noirish Los Angeles v2.0

[Alkapone]

The later park project is announced in 1930: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=ERA19300404.2.9&dliv=none&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------

[Alkapone]

In this article, covering Lionel Sternberger’s Rite Spot history, is mention of the string of stands in what was far West Pasadena (near the old Eagle Rock border) which probably began around the time of the opening of the big arch Colorado bridge over Arroyo Seco and were still around when he made his car trade for a BarBQue joint: https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/lost-la/p...home-of-the-cheeseburger-but-theres-beef

With the Eagle facing almost SW into the canyon where the original parklands were, the place in the (1914?) snapshot looks to be just along Colorado on the Eagle Rock side of that border. (The Pasadena-Ocean Park Stage Line followed this curving routing.)

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by odinthor

Have we seen this pic of the Rowan Block before?


From the unnumbered ad pages at the back of the 1904 https://books.google.com/books?id=AFRDAQ...IHVAeL2MQ6AF6BAgFEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false

I've found a little more on this. Whatever the plans might have been for the building to sited adjoining the Laughlin Building, the site in reality moved south to between 5th and 6th. The following is from the LA Herald of 2/15/1903 (an image of it comes out too fuzzy to read):

"BLOCK FOR SOUTH BROADWAY

"Among the business blocks to be erected in Los Angeles that is ornate, chaste and characteristic is the structure planned by Architect Parkinson for Robert A. Rowan on South Broadway, between Fifth and Sixth streets. The building, five stories, with basement, is 22.9 feet wide and 140 feet deep, in the French renaissance style, the whole embodying a quiet, yet rich appearance. The material will be hard burned blue brick, laid in Flemish bond, and trimmed with light colored Indiana limestone. Fronts will be of plate glass, with Luxfer prism light. Balconies will be in place to set off what would otherwise appear as too severe in architecture, The general ground floor plan is one large room, on each story, with perpetual elevator service. The entire investment will represent about $45,000, exclusive of the land. When Mr. Rowan passed the summer in New York he closely examined many buildings, and the result of his searches is embodied in this striking innovation in house construction in Los Angeles. In the matter of finishing the plans provide all the modern features. Foundations are now being excavated, the work on the superstructure to follow. By June 1 it is expected the building will be ready for occupancy. Workmanship and material is exclusively supplied by Los Angeles firms and contractors."

Edit add:

Is this it, on the 1909 Birdseye map, at center, across the street from The Louise?



Edit add, part 2:

And here we have it, the building on the far side of, and above, the streetlight:


odinthor collection

[Alkapone]

Don’t know if it has ever been posted, but the 1923 map of greater Eagle Rock, as it became part of Los Angeles, with borders from Verdugo Road (west) to Annandale & West Pasadena (east) is found here: https://www.eaglerockhistory.org/1728-2/#map

That map…



sourced Eagle Rock Historical Society as above.

Colorado follows its’ hillside routing.
LARy “W” line extensions are shown in place to upper canyon.
Central Avenue has become Eagle Rock Blvd.
Eagle Rock Avenue has become Annandale Blvd.
Etc. Etc.

[Alkapone]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
This Rainbow Grill doesn't appear to be the famous one up on Sunset Blvd.



eBay

And from the looks of it, it might have been next to the Hollywood Post Office.




I found a couple unrelated Rainbow venues.


LAPL




LAPL

I had NO idea there was ever a Rainbow Hotel.
.

Does anybody think the guy on the left might actually be Jack Dempsey (who had been out in Hollywood in late ‘32 doing a film for WB’s) looking a bit more trimmed down?

[ethereal_reality]

.
The following images are from this VIDEO which we've probablly seen before on NLA.


I'm curious about the neon bar sign shown below. Can anyone read what it says?

1

at 0:59 seconds on the video.



Here are a couple more signs.

2

at 0:32 seconds




This last one caught my eye because I 'Transocean Air Lines' might be the airline used as a front for the CIA.

3

at 0:31 seconds

I could be wrong of course. (but it's worth exploring)



.

[ethereal_reality]

.
We also get a quick glimpse at the Town Theater on Hill Street.









cinematreasures

1980

.

[ethereal_reality]

.


We also get to see some really old bricks via an empty lot.




.

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by odinthor

And here we have it, the building on the far side of, and above, the streetlight:


odinthor collection

I think this is the top of your building c. 1910, Odinthor, 525 S. Broadway:



UC114412 @ USC Digital LIbrary


1938; what appears to be the modernized 525 S. Broadway is home to the Leed's store at left:



00066098 @ LAPL


Page 1217 of the 1938 LA City Directory at the LA Public Library shows Leed's Shoes was at 525 S. Broadway. Here's the link, but the
individual page URLs for the city directories are not working at this time:

http://127.0.0.1:8080/ResCarta-Web/jsp/R...03/00000003&pg_seq=1211&search_doc=leeds

[Alkapone]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
The following images are from this VIDEO which we've probablly seen before on NLA.


I'm curious about the neon bar sign shown below. Can anyone read what it says?

1

at 0:59 seconds on the video.



Here are a couple more signs.

