noirish Los Angeles

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Great pics of the Carthay Circle Theater and neighborhood, ethereal, and thanks for the link!

I wasn't aware that the neighborhood was the first subdivision to have underground utilities; I thought I remembered reading somewhere that it was Hancock Park or Windsor Square. Carthay Circle is indeed a charming neighborhood.

Histories of each subdivision make the "first" claim, but it seems that Windsor Square began earlier than Carthay (here a few excellent sites about LA development):

See under "More Subdivision" here: http://www.laokay.com/halac/RanchoLaBrea.htm

and here: http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/carthay-circle

and even seemingly contradictory claims here: http://www.laconservancy.org/initiatives/hpoz_book07.pdf

[ethereal_reality]

Looking west down Wilshire Blvd. in 1928.
The Brown Derby, which opened in 1926, is clearly visible on the lower right hand side.



usc digital archive


It's amazing to see the plethora of billboards.
The billboard at lower left (which I believe is in front of the Ambassador Hotel) advertises the movie 'Four Sons' 1928.

[ethereal_reality]

Liquor.......
a MAESTRO of MISERY.




usc digital archive


Above: The corner of Temple and Broadway in 1950.

At first I thought WCTU was a radio station, when in fact it stands for Women's Christian Temperance Union,
which explains the "maestro of misery" billboard.


That reminds me, I gotta run out to the liquor store.

[ethereal_reality]

Below: Also in 1950, 2nd and Olive Street.


usc digital archive



I like this 'gritty' photo.

[Los Angeles Past]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

usc digital archive

Above: The corner of Temple and Broadway in 1950.

View from above Temple and Broadway, 1892. (I think we've seen this before.) It appears to me that the building above could be the same one in the foreground below, just chopped down to two storeys. Does anyone know the original name of this structure?

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Past

View from above Temple and Broadway, 1892. (I think we've seen this before.) It appears to me that the building above could be the same one in the foreground below, just chopped down to two storeys. Does anyone know the original name of this structure?

The original name was the same... the building started out as the WCTU. Check it out (scroll down a bit):
http://www.wctusocal.com/old-wctusocal/pages/archives.html

PS--I might be willing to pretend interest in membership (I could only pretend, I'm afraid) if I could get a peek inside the ladies' current headquarters, apparently at 551 S. Kingsley: http://www.wctusocal.com/

[Los Angeles Past]

(Not archived.)

[sopas ej]

Very interesting pics of the WCTU! And I wasn't aware that they still exist, I would think that they wouldn't.

I really like that 1892 shot of Broadway and Temple, too, considering what the area looks like now.

[sopas ej]

From USC archive:

St. Vincent's Hospital, 1937


What got me was the caption, saying this was on Sunset and Beaudry. I've always known St. Vincent's (Now called St. Vincent's Medical Center) to be on 3rd street, but apparently it moved there in 1971.

According to their website, St. Vincent's is actually the first and oldest hospital in LA, founded by the Daughters of Charity Catholic order of nuns back in 1856. Today in the vicinity of Sunset and Beaudry, there's a convent there but it's a different order of nuns, I don't remember what they're called.

[ethereal_reality]

That WCTU website was very interesting...thx for the link gaylordwilshire.
and also to 'Los Angeles Past' for making the connection in the first place.

I would have never guessed that was the same building.
And I agree, the street level photo of the 'Temperance Temple'
shows a remarkable structure.

[ethereal_reality]

WCTU lecturing in a crowded Pasadena bar in 1947.




ucla archives







ucla archive


I'd tell these old bags to take a hike.

[CRE8IVEDESTRUCTION]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sk9YjbbyJw

I don't know if any of you guys are gamers but I just found out about this game and if you ask me, it looks freakin sweet!!! I don't know why it's called "L.A Noire" and not "L.A Noir". Anyway, I don't think it matters...I can tell they really took the their time on this one. Check it!!!

[ethereal_reality]

The 1929 Los Angeles Auto Show.



ucla archive

[ethereal_reality]

It came to a fiery end, destroying 320 cars.


ucla archive






ucla archive


Does anyone know where this was located?

[sopas ej]

I do, actually! This was located where the LA Furniture Mart is now, which would be Washington and Hill.

I know this because I went to the LA Auto Show recently (I go every year) and they actually had a very interesting display that showed the history of the LA Auto Show, from its beginnings to modern times. It's been going on for over 100 years now.

After this fire, whatever cars were left were displayed at the Shrine Expo Center. There were pictures of 1920s cars being displayed at the Shrine Expo Center.

[ethereal_reality]

^^^Cool, thanks for the info Sopas_ej.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by CRE8IVEDESTRUCTION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sk9YjbbyJw

I don't know if any of you guys are gamers but I just found out about this game and if you ask me, it looks freakin sweet!!! I don't know why it's called "L.A Noire" and not "L.A Noir". Anyway, I don't think it matters...I can tell they really took the their time on this one. Check it!!!

Pretty cool!

[ethereal_reality]

Majestic Theater Building in 1920.



ucla archive






ucla archive



I love this marquee....very art nouveau and 'war of the worlds'.

[Los Angeles Past]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

I do, actually! This was located where the LA Furniture Mart is now, which would be Washington and Hill.

Isn't that originally where Chutes Park was located? (EDIT: my mistake. Chutes Park was apparently at Washington and Grand, where Polytechnic High School (L.A. Trade Tech) would later be built...)



USC

[ethereal_reality]

I've always wondered where that amusement park was.