noirish Los Angeles

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

Anyone who visits NLA been affected by the fires?

My power was out (here in Los Feliz, just a few blocks south of Los Feliz Blvd) for about a day and a half. The power was on went I went to bed on Wednesday night, and out when I woke up on Thursday morning.

What's worse though, was that I couldn't get online with my phone, due to the network being down. I had no idea what was going on, as I couldn't watch any kind of news.

I finally just walked outside and started asking passersby for information, just to find out what the devil was going on.

Text messaging didn't work, either, though I was eventually able to reach a friend in Northridge via telephone call.

A friend of mine got evacuated from his Hollywood Hills home, but thankfully, his abode was spared by the fires. He lives near the Hollywood Bowl.

This has been a terrible, tragic time for the denizens of Los Angeles. I feel extremely fortunate that I was only marginally affected.

I'm glad to hear that the rest of you made it through okay, and hope that the same goes for all LA-living members of Noirish LA.

[Scott Charles]

Though the skies were black with smoke, oddly enough, I couldn't smell anything. I usually get a splitting headache whenever there's a major fire in LA, due to the smoke, but not this time.

I'm not sure why I could so clearly see the smoke but not smell it. Maybe the wind was blowing in the opposite direction?

The traffic lights weren't working, so they had police officers directing traffic at the intersections. The officers left once it got dark, and were replaced by traffic cones so that people would stop before going through the intersection.

In the brief time I was outdoors that night, I saw at least three cars blast through the intersection without stopping at all, going at around 50MPH. What effing morons, they could have easily killed someone.

Franklin and Vermont:


7/11 at Franklin and Vermont got their power back very quickly, those of us north of Franklin weren't so lucky. Since the cellular networks were down, 7/11 was unable to process any debit card transactions.



Here's a zoomed-in section of a photo I took, looking towards Pasadena, you can see how dark the skies were:



It was a surreal experience, looking up Vermont Ave and seeing not a single electric light that night, not in the streets nor up in the hills...

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

.

((( ScottyB & EJ )))

--

Unfortunately I've been reading so much babble about the fires here from people outside CA that don't know what they're talking about, trying to make it political, pointing blame all over the place. It's pretty disgusting. When hurricanes were ravaging the east coast last year I didn't see that about the hurricanes (though bad actors were doing it toward FEMA and relief efforts by the Government).

Originally Posted by ScottyB

Yes, it's very sad that a natural disaster becomes an opportunity for fellow humans to spew hatred. I used to check Twitter/X for actual information, and would expect to have to sift through the occasional bot and troll posts, but now it seems that's the majority of posts there. Social media without any controls is a recipe for social disaster.

Oh gosh I've been surprised and downright offended at some of the comments I've seen on the internet about the Los Angeles fires. Like you said, Martin, during the hurricanes last year, or even in general when floods and tornadoes hit whatever state or area in the US, nobody makes political comments, or that those people deserve it, or that it's "God's wrath against the wicked."

But whatever. I've been ignoring the comments.

____________________________________________________________


I don't know if this picture has been posted before on this thread, but here's a then and now...

From the Historical Los Angeles Facebook page, 5198 Alameda Street in Vernon, 1930:


The building still exists, with silos added on, though I don't know when those were added. This, from Google Street View:

[Lwize]

'Light My Fire' was written in Pacific Palisades home that burned - Los Angeles Times


In 1967, Robby Krieger, the guitarist for L.A. band the Doors, wrote the hit single “Light My Fire” in the living room of his parents’ Pacific Palisades home. This week, nearly six decades later, the lyrics took on a disturbing resonance as the structure where the music originated burned to the ground.

The home on Alma Real Drive has been owned for the last 24 years by Claudio and Kathleen Boltiansky. On Thursday, after each lugged a 60-pound electric bicycle up the locally known Hillside-Vance “secret” stairs, the couple were able to gain access to their street in the Huntington Palisades.

