you can see the tall building at the intersection of francisco and 8th

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00089/00089087.jpg
Source: LAPL

In this 1982 image taken from 8th and bixel looking east, (almost from the same vanatge point), you can see everything is purty much gone

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics41/00070225.jpg
Source: LAPL

some image from life magazine i don't recall seeing before.......(but i could be wrong)


4th and main 1948

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/44f08379ea270a61_large
Source: Life Magazine

5th and hill 1948

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/8d20cc178e3c6720_large
Source: Life Magazine


not quite sure of this exact location, but i'm pretty sure it's looking south on Figueroa, somewhere in the vicinity of temple or so 1948

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/f41e1ba4624096b1_large
Source: Life Magazine

construction begins on the 4 level interchange between the harbor, hollywood and arroyo seco and santa ana 1949

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/ab40c2e03d21fc26_large
Source: Life Magazine

and last but not least!

hollywood boulevard 1951..................wow!

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/a86cfc540e46175d_large
Source: Life Magazine

one more!

noir in color...............................


http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/991af87047307224_large
Source: Life Magazine

arrrrrrgggghhhhhhh! for what could have been some of the most amazing photographs ever taken of bunker hill just prior to it's destruction. we end up with these fat headed lawmen blocking the view!

Hey parker and friends, move yourselves out of the frame fercrissakes!!!!!!!! you guys are supposed to stop crime....not commit one!!!!!!!!! :hell:

1960

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/b3c3995012779a1e_large
Source: Life Magazine

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/7823d81d9441200e_large
Source: Life Magazine

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/32836caaecfa68d1_large
Source: Life Magazine



sigh................there's never one around when you need em.............

Those are some mean lookin' men--sometimes I'm reminded of the reactionary bent of L.A. politics.... I don't think I would have liked to have been me in that era, as much as I'm fascinated with it.

I remember riding my bike down Wilshire about 5 months ago and I saw this building on fire. You'd think that it would've been repaired by now. Guess not. :\

718-720 S Broadway was at one time known as the Wiley B. Allen Building-- W B Allen was a major West Coast music dealer. (All those random earthquake plates don't inspire much confidence....) Although I haven't found any vintage shots to confirm it, this distinctive sidewalk was apparently at the entrance to the company's retail store at this location, which must have succeeded an earlier store at 416-418 S Broadway:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x...2520AM.bmp.jpgSilent Locations

:5::5:

Thought maybe this Noirish Los Angeles milestone should be acknowledged...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U...age1000big.jpg


Kudos to Our Esteemed Founder, ethereal_reality

.

A pair of autochromes showing Charlie Chaplin standing outside his studio on La Brea Avenue, circa 1917-1918.

http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m198220270024.jpg
[source: George Eastman House Still Photograph Archive]

http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m198220270026.jpg
[source: George Eastman House Still Photograph Archive]

And the same spot in October 2011. The steps and doorway still exist but the door is non-functional.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9.../labrea-02.jpg
[source: me]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5.../labrea-03.jpg
[source: me]

Great stuff handsome stranger!

_______


I came across this photo in the Metro Transportation Archive.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9...sosayswhit.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metroli...ve/2951000582/

It is the remains of the Forthmann & Bergin Building on First Street that housed the Los Angeles Soap Company (shown in 1884).

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5...hmannbergi.jpg
usc digital archives

I was delighted at the thought of the grand old building surviving against all odds.
Sadly, after a few searches on google street views of east First Street I realized the Forthmann & Bergin Building is probably long gone
......and that the Metro photo must date from the 1970s or 80s. :(

Can anyone pinpoint on an old map where did this building once stood? I only have the vague address of east First Street.

We covered the building briefly way back on page 96 of this thread.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=1907

The Alexandria Apartments at 635 North Kenmore lost out to the Hollywood Freeway. That's Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland standing out front.


http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/8...s635northk.jpg
lapl

Oh....and I'm kidding about Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland. ;)

:previous:
Haha I nearly spit out my drink as I read that!

I think it was on the north side of 1st street, a block or so east of Alameda, in what would now be considered the Arts District, just east of Little Tokyo. This area is now surface parking lots, and the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple is now there. If you do a Google Map search of E. 1st Street and Hewitt Avenue, you'll see the general area of where the soap company was: 1st and Hewitt

So was the Los Angeles Soap Company later White King Soap?

Here is the area in 1923. Notice in the lower middle-right, you can see the Los Angeles Soap Company.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics27/00048040.jpg
LAPL

Here is the area circa 1950s. Notice in the middle right that the building says White King Soap.
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072267.jpg
LAPL

I'm very fascinated by the above photos because I frequent Little Tokyo and the Arts District, and it's interesting to me to see what buildings were there.

In fact looking at the above photo now, the old building that you posted, ethereal, is just right (east) of the intersection of Hewitt and 1st.

Bi%$ch Fight!!!!
 

and Grandma goes in for the money shot!!!

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/5173/kerfluffle.jpg
Acme Press Wire Photo/e-Bay

During the 1941 Ladies Dress & Sportswear union strike, union and non-union workers clash outside of the Pig 'n Whistle at 8th and Broadway.

The men seem to be enjoying it, of course.

~Jon Paul

Early 1900's postcard currently on e-bay...

The Emerson Apartments 5857 Franklin Ave.
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/631...ranklinave.jpg


Somehwere under Hollywood United Methodist Church is the plot of land they sat on.
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2...woodunited.png
Google Streetview

~Jon Paul

Thanks for the info. sopas_ej.

After a little more research, I found out that the Los Angeles Soap Company Plant was located at 617 E. 1st Street.
It covered 40 acres and had upwards of 600 employees. More than 75 brands of soap were manufactured at this one plant.

below: A couple photos of the plant. "The Home of White King Soap" is written along the cornice.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/727...hitekingso.jpg
lapl


http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4...oapcompany.jpg
usc digital archive


http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4099/...yscottfaja.jpg
Scott Fajack http://www.laobserved.com/assets_c/2...ajack-7034.php


I'm guessing 'White King' must have been their best selling soap. :)

and speaking of....

the original
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/8421/whitekingsoap.jpg
eBay

then in the 60's "White King D"!!!!
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/1806/whitekingd.jpg
eBay

~Jon Paul