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  #1741  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2026, 8:02 PM
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Originally Posted by ethereal_reality View Post

Mystery location II.

"Argo's Coffee Shop sign, Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, California"


eBay

I hope the mutant chicken has survived.
Most of these recent images seem to be from the John Margolies "Roadside America" collection which cropped up a month or two ago with 1970s gas station photos.

Argo's Coffee Shop was at 7853 Santa Monica Boulevard, but appears to be long gone. The rooster, however, looks like it might have been an off-the-shelf sign. There was another one on Father's Also Tavern in Redlands (also gone). I did find a survivor on Donahoo's Golden Chicken at 1074 North Garey Avenue, Pomona. It appears to be the same design as the one at Argo's.


GSV
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  #1742  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2026, 8:46 PM
Lwize Lwize is online now
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OK, Noirish Sleuths -

Since I don't currently have the ability to post a picture, you'll need to close your eyes for this "Mystery":


I have seen a vintage photo from 1905 showing "4th Street" (Sawtelle Blvd) looking north from "Oregon Avenue" (Santa Monica Blvd) in Sawtelle, Ca.

Was there a 4th St renamed Sawtelle Blvd?

Was a section of Santa Monica Blvd in West LA originally Oregon Ave?

Please advise...

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  #1743  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2026, 10:09 PM
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Lwize, 4th St. (now Sawtelle Blvd) is the fifth n/s street starting from the east (right) on this 1910 map....(courtesy Santa Monica Public Library).
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  #1744  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2026, 11:39 PM
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West L.A.
Cotner Avenue
West L.A.

Between 1918 and 1925, during L.A.’s protracted acquisition of the city of Sawtelle, the streets in this neighborhood went through an identity crisis, going from ordinal numbers (1st Street, etc.) to Civil War battlefields (see Corinth Avenue) to a new set of ordinals (101st Avenue, etc.). Finally, on July 29th, 1925, Sawtelle’s street names were set in stone. Call it an educated guess, but I believe five of these names – Beloit, Butler, Colby, Cotner, and Purdue – are for universities, in keeping with the collegiate theme that was earlier established a few blocks west (Harvard Street, et al). Beloit College is in Beloit, WI; Butler University is in Indianapolis, IN; Colby College is in Waterville, ME; Cotner University was in Lincoln, NE (it closed in 1933); Purdue University is in West Lafayette, IN. Why these specific schools? Maybe they were the alma maters of the bureaucrats or civil engineers who christened the streets. Or maybe their names just hadn’t already been used.
https://lastreetnames.com/street/cotner-avenue/:



I guess if I time travel back to 1905, I should leave my Thomas Guide at home.

Last edited by Lwize; Jul 12, 2026 at 11:51 PM.
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  #1745  
Old Posted Jul 13, 2026, 4:02 AM
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339 Loma Drive

This was the home of Capt. John Cross, who appears on Loma as early as the 1887-88 Los Angeles City Directories. Here's a little about him:



Aug 6, 1911, Los Angeles Times @ Newspapers.com


A photo of his home appeared in the Oct 21, 1892, Los Angeles Times. It's not much of a photo . . .



Newspapers.com


. . . but it was enough to ID that house as the one in the following two photos:



1989-0761 @ CA State Library


That might be Capt. Cross over on the right side of the house. I think the dog closest to him has something around its neck:



1989-0763 @ CA State Library


Here are the house and its neighbors on the 1906 Sanborn (north is on the right):



Library of Congress


The Mary Andrews Clark Home was built across the street from 339 Loma in 1912; both are marked on the aerial below:



1928 Jan 1 Flight c-300 Frame k-166 @ UCSB


Then in 1931-32 Third Street was constructed through the area, with many properties being purchased for the right-of-way:



April 24, 1932, Los Angeles Times @ Newspapers.com


Both 331 and 339 Loma were in the path of the new Third Street. 331 was demolished in April 1931, but at some point 339 was
rotated 90 degrees, moved just a bit to the south, and renumbered 343 Loma:



1945 Sep 24 Flight c-9770 Frame 16 @ UCSB


Sometime between Sep 1945 and May 1950, 343 (ex-339) Loma was demolished or moved. The May 1950 Sanborn Map has
343 Loma covered up, but you can still see where it was (again, north is on the right):



Library of Congress


Captain Cross' old home on the SWC of Third and Loma was replaced by a Cancer Clinic. That same building is still there today:



May 28, 1950, Los Angeles Times @ Newspapers.com

Last edited by Flyingwedge; Jul 13, 2026 at 6:21 AM. Reason: remove ambiguity
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  #1746  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 12:12 AM
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Excellent indepth post, Flyingwedge.