Two days prior, when the devastating wildfire first erupted, Claudio had set up a security camera in the backyard to monitor the blaze. By the time the power went out on Tuesday night, he could see that the homes neighboring his appeared to be engulfed in flames. Still, the Argentine immigrant, who owns a fine French antiques shop in West Adams, remained hopeful.

This was not only the home where the Doors famous song was written. It was where Claudio, 61, sometimes hosted his buddies for their monthly poker games with a $60 bucket. Where his son and daughter used to catch their school bus. Where the mantle proudly displayed a vintage photograph of Kathleen’s grandparents on the day they became engaged.

Now it was gone. “It would be one thing to just lose our house, but the biggest loss we’re feeling is our whole community,” said Kathleen, 56 and an interior designer. “It’s never going to be the same.”

As they’ve struggled to absorb their new reality, the Boltianskys said they’ve been disappointed by the prevailing narrative that the Palisades as a solely affluent community.

“The misconception people have about the Palisades is that they think that everybody’s rich,” said Claudio. “People should know that this is not Beverly Hills, which has always been expensive. Before the 2000s, the Palisades was a very affordable neighborhood like any part of Los Angeles.”

“People that have been there for 20 to 30 years are people that are hard workers — plumbers, electricians, small-business owners. Yes, rich people live there, but so do hardworking, real people who were fortunate to buy at the right time and rode it all the way up to Ben Affleck moving in nearby.”

On Monday, Claudio is organizing a lunch at Fogo de Chão to gather with a handful of other men from the Palisades, the majority of whom also lost their homes. Most of them became friends when their kids were in preschool. “We need community right now — not money. People need to know that others care and are suffering with them at the same time.”

In a few years, he hopes he’ll be able to start hosting low-stakes 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 gatherings at the home he rebuilds on Alma Real. He and Kathleen are unwavering about that — they will return.

“We’re going to rebuild it as our forever home,” she said. “But Pali Strong is about community, and community is not the houses or the shops. It’s the people. We pray that will come back.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story...ic-palisades-home-that-went-up-in-flames

[Martin Pal]

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Dodger Stadium is nearly equidistant from the major fires burning and this is what it looked like at that location yesterday.


Robert Gauthier L.A. Times

[Mstimc]

We live in Westchester a couple miles north of LAX and about 8 miles south of the Palisades fire. Yesterday I woke up to ashes all over. Those were from the Altadena fire 30 miles away. To think those little piles of ash are all that's left of thousands of peoples' homes and businesses.

[Lwize]

The ash levels change with the wind. Some days my car was clean, others lightly covered in ash.

I'm 7 or so miles east of the Palisades, and my car is parked outdoors over night - no garage .

[Martin Pal]

We need some new refreshing photos posted of past snowfall in Los Angeles.

[ethereal_reality]

.

I happened upon a YouTube video that was very informative. (and as it turns out emotional)

The man knows Los Angeles like the back of his hand. (he points out the areas within Pacific Palisades that I never knew existed)

For instance. . .these areas.







He also drives his aunt to see if her home survived while the fires were still burning nearby. (he tends to go on & on about his family - but it's kind of sweet)

And here's the best part:..He doesn't BLAME anyone for the fire -unlike the truly despicable people on social media (you know who I'm talking about),,I've never seen such hatred towards a city. It breaks my heart.

• Video Link




I recommend watching the whole video but if you're feeling impatient the naming of the areas within Pacific Palisades begins at around 4:50.
For search purposes:,,Arvin Haddad
.

[sadykadie2]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

I happened upon a YouTube video that was very informative. (and as it turns emotional)

The man knows Los Angeles like the back of his hand - and he points out the areas within Pacific Palisades that I never knew existed.


For instance. . .







The naming of the areas within Pacific Palisades begins at around 4:50...
He then drives his aunt to see if her home survived while the fires were still burning near her residencial area. (he tends to go on & on about his family - but it's kind of sweet)


He looks mean, but, as far as I know he isn't.
• Video Link

AND this is the best part. He doesn't BLAME anyone for the fire!

. . .unlike the truly despicable people on social media who enjoy the suffering Los Angeles is going through. (you know who I'm talking about)

I've never seen such hatred towards a city. It breaks my heart.

