noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

When the building was designed what was the purpose of the tower? (offices? storage for stock?)

[ethereal_reality]

postcard/ebay

today

gsv




reverse of pc

__

[craig58]

Stumbled upon this thread a couple of months ago and boy, I'm glad I did. This is just simply amazing stuff! I'm an OC boy, but my Mom grew up in Los Angeles (she's 96 now) in Highland Park. We visited the Ave 57 house every couple of weeks to see my Grandma who lived there from 1925 until the late 70's.

I've been showing Mom some of the photos here and a lot of good memories are being triggered. She remembers working in downtown at Monarch Marking Systems before the war, and even briefly worked in the Richfield building. Some of the stuff she mentions so casually, like catching the streetcars, dancing at the Palomar Ballroom, make me wish I could have been there.

ethereal_reality, thanks so much for starting all of this and thanks to all who have contributed. I'm only on page 261, so I'm looking forward to hours of cool noirish stuff. If I come across any old family snapshots I will be happy to post them.

[MichaelRyerson]

Welcome to the thread, craig58. Hope you can find those snapshots. Here are two for your Mom...



The Richfield

waterandpower.org



Grand Avenue and 7th Street, 1940

View of the intersection of Grand Avenue (foreground) and Seventh Street, which has been decorated for the Christmas season. Pedestrians, cars and Yellow Cars fill up Seventh Street, one of the most prominent streets in downtown.

LAPL

[ethereal_reality]

These slides were listed on ebay this afternoon.


Is that a cab to the right of the street car? It's awesome.





I guess he's brushing the dust off.





I love that red car.






two more great cars whizzing past the bus.






This is my favorite. Can anyone identify this intersection?





In the distance there is a vertical sign that I believe says 'Rosemary'.



The drug store on the right.








At least this one had some information. -Vernon Yards-


the streetcar looks lost without the tracks.




This slide was labeled Seoul Korea. (where many LARy street cars ended up)


__





..and from a different seller.


Nite-Lite Motel.....makes me drowsy. zzzzzzzz
__

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by craig58

Stumbled upon this thread a couple of months ago and boy, I'm glad I did. This is just simply amazing stuff! I'm an OC boy, but my Mom grew up in Los Angeles (she's 96 now) in Highland Park. We visited the Ave 57 house every couple of weeks to see my Grandma who lived there from 1925 until the late 70's.

I've been showing Mom some of the photos here and a lot of good memories are being triggered. She remembers working in downtown at Monarch Marking Systems before the war, and even briefly worked in the Richfield building. Some of the stuff she mentions so casually, like catching the streetcars, dancing at the Palomar Ballroom, make me wish I could have been there.

ethereal_reality, thanks so much for starting all of this and thanks to all who have contributed. I'm only on page 261, so I'm looking forward to hours of cool noirish stuff. If I come across any old family snapshots I will be happy to post them.

Welcome to noirish Los Angeles craig58! I am glad your Mom has enjoyed the thread. -makes it all worthwhile.
__

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

This is my favorite. Can anyone identify this intersection?

This is Santa Barbara and S. Vermont. George Murphy Chevrolet was at 4011 S. Vermont. And this is obviously a runaway yellow car.

[lemster2024]

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson

Actually, I don't think the old Sunset reaches all the way through to New High Street. I believe it ends at the west edge of the red awning on Ord Street. Remember, in the old days, the Sunset backed up to the El Adobe Café which faced New High Street. I'm glad someone has some direct experience with this hidden relic. Next time you're there look around for signs it's being taken care of or is deteriorating. Thanks.

bighen and I spent the morning walking around the two sites of the Sunset Hotel and the San Fernando Hotel on Ord Steet, looking for any remnants that might be still there. Earlier in this discussion of the Sunset Hotel, MichaelRyerson deduced that at least the ground floor of the Sunset was probably buried under more contemporary facades and layers of plaster. bighen will be posting a few pics on this shortly. I went across the street to where the San Fernando once stood and wondered if the same logic could be applied to that hotel as well. Here's what I came up with:

Current front facade: No, I don't think so...


my photo

Now, looking west up Ord, from almost the corner of Alameda, we've seen this photo before:


California State Library, the California History Room

Here's today's view, as best I could replicate it:


my photo

Looking at these two photos, I'm thinking the basement and at least the ground floor of the San Fernando is also buried beneath layers of stucco and plaster, based on comparing these two closer looks with similar details:


my edit


edit of my photo

The vent on the Ord St. side at the corner matches, the vent by the "25" sign matches, there appears to be a door further to the right (which lines up with todays metal screen door), a larger door next to that, and the window located on the next level up. Looking at the window today, you can see plastering all along the frame when it was replaced with a modern slider.
The contrast in the photos doesn't show it well, but if one walks up to the walls of the building, you can see the uneveness and discoloration of the stucco, and can discern outlines of previous openings and windows.





