Originally Posted by ProphetM (Post 6014296)

I don't think your notation of the streets is correct. Main and Marchessault are not visible in this photo. Here are the streets as I understand them:

1. The extreme foreground street is Spring.
2. The street right next to Spring that runs along the back of the plaza church is New High Street.
3. The cross street is Sunset Blvd. - it passes out of view behind the church facilities as it approaches the plaza.
4. The street that goes to the left away from Sunset is also Spring Street. It takes a jog east at Sunset before proceeding north.
Main Street is one block further away and is not visible in the photo.

Of these 4 streets, only the Spring in the foreground is still there as a normal street. New High Street behind the church has only recently been taken over. Sunset in this photo is part parking lot and part driveway - one-way that goes from Spring to Main alongside the church. The small bit of Spring north of Sunset (as well as the properties on both sides of that street) is now part of a parking lot.

I think the photo was taken from the hill above Justicia Street, or possibly from the top of the Broadway tunnel's north portal.

Speaking of which, I found an interesting thing I had not noticed before about the Broadway tunnel. I will make a new post for that.

Originally Posted by ProphetM (Post 6014381)

For MichaelRyerson - here's a photo from your Flickr account, described as unidentified:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/7...3c06ea89_b.jpg
another unidentified, undated picture from the california historical society by MichaelRyerson, on Flickr

Full description:
titled: Empty street in El Paseo de Los Angeles, [s.d.]

Photograph of an empty street in El Paseo de Los Angeles, [s.d.]. A narrow road paved with paving stones runs from the foreground to the background at center. Multi-story brick buildings can be seen along the road at right, while lower structures can be seen on the left side of the road. A three-tiered fountain can be seen at left. Several trees are visible as well.

Not sure if this picture has remained unidentified - I searched for it in the thread but didn't find it posted at all. This is Olvera Street, looking south. I assume it's about 1929 as it's been cleaned up nicely but doesn't yet appear to have any vendors or visitors.

At immediate right is the Italian Hall. In the distance at left just beyond the US flag is the Avila adobe (behind the flagpole), then the LA Railway substation (behind the flag itself) and finally the tower of the plaza Methodist church. The fountain on the left side of the street is still around as well. A Google image search for 'olvera street fountain' generates several pictures - it's painted light blue.

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson (Post 6014546)

Well I think you're partly right if you'll allow me to nitpick. I agree Marchessault is likely not visible although with the various changes in street names and rerouting that happened in this area not having the date of the pic nailed down makes it really impossible to say for sure. For instance by 1942 Sunset had been rerouted well north to mate with Macy (good imagery) so that Marchessault came all the way out to Justicia/N. Broadway (I'll post an image from my 1942 Shell street map shortly). But if you'll look closely (and thankfully the extreme resolution of this image makes it possible) you'll find a section of Main Street is just visible under that Five-Globe Llewellyn beyond the white 'Salon' Sign and under the 'Drugs' sign. It ain't much but it's there.

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson (Post 6012892)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8...cb8c0dbf_o.png
Market holdup and shooting (120th and Avalon), 1955


11 July 1955. Reportedly one or more suspects have taken refuge in the attic of the super market. Tear gas has been fed into the space and officers with guns drawn are taking positions to block escape routes.



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8...753b6910_o.png
Market holdup and shooting (120th and Avalon), 1955 (6)


Times have changed. I don't think I've ever seen a suspect uncuffed and alone in the front seat of a police car before.

USC digital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Collection, 1920-1961

Originally Posted by tovangar2 (Post 6015074)

Happily playing in MichaelRyerson's Flickr stream I found another not-very-mysterious shot, although I don't know the date. I don't know when that row of beach-side homes was removed.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e...209%2520AM.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael...n/photostream/

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson (Post 6015109)

yeah, actually this isn't part of the Getty holdings. This magnificent house (which is still there by the way) is the Leon Kaufman mansion (called appropriately enough the Villa Leon). Construction started in 1926-7 and was finished in about 1928ish. Cost was approximately one million dollars. Mr. Kaufman (made his fortune in wool) and his wife moved in but didn't live to enjoy it, he dying in 1931 and she a short time later. Following her death the property remained unoccupied for many years, maybe 25 years and was ultimately sold at auction for $71,000 with most of the furnishings in tact. It is a lovely property and one which, as a kid, we used to call the Getty House. But Getty didn't buy into the area until 1945 and his ranch house was well back from the coast highway. The Museum came later. (see also my post number 12000 this thread)

Originally Posted by tovangar2 (Post 6015145)

Dunno who owns it now, but it's getting "improved" again:

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson (Post 6015194)

It was recently listed for $14,500,000.00 and I believe it was most recently owned by a partnership of UCLA people. Kind of an upscale timeshare.

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Past (Post 6014184)

Just my opinion, but I think these ones...

"these ones"....some English teacher is wagging his/her finger...

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson (Post 6014861)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/7...91dbc2ae_o.jpg
The 600 block of North Spring Street, looking south to Sunset Boulevard, circa the 1940s. The Vera Cruz Cafe and the Bamba Club are on the left.

Good view of the Vera Cruz and the Bamba, favorite hangouts of Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo and Dan Duryea, ne, Steve Thompson, Anna and Slim Dundee in Criss Cross.



Moving down the block, closer to the Plaza we come to...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7...3e265397_o.jpg
View of the 600 block of North Spring Street, looking south to Sunset Boulevard, circa the 1940s. Hotel Atlantic is on the left, and the Pico House is in the background.

The Hotel Atlantic is clearly visible and just slightly farther down is the Hotel Pacific.

LAPL


And lastly, moving around the corner and slightly west...(still looking south)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8290/7...a736e83c_o.jpg
View of Spring Street looking south from Sunset Boulevard, C.C. Pierce, ca.1931

Photograph of Spring Street looking south from Sunset Boulevard, about 1931. At center, a man climbs a pole that supports streetcar cables. Below him, a traffic light extends from the median between the two paved roads, New High Street on the left and Spring Street on the right, that extend into the distance. In the foreground, the wide intersection with Sunset Boulevard is seen. At right, automobiles are parked along a sidewalk at the foot of a recently tiered Fort Moore Hill. At left, a billboard on a nearby highrise building reads "Annex. Headquarters. Soda Fountain. Accessories. [...]". In e.j.sopas' image, taken ten years later, the curb-line and sidewalk, separating New High Street from N. Spring, have been extended out to the island on which the traffic light is installed. By the way, it would appear the same traffic light has survived to the later pic.

USCdigital archive/Title Insurance and Trust / C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860-1960


And finally, here is an image looking the opposite direction from the sopas image. Sorry for the bodacious arrow. But ironically, I think sopas' image may have been taken from very nearly where that arrow is superimposed...(and our reference traffic light can be seen)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7...7fbd1ab8_o.jpg
Union_Station_Construction_Begins_1934



(1934) - A steam shovel hissed on April 19, 1934, and bit into Fort Moore Hill at Spring Street and Sunset Boulevard (actually the steam shovel is over on Justicia Street and N. Broadway where it exits the tunnel) as a part of ground breaking exercises for the start of work on the new $8,000,000 Union depot for Los Angeles. The photo shows the ceremony in progress with an arrow pointing to the speakers' stand, beside which is the steam shovel which turned the first shovel-full of earth. In the background is Fort Moore Hill with the (Mary) Banning House at the right and, I believe, the Milo Baker House at the upper left. The intersection of Spring Street and Sunset Boulevard is in the right foreground. Dirt amounting to 50,000 cubic yards will be moved to fill in at the new depot site.