.

We, in California don't spew this garbage toward the states that had recent flooding.

[AlvaroLegido]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

I don't know if this picture has been posted before on this thread, but here's a then and now...

From the Historical Los Angeles Facebook page, 5198 Alameda Street in Vernon, 1930:


The building still exists, with silos added on, though I don't know when those were added. This, from Google Street View:

The first building on the left is a small Art Deco survivor. Somewhat surprising in that industrial area.

[Martin Pal]

In my neck of the woods...A week ago this morning on Sunset Blvd. and La Cienega right before the Palisades Fire got under way...

A brushfire in West Hollywood shut down Sunset Boulevard, creating traffic jams and a temporary power outage on the Sunset Strip. The fire occurred
on the 8400 Block of Sunset Boulevard on Tuesday morning near La Cienega Boulevard around 9:50 am. Sunset Blvd. vehicles were detoured to Santa
Monica Blvd. creating traffic problems until the brushfire was contained by 12 p.m., as news revealed a much bigger brush fire happening at Pacific Palisades.

I was out in the wind at the time going to an appointment and the crazy headwinds doubled the time it took me to walk where I was going.

Photos:


thepridela

WeHoTimes


You can see the Sunset Tower aka the St. James Club on the Strip in the background.

WeHoTimes

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.And here's the best part:..He doesn't BLAME anyone for the fire -unlike the truly despicable people on social media (you know who I'm talking about),,I've never seen such hatred towards a city. It breaks my heart.
_______________________________________________________________

Thanks for that video, E_R. It's my opinion the hatred isn't towards L.A. - it's that they really hate themselves. Or am I being generous.
______

[Martin Pal]

Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show last night and in the first minute he shows some footage taken from the street below the Sunset Fire where his show is done.
I hadn't seen any footage like that before, only aerial footage.

• Video Link

There are a few photos I've seen, though.

Capitol Records Bldg.


sikoralife/Instagram


This is the church at Highland Ave. and Franklin. (I discovered, not long ago, that The Enchantment Under the Sea Dance in Back to the Future was filmed in the church!)


highcontrast.la/Instagram


The Magic Castle nearby down Franklin from the church...


WildAboutHarry


Taken in West Hollywood near La Cienega and Santa Monica Blvd. between the CVS and Emser Tile (Bekins) Bldg.


WeHoTimes

Post from the Bowl:

Instagram

[Martin Pal]

.

The first paragraph of Raymond Chandler's short story:


Red Wind

There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of a carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

The first paragraph of Raymond Chandler's short story:
Red Wind

Here's the whole story if one is interested:
https://delong.typepad.com/files/red-wind.pdf

[Martin Pal]

2015 post:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

It's so great that the Demille Barn has survived. If I remember correctly, it's now over by the Hollywood Bowl. I am sure we covered it's relocation in the early pages of NLA....but I haven't found the posts yet.
________________________________________________________________________

The DeMille Barn

--It was built in 1901 by Colonel Robert Northam as a horse stable.
--In 1912, the barn was leased to Harry Revier and LL Burns to be converted into a film studio and lab.
--In 1913, Cecil B. DeMille, Jesse Lasky, and Samuel Goldwyn rented the barn to film The Squaw Man, DeMille's first feature-length film.
--In 1914, DeMille bought the barn from Revier and Burns.
--In 1927, the barn was moved to Paramount Studios.
--The barn was used as a film set, research library, conference area, and gymnasium. Cecil B. DeMille also had his office there.
--In 1956, the barn was dedicated as "Hollywood's First Major Film Company Studio".
--Hollywood Heritage was founded in 1980 to address the preservation, restoration and maintenance of early Hollywood treasures. The first major success was acquiring, in February, 1983, and then moving and restoring the Lasky-DeMille Barn, opening it in 1985 as its museum. It was dedicated on December 13, 1985.

