noirish Los Angeles

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by Bristolian

I remember Johnny Carson once saying he was in a film that was so bad, it was the only one ever transferred from safe film to highly flammable nitrocellulose.

[Earl Boebert]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

Interesting stuff, nealberke!

The tortoiseshell pickguards on Fender guitars used to be made of nitrocellulose back in the 60s.

[snip]

Fountain pens were made of it up to the early 1940's.

Cheers,

Earl

[Lwize]

Originally Posted by odinthor

And another predecessor was:


LA Times, 2/23/1902

I had to look this up, since I'm not familiar with turn-of-the-other-century common ailments.

It seems they are referring to hernias, which were a taboo subject, and trusses were only a mechanical band-aid for the problem. People wanted a CURE!

[nealberke]

I hadn't heard the pick story in years. It makes sense now that we know what picks were made from.

Here's how Kodak and other makers of X-Ray and motion picture film stock made their products. This YouTube video filmed at Kodak Park, Rochester, New York was made in the 1920's and it is an eye opener. Bales of cotton are washed and then mixed with nitric acid and spun out, dried and washed again. With acid removed the treated cotton is mixed with methanol and made into "dope" that is put on wheels to make film base. Kodak's plant used 12 million gallons of water a day pumped in from Lake Ontario, 6 miles from the plant then discharged wastewater containing acid and other wastes into the Genesee River. Workers were "protected" from nitric a acid fumes by a primitive suction system that collected the vapors and sent them to 366 foot high stacks. Protective gear was seemingly lacking. Where are the face sheilds for those working with acidified cotton? Why are some workers not protected from cotton dust? How did they keep the plant free of nitrocellulose dusts that could cause fires? Here's the link to the YOUTUBE.COM video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_dbAXUJaNA

[Mstimc]

Quoted in error

[Mstimc]

[QUOTE=odinthor;8951378]I don't believe that NLA has visited the Canton Cafe, which was at 527 S. Main for about a year, mostly or completely in 1911. It was accused of certain liquor law violations (selling booze without accompanying food, as well as to minors).


odinthor collection

I wonder what accounts for the odd shape of the interior space, evidently narrowing (or shifting?) towards the rear...?
[QUOTE]


I love some of the furniture pieces in this photo. The Chinese-style benches on the right are gorgeous and show the Asian-inspired roots of the Craftsman style in the flow the arms. And the Art Nouveau plant stands have great lines.

[bboyelsereno]

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

I'm thinking it's the corner of Lowell(and Concord) and Alhambra, it's now the El Sereno Arroyo Playground. Here's the aerial via FrameFinder from May 1960:

Yep. Our house is located on the hill in the background.

[ethereal_reality]

.
Here is another Edward Weston photograph that I thought you might like to see.

It shows half a log cabin on the backlot of 20th Century Fox in 1940.


sotheby's

It's rather strange how the cabin is sliced off at the top. It gives the impression the cabin is superimposed.






Here's a closer look.


sotheby's

I believe the large building between the partitions is the back side of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.


.

[Albany NY]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
Here is another Edward Weston photograph that I thought you might like to see.

It shows half a log cabin on the backlot of 20th Century Fox in 1940.


sotheby's

It's rather strange how the cabin is sliced off at the top. It makes the cabin superimposed.






Here's a closer look.


sotheby's

I believe the large building between the partitions is the back side of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.


.

If I'm not mistaken, it looks as if the wall of the cabin is simply a painting on a flat surface, while the "porch" seems to be real. Notice how the shadows on the window and door are from a different direction than the shadows around the porch and railing. Just a guess.

[odinthor]

The architect Edward Neisser (sometimes erroneously spelled "Neissen" elsewhere) was mentioned in the clipping pertaining to the building the Canton Cafe was in.

On a whim, I thought it might be interesting to look at some of his work. And so, in no particular order:

_______

2116 Portland Street:


GSV


source credit in image

_______

2624 Van Buren:


GSV

Neisser is listed in the LA Herald of 7/26/1903 as the architect for this residence.

_______

"West side of Burlington avenue, between Ninth and Tenth":


LA Herald, 5/4/1901



LA Herald, 5/4/1901

_______

348 South Boyle:


GSV


LA Herald, 9/27/1903

_______

131-133 South Los Angeles Street:


LA Times, 7/27/1902

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here's a closer look.


sotheby's

I believe the large building between the partitions is the back side of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.


.

And city hall on the left. That's an interesting pic. I never really thought of Century City being on a hill. That photo must have been taken somewhere in this vicinity: https://goo.gl/maps/mM9n2Hn2vKG4hgej9

[ethereal_reality]

.

Hay & Van Vranken....and... Norton & Hay

"William H. Hay(1864-1946) developed and subdivided Encino, San Fernando Valley, and West Hollywood.

One of his partners was C.E. Norton, another D.A. Van Vranken."



"Two original photographs from the 1900s showing the businesses of William Hamilton Hay and various partners in land development."

Let's look at the amazing exterior photograph of 'Hay and Van Vranken' first.... As you can see the storefront is adorned with bunting, flags and a large photograph.


eBay

The eBay seller says the decorations are in honor of President Mckinley after his assassination in 1901....Holy Toledo! This must be a rare photograph!




