noirish Los Angeles

[Lorendoc]

See below.

[Lorendoc]

Photo #3 rang a bell.



In 2017 MichaelRyerson posted a similar view of the controversial statue of Fray Serra on the traffic island at Spring and Sunset/Cesar Chavez, looking a bit more to the southwest:
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And here is a current GSV:

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Lorendoc

Photo #2 is the corner of Allison Ave and Sunset Bl.




The building on the right is still there today.


GSV

Excellent before & after Lorendoc. Impressive





I have a mystery location!


eBay

As you can see it says. .

MR. MICHEL'S..STORE ...Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles.


Help!

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[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Noir_Noir

The National Editorial Association held their 1892 Annual Convention in San Francisco on May 23th-25th.

On a Californian jaunt to get there, they stopped off in Los Angeles for an evening reception at the Chamber of Commerce on May 17th.

Next day May 18th 1892, after a drive about town, they had lunch in the grounds of Judge Charles Silent's residence at 711 West Adams (later 4 Chester Place).



cdnc.ucr.edu - Los Angeles Herald, 18 May 1892


That's where the picture was taken.


digitallibrary.usc.edu

I almost missed your post !!


Thanks for solving the National Editorial Assoc. mystery location Noir Noir.

Excellent sleuthing.
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[ethereal_reality]

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STOP THE PRESSES!




I just found a 2nd photograph of MR. MICHEL'S STORE.


eBay

But it looks like a different building. (actually it's attached to the building in the first photo)


You can go HERE to see the 1st photograph again.


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[ProphetM]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
STOP THE PRESSES!




I just found a 2nd photograph of MR. MICHEL'S STORE.


eBay

But it looks like a different building. (actually it's attached to the building in the first photo)


You can go HERE to see the 1st photograph again.


.

None of the 5 buildings in the two photographs appear to be the same. There are similarities but also significant differences.

[Lorendoc]

Originally Posted by ProphetM

None of the 5 buildings in the two photographs appear to be the same. There are similarities but also significant differences.

I agree, ProphetM. The Euclid-Lorena branch of the California Bank was built in 1924 per the assessor, and was in operation until sometime in the late 50s per city directories. The address was 2825 Whittier Blvd. Those buildings have undergone significant alteration.

[]
GSV

[Noir_Noir]

The California Bank Euclid-Lorena branch was at 2914 Whittier Blvd for a while in the 1920s.



rescarta.lapl.org


2914 is still there with just a little bit knocked off above the doorway.



Google Street View

[Lorendoc]

Good catch NN! The move was in 1924.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I just found a 2nd photograph of MR. MICHEL'S STORE.


eBay

At 2916 Whittier Boulevard, next to the bank, the window sign says "George's Cafe". From the mid-20s to the mid-30s the CDs show a restaurant owned by George R Amidon. Still no sign of Mr Michel, so maybe he owned the building.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I have a mystery location!


eBay

As you can see it says. .

MR. MICHEL'S..STORE ...Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles.

Help!

I think that the small blade sign on the left says "TOGGERY". This has led me down some dead ends:

• USC have a 1925 picture of Johnson's Toggery at 5219 Whittier Boulevard.
• Tucker’s Toggery is at 3926 Whittier Boulevard in the 1928 CD.
• National Dollar Stores (previously China Toggery) opened a store at 4703 Whittier Boulevard in 1933.

These may all be too late, but while I wasn't necessarily expecting the buildings to still be standing, none of these locations seem to have the slight slope shown in the original photo.

The name "KNUTSON" on the window on the far left hasn't helped either!

[ProphetM]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I have a mystery location!


eBay

As you can see it says. .

MR. MICHEL'S..STORE ...Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles.


Help!

.

This *might* be 3010-3014 Whittier Blvd, just one block east of the other building. It's got the slope, and the heights of the buildings to the left and right both match the old photo. The front as 3 storefronts is correct, however if this is the right building, a second story has been added. The brickwork for the first floor matches, except for the jog in the rectangle accent bricks above the center store. But, this could have been altered to a straight rectangle upon addition of the second story. The addresses offer a bit of support for an addition as well - the 3 stores are 3010/3012/3014, but the buildings on either side are 3008 and 3016, leaving no whole numbers for the second floor, which was apparently shoehorned in as 3012 1/2. Unfortunately the building to the right has been heavily stuccoed, so there's no way to see if it had that little window corner flourish that is present at the right edge of the vintage photo. But it does have a front downspout matching the old photo.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dSeBBSj2DinXqvHU8

[ProphetM]

Some more support for the above building being 3010-3014 Whittier from Los Angeles city directories of the 1920s. None of it definitive though.