Hollywood Heritage sent this email out today:

LOS ANGELES WILDFIRE IMPACT

As Los Angeles comes to grips with the losses, in lives, property and communities that were consumed in the catastrophic fires that broke out last week, few areas
of our civic life have been untouched by this terrible tragedy. Hollywood Heritage offers its deepest condolences to those who have been directly impacted by this
devastation.

We are overwhelmed by the number of caring messages that came in to Hollywood Heritage from near and far to inquire about the status of the Lasky DeMille Barn,
Hollywood's last extant early studio, during the CA wildfires. We were extremely fortunate that the Sunset Fire never reached us and is in extinguished status. The Barn
remains standing and safe. However, the exceptionally dry climate and Santa Ana winds remain a chronic threat. We remain vigilant in protecting this precious artifact
from the early days of filmmaking in Hollywood and will be calling on our community to help.

Central Hollywood itself was briefly threatened by the Sunset Fire, which broke out in Runyon Canyon causing the evacuation of several of our historic communities
including Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Heights and Whitley Heights. The Wattles Mansion also survived the Sunset Fire, although the Japanese Garden burned. Yamashiro
Restaurant and the Magic Castle are also safe. The fire did not make it south of Hollywood Boulevard, nor did it consume the Hollywood Sign. Beware the sensationalist,
completely false AI images that are circulating. We are deeply saddened by the loss of the Will Rogers home in the Palisades Fire. We were glad to hear that the Thelma Todd's
Sidewalk Cafe building on Pacific Coast Highway is safe.

The Los Angeles Conservancy is currently compiling a growing list of historic properties that have been lost in the Palisades and Eaton Fires (Link: HERE) and is seeking more information about other threatened landmarks in the vicinities of the fires. They are also seeking preservation architects, structural engineers and those in related fields who will help pro bono or at reduced fees, to rebuild our communities. The same link (above) will get you to information on that initiative. The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles has compiled a list of resources that fire victims or those who want to aid fire victims, can consult.

We are enormously and forever grateful to our first responders who fought valiantly to suppress the Sunset Fire and safely evacuate thousands of Hollywood residents to safety. We wish them and their compatriots, now with many fire crews from out of state as well as other countries, a safe and swift end to these conflagrations.

Hollywood Heritage is a community of local preservationists, historians, and collectors, whose main mission is the preservation of Hollywood’s built and cultural heritage. We know that aside from war, fire is the most destructive of threats to our historic resources, be they built heritage, collections or intangible heritage such as legacy businesses and even people, our artists and storytellers.

The continued lack of humidity and high winds are a dangerous combination that can impact any part of the city at any moment. We urge you to be vigilant in reporting any smoke or fire, and even open vacant and neglected buildings, which are a major source of accidental fire to the fire department and your council office.
___

This photo is from last summer when I was there for the Out With the Stars exhibit.


.
Patch.com

[ethereal_reality]

.
MYSTERY HOLE.

I just happened upn this odd photograph on eBay.

The seller's description is "Bottom of Mine ODD Weird Vintage Photo Los Angeles CA"


eBay

I initially thought the people at the bottom were workers but on closer inspection they appear to be tourists!


Let's take a closer look.


detail


Obviously the 'hole' isn't in L.A. proper. .. I imagine it's . .um. .somewhere else.

Does anyone know what we're looking at?


.

[ScottyB]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
MYSTERY HOLE.

I just happened upn this odd photograph on eBay.

The seller's description is "Bottom of Mine ODD Weird Vintage Photo Los Angeles CA"


eBay

I initially thought the people at the bottom were workers but on closer inspection they appear to be tourists!


Let's take a closer look.


detail


Obviously the 'hole' isn't in L.A. proper. .. I imagine it's . .um. .somewhere else.

Does anyone know what we're looking at?


.

No, but there's more donkeys!

[knapford]

First time poster here; long time reader of this great forum...please excuse errors in posting etiquette.

I was reading about some seedy characters over at the Homestead Blog from this post:

https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2025/01/17/...eriff-william-i-traeger-17-january-1927/



Any images of the Bon Ton Dance Hall in Venice?

Thx.