noirish Los Angeles

[HossC]

After a couple of days off, we're back to another AC Martin design. This is Julius Shulman's "Job 1079: Union Hardware and Metal Company, 1951, 1956". I've left out the three least interesting shots.



Extra light filtered through the roof of the covered walkway.



Here's the loading bay at the far end of the building.



A warehouse full of stock ready for shipping.



This looks like a showroom, although I don't know if it was within the building in the photos above.



All from Getty Research Institute

The Union Hardware and Metal Company was at 5555 Ferguson Drive in Commerce. The building is still standing, and appears to be in great shape. It's now the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Human Resources.


GSV

The loading dock at the right (east) end of the building also survives, but it's been separated off for a different company.


GSV

[HossC]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

Familiar with Yor-Way Markets?

There were several in the LA area, including one at 5311 Santa Monica Blvd. - where Jon's is now. Another in Culver City on Washington Blvd.

August 17, 1959. Alibi Club? Highland Avenue? Route 66?
Many hints at the location. Source references "Casa Bonita Motel." That name is unclear in the photos. http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16003coll2/id/65441 Does not appear to have any connection with Santa Monica Blvd. near Highland Ave, although there was a Yor-Way Market at 5311 Santa Monica Blvd.



Could there have been a "Yor-Way" in Duarte or Monrovia? Rt. 66 ran through Foothill Blvd. and there is a Highland Ave. there. 1801 E. Huntington Drive?

Originally Posted by Tourmaline

Per the original wide image, the Alibi Club and its neighbors were apparently located on Route 66 in California. One of those neighbors "Yor-Way" appears to have been part of a supermarket chain. A list of those markets, should it exist, might offer a a clue or two. (Have not located such a list, but it might be included as part of one of "Yor-Way's" newspaper ads.)

If anyone does have a newspapers.com account, check out this advert for Yor-Way in a 1958 edition of the Covina Argus. I can only read the accompanying OCR text, but it includes an address of 1801 E Huntington Drive, as mentioned by BRR. I checked out the address, and found it on the corner of Highland Avenue in Duarte. The Yor-Way Market is the building with the dark roof on the northeast corner of the intersection in the 1965 aerial below. Most of the block seems to have been cleared between 1980 and 1994.


Historic Aerials

[ethereal_reality]

I believe the aerial shows the correct location Hoss.




Originally posted by HossC

I believe this irregular shaped building could be the motel. (red arrow above)

And that large parking lot behind the businesses might explain the prominent arrows on the two Alibi Club signs (pointing to the parking lot)

detail

-there appears to be a few choice parking spaces out front as well.

[ethereal_reality]

re: Union Hardware and Metal Company / County of Los Angeles Public Health & Human Resources. 5555 Ferguson Drive, Commerce

Originally Posted by HossC

GSV

The building is still standing, and appears to be in great shape.

I'm really impressed with this find Hoss!
__



But of course I had to snoop around a bit ....

One thing that caught my eye was the solitary tank in the parking lot.


google_aerial 2D

Initially I thought it might be a left-over remnant of when the property was a hardware and metal company,

but on closer inspection, it appears to be in good shape with a small utility building beside it.


gsv/detail

Any idea what would be in the tank......water?......gasoline?

(I confess: My knowledge of holding tanks is even more abysmal than my knowledge of oil derricks)





Here's one last look.....straight down.


google_aerial

I wonder if the tank would show up in any vintage aerials? [*hint*]

__

[HossC]

I believe the Union Hardware and Metal Company facility was build around 1949/50 - the 1948 aerial view only shows fields. Here's the 1953 view, which is the first image after that. It's not as clear as later images, but the tank is definitely there.


Historic Aerials

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

r

One thing that caught my eye was the solitary tank in the parking lot.


google_aerial 2D

Initially I thought it must be a left-over remnant of when the property was a hardware and metal company,

but on closer inspection, it appears to be in good shape with a small utility building beside it.


gsv/detail

Any idea what would be in the tank......water?......gasoline?

(I confess: My knowledge of holding tanks is even more abysmal than my knowledge of oil derricks)





Here's one last look.....straight down.


google_aerial

I wonder if the tank would show up in any vintage aerials? [*hint*]

__

Water tanks are usually high off the ground and gasoline tanks might be underground or more isolated. I'm no expert but I suspect this tank may be holding some waste liquid from nearby operations....or completely empty and unused.
Any other ideas? Is this an old oil well and that's the holding tank for the oil?

[ethereal_reality]

cluck cluck

ebay





Don Ameche and his wife enjoying a night out at the recently discussed 'Chanteclair' on Nov. 5th, 1947.


eBay

The lady on the left looks vaguely familiar, but I can't place her. (could it be Audrey Totter?)

& it looks like Don is the only one having a good time.

information on the reverse


Mr. Ameche was married to the lovely Honore Prendergast.



Here's a family portrait.



www.historicimages.net

I see that the two older boys are attending a military academy. I wonder which one?
__


Thanks for the vintage aerial Hoss. The tank really stood out because of it's shadow.

and I appreciate the info on tanks CBD.

[Blaster]

The lady on the left? Possibly Joan Blondell?

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

cluck cluck
Here's a family portrait.



www.historicimages.net

I see that the two older boys are attending a military academy. I wonder which one?
__


Thanks for the vintage aerial Hoss. The tank really stood out because of it's shadow.

and I appreciate the info on tanks CBD.

Could be Black-Foxe Military Academy, ...Los Angeles, that's what the uniforms appear to be.