The 2nd photograph shows the interior of 'Norton & Hay'.



eBay

The odd angles and shadows in the upper right remind me of a German Expressionist film set.

The seller mentions the huge map of Los Angeles on the left wall. (she wishes she owned it) ....Me too!

And here is a closer look at the sign propped up on the floor.


DETAIL

The address is. . either. . 315 or 318 West Third Street.

As far as I know the address of 'Hay & Van Vranken' (top photo) is unknown.


LINK
.

[Mstimc]

Originally Posted by odinthor

2624 Van Buren:


GSV



348 South Boyle:


GSV

Great to see the houses so well-preserved, even if the curtains in the South Boyle house are a bit incongruous...

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Let's look at the amazing exterior photograph of 'Hay and Van Vranken' first.... As you can see the storefront is adorned with bunting, flags and a large photograph.


eBay


The seller mentions the huge map of Los Angeles on the left wall. (she wishes she owned it) ....Me too!


As far as I know the address of 'Hay & Van Vranken' (top photo) is unknown.

cdnc.ucr.edu - Los Angeles Herald 27 April 1902

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

And here is a closer look at the sign propped up on the floor.


DETAIL

The address is. . either. . 315 or 318 West Third Street.

The CDs of 1904 to 1906 list Norton & Hay at 318 W 3rd Street.

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by odinthor

The architect Edward Neisser (sometimes erroneously spelled "Neissen" elsewhere) was mentioned in the clipping pertaining to the building the Canton Cafe was in.

"West side of Burlington avenue, between Ninth and Tenth":


LA Herald, 5/4/1901

Louis Meyer's brother Alexander--they were principals in Meyer Bros, wholesale milliners—had recently moved into 937 S Burlington next door...a new house he'd just bought from developer George W. Stimson. (Neisser also built a store building for the Meyers on Broadway between 5th & 6th sts. in 1903-- haven't dig for a picture of it.) Both 933 and 937 were demo'ed in 1968.

The owner cited on the 1968 demo permits is the Olympian Motor Hotel, around the corner at 1903 W Olympic, which was apparently seeking parking space and which I don't think we've seen before. (The Bonnie Brae Apartments at 930 S Bonnie Brae weren't built until 1972--the sites of the Meyer bro's houses seem to be part of that building's parking lot.)


LAPL

LAPL




Pinterest


ebay

[ethereal_reality]

.


I have always had an interest in cheesy motel bars (no doubt from watching too many episodes of Mannix and Cannon growing up)
It seems that motel bars are, more often than not, havens for dirty deals and prostitution. (I watched too many episodes of The Rockford Files too)

The interior of the Olympia Motor Hotel's Zodiac Room in GW's brochure caught my eye.


DETAIL

^ ^ note the wide-screen tv.

matchbook / ebay


I was surprised to find out the Zodiac Room had its own large neon sign. (see below)



heather david/flickr

The stylized 'Grecian' lettering is έπακρο! ............................................(GREAT!)

Luckily, the sign was saved from a scrap heap by one Eric Lynxwiler and it can now be found at the Museum of Neon Art in nearby Glendale.


My question is:
Where was the Zodiac Room sign in situ? Was it above the entrance to the bar?
I don't recall seeing it in any vintage photographs of the place. (probably because I wasn't looking for it)



Thanks odinthor for leading us here in a round-a-bout way. (and of couse GW too)
.

[ScottyB]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.


I have always had an interest in cheesy motel bars (no doubt from watching too many episodes of Mannix and Cannon growing up)
It seems that motel bars are, more often than not, havens for dirty deals and prostitution. (I watched too many episodes of The Rockford Files too)

The interior of the Olympia Motor Hotel's Zodiac Room in GW's brochure caught my eye.


DETAIL

^ ^ note the wide-screen tv.

Thanks odinthor for leading us here in a round-a-bout way. (and of couse GW too)
.

"Dignity" was certainly the first word that came to my mind.....great brochure, GW!

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

heather david/flickr

The stylized 'Grecian' lettering is έπακρο! ............................................(GREAT!)

Luckily, the sign was saved from a scrap heap by one Eric Lynxwiler and it can now be found at the Museum of Neon Art in nearby Glendale.


My question is:
Where was the Zodiac Room sign in situ? Was it above the entrance to the bar?
I don't recall seeing it in any vintage photographs of the place. (probably because I wasn't looking for it)

Here's a 1958 permit plan for the placement of a Zodiac Room sign.



ladbsdoc.lacity.org

[Bristolian]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

I have always had an interest in cheesy motel bars (no doubt from watching too many episodes of Mannix and Cannon growing up)
It seems that motel bars are, more often than not, havens for dirty deals and prostitution. (I watched too many episodes of The Rockford Files too)

The interior of the Olympia Motor Hotel's Zodiac Room in GW's brochure caught my eye.

I'm right there with you, e_r. I also think any bar that calls itself a "Room" is going to be interesting. The previously discussed Alabi Room on Washington Bl. has to be about as good as it gets when it comes to bar names.