noirish Los Angeles

[BifRayRock]

I've seen several Miracle Mile District Theaters mentioned, including: The Four Star, the Fox Ritz, the Fox Carthay, the El Rey, the Pan Pacific and the Fox LaBrea. What about the Gordon on La Brea, the New Beverly on . . . Beverly. . the Silent (Ssshhhh) on Fairfax and the Fairfax conveniently located on Beverly and Fairfax.

A faded advertisement on the back of the theater, visible from Fairfax: "Glorifying the Talking Picture." ???

March 1930
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1163

http://la.curbed.com/tags/fairfax-theater

Circa '45. "General 40 cent admission"
lapl


The former "Gordon" then "Cineplex Odeon" theater on LaBrea:

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1131

[GaylordWilshire]

ebay

Originally Posted by unihikid

Bifray,growing up in the 80s and 90s i remember the car dealership on labrea and 3rd very well,at that time it was a "OK" dealership,they went out of business in about 95,i was getting into cameras by then and i had to past this lot on my way to pan pacific camera.anyways the building was white and it had a bunch of "OK" neon signs and i asked the guy who was "working" there if i could have one of the signs and he said sure,so the next day i go by to pick it up and all of them are gone,the guy said some other guy picked them up.the dealership is now a trader joes.

Nugent Chevrolet/Oldsmobile was at 400 S. La Brea... "OK" was Chevrolet's national branding for its dealers' used car operations. Nugent was selling Chevrolets at least by the late '20s at 627 S. La Brea (just down from Gillingham DeSoto), moving to 400 by 1934, where it was still listed in 1987 and, apparently, beyond. The license frame above dates from the '80s--around the time of Olds's bizarre "It's not your father's Oldsmobile" ad campaign, which is credited by some as leading to the brand's demise.

Los Angeles Times, August 13, 1981


Google SV
Nugent's earlier location--627 S La Brea

[GaylordWilshire]

"Driving" down La Brea on Google Street View, these images fade into each other....

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

"Driving" down La Brea on Google Street View, these images fade into each other....

Fading is an understatement.

Sticking with the immediate vicinity I am struck by the number of Grocery Stores that have come and gone. Evidently, across the street from the Chrysler dealership, there was at one time an A&P on 449 S. La Brea and a Safeway at 459 S. La Brea. And a Safeway at 360 and 180 S. La Brea. This suggests some of the stores were on wheels probably supplied by the nearby Auto Dealers (like the current crop of rolling lunch wagons?) Fascinating how Safeway, Piggly Wiggly and A&P seemed to predominate.

An interesting and lengthy list of Los Angeles Grocery Store locations can be found here: http://www.groceteria.com/spreadsheets/LA.csv Many of the addressed have been touched on this Forum.

For example:

Wilshire Blvd.: 3647, Carty Bros; 3716, A&P; 4101, Young's Thriftimart; 5203, MacMarr; 5318, Piggly Wiggly; 5413, A&P; 5623, Ralphs; 5653, Safeway; 8322, Safeway; 9383, Safeway; 11907 Safeway

La Brea: 116, (N) Safeway; 401, (N) Carty Bros; 624, (N) MacMarr Safeway,Safeway; 1259,(N) Contintental Stores; 1639,(N) MacMarr Safeway; 180, (S) Safeway; 360, (S) Safeway; 449, (S) A&P
459, (S) Safeway; 1044 (S) Piggly Wiggly; 1150, (S) Caler Grocery Co.

The list does not contain a reference to a Grocery Store that existed in the Town & Country Village at Third and Fairfax, where Whole Foods now sits. (6000 Block of Third?) It has probably served under many different corporate flags, but I choose to remember it as apost-noir Market Basket, [B]where the food never spoiled, the produce never bruised and every shopping experience was drama free and color coordinated.[/B]

http://www.plan59.com/cars/cars146.htm


Whether you attempt to hold on to the past or reach for the future, noir has its own schedule?

http://www.mikesbawx.org/photo/displ...e.php?pid=3650


http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bu56t...9,r:0,s:0,i:69

http://jpg2.lapl.org

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu

[BifRayRock]

1980

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laconse...5091/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laconservancy/5868192174/

Miracles happen!

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=mirac...,r:12,s:0,i:93

Still time



http://www.southlandarchitecture.com...ern-Center.php http://a2.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/i...286a43ec/l.jpg


http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...whit-m632.html

[srk1941]

Do you know about this website?

http://www.historicaerials.com/

You can compare a location through the years with a sliding tool, so cool, and it shows the gas station on the block with the May Company Wilshire was there in 1972, but replaced by 1980.