[ethereal_reality]

from a page in a yearbook / ebay



I think you're right CityBoyDoug, here is Eric Von Stroheim Jr. in his Black-Foxe uniform.[Nov. 7th, 1932]


www.historicimages.net

alas the belt buckle is different.
__

[BifRayRock]

Thanks gents for resolving the mysterious Alibi Club's locale. Current views of the area are unrecognizable from the 50+ year old B&W image suggesting things have been completely sanitized (de-noir'ed).

While on the subject of Don Ameche and Co., here are images of his (5028 Encino Ave) home in 1939. http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15150coll5/id/10180

















Two little Ameches





For no particular reason, here is Olivia De Havilland's 1945 Beverly Hills abode: http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15150coll5/id/16229

Olivia De Havilland and her backyard swimming pond, circa '45




and

Henry Fonda's '30s Brentwood flat: http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15150coll2/id/17880 and a later 'circa '48 LA haunt. http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15150coll5/id/10567

Casa de Fonda, ~1948
(Peter) Fonda riding the range.


At the watering hole.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

from a page in a yearbook / ebay



I think you're right CityBoyDoug, here is Eric Von Stroheim Jr. in his Black-Foxe uniform.[Nov. 7th, 1932]



hmm...but I just noticed the belt buckle is different. It could still be the same school though, right?
__

Yes, ER same school.
Eric [below] is wearing a Sam Brown belt. Those are usually reserved for Duty Wear on base.
The Ameche boys are wearing the Dress Belt/buckle, used when on ''leave'' from school [photo in ER post above.]. If I have that right.


[url]www.historicimages.net[/u
General John Pershing.....Pershing Square namesake.


reference....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Browne_belt

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/John_Pershing.jpg

[GaylordWilshire]

As I was putting together my survey of residential Wilshire Boulevard, I came across references to Aldersgate Lodge, the Methodist retreat venue in Pacific Palisades. Googling that turned up various references to it having been built on Wilshire Bouelvard, which I had no other indication of, or on Harvard "near Wilshire." A build date of 1892 was often cited, which seemed unlikely for the style, especially for a house with an interior described as "Craftsman." Even the application for Aldersgate Lodge to be named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument was vague as to its origins (it was named #936 in 2008), as are Aldersgate's own histories of the house.

I forgot about the house, which, without Boulevard frontage, was not part of my survey, but for some reason my interest was piqued again recently. After a little digging, I found its original location. I've added it to my "Los Angeles History" site for houses and institutions not part of my neighborhood catalogs: http://losangeleshistory.blogspot.com/2011/10/629-south-harvard-boulevard-please-also.html


LAT

[Ed Workman]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

While on the subject of Don Ameche and Co., here are images of his (Van Nuys) home in 1939. http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15150coll5/id/10180

My immediate thought when I saw this was "Harvey" starring Jimmy Stewart and a host of fine character actors. It looks a lot like the 'sanitarium' Anybody know if it was so used?

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by Blaster

The lady on the left? Possibly Joan Blondell?

I thought so too, immediately:


Full size pic from flickriver http://flickriver.com/photos/90558583@N07/8650458476/

[ethereal_reality]

once more....


eBay / Chanteclair 1947


I concur.....it's Joan Blondell.

Here's Joan Blondell at the fights on July 1, 1948. (Joe Walcott has just been knocked out by Joe Louis)


getty

The ring she's wearing matches the wide-band ring in the Chanteclair photo from the year before.


detail

The 'fight' photo also gives us the identity of the man on the right in the 'Ameche/Chaneclair' photo.

Unless I'm mistaken, it's Mike Todd.

He was married to Ms. Blondell from July 5, 1947 to June 8, 1950.
__


Thanks for your help Blaster & odinthor, it's much appreciated.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

Don Ameche and Co., (Van Nuys) home in 1939.

Thanks for the photos of Don Ameche's home BRR. I've been trying to find out if it's still standing (no luck yet)

If only we could see the first numeral in the street address (below)



During my search I found this vintage postcard.


eBay

This home looks smaller so perhaps this is an earlier residence (although the Huntington photos are dated fairly early, April of 1939)

Does anyone have an address for either home?
__

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

Two little Ameches

lol

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Ed Workman

My immediate thought when I saw the Ameche home was "Harvey" starring Jimmy Stewart and a host of fine character actors. It looks a lot like the 'sanitarium' Anybody know if it was so used?

I haven't seen Harvey for years, but I believe it was shot entirely on the backlot at Universal.

Are you thinking of this building Ed? (click on link below)

http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/colonialstreet_mansion.php

Sad to see the set was TORN DOWN in 2005


Universal Studios

"The mansion was removed from Colonial Street and destroyed in 2005 as part of 'Desperate Housewives' second season expansion."


Destroyed for 'Desperate Housewives'...oh the humanity!
__

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Yes, ER same school.
Eric [below] is wearing a Sam Brown belt. Those are usually reserved for Duty Wear on base.
The Ameche boys are wearing the Dress Belt/buckle, used when on ''leave'' from school. If I have that right.

-quite interesting CBD.

If I remember correctly, you and your brother were enrolled in a military academy, right?
__

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thanks for the photos of Don Ameche's home BRR. I've been trying to find out if it's still standing (no luck yet)

If only we could see the first numeral in the street address (below)

The image was unfortunately cropped. "5028 Encino Ave." It appears to be a survivor. https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1622614,...lYsObjw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en


One source lists other addresses: 629 N Arden Drive, BH; 716 N. Elm BH; 4875 Louise Ave, Encino; 4684 White Oak Ave and others. http://www.movielanddirectory.com/star.cfm?star=21110