Hi, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm new to this forum, and I'm currently getting acquainted by poring over this thread from top to bottom. It's engrossing and consistently amazing. I spend a lot of time browsing around the USC Digital Library, the LAPL Photo Collection, Historical Society, etc. But never have I seen such a well curated selection with such passionate and informative input from all of you!
So thank you! What treasures...
I don't want to show up empty handed, so to offer something that is hopefully new here (I searched for previous posts but came up empty): I'm a resident of "The Judson," one of those adaptive-reuse loft developments in Historic Core, Downtown Los Angeles. It's in the former Broadway Central Building, later known as the Judson C. Rives Building (a name perhaps familiar to folks on this thread).
The lovely structure--the tallest on the block--sits on Broadway between 4th and 5th, across the street from the old Broadway Department Store, and a block south of the Bradbury. It was built in 1906-07. I'm still studying its history, but I have a few terrific old photos of the place that I think would fit nicely in this thread. The first is from 1906, still under construction. Looking north on Broadway toward 4th. It's the tall building in the center of the shot:
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/re...coll65/id/1694
The next is from 1928, looking south on Broadway from 4th. It's the tall building on the left:
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/re...coll65/id/1801
The retail space on the ground floor is still occupied by a shoe store today! The Broadway Theatre was also located in this structure, and you can see its sign here. (The theatre space is no longer there, although what appear to be elements of the lobby remain inside our entryway).
Finally, a Dick Whittington view of the bustling intersection of 5th and Broadway from 1939, with the Judson C. Rives Building in the top center:
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/re...ll170/id/20477
All images are from the USC Digital Library's collections.
Anyway, just wanted to share these photos and say hello. Hope you enjoy them! And thanks again for the terrific thread.