noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

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Thanks for the answers on the 'mystery' submarine, Jungmann, Earl Boebert, Martin Pal and JMR. It's much appreciated.



Not to change the subject too abruptly, but take a look at these two original photographs of Chinatown taken in 1902. Yes, 1902!


eBay

Does anyone recognizes these building?




eBay

Simply amazing!


What's written on the back (the only difference between the two photographs is the number)


I hope more of the photographs turn up.



Here's how the two are listed on eBay.


eBay

[ethereal_reality]

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I just finished a NLA 'search' and I don't believe we have seen this image.

Color slide showing the Miramar Trailer Park, Santa Monica. (1930s?)



I imagine that this is the parking lot below the Miramar Hotel. (hence the name, Miramar)



My details are somewhat clearer than the image above.









Now, two super-duper close-ups.



From what I thought was a Sunday chapel is actually a refreshment stand. (note the Coca Cola sign)






The trailer park sign and a visitor.



Do you think that's the manager's truck?



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[Martin Pal]

Nice find; that's a great color slide, E_R.

I found this similar b&w photo of the park dated 1935, with lots more activity on the beach.

SMLocalHistory

So far at least, I have not been able to find any connection with the Miramar Hotel, except the name.

Info from the link reports:

In the 1930's, trailers could be spotted on Santa Monica Beach full of visitors enjoying the sand and surf. The Miramar Trailer park was located north of the pier in this photograph from 1935.

Douglas Aircraft experienced a boom during World War II, when the aircraft factory ran three shifts, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to meet production demands. At one time during the peak in employment in the mid-1940s, 44,000 people worked at the Santa Monica facility. With this massive influx of workers, demands for housing in the area grew resulting in zoning for residential housing up to the perimeter of the airport in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Trailer parks sprung up all around Santa Monica to accommodate workers. The two remaining trailer parks in the City are Village Trailer Park on Colorado Avenue and Mountain View Mobile Inn on Stewart Street.

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

Here's a business card I happened upon in an old file of mine.


originally found on eBay

What, pray tell, is a Steam Car?




For search purposes:...White Steam Cars - Eylar M. Fillmore - White Garage of Los Angeles - 806-816 South Olive St. - Home 10379 - Main 8133.

Here is a 1903 photo of L.A. resident Frank Garbutt and his family in their White Steam Car:



October 1903 The White Bulletin @ Hathitrust.org

I believe the above photo was taken in the driveway at the rear of the Garbutt home at 321 S. Alvarado. From left to right,
the wall behind the car, the window above the car's hood, and the angled walls and windows in the upper right seem to match
the area at the bottom of the three-story tower near the center of the photo below:

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

USCDL -- http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/si...id/1414/rec/98 [old, broken link]

[ethereal_reality]

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Thanks for the information Flyingwedge! I was hoping the car was more exotic looking.

Something like this perhaps . . . .

steampunksymposium





Two mystery locations for a Sunday afternoon.

I was going through files in an old computer of mine and happened upon the following 2 slides.



eBay - 2016

It's quite possible that we have seen this first slide. I looked for it on the thread using "betting" as the search word & found nothing related to slide.

oops. I just realized it says "Racing Sheets" on the sign and not 'Betting Sheets'.








But I'm pretty sure that we haven't seen the second slide.


eBay - 2016

I searched using "midway" as the search term and found nothing related to the slide.



SIDENOTE:

Earlier when I (incorrectly) searched using the word "betting" it led me back to a 2013 post on a place called "Gold Cup Handicap". At the time I thought it was a betting parlor but, in actuality, it was a room-sized arcade game! If you haven't seen it you can check it out Here.
.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Two mystery locations for a Sunday afternoon.

I was going through files in an old computer of mine and happened upon the following 2 slides.


eBay - 2016

It's quite possible that we have seen this first slide. .but I looked for it using 'betting' as the search word & found nothing related to slide. nada

oops. I just realized it says "Racing Sheets" and not 'Betting Sheets'.

The first is the corner of S Main and 7th Streets. The large building on the left is the extant Hotel Cecil. Even the stores haven't changed much. The liquor store is now a Mexican restaurant called Margarita's Place, but they've retained the arrow sign - see here.

[HossC]

It looks like you posted the Midway Market photo in 2016:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

This evening's 'mystery' location.


eBay

I'm really hoping the building with the Midway Market is still standing. -fingers crossed.

Here's my reply from back then:

Originally Posted by HossC

The City Directories list a Midway Market at 2039 W Pico Boulevard from the mid-50s to the mid-60s. That would mean we're looking at the S Alvarado Street side of the building - the 1268 number on the left is consistent with that, and the destination sign on the bus says "Alvarado". There was also a service station at 1300 S Alvarado Street during this time. Here's a 1964 aerial with the square market building at the center.


Historic Aerials

I haven't found any other pictures of the intersection to confirm this location. The building records suggest that the Midway Market building was previously a branch of Western Auto Supplies. They also show a demo permit dated 1992 (not available online). Assuming that I've found the right location, this is the view now.


GSV

[ethereal_reality]

re: Slide #1

Originally Posted by HossC

The liquor store is now a Mexican restaurant called Margarita's Place, but they've retained the arrow sign - see here.

Hoss, I looked at the slide again to see the arrow sign that you mentioned and in doing so I noticed the sign partially hidden behind the bus is also still there.



detail





And here's the sign in 2009.