[BifRayRock]

Adding to the Bob's Air Mail Service Station photos 5453 Wilshire

http://imgzoom.cdlib.org/Fullscreen....nd=calisphere#



http://images.google.com/hosted/life...9d81851a4.html

_________________________________

People rushing to gas up at Bob's?

http://images.google.com/hosted/life...fc9ca498e.html

__________________________________

Or do they prefer the superlative service and attention to detail at Muller Bros Service station? Location unspecified - but have seen something like it with Pig N Whistle in background. '38

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/84d0a629416e60ae_large

__________________________________

http://images.google.com/hosted/life...a5cef885a.html

___________________________________

Capital Service on Slauson and Soto, ca '34


http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22...n/photostream/

____________________________________

618 S Figueroa ca 1920


http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22...n/photostream/

____________________________________

Station on Vermont, 20's?


http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22...n/photostream/

____________________________________

612 S. Flower, '49 Where decisions are made.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22...n/photostream/

[BifRayRock]

[QUOTE=GaylordWilshire;5679719]ebay


Nugent Chevrolet/Oldsmobile was at 400 S. La Brea... "OK" was Chevrolet's national branding for its dealers' used car operations. Nugent was selling Chevrolets at least by the late '20s at 627 S. La Brea (just down from Gillingham DeSoto), moving to 400 by 1934, where it was still listed in 1987 and, apparently, beyond.

Behold Gillingham's Showroom ca '29. But are they last year's models? It appears that the showroom could be opened up by an enormous movable (roll up) partition. Practical? Doubtful it was lightweight. Spanish tile roof accents and tall front fascia were a nice touch. Was there an off-site garage for service?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22...n/photostream/




[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22/6813495004/in/photostream/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22/6813495004/in/photostream/[/URL]

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by srk1941

Do you know about this website?

http://www.historicaerials.com/
You can compare a location through the years with a sliding tool, so cool, and it shows the gas station on the block with the May Company Wilshire was there in 1972, but replaced by 1980.

Thanks. Good tip!
(The few times I played with the site I gave up quickly having been hampered by small viewing equipment or bad eyesight or no patience - or all of the above.)

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

Or do they prefer the superlative service and attention to detail at Mueller Bros Service station? Location unspecified - but have seen something like it with Pig N Whistle in background. '38

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/84d0a629416e60ae_large

Muller Bros. was at 6380 Sunset... check it out here.

[ethereal_reality]

Welcome to the thread BifRayRock!
I've really enjoyed your posts these last two days (actually I was out of town so I just now finished viewing them in one fell swoop). You posted some truly amazing photographs and many interesting facts. Thank you for sharing them.
_____


It was great seeing the marquee of the Hotel Barclay alanlutz. I am curious about the lobby; did you happen to peak inside?

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

Muller Bros. was at 6380 Sunset... check it out here.

I remembered your post but couldn't locate it using the Noir-Central search function. While the Bros. may come highly recommended, I have my cars serviced by the Swede - when he's not hanging out at the diner. He's generally focused, keeps a low profile and I have never seen him at the station cavorting with women in their bathing costumes. If I want that, I go to 8th and Alvarado to see the Victory Girls.


http://www.filmforno.com/?cat=7

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozfan22...n/photostream/


Muller Bros '28:


http://ellenbloom.blogspot.com/2010/...friday_24.html

http://www.retronaut.co/2012/02/mull...=Google+Reader

[3940dxer]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

Gary Leonard '85
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/P...seID=968&index

After spending too much time studying the early aerials I think the dark blob indicated by my arrow was in fact the La Cienega oil well.

Beverly is at the top if the image with the big Rexall store at the Southeast corner of La Cienega, 3rd St. is at the bottom.



I think this would be today's view:


http://maps.google.com

Another little tidbit: in the first photo, to the right of the tall young lady and beneath the Seagram's billboard, is the barely visible Smokey Joe's Cafe. You can see the sign a little more clearly on the zoomed snippet below. (Same source.)

Smokey Joe's Cafe was the beanery that inspired Leiber and Stoller's novelty rock hit of the same name, recorded by The Coasters.

