Good Lord, That last photo (of the white bldg. you liked) is of "Hotel Hell," the once grand Garden Court Hotel on Hollywood Blvd. near Grauman's Chinese, where old-timers like Mack Sennett lived (well after his glory days). I visited someone there in the early 70's when it was still a residential hotel, rather shabby but not a dump. It eventually became a derelict squat house and doper haven before being demolished in the 80's or 90's.

And Wilson's Modern Auto Court still stands:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...80133%20AM.jpgGoogle Street View


Ethereal, your shots of the Roosevelt are great--seems the hotel did a good job of evoking Palm Springs right in the middle of Hollywood. The name of the motel above reminds me of Henry Willson--I wonder if he's among the men in the left background in the fourth shot?...

http://www.american-rails-forums.com...gs/PE_Logo.jpg

Photolitherland: The debate over whether the demise of the Pacific Electric was due to a conspiracy driven by General Motors seems to be endless. After reading alot about it--the passions on both side are intense!--I'd say that, in the end, it was due to an effort on the part of GM to make money (what else were they in business for?)--but rather than being a conspiracy theorist's greatest fantasy, was simply an intelligent strategy to profit. GM may have seen an opening in the market and seized it, maneuvering and even manipulating to do so, but in the end the petering out of the PE and other electric transit lines had much more to do with a preference for speed and convenience--streetcars could never compete with private automobiles, and probably never will, unless for some reason, at some point in the future, no one can afford private transportation. Certainly street railways and automobiles sharing the same roadways is outmoded interms of safety and the efficient movement of traffic. In the "old days," you didn't mind walking a few or even many blocks to catch a streetcar--but if you could afford a car of your own, even one block might seem too much. And would you want to walk now in central Los Angeles or in New Orleans (where streetcars do still run)? At night? If you could afford even a jalopy to cut your trip by, say, two-thirds in terms of time? No one is going to waste the extra time riding two or even three streetcars when he could be at work or play. Here are a few more links to learn about the PE:

http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/pedemise.htm#GM

http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/pery.htm

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...transit-system

http://www.xs4all.nl/~rajvdb/lra/e_htm/e_hs.htm


And here's an old post of mine from this site that mentions a DVD you should check out:

It doesn't seem to be the kind of thing you can find on Netflix, but if you can get your hands on the dvd "This Was Pacific Electric", you will love it-- it really is one of the best histories of the development of L.A. I've ever seen. Lots of old clips and pictures, with a well narrated, well-told story--and the best explanation of the demise of the PE I've ever heard. Clips include brief shots of the gas tanks we've discussed here, as well as of the '20s white-on-black street signs. Best part is commentary by Ralph Cantos, particularly in the extra walking tour he gives on the dvd. He's a real "foamer", the kind we owe alot to for seeing urban history in "four dimensions" (as the dvd calls it)--the past overlaid on the present, like the pictures of the past here. He apparently still gives rail tours--check out this link: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov...ad17-2009nov17

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...911/PEVIN1.jpgviewlinerltd.blogspot.com

Some great Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railway slideshows are available here: http://www.larhf.org/collections/index.html

JeffDiego
The Garden Court Hotel building was so beautiful even in its dilapidated state,
that I always thought it would somehow survive the indignities bestowed upon it.

That said, I was surprised the auto court on Florence still survives.
The photo GaylordWilshire posted from google earth seems to show it had TWO arched entrances (or perhaps an entrance and an exit).
The building certainly looked better in the old days before the cheap windows were installed.

Delaware Hotel, later the Dalton Theater, on Broadway in 1896.


http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2...ehotellate.jpg
usc digital archive




Below: Figueroa and 6th Street looking south in 1890.


http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4...ast6thstlo.jpg
usc digital archive

The Los Angeles Soap Company on 1st Street in 1884.
You can see the name of the company above the entryway on the right.



http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/144...lessoapco1.jpg
usc




Below: Another view of the Los Angeles Soap Co. in 1886.
It also says Los Angeles Soap Co. above the doorway to the left.
Also notice the diminutive building to the left of the 'Soap' building (you can see it in the above photo as well).
What purpose could a building that small serve?


http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1...lessoapco1.jpg
usc
MISSING: I'll re-post it.





Below: The Saint Elmo Hotel 1890.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/554...mohotel189.jpg
usc

The corner of Spring & 4th Street in 1890.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4...fspring4th.jpg
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Below: City produce market at Central Ave. and 3rd Strret in 1900.


http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2...ducemarket.jpg
usc

http://jpg2.lapl.org/spnb1/00017092.jpgLAPL
Add an a/c unit, and it's 84 years later. And it seems that the little building was probably just a taxpayer--looks like it was replaced not long after your 1884 shot...