GSV

I chose the 2009 view because the sign is harder to see (because of a tree) in later views.


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[badrunner]

That building dates from 1958 according to this handy interactive map.

Here it is in 1987:

• Video Link

[HossC]

I did laugh at the end when the police officer shouted "Everyone back from The Edge", but didn't mention the other band members.

[ethereal_reality]

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A mystery building.

This color slide was listed on eBay a couple of weeks ago.


eBay

Does anyone recognize it?



Here's how it was listed on eBay.





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[ethereal_reality]

.

I'm a bit confused by this photograph that just turned up on eBay






But this street is much too wide to be Ferguson Alley.






Here's the complete photograph.


eBay

.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

A mystery building.

This color slide was listed on eBay a couple of weeks ago.


eBay

Does anyone recognize it?

Here's how it was listed on eBay.

I should've recognized it because the pictures below are from one of my posts from 2014, but if I'm honest, I only realized we'd been there before when I went to save a new picture. It's 4759 Hollywood Boulevard.

Originally Posted by HossC

The property websites give a build date of 1976 for 4759 Hollywood Boulevard, but I think that must refer to the structure at the rear. I found this undated picture of the old Medical Arts Building which gives a build date of 1926 and says that the architect was Raphael A. Nicolais.


www.you-are-here.com

It looks better with the signage removed, although I'm undecided on the current color scheme.


GSV

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

I'm a bit confused by this photograph that just turned up on eBay






But this street is much too wide to be Ferguson Alley.

Here's the complete photograph.


eBay

.

e_r, you're surely right: That can't be Ferguson Alley. Even aside from the width of the thoroughfare, I believe that in the distance I see hills, which indicates to me that we are looking north-ish. That direction, plus the nature of the architecture, plus the gentle curve the way takes ahead, gives me a suspicion that we might be looking north on San Pedro St. in the 100 block (now Judge John Aito St.), where we see what looks to me like the same gentle curve . . .


gsv

but, researching around rather quickly, I can't find anything which either supports or denies this. And if in the distance those are not hills but just a shadowy big building . . . then never mind.

That one thing I first took to be a street tree . . . but it's more like a sign which has been festooned with branches. Most odd.

The building in the mid-distance (beyond the curve) in the old photo looks like a gas station, with an attached pergola (?) over where the pumps are.

Lots of guessing!

[ethereal_reality]

Thanks odinthor.

Originally Posted by odinthor

That one thing I first took to be a street tree . . . but it's more like a sign which has been festooned with branches. Most odd.

I agree. There's something odd going on with that 'tree'.


detail

Originally Posted by odinthor

The building in the mid-distance (beyond the curve) in the old photo looks like a gas station, with an attached pergola (?) over where the pumps are.

It most certainly could be a gas station. . .but I'm not 100% sure.




I'm surprised that I haven't been able to find the most distinction building in the photograph.

..............................................................This one.





I've even tried to find it with this aerial. (that we've seen before)


calhistoricalsociety

Description:

“Birdseye view of Los Angeles looking east from the City Hall tower at a proposed site for Union Station. Alameda Street can be seen cutting diagonally across the frame left to right. The buildings east of Alameda would be razed for Union Station,” ca. 1931. California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California, Title Insurance and Trust / C. C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860–1960

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

[...]

..............................................................This one.


[...]

Wait a minute, e_r. Is that a fire station? That looks like a fire station. Any Old L.A. Fire Station experts here?

[ScottyB]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

I'm a bit confused by this photograph that just turned up on eBay








But this street is much too wide to be Ferguson Alley.






Here's the complete photograph.


eBay

.

My two cents- judging by the shadow direction I would say we are looking ESE. Interesting gutter design....looks almost like a zanja (but likely not one). The odd-looking tree growing in one of the planters reminds me of a Loquat.

[ScottyB]

Could this be it?


HDL


The distinctive building is on the right, utility pole in right place.....Having trouble locating Apablasa (sp correct) on the 1910 Baist map....thought I knew where it was. Help!

Here's a view from Alameda.......... we'd be looking toward Union Station today I think.


LAT

and looking SW from Juan St.


HDL

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I'm surprised that I haven't been able to find the most distinction building in the photograph.

..............................................................This one.



I've even tried to find it with this aerial. (that we've seen before)


calhistoricalsociety

Description:

e_r, the c. 1933 photo below looks west on Apablasa. The break in the sidewalk at lower right is Cayetano Alley/Street. The
building in your red box and the one to its east are on the left in this image, and that tree is in the distance on the right above
the break in the sidewalk:



448851 @ Huntington Digital Library

In the distance, above the blurry pedestrian, the building with the writing ("SEE ON CO") is on the west side of Alameda.
In the aerial photo you posted, I think I see that building at the left edge, about 1/3 of the way down.

Two other photos of that block of Apablasa . . .

Looking west from Juan Street: 448859

Looking east toward Juan Street: 448867

Oh and here is a story about old Chinatown with an interactive map that I found very helpful.

P.S. You beat me to it, ScottyB!

[riichkay]

I think Scotty B. has this one identified correctly....




I believe this is Apalabasa St. looking west in 1911, with a good view of the "distinctive building"....image from a post here: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...54#post9449754

The only puzzlement is the apparent curvature of the street around to the left in e_r's original post....Apalabasa certainly appears dead straight here and in Scotty's photo.