[ethereal_reality]

I really like this century old building at 1727 North Spring Street at Aurora Street.


google street view





below: Here is a closer view of the elaborately decorated entrance (especially when you compare it to the rest of the building).


google street view





below: Looking south toward 1727 N. Spring Street from the northern end of the Spring Street Bridge. The short cross street is Aurora.


google street view






below: In this view looking northward toward 1727 N. Spring (far right), a large building with impressive arches
(perhaps an old warehouse?) and a smaller building adjacent to 1727 form a multi-building 'facility' of some sorts.
I'm intrigued by the extended shape on the roofline of 1727 (the shape is reminiscent of Dutch Architecture).
Is this a remnant of a taller building that once stood between the 'building with arches' and 1727?


google street view






below: One last photo.
The skyline of downtown Los Angeles can be seen in the distance with 1727 N. Spring St. on the left.
This view is looking south from the Spring Street Bridge.


google street view

___

[BifRayRock]

[QUOTE=ethereal_reality;5680641]Welcome to the thread BifRayRock!
I've really enjoyed your posts these last two days (actually I was out of town so I just now finished viewing them in one fell swoop). You posted some truly amazing photographs and many interesting facts. Thank you for sharing them.

Back at you!

You folks have done a tremendous job. Only wish there was a simple means of categorizing some of these pics and discussions for easy reference.

One observation which others may have made, is the virtual absence of graffiti? It must have occurred. Fraternities and kids and mischief makers didn't disappear during the depths of the depression. Or were people generally more respectful, despite well known hardships. Were the negatives destroyed, or was paint/spray paint in short supply?

One can only imagine what would happen to a canvas like this today:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=drive...:24,s:47,i:283



http://www.filmforno.com/?cat=7

http://www.filmforno.com/?cat=7

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by 3940dxer

Looking North towards Universal City. In the lower center, the Highland exit ramp peels away the the left. The wide island shaped area between the 101 and Cahuenga West, now a highway maintenance yard, may in fact be the former site of Monkey Island. (More on that soon.)

I still need my monkey fix.

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by 3940dxer

After spending too much time studying the early aerials I think the dark blob indicated by my arrow was in fact the La Cienega oil well.

Beverly is at the top if the image with the big Rexall store at the Southeast corner of La Cienega, 3rd St. is at the bottom.

I think this would be today's view:

http://maps.google.com
Another little tidbit: in the first photo, to the right of the tall young lady and beneath the Seagram's billboard, is the barely visible Smokey Joe's Cafe. You can see the sign a little more clearly on the zoomed snippet below. (Same source.)
Smokey Joe's Cafe was the beanery that inspired Leiber and Stoller's novelty rock hit of the same name, recorded by The Coasters.

Good sleuthing and good info! But something doesn't fit with my memory.

Again, I was not around to see the actual derrick depicted in the photographs and I am now questioning whether what I remember from the early '80s was a vestige of that well or something else. I remember an island traffic hazard that served no apparent purpose in the center of La Cienega. It did not seem to be temporary and I did not investigate it. I thought it was much closer to the intersection with Beverly then your aerial shot. I could always be mistaken, too. The smaller pics below are interesting. One shot has the well a few hundred feet from an intersection. One picture of Beverly Park has the tip of a Rexall sign and appears to be in the same area and there is no island at all, or at least not in the picture. It may also be south of the so-called island.

Some additional thoughts. One might expect pictures of the well outside of what was then called Kiddyland or Beverly Park. Same with construction of the Beverly Center and the Ma Maison Sofitel. Maybe the memories of some former students can shed some light? http://www.1400ml.com/jbclassof62/pa..._comments.html

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages...tml?1297118933

http://www.americanhistoryonline.org...8531?page=2496

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ba...StreetWell.jpg

20's:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater



http://www.flickr.com/photos/

[GaylordWilshire]

[URL="http://lapl.org"]LAPL
LAPL

The LAPL's intriguing caption for the top pic reads: "The ground-floor renovations inside the downtown Woman's Building at 1727 N. Spring St. are an example of emerging 'feminist' architecture. Photograph dated: December 3, 1983."

The LAPL's caption for the next shot: "Sculpture, the 'Naked Lady' by artist Kate Millett is positioned atop the Women's Building today in the 1700 block of N. Spring Street in Los Angeles. Photograph dated December 13, 1978."

Another tenant, ca. 1960, was the Los Angeles Trunk Manufacturing Company.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I really like this century old building at 1727 North Spring Street at Aurora Street.


google street view

[ethereal_reality]

I can always rely on you Gaylord_Wilshire.

I would love to find out more information on this building.....say at the beginning of the 20th Century.
I don't know why I'm so intrigued by it....but I am.

I like that it's in a somewhat remote part of the city (north of downtown..standing alone).
____

[ethereal_reality]

Snapshot taken on Sunset. I wonder what 'The Village' is that can be seen further down the sidewalk.



ebay