2

at 0:32 seconds




This last one caught my eye because I 'Transocean Air Lines' might be the airline used as a front for the CIA.

3

at 0:31 seconds

I could be wrong of course. (but it's worth exploring)



.

LA Times article on George C. Page, founder of Mission Pak (sold 1946), and event honoring him in 1985: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-02-05-vw-5008-story.html

Left of that store is a “WE BUY” over a list of items…probably jewelry type stuff?

[Scott Charles]

What is the story of this lovely building at 3rd and Loma? I've driven past it many times, but know nothing about it. Google Maps simply calls it “First Digital Surveillance”.



https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0599025,-118.2657071

[riichkay]

RE: e_r's question on the neon sign, the 1960 street directory has a Red Horse Cocktails at 512 S. Hill, and a barber shop at 516....

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

What is the story of this lovely building at 3rd and Loma? I've driven past it many times, but know nothing about it. Google Maps simply calls it “First Digital Surveillance”.



https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0599025,-118.2657071

Isn't that the Mary Andrews Clark Home, from the Copper King Senator Clark?

[ethereal_reality]

.
Neon mystery sign solved by riichkay.






THANKS!

[ethereal_reality]

.

Here's a fantastic mystery photograph that just popped up on eBay


"Union Consolidated Refinery Co. Fuel Stage LOS ANGELES Orig. 1890s Photo"


eBay




Here's a clue.





Hmmm. . .the main photograph isn't showing up. ...You can see it Here




Here's the back of the cabinet card.




It's barely legible.



As you might have noticed, there appears to be a private residence next to a very large building. ....I want to know was those are.



.

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by odinthor

Isn't that the Mary Andrews Clark Home, from the Copper King Senator Clark?

Thanks, odinthor, you are correct! ER posted a picture with the Mary Andrews Clark Home obscured in the background back in 2012, and Rycroft identified the building here.

Then ER posted a clear photograph of the building in 2023, and fullpower identified the building here.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I happened upon this unique photograph a couple of months ago on eBay but I think I forgot to post it on NLA.

It supposedly shows "3rd Street and Union Place in 1938".


eBay

What surprises me most (besides the large brick building) is how hilly the area is and that there's still a barn standing in that cluster of trees.

Now let's take a closer look at the impressive building in the distance. . .



. . . I know it's not the Hotel Stillwell so what building is it? (I have an idea but. .)

Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home is a four-story, 76,000-square-foot (7,100 m2) "French Revival Chateauesque"[4] brick structure in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles near downtown. It was built in 1913 as a YWCA home for young working women.

The house was built by William A. Clark (1839–1925), the copper magnate after whom Clark County, Nevada, was named, as a memorial to his mother Mary Andrews Clark (1814–1904). The home was operated by the YWCA from 1913 to 1987

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Andrews_Clark_Memorial_Home

[ethereal_reality]

Time lapse:



OK, I got it to work! I have no idea what I was doing wrong.


Here you go.



TA DAH!

.

[rick m]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
Neon mystery sign solved by riichkay.






THANKS!

Early 1960s pocket guides reveal this to be a gay tavern facing Pershing Square-

[JeffDiego]

Originally Posted by rick m

Early 1960s pocket guides reveal this to be a gay tavern facing Pershing Square-

Very interesting, rick m. Thanks.

By the way, has anyone here (pardon if I've missed something) noticed or mentioned that there's been a lot of news coverage recently about a 3-part documentary in the works called "Deconstructing Dahlia?" Apparently the filmmakers have been working for five years on unearthing new evidence about the Black Dahlia case, and claim they know the killer's identity, the motive, and the location. They also have started a petition for the LAPD to release the unredacted autopsy report - which they've never done. Curious. Here's an article in Men's Journal:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/crime/general/...a-murder-case-after-79-years/ar-AA2a71wc

And another in People Magazine:
https://people.com/black-dahlia-motel-room-12010298




Wasn't it here at NLA that there was coverage, some time back, of a motel possibly connected to the case? I don't recall the name of the motel or it's location, but am pretty sure someone here wrote about it.
Update. I looked at another article from something called Cold Case Consultants, and yes, they have identified the motel (which I recall was mentioned here at NLA) as The New Aster Motel on Flower Street.:
https://cccoa.substack.com/p/deconstructing-the-new-deconstructing

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by JeffDiego

By the way, has anyone here (pardon if I've missed something) noticed or mentioned that there's been a lot of news coverage recently about a 3-part documentary in the works called "Deconstructing Dahlia?" Apparently the filmmakers have been working for five years on unearthing new evidence about the Black Dahlia case, and claim they know the killer's identity, the motive, and the location.

That's some fascinating stuff, Jeff - hidden rooms, unheard testimony, sealed autopsy and police files.... it really is intriguing. I'll be sure to watch this show, thanks for mentioning it!

On the other hand, I'm kind of cynical about these “breakthrough” discoveries that appear every few years.

I remember reading articles claiming that both the DB Cooper and Jack the Ripper cases had been “definitively solved” - only to hear later on that both of these cases are still widely disputed.

It makes you wonder if any of these cases will ever be truly, indisputably solved.