I've eaten inside this restaurant, and I don't recall seeing anything peculiar with my untrained eye, but you can be sure I'll be looking more closely next time....! The two streetviews align almost perfectly: the position of the driveways, the entrance to the parking lot at the rear, even the fire hydrant location. The lines of the sidewalk where the man is walking also line up with the current view, off by maybe 2-3 degrees. I actually Photoshopped the angle of the curbs and overlayed the old photo with the new, and it lines up almost exactly....So, is part of the San Fernando still with us? I can't be sure, but I'm thinking yes, based on what I could see. I'm new at this so I'd like to hear any input and feedback, being a newbie and all!

[Greg H]

I've been lurking for quite a while here and really enjoy all the informed discussion and photos of LA. I'm a San Gabriel Valley guy who was always transfixed by LA when my folks used to take me downtown once or twice a year. It made quite an impression on a 5 year old kid from the suburbs, a whole different world. Since I'm long gone from the area I'm afraid I'm more of a learner than a teacher but I do have a few scans from "The Los Angeles Book", a 1950 publication from photographer Max Yavno & author Lee Shippey.

Here's a couple views of City Hall we haven't seen yet:

The Los Angeles Book - Max Yavno

The Los Angeles Book - Max Yavno

One of I'm not sure which tunnel:

The Los Angeles Book - Max Yavno

I was hoping to find this magnificent theater still existed:

The Los Angeles Book - Max Yavno

But, alas, all there is today is this rather bland corporate campus:

gsv

Love this shot of cottages in the shadow of the gasworks:

The Los Angeles Book - Max Yavno

And finally here are a couple ads scanned from a 1936 Western Flying magazine:

Western Flying - Feb. 1936

Western Flying - Feb. 1936

Keep up the good work ladies & gentlemen. This is by far the most interesting destination on the internet.

[Chuckaluck]

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson

Glendale Sears

Why, oh why, do we continue to do this to otherwise beautiful buildings? Do we think we're actually improving their aesthetics when we bunkerize them? Sears would go a long ways to improving their relationship with the Glendale community if they'd return this Moderne gem to its former glory. At least, Glendale has apparently retained some of the original street lights. At this resolution kind of hard to tell what they are, very close to a United Metal 1620 but the arms seem a bit minimalist for 1620's. But close. Maybe U.M. 1906 but then the newel cap seems heavy. Could be something just for Glendale. The globes, though, in the older shot look like General Electric 18's while in the contemporary shot they now look like 124's. Really a beautiful design.



Glendale Sears (2)

Looking south on Central at W. California.

To your excellent point, at least one audience member may have heeded your preservation entreaty. On the northeast corner of Hauser and Pico, is the "Horgan Building."

The best thing that can be said of Google's picture of the building is that it was painted a detail-concealing light color which made the building's presence extremely underwhelming. From what I can tell, the facade was recently refreshed to highlight some of the building's original features, especially the building's masthead.

The below black and white image appears recent. (Thought I saw a photo of the building with a green field and will post if located.)


Pico and Hauser, Contemporary:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7...a79ccec2_z.jpg

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

These slides were listed on ebay this afternoon.


Is that a cab to the right of the street car? It's awesome.
_

Thanks ER for the photos. Every time I see those painted islands in the middle of the street I get terrible flashbacks to my childhood. People actually had to stand in the middle of the street with cars passing by while waiting for a streetcar. Imagine this at night! There were many accidents and injuries. I'm sure I had to wait with my mother and brother in one of these islands as a small child in Los Angeles.

They finally poured elevated concrete in the street for people to stand on but even that was not a good solution. Mercifully they were finally eliminated and removed.

[unihikid]

Originally Posted by Chuckaluck

To your excellent point, at least one audience member may have heeded your preservation entreaty. On the northeast corner of Hauser and Pico, is the "Horgan Building."