.
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  #1747  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 12:18 AM
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Mystery location / somewhere in Burbank.


"Girl Schwinn Sting Ray Bike Burbank California Storefront Signs VTG Photo 1965"



On the back: ..."Nora Jane, 1965"



some clues.

detail

.
.
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  #1748  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 12:58 AM
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New to NLA (I searched both old and new threads for it)

A mystery location / somewhere in Burbank

"REAL PHOTO BURBANK CALIFORNIA DOWNTOWN STREET SCENE LUTTGE STORES"


eBay

.

Last edited by ethereal_reality; Jul 14, 2026 at 1:19 AM.
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  #1749  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 1:07 AM
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Do you think any of you can find a photograph of 8 Sons Market?



eBay

.
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  #1750  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 1:15 AM
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And while we're in Burbank

. . .somewhere along San Fernando Road.


eBay





.

Last edited by ethereal_reality; Jul 14, 2026 at 4:33 PM.
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  #1751  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 5:11 AM
Noir_Noir Noir_Noir is offline
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Originally Posted by ethereal_reality View Post
.
Mystery location / somewhere in Burbank.

"Girl Schwinn Sting Ray Bike Burbank California Storefront Signs VTG Photo 1965"



First up on your Burbank frenzy.


cdnc.ucr.edu - Valley Times (North Hollywood), 24 February 1968

NW corner of Magnolia at Florence St. 2805 was the corner building until 1977.

As a sign in the picture indicates, next block over was fun for all at the miniature golf course. It was gone by the early 1970s.


mil.library.ucsb.edu (aerial - 1960)
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  #1752  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 5:30 AM
ScottyB ScottyB is offline
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[QUOTE=ethereal_reality;10623866].
Mystery location / somewhere in Burbank.


"Girl Schwinn Sting Ray Bike Burbank California Storefront Signs VTG Photo 1965"



On the back: ..."Nora Jane, 1965"

Magnolia Boulevard, 2 blocks from my house.

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  #1753  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 5:30 AM
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Curses, foiled again!
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  #1754  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 5:20 PM
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This is similar to Holy Cross Hospital that we saw back on July 6th but believe me it's a different hospital.


. . . mystery hospital / Burbank CA / near Walt Disney Studios


eBay



.

Last edited by ethereal_reality; Jul 14, 2026 at 7:02 PM.
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  #1755  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 5:29 PM
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. . . mystery location II.


"Burbank California 1977 Disabled American Veterans Thrift Shop"



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Interesting building, that's for sure. ....The top looks like a GIANT Birdhouse.

.
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  #1756  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 5:40 PM
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It's easy to imagine the story behind this photograph.



eBay

"PHOTOGRAPH LITTLE GIRL FASHION WARNER BROS STUDIO BURBANK LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA PHOTO"


.
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  #1757  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 6:10 PM
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Originally Posted by ethereal_reality View Post

. . . mystery location II.

"Burbank California 1977 Disabled American Veterans Thrift Shop"


eBay

Interesting building, that's for sure. ....The top looks like a GIANT Birdhouse.
Various sources tried to tell me that this was 649 San Fernando Road, but the number above the door shows that it's 6401 San Fernando Road (in Glendale). It's another photo from John Margolies' Roadside America collection. The building still stands as a Dollar Tree. The birdhouse is intact, but appears to be a couple of feet lower than it once was.


GSV
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  #1758  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 6:20 PM
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The 'birdhouse' is sagging a bit to the left..... Would it be sacrilege to think it'd look better without it?

(I imagine it was originally a clock)


Thanks, Hoss
.
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  #1759  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 6:46 PM
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The 'birdhouse' is sagging a bit to the left..... Would it be sacrilege to think it'd look better without it?
I think you need to make a little birdhouse in your soul, e_r!
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  #1760  
Old Posted Jul 14, 2026, 6:55 PM
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I like that song! I used to act stupid to it.





. . . a mystery location.


"Original Slide 1970 Los Angeles Inter City helicopter Sikorsky"


eBay




.

Last edited by ethereal_reality; Jul 14, 2026 at 7:06 PM.
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