Interesting link regarding Devil's Gate in Weird California which goes into detail about some mysterious disappearances and the man whom Werner von Braun called the true founder of the American space program. Imagine bodies planted in highway land that was paved with asphalt the next day.

Now.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8169/8...1bf8c8a2_b.jpg Google Earth

See Mysterious Universe for more.

The story of the Colorado Street Bridge is creepy and related.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/8...8351eace_b.jpg GoogleEarth

Spooky HDR toned version:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/8...577725b7_b.jpg

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00099/00099436.jpgLAPL
Photograph caption dated November 13, 1929 reads, "Photo-diagram of the Colorado street bridge shows how a life net may be installed to prevent further tragedies at the "suicide bridge" from which 27 persons have plunged to death. A similar net would be installed on the opposite side of the bridge, both constructed like circus net. The "bridge of tragedies" is 150 feet high at highest point over Arroyo Seco."

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/8...eb344bb7_b.jpgLAPL

With most of steel work set in place, the suicide-proof fencing of the Colorado street bridge is shown as it appears today. The barricade is seven feet high with three strands of barbed wire along the top. Ninety persons jumped to their deaths from the beautiful Pasadena span before steps were taken to safeguard the bridge. Photograph dated August 18, 1937.

Publicity spin...let's call it the love bridge.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8...370ffce8_b.jpgLAPL

A couple overlooks the Colorado Street Bridge, located over the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena. Two other local landmarks are visible in the background,the Pasadena City Hall on the left and the Vista del Arroyo Hotel on the right. Photograph caption reads, "Not many months ago this was 'suicide bridge.' Now the famous Pasadena span is the 'bridge of romance' for couples like Anne McGill and James Ford. This paper won a fight to have it screened." Photograph dated March 11, 1939.

Found an interesting theater at Whittier and Atlantic.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015322.jpgLAPL
Exterior of the Spanish style Golden Gate Theatre, located at 5176 Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles. Guadalajara Jewelers and Vasquez Shoe Repair, along with other shops are also visible in a neighboring building located. Some of the signs are in Spanish. Theater designed by Clifford A. Balch.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015321.jpgLAPL

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015324.jpgLAPL

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00099/00099239.jpgLAPL

Architect Clifford A. Balch designed the 1927 Churrigueresque/Deco style Golden Gate Theater and Vega Building, located at 5176 East Whittier Boulevard, at the corner of Atlantic in East Los Angeles. The entrance replicated the portal of the University of Salamanca in Spain and the original 12 stores, also of Spanish design, were housed on the first floor of the Vega Building. The theater was designed both as a legitimate playhouse, seating 1,500 and a movie house. The courtyard contained two fountains and A.B. Heinsberger created the interiors. This complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Vega Building was demolished in 1992, but the theater was saved and is still standing today.

And now:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/8...b15c89d5_b.jpgGoogle Earth

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/8...2904bf02_b.jpgGoogle Earth

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8...0ec739a0_b.jpgGoogle Earth

This has been touched on before...(curse the search function, but a few new pictures)

The Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel:

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072196.jpgLAPL

View of the Hollywood Knickerbocker Apartment Hotel, located at 1714 Ivar Avenue. In 1923 E. M. Frasier built this 11-story hotel in Spanish Colonial style, which catered to Hollywood's film industry and was home to many stars throughout the years. This historic building began life as a luxury apartment building that was at the heart of Hollywood back in the 1920s, before becoming a hotel later in its history; its slogan was "Your home for a year or a day". It's been linked with tragic deaths and because of this, it is considered haunted by some. Some unfortunate occurrences: D.W. Griffith died of a stroke on July 21, 1948 under the crystal chandelier of the lobby; a costume designer named Irene Gibbons jumped to her death from a hotel window; William Frawley, who lived at the hotel for decades, died of a heart attack on the sidewalk in front of the Knickerbocker. Other stars that frequented the hotel with better luck were: Rudolph Valentino, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra, Lana Turner, Mae West, and Cecil B. DeMille among many, many others. In 1970 a renovation project converted the hotel into housing for senior citizens and it continues in this capacity today.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics04/00011976.jpgLAPL

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics04/00011977.jpgLAPL

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics04/00011975.jpgLAPL




And now:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8035/8...27e34c30_b.jpgGoogleEarth

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/8...37d2a2b0_b.jpgGoogleEarth

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/8...1d709e81_b.jpgGoogleEarth

Interesting video: YouTube

Not to beat a dead horse..but

http://imageshack.us/a/img198/4778/p...925postmar.jpg
ebay

I took Jack's earlier suggestion and looked up Devil's Gate on google maps.

The reservoir is now drained except for a small amount of water near the dam itself....and the spillway has lost it's 'steps'.

http://imageshack.us/a/img688/2787/sgoogle.jpg




Does anyone know why the dam is obsolete? I'm guessing it was damaged in one of the earthquakes.

http://imageshack.us/a/img24/7205/sgooglenowater.jpg
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I haven't read rcarlton's spooky tales yet. something about buried bodies? sounds enticing :)

OK, experts, gather round and help me out! One evening this past week I watched a silent film called The Garden of Eden. Included on the DVD was a fascinating 1927 short called Hollywood the Unusual that showcased several examples of the kind of exotic and wacky architecture (residences, apartment buildings, and businesses) to be found in and around Hollywood in the late 1920s. A few were familiar, but most I had never seen before.