Let's start with 3016, the building to the left. It first shows up in 1923 under 'fuel & feed', then in 1924 switches to Asher Bailey selling dry goods. Asher evidently died and his widow Anna or Annie took over as of 1926. In a 1928 city directory it lists not only dry goods but also notions and sewing. In the old photo, "TIONS" is visible on the window which could be NOTIONS. I could find nothing with any Knutson name associated with this address however, so that part of the window lettering is still a mystery.

Now on to the main building. The addresses 3010/3012/3014 start appearing in 1924.

I couldn't find anything listed as a toggery for 3014 where the blade sign appears, nor anything before 1926 when Mollers & Mounts shows up as a meats retailer. By 1928 a printer starts appearing at that address.

In the middle storefront at 3012, the name Pearson shows up selling paints in 1924. The window in the old photo does have some products that may be paint cans. By 1926 there is a used clothing store here, and then 1927 and later a shoe repair business.

In the right storefront at 3010, the 1924 entry is for a 'Toilette Parlor' which is apparently a beauty parlor. The next year 'beauty parlor' starts being used. In 1928 it is a bakery.

The 1/2 numbers start appearing in 1928, first for a barber at 3010 1/2 (perhaps it shared the tail end of the beauty parlor business?). And then in 1930, 3012 1/2 first shows up as the Roma Apartments, lending credence to the idea that the second floor was possibly an addition. Today that address is the Lory Apartments, entered from the door which was once the front door of the storefront at 3014 in the old photo.

I also noticed that one block east there is a Michel Apartments appearing in 1924 and remains there today, at 3030-3036 Whittier. So perhaps this Mr. Michel of the two photos was indeed the owner of the properties and owned even more land along this stretch of Whittier Blvd.

So my best guess for the photo is 1924, with the 3-storefront building recently completed. A beauty parlor in the right-hand storefront (3010), Pearson Paints in the center space (3012 with paint cans in the window), an unknown toggery in the left-hand space (3014 with possibly ties and hats in the window), and the Bailey dry goods and notions business in the building at the left edge (3016). Perhaps Knutson was a brand name for some products they sold.

[ethereal_reality]

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Excellent research, ProphetM . .and thanks to everyone for the follow ups to the mystery pics. I appreciate it.

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[ethereal_reality]

Good news! A mystery location just popped up on eBay.


Here it is. An original 8 x 10 of the Hollywood Hills in the 1930s.


eBay

Does the area look familiar to any of you . . wonderful noirishers. ?





I have to ask because it's bugging me.

Is this. . .


It sure looks like it to me.

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[ethereal_reality]

STOP THE PRESSES!



I just happened upon a 2nd 8 x 10 from the same seller.


If my calcuations are correct:

& judging by the large retaining wall up in the hills this is a continuation of the 1st photograph - - > but to the right.






Get to work plebes wonderful noirishers.

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[HenryHuntington]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

STOP THE PRESSES!



I just happened upon a 2nd 8 x 10 from the same seller.


If my calcuations are correct:

& judging by the large retaining wall up in the hills this is a continuation of the 1st photograph - - > but to the right.






Get to work plebes wonderful noirishers.

.

________________________

My first cut at this location is that we're looking westward across Cahuenga Pass just north of the three-way intersection of Cahuenga Blvd., Woodrow Wilson Drive. and Mulholland Dr. before the Pass was reconstructed during 1939-40 for the initial segment of what became the Hollywood Fwy. Note (1) the PE tracks on private right-of-way and small shelter adjacent to the roadway and (2) the ascending slope of Woodrow Wilson Dr.

The freeway construction pushed Cahuenga Blvd. closer to the side of the Pass, and the vegetation that's filled in over the last 85 years has obscured some of the houses, but a Googlemobile trip up the hill revealed some Spanish Colonial Revival specimens extant, possibly in the right spots. I'll live with this assessment until proven incorrect (which has happened). What say y'all?

[UphillDonkey]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Good news! A mystery location just popped up on eBay.


Here it is. An original 8 x 10 of the Hollywood Hills in the 1930s.


eBay

Does the area look familiar to any of you . . wonderful noirishers. ?





I have to ask because it's bugging me.

Is this. . .


It sure looks like it to me.

.

Hollycrest Drive at Cahuenga Blvd. and Barham Blvd. The house with the garages still exists on Cahuenga and the spanish house with the tower still exists on Primera Ave.
The small bridge is actually steps that are partially extant.

[HenryHuntington]

While the steps look like they've been repaired, the house with the garages is definitive. Congrats, UphillDonkey!

[Scott Charles]

Well done, UphillDonkey!