The best thing that can be said of Google's picture of the building is that it was painted a detail-concealing light color which made the building's presence extremely underwhelming. From what I can tell, the facade was recently refreshed to highlight some of the building's original features, especially the building's masthead.

The below black and white image appears recent. (Thought I saw a photo of the building with a green field and will post if located.)


Pico and Hauser, Contemporary:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7...a79ccec2_z.jpg

the hogan building was all white when i was living in the area.It was the only building that had any detail with the area surrounded by auto shops on the two other corners,and a 60s style apartment building on the other.

and as far as the red car picture with the LARwy...thats pico near...lets just say victoria park,i cant think of the street but its SUPER NARROW..so narrow that it is now gated..if you go further east you will hit Windsor Bl,Victoria,and then Crenshaw if that helps.The buildings are still there although they have been painted.

[westcork]

I stumbled across these while browsing through the contents of LAPL. Some are not tagged, so they don't appear in any search results on LAPL.

1941
Architect's rendering shows the proposed $1,000,000 administration and air terminal building to be erected at the Los Angeles Municipal Airport.

LAPL

1941
Drawing shows the passenger entrance into the building. An overhead crossing will be provided to the second floor level for spectators. Lloyd Aldrich, City Engineer. J.A. Austin and Sumner Spaulding, Consulting Architects.

LAPL


1944
Study of public entrance and pedestrian ramp, Los Angeles Airport, an architect's sketch. Lloyd Aldrich, City Engineer. John C. Austin, F.A.I.A., and Sumner Spaulding, F.A.I.A., Consulting

Architects.

LAPL


1944
Study of administration building field side, Los Angeles Airport, an architect's sketch. Lloyd Aldrick, City Engineer. John C. Austin, F.A.I.A., and Sumner Spaulding, F.A.I.A., Consulting Architects.

LAPL



LAPL



LAPL



LAPL



LAPL



LAPL


1967
Architect's sketch of a "Snorkel", a proposed method of boarding hundreds of passengers onto a jumbo jet from an underground terminal.

LAPL


1968
Architectural rendering of a combined Los Angeles International Airport.Drawing shows a new Santa Monica Island with a subway connecting to the aiports (bottom) and a causeway, bridges and subway at the top of the drawing. This new airport will have provisions for the SST, with 2-15,000 ft. runways.

The island will also have a convention center, commercial area, hotels, art center, a trade center and office building, apartments, parks and beaches, an aerospace university and a sports center. Drawn by architect R. Donald Jaye. Photo dated: April 12, 1968.

LAPL


1968
Drawing of a combined Los Angeles International Airport. Drawing shows a new Santa Monica Island with a subway connecting to the aiports (bottom) and a causeway, bridges and subway at the top of drawing. The island will have provisions for the SST, with 2-15,000 ft. runways. The island will also have its own commercial area, hotels, art center, trade center and office building, apartments, parks and beaches, an aerospace university and a sports center. Drawn by architect R. Donald Jaye. Photo dated: March 12,

1968.

LAPL

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by Chuckaluck

To your excellent point, at least one audience member may have heeded your preservation entreaty. On the northeast corner of Hauser and Pico, is the "Horgan Building."

The best thing that can be said of Google's picture of the building is that it was painted a detail-concealing light color which made the building's presence extremely underwhelming. From what I can tell, the facade was recently refreshed to highlight some of the building's original features, especially the building's masthead.

The below black and white image appears recent. (Thought I saw a photo of the building with a green field and will post if located.)


Pico and Hauser, Contemporary:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7...a79ccec2_z.jpg

Isn't that that a beautiful little building. What a great thing to have in your neighborhood. Now if we could just talk to them about those street lights. Perfect setting for some vintage lights. Thanks for posting that.

[westcork]

Originally Posted by Greg H

Love this shot of cottages in the shadow of the gasworks:

The Los Angeles Book - Max Yavno

Great shot.
I was going to save this one for another post. This looks like the same neighborhood, but from a different angle. This comes from the section of the LAPL database that covers various slum clearance efforts.

LAPL

[bighen]

Here's N. Spring and Ord today via GSV...Look at the footprint of the building on the northwest corner...


Here's a tighter shot...



N. Spring and Ord

GSV


Let's drop down and look at it from down Ord Street...



N. Spring and Ord (3)
GSV


I think we may be looking at the ground floor of the old Sunset/Hill Hotel late of the Wrigley's sign...


Interesting side view...


N. Spring and Ord (4)
GSV



Interesting because of these...



