noirish Los Angeles

[riichkay]

Here's a really tough mystery location, photo is via Flickr....




No info on this one other than the year, 1931.....the commercial building on the corner appears to be of recent vintage....note the children partially obstructed by a young tree, photo right.

[HenryHuntington]

Originally Posted by riichkay

Here's a really tough mystery location, photo is via Flickr....




No info on this one other than the year, 1931.....the commercial building on the corner appears to be of recent vintage....note the children partially obstructed by a young tree, photo right.

A Google Lens search led to the Forgotten Los Angeles group on Facebook. Rather than being redundant, I just want to point out that we're looking down Hicks Ave. across City Terrace Dr. and that the photo was part of a series taken by Dick Whittington. Much more here...

https://www.facebook.com/ForgottenMadnes...e-dr-north-hicks-ave-ba/824686993094626/

Thanks for posting the photo, riichkay.

[Flyingwedge]

Here are the Oxford Avenue homes on the 1921 Sanborn Map:



ProQuest via LAPL


This is the whole block:



"Residential Street, Los Angeles" @ UCLA


504 moved to 641 E. Imperial Hwy 1953 but then torn down 1962
508 built 1912 - demo 1957
512 demo 1957
520 built 1915 - demo 2008 (as daycare center; partially visible at center in front of the brick building in this July 2007 GSV)
526 demo 1930
534 demo 1986
538 built 1912 - demo 1965
544 demo 1962


Here is a closer look at 504, 508, 512, 520, and 526:




The same for 534, 538, and 544:




The Sanborn Map was off in a few details so I wasn't 100% sure the photo showed the 500 block of Oxford until I came across this 1926 shot of 534:



UC12187807 @ USC Digital Library


What is that on either end of the gable . . . just a decoration?

[unihikid]

Originally Posted by HossC

My guess is one of the rear windows of the Security Trust and Savings Building on the corner of Hollywood and Cahuenga Boulevards. Here's as close as I could get to duplicating the view (the Security Trust and Savings Building is in the lower left corner).


Google Maps

The two-story motorcourt apartments are still there. I'm sad but not surprised the craftsman style one next door didn't survive.

[KevinW]

So my documentary, The Price of Progress , LAX and its Neighbors, about the Neighborhoods around LAX taken through eminent domain is playing at the Culver City Film Festival this weekend. Sunday, Dec 7th, 10 am at the Culver Theater, 9500 Culver Blvd. It’s a really in depth look into the history of Playa del Rey and LAX. This group would love it.

[ethereal_reality]

That's great, KevinW! I wish I lived close enough to go see it.

Good luck, buddy.

[ethereal_reality]

.
I just happened upon this amazing photograph on eBay



eBay..$79.33

It's a print so perhaps we've seen it before on NLA but it's so cool I thought I'd post it anyway.

Hmmmm, is that a decorative faux-oil well at midblock? And what does it say on it. . .MORD?... :what: ...oops. ha ha.......I meant - - - - > : shrug :





. . and of course this sign caught my eye.


I thought you bought tickets onboard the trolley.
.

[Lorendoc]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
I just happened upon this amazing photograph on eBay



eBay..$79.33

It's a print so perhaps we've seen it before on NLA but it's so cool I thought I'd post it anyway.

Hmmmm, is that a decorative faux-oil well at midblock? And what does it say on it. . .MORD?... :what: ...oops. ha ha.......I meant - - - - > : shrug :





. . and of course this sign caught my eye.


I thought you bought tickets onboard the trolley.
.

Yes you posted this pic not too long ago (page 3069) and there were replies. The vertical sign says "Desmonds" as in the department store.

[ethereal_reality]

.
Thanks a lot, Lorendoc.
.

[odinthor]

What I like about this image is that--unlike the prettified views we see on postcards or the likes of architectural renderings or advertisements--we get a feel for how it really was to be on the street in L.A. at that time: Well-dressed ladies shopping, men chatting, delivery trucks stopped to deliver, people going about the everyday doings of a city street, while up above there's a spiderweb of cables and lines--a real slice of life.

[ethereal_reality]

Thanks for your comment, odinthor. ... You made me feel better about my mistake.

.

[Martin Pal]

Never hurts to revisit anything on NLA. IMO.

[Scott Charles]

I was watching The Asphalt Jungle (1950) last night.

Every website says the movie was filmed in Cincinnati, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky, but there are clearly some shots that were taken in LA. For example, at one point you can clearly see the United Artists theater on Broadway.

Here's a panorama I created in Photoshop. Note the LA Times building off in the distance.



What intersection appears in the photograph, where the cop car is turning? Is this First St. and Olive St.? I believe that's Fort Hill peaking out on the left.

What about the building on the right? It looks like it says something like Rolex Apartments...

[odinthor]

Scott Charles, that's the Dolen Apartments:


1940 Los Angeles CD

Previously, since about 1909, they had been the Nolen/Nolan Apartments.

[Scott Charles]

Thank you, Odinthor!

(is that a lady or mannequin in the window of the Dolen?)

[Lorendoc]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
Thanks a lot, Lorendoc.
.

No worries, I'm pretty sure I've posted some repeats myself. I agree with odinthor's comments about the grittiness of it all.

[ethereal_reality]

.
I just happened upon this somewhat confusing photograph on eBay



eBay

What immediately caught my eye was the fancy-schmancy pylon that has MOVING on it. I don't recall ever seeing before....




& here's a close-up where the arrow is pointing.



I believe it's just a billboard advertising the school.


Oh, and in the far distance is a pretty good view of the Park LaBrea Apartments. And if you look closely there appears to be something on top of them.
Does anyone know off hand when the apartments were built? . . because I think what we may be seeing are construction cranes. (that would be cool ..)

Here's a wider angle of the whole complex.




The seller dates the photograph 1948.

.

[ethereal_reality]

.
Well, this place seems several decades ahead of its time.




eBay Fun Map!


I wonder if Jack ever opened that string of Tofu Drive-INs he was thinking about?

.

[odinthor]

We've had previous mentions of the Nolen:

Message #35542 (Hoss)

Message #59651 (e_r, with nice postcard)

Message #59653 (odinthor)

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.[...]
Oh, and in the far distance is a pretty good view of the Park LaBrea Apartments. And if you look closely there appears to be something on top of them.
Does anyone know off hand when the apartments were built? . . because I think what we may be seeing are construction cranes. (that would be cool ..)
_______________________________________________________________

According to information on the L.A. Conservancy website:

1941: Construction began on the initial low-rise garden buildings.
1944: First residents moved into the garden apartments, with materials limited due to World War II.
Post-War 1944-48: The master plan was revised to include high-rise towers to meet housing demand.
1952: The entire project was completed with the final tower opening.

It was developed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) and remains one of the largest housing developments on the West Coast, featuring 18 towers and numerous garden buildings.