Yes, LAPAST, thanks for the trip down memory lane, Eastland Shopping Center style. I had an aunt in Glendora in the early 60's, and when visting her as a kid with my family, it was a treat to drive to Eastland for lunch or early dinner at Clifton's Cafeteria, where I believe a woman played twin organs simultaneously (get your mind out of the gutter), or was it an organ and a piano?. Also well remember gaping many a time at what seemed at the time the bizarre-looking "Huddle" restaurant' a real Googie monument.

:) In total contrast to the Huddle, our family ate at Clifton's all the time (it was both my and my grandmother's favorite restaurant). I had many birthday parties there from age 6 on, and I was eating at Clifton's the day I opened my college acceptance letter a decade later.

The organist I remember at the Eastland Clifton's was named Jimmy Rhodes. His organ had two keyboards, and he could simultaneously play a piano that was set at a right angle to the organ. I was taking piano lessons at the time, and that ability to play two keyboard instruments at once really impressed me! I actually have an LP of his organ music that they sold at Clifton's. (Which is why I still remember his name!)

-Scott

An Informative Website Indeed
 

This website has helped me understand what Los Angeles used to look like, and why so much (i.e. Bunker Hill) is gone. I've always thought that when the tracks of the Pacific Electric Railway ("Red Cars") were removed, it was as if Los Angeles' arteries had literally been ripped out of its body, because most of the city and the communities of Southern California were built around the Red Car. Now that I understand what happened to Fort Moore, etc., I wonder: if, for example, the City of San Francisco decided to slice off the top of Nob Hill, would its citizens allow it?

http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1640789&t=wNYPL http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1640789&t=w

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TS...53623%20PM.jpgGoogle Street View

The New York Public Library maintains a few vintage images of Los Angeles--the most interesting one I've seen so far is this undated one of a small Eastside park I'd never heard of: ELA Park. (It took me a minute to catch it... E.L.A. Park....) I'm getting more and more interested in Los Angeles east of Main Street--if you don't live there (in NY, for instance), it seems a parallel universe to the L.A. west of Main usually envisioned. The gang troubles there I also read about notwithstanding, it's been interesting to discover whole tidy neighborhoods to the east like this one around ELA Park.


P.S. Welcome Brother Bryson

^^^ LOL...I was going to ask if you two were related. :)
Welcome BrysonWilshire.





Demonstrating an anti-smog device in 1960.


http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/8...ratinganti.jpg
ucla


Can you imagine attaching this contraption to your Ferrari or Rolls Royce.

below: Originally posted by GaylordWilshire.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TS...53623%20PM.jpg
Google Street View


Why the hideous fence I wonder?

I've looked through past posts, and it seems we have skipped over the Pan-Pacific Auditorium.


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4...cific11955.jpg
usc digital archive





http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/1...fic1usc119.jpg
usc digital archive





http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5...acificmtla.jpg
usc digital archive



This 1935 streamline-modern structure was located in the Fairfax District at 7600 W. Beverly Boulevard.

After years of decay, it burnt down in 1989.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke to a crowd of 10,000 people at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in 1952,
a month before being elected President of the United States.



http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/3...fic1952usc.jpg
ebay

Here is an earlier photo of the 1939 Auto Show in the Pan-Pacific Auditorium


http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/569...ficautosho.jpg
ucla

Back to downtown:

The Angelus Hotel at 4th and Spring St. in 1905.


http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/1...hotel4thsp.jpg
usc digital archive


I love the Angelus clock.
The expansive windows at street level are very impressive, especially for 1905.

I think someone posted a picture of this a few pages back, but here's a picture of the Pan Pacific Park restrooms that now reside at this spot. Kinda nice that they used the same design.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...10part2051.jpg

Get out your hanky
 

The Pan-Pacific was the first building I wanted to see on my first adult trip to L.A. It said everything to me about why I wished I'd grown up there rather than in New Orleans (I loved N.O., but after a certain point I guess I was ready to trade Quarter cast-iron filigree for Streamline). I was lucky enough to see it when it still looked like this...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TS...beforefire.jpg


...before this sad event on May 24, 1989:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TS...gqM/PANPAC.jpg
http://www.travelinlocal.com/pan-pac...-friendly-fun/

May 24, 1989


And if you really want to weep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4QAQchoWs8

And of course, when I see images of the Pan Pacific, I sometimes unfortunately think of:

http://noobcake.files.wordpress.com/...3-xanadu-1.jpg
noobcake.files.wordpress.com

I was 10 years-old when this movie came out, and even back then, I knew it was one of the worst movies ever made. Probably comes to close to "Can't Stop the Music." I actually saw it in a theater; and later at my friend's house, it was on their TV, via On TV or Select TV or whichever they subscribed to.