Hands down the most awesome thread ever. I just found this tonight but I can't wait to go through one by one. I absolutely love the old pictures of downtown. It saddens me that so many of these places are within a few blocks of where I live and I can't even recognize them.

a great noirish image of the hollywood bowl during a campaign appearance by IKE in 1956

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/...dd64ca70_b.jpg
Life magazine

and some additional then and now's

nw corner of hilldale avenue and sunset boulevard 1936 and now

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/...8368928c_b.jpg

sw corner of sunset boulevard and fairfax avenue 1940 and now

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/...19425e8f_b.jpg

the vern theater 2811 e olympic boulevard east los angeles 1941 and now

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/...7d89eec8_b.jpg

the trocadero cafe se corner of sunset boulevard and sunset plaza drive 1934, 1939, and now

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/...4055aaed_b.jpg

:previous:

Excellent shots, GS--could the transformation of the corner of Sunset and Fairfax be any sadder? What a loss that Thrifty/A&P is. Amazing the banality we're willing to put up with now.

I took a look at 13 Ghosts--a movie that, while fun, almost makes The Curse of the Cat People look in league with The Battleship Potemkin, I have to say--and it turns out that Dr. Plato Zorba's house is indeed the Waters (and, later, Julia Farren) house at 900 West Adams. Straight from the DVD:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...14911%20PM.jpgColumbia Pictures/Sony
900 West Adams's last starring role, 1960


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...14931%20PM.jpgColumbia Pictures/Sony
A view from the porch of 900 toward the arbor--note the decay at the base of the column. Is
it set decoration? Anyway, the end is nigh.


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...14953%20PM.jpgColumbia Pictures/Sony
A view from the arbor.


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...20720%20PM.jpgColumbia Pictures/Sony
Margaret Hamilton as Elaine Zacharides in front of Dr. Zorba's portrait. (No, not Dr. Kildare's Dr. Zorba.)


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...20636%20PM.jpgColumbia Pictures/Sony
A precursor of Christopher Moltisanti's breakout film, as well as Miss DeCamp's star turn. 13 Ghosts
is one of those old movies enjoyable for its primitive special effects, such as milk bottles and cleavers flying
through the air on thin wires.


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...21332%20PM.jpgColumbia Pictures/Sony


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...22231%20PM.jpgColumbia Pictures/Sony
The County Museum in Exposition Park, before its move to the Miracle Mile.

Russell Judson Waters house in 13 Ghosts
 

GW! You found it! And I was indeed dead wrong in thinking it wasn't the Water's House. It was! And what beautiful stills you've shared. Thanks, as always.

John A. Forthmann, who founded the Los Angeles Soap Company with J.J. Bergin, built the house below at 629 West 18th St. It was moved to 2801 S. Hoover in 1989 and is now the USC Community House (more here: http://communities.usc.edu/about/community_house.html)


http://wikimapia.org/p/00/00/22/91/99_big.jpgwikimapia


http://wikimapia.org/p/00/00/22/92/17_big.jpgwikimap
2801 S. Hoover

GaylordWilshire..I always appreciate when you dig up these interesting facts.
Mr. Forthmann's house is quite beautiful. I am so glad it survived all these years.

The Boynton House at 836 S. Bonnie Brae. You can also see a glimpse of the carriage house.

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3...houseat836.jpg
unknown





Below: Close up of the laundry wagon.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7...houselaund.jpg
unknown

update: I just realized these photographs are missing. I'll work to restore them soon. Sorry for the inconvenience.


Three photographs of the Wilshire Country Club in 1931.

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4...ecountrycl.jpg
usc





http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6...countrycls.jpg
usc





Below: In this one you can faintly make out the Hollywoodland Sign.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4...ecountrycl.jpg
usc


Mae West lived on the top floor of one these apartment buildings (I can't remember which one exactly).
Perhaps one of you know some of the history these wonderful buildings in Hancock Park.

Great shots, ethereal-- the building in the first shot above is Country Club Manor at 316 N. Rossmore. Laura LaPlante, a major actress of the '20s, is the only big name I could find who lived here (well, she was big before pictures got small, that is). A recent shot:

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery...db7221e6_o.jpgCurbedLA


Re the second shot above:

At left is the Hermoyne at 569 N. Rossmore, the one-time home of Al Jolson, Ruby Keeler, Blanche Sweet, and William Wyler.

At right is the El Royale at 450 N. Rossmore, whose tenants have included William Frawley, Ava Gardner, George Raft, Jane Withers, Darryl Zanuck, Loretta Young, and Clark Gable (hmm--is this where Judy Lewis was conceived?).

And in the middle is Mae's building--the Ravenswood at 570 N. Rossmore. According to several sources, she lived in apartment 611. Judy Garland and Hedda Hopper were one-time neighbors. (A note on some of the names above--I'm not sure how totally accurate any of this info is--one site has Ethel Merman living in apartment 611 at the Ravenswood during Mae's tenure... imagine those two as roommates.)


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...21043%20PM.jpgGoogle Street View
The Hermoyne today


http://portcitystudios.org/yahoo_sit...212332_std.jpgportcitystudios
The El Royale today


http://jpg2.lapl.org/spnb2/00017582.jpgLAPL
The Ravenswood, with its "R" sign still on top

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TM...23215%20PM.jpgGoogle Street View
The Ravenswood today

a nice image of the Chinese theater with the outpost sign visible up on top of the hill just left of center

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...CHS-44350?v=hr
USC