I made almost 40 frame grabs but will post just a small handful here. If anyone can offer information on any of these buildings, including locations, I'd greatly appreciate it!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/8...116b0b92_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8...ca9da8cd_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8...643d2079_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/8...4f686e4b_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8...f6d22c93_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/8...f0dee20a_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/8...cd75ccda_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8...be8b58d3_c.jpg
[source: DVD issued by Flicker Alley]

:previous: Absolutely amazing screens grabs Handsome_Stranger!
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'Pasadena Adjacent' toured this little structure atop Devil's Gate Dam.
They posted a short 46 second video at http://pasadenaadjacent.com/2010/01/...vers-black-56/

http://imageshack.us/a/img121/7159/s...retestruct.jpg
http://pasadenaadjacent.com/2010/01/...vers-black-56/


Among the gears & cogs there were marvelous vintages photos on plaques. Here are two of them.

http://imageshack.us/a/img525/4104/spasadenaa1.jpg
http://pasadenaadjacent.com/2010/01/...vers-black-56/





below: This one is especially interesting in that it shows another 'spillway' that I hadn't noticed before.

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/5236/sp...jacentblog.jpg
http://pasadenaadjacent.com/2010/01/...vers-black-56/


below: I checked google earth again, and I think I found it.

http://imageshack.us/a/img819/9931/s...adjfoundit.jpg




below: Here it is circled it in red. There appears to be steps leading down to it.

http://imageshack.us/a/img829/938/sgoogle1.jpg
google maps
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From my own diggings I recognize two of the apt buildings right away--the Andalusia is still at 1471 N. Havenhurst and the Patio del Moro is still at 8225 Fountain Ave.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...os_Angeles.JPG
1471-1475 Havenhurst Dr., Los Angeles, California

Source Wikipedia.

originally posted by Handsome_Stanger
http://imageshack.us/a/img228/384/aa...ndsomestra.jpg


This wonderful apartment building is still standing Fountain Avenue. (I see GaylordWilshire beat me to it)

http://imageshack.us/a/img811/4614/aahselpatio.jpg
google street view

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Where to go during prohibition? Try Lucey's!
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00077/00077954.jpgLAPL

Lucey's Restaurant, owned by Antonio Luciano, who went by the nickname Tony Lucey (hence the name "Lucey's" Restaurant), first opened its doors in the 1920s as a place to wet your whistle during prohibition. It quickly became a big star hangout catering to movie industry clientele such as Robert Preston, John Wayne, and Ronald Coleman, to name a mere few. In 1945, Luciano sold his restaurant to businessman Nathan Sherry, one of Los Angeles' more important restaurateurs in the Golden Era of the 1940s. At the height of his business Sherry operated almost 12 nightclubs and restaurants, but in 1954 - just nine years after purchasing Lucey's, Sherry died of a heart attack at the age of 65. Lucey's Restaurant continued on, becoming Lucey's New Orleans in August of 1959, and then Casa Lucey's Mexican food in April of 1963. This restaurant was eventually demolished and replaced with Walter's Plants Rentals years later.

Corner view of Spanish style Lucey's Restaurant, located at 5444 Melrose Avenue and Winsor Street in Hollywood. It shows a white, 2-story round Spanish style structure on the right, and a cupola can be seen peeking up from atop another portion of the restaurant on the left, behind several large shrubs.

Now:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8...749e80d4_b.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...2520PM.bmp.jpg

One reason I remembered the Patio del Moro in particular is because of the urn over the door. Can't believe it's still there.

The Freezer Ice Cream
 

Looks like the Freezer was at 3641 W. Pico. I can't find a listing for the Battery and ignition store shown in the background. Google view shows what looks like a used car dealership on the site now.

http://imageshack.us/a/img809/640/thefreezer.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


http://imageshack.us/a/img62/705/freezer2.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Photos: LAPL

Those look like two different places, actually. The window is not the same distance from the door in each one, and the addresses over the door are also clearly different.

Re Devil's Gate Dam: They haven't drained it, the catch basin just fills with sediment. I think they have dredged it out a few times. There are people who would like to remove the dam and return the Arroyo Seco (dry wash) back to a less seco condition. I think there is another renovation proposal stalled in the regulatory process. I've driven over it many times. It was a favorite shortcut to get from Altadena over to JPL or La Canada HS, which are both on the edge of the park by the reservoir. Since Pasadena pumps water from wells a sandy catch basin is not all bad. It certainly is heavy and adds a lot of load on the dam.

There were at least five giant Samarkand ice cream "Freezers" in L.A. and others in Pasadena, South Pasadena, and Alhambra, and probably other SoCal towns.

3641 W Pico
7435 Sunset
1124 Vine
3801 W Washington
402 S Western

None of the L.A. outlets have an address ending in "75" in the 1929 CD; not sure where that one was.

Here's one in Alhambra--no specific address:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1...2520PM.bmp.jpghuebner-and-lamb


And then there's this little gem--not sure of its location:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...2520PM.bmp.jpg

It moves!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0oivhUJYs

:previous: I was wondering if the handle moved. What a terrific little snippet of video GW!
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File this one under NOIR.

http://imageshack.us/a/img228/6294/a...nedin1930s.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img854/2117/a...edin1930se.jpg
ebay

I don't even know what some of these weapons are. I recognize the guns, blackjacks and brass knuckles...some of the others, not so much.
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