N. Spring and Ord (5)
GSV


I think those bricks may be over a hundred years old. And I think, for all intents and purposes, the Sunset Hotel lives.[/QUOTE]

Excellent post Michael Ryerson. Found this picture from the LA Public Library called Ord Street work 1930 which shows a street level photo of the Sunset Hotel at the Northwest corner of Ord and Spring

[Chuckaluck]

Originally Posted by unihikid

the hoRgan building was all white when i was living in the area.It was the only building that had any detail with the area surrounded by auto shops on the two other corners,and a 60s style apartment building on the other.

Unable to locate a picture of the Horgan building (5431 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019) in its original birthday attire. If the building was originally cloaked in white, this may be the exception where the newest and latest paint scheme improves upon the old.

While searching for additional images of the Horgan, I noticed these seemingly out-of-place residential specimens from 1965.

327 Pico Boulevard, ca. '65
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...R1U2N9PV13.jpg

[Chuckaluck]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Sunset and Spring, 1940s

Metro Transportation Library and Archive on flickr

I like this photo because it shows the back end of the Plaza Church, before the streets were reconfigured, and before they built the addition to the church, where they now offer Mariachi Masses. The original part of the church is now the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

Additional views of the Hotels Atlantic and Pacific?

Circa '67
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...3MUXQH9RX4.jpg

Circa '65
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...GQRHKNJF4P.jpg

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by lemster2024

bighen and I spent the morning walking around the two sites of the Sunset Hotel and the San Fernando Hotel on Ord Steet, looking for any remnants that might be still there. Earlier in this discussion of the Sunset Hotel, MichaelRyerson deduced that at least the ground floor of the Sunset was probably buried under more contemporary facades and layers of plaster. bighen will be posting a few pics on this shortly. I went across the street to where the San Fernando once stood and wondered if the same logic could be applied to that hotel as well. Here's what I came up with:

Current front facade: No, I don't think so...


my photo

Now, looking west up Ord, from almost the corner of Alameda, we've seen this photo before:


California State Library, the California History Room

Here's today's view, as best I could replicate it:


my photo

Looking at these two photos, I'm thinking the basement and at least the ground floor of the San Fernando is also buried beneath layers of stucco and plaster, based on comparing these two closer looks with similar details:


my edit


edit of my photo

The vent on the Ord St. side at the corner matches, the vent by the "25" sign matches, there appears to be a door further to the right (which lines up with todays metal screen door), a larger door next to that, and the window located on the next level up. Looking at the window today, you can see plastering all along the frame when it was replaced with a modern slider.
The contrast in the photos doesn't show it well, but if one walks up to the walls of the building, you can see the uneveness and discoloration of the stucco, and can discern outlines of previous openings and windows.





I've eaten inside this restaurant, and I don't recall seeing anything peculiar with my untrained eye, but you can be sure I'll be looking more closely next time....! The two streetviews align almost perfectly: the position of the driveways, the entrance to the parking lot at the rear, even the fire hydrant location. The lines of the sidewalk where the man is walking also line up with the current view, off by maybe 2-3 degrees. I actually Photoshopped the angle of the curbs and overlayed the old photo with the new, and it lines up almost exactly....So, is part of the San Fernando still with us? I can't be sure, but I'm thinking yes, based on what I could see. I'm new at this so I'd like to hear any input and feedback, being a newbie and all!

I think your methodology is sound, I couldn't do better. And I think I agree with your conclusions. I think this is the lower floors of the San Fernando Hotel. When I look at these remnants of old buildings, I look at these three elements, the foot print, the placement of doors and windows (or the location of phantom doors and windows) and the massing of the remaining building. As to this last thing, when you consider the view looking west up Ord, I think you can easily see the likely demarcation line above which they removed the upper floors and below which they installed the new roof. It does my heart good to know these two stalwarts of nineteenth century Los Angeles remain in service and still keeping each other company after perhaps a hundred and twenty years! And what a gift to have actual sleuths on the ground! Thanks for everybody.

[Wig-Wag]

In the photo of Sunset and Spring streets on page 720, is Los Angeles Railway center entrance car No. 2601. This is one of only two steel center entrance cars built for LARY. It is currently at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, where it is nearing completion of a very long and thorough restoration to it's former Los Angeles Transit Lines appearance. See: http://www.oerm.org/collection/yello...lway/latl-2601

Cheers,
Jack