But even as a youngster, I recognized the Pan Pacific Auditorium. It was painful to watch it on the news burning down to the ground.

I also got to see it before it burned down.

I have photos I took shortly before it's demise.
I'll dig up the photos the next time I visit my parents (boxes in the attic).

I remember the area being overgrown with weeds and set back quite some distance from Beverly Boulevard.
It was quiet and surreal (and sad).

Was this documentary about movies filmed in LA posted yet?

Los Angeles Plays Itself (part one of twelve).
• Video Link

The Pan Pacific in its glory days appeared in some movies, of course.
One was a campy and entertaining Monogram Studios noir from 1946 called "Suspense," starring the long-forgotten blonde skating star "Belita." The auditorium was supposed to be the setting for lavish ice extravaganzas. It was a rare large-budget Monogram production.
I think there is also a shot of the Pan Pacific in "Johnny Eager" (1941) with
Lana Turner.
AND, mdiederi, THANK YOU for posting LA Plays Itself - which I've always wanted to see, and surely many others here feel the same.

I dunno, but I was able to see it at the Egyptian. Amazingly, it played at Filmforum (NYC) and UCLA BEFORE premiering in Hollywood. As far I'm concerned, all movies, especially those with the West Coast as their subject matter should premiere here.

Regardless, the movie was excellent, though the voice over was a bit laconic. I know they were trying to make it Noir-ish, but still seemed abit forced to me. Still, you can't beat not only the clips but the quick identifiers they put up.

edit: redundant post, never mind.

a 1940 view looking across the future park la brea site from wilshire boulevard.

the pan pacific auditorium is just left of center. to the left of the pan pacific is gilmore field, (baseball) then gilmore stadium, (football). The farmers market is just below and to the left of gilmore stadium.....(scott....hold your nose).

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...0-14-ISLA?v=hr
Source: USC Digital Archive http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...0-14-ISLA?v=hr

a similar 1954 view. hancock park is now booming, park la brea has been built, Gilmore stadium has been replaced with CBS Television City. Gilmore field is still there, (now the home of the Hollywood Stars minor league baseball team). Pan Pacific Auditorium is on the far right above center.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...-3-4-ISLA?v=hr
Source: USC Digital Archive http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...-3-4-ISLA?v=hr

a 1936 view looking across the entry plaza of the Pan Pacific Auditorium

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics45/00042482.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics45/00042482.jpg

dining cafe area inside the pan pacific auditorium

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012612.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012612.jpg

the folks who would be serving you in the dining cafe

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012585.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012585.jpg

the folks who would be parking your car at the pan pacific auditorium

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012588.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012588.jpg

a 1986 image of the entry facade

http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/ima...caleFactor=1.2
Source: UCLA Digital Collection http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/ima...caleFactor=1.2

some of the events held at the pan pacific;

basketball

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012601.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012601.jpg

Ice show

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics45/00042483.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics45/00042483.jpg

musical concerts

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012598.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012598.jpg

Auto shows

http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/ima...caleFactor=1.2
Source: UCLA Digital Collection http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012594.jpg

indoor track motorcycle racing

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012602.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012602.jpg

Ice Skating

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012599.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012599.jpg

radio show broadcasts - (queen for a day....the most depressing show ever conceived.....)

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012584.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012584.jpg

Tennis

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012600.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics06/00012600.jpg

political fund raising events - 1952 dinner rally for IKE)

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics28/00048797.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics28/00048797.jpg

Horse Shows

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...285-009~7?v=hr
Source: USC Digital Archives http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...285-009~7?v=hr

oh... and here's a 1957 photo of some youngster playing music at the pan pacific

http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/...s/57/dog_6.jpg
Source: Elvis Presley Music Australia http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/...s/57/dog_6.jpg

a great article about the auditorium can be found by clicking here

^^^WOW, those Pan-Pacific photos are great gsjansen (esp. the interior shots)
Your post really brought the place back to life.

I didn't realize "Los Angeles Plays Itself" is on YouTube. Thanks for bringing that to our attention mdiederi.