Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
The rooftop boxing photograph was one of my mystery posts a long long time ago. I described it as "Women boxing on a Los Angeles rooftop, 1933."
of course I followed up with a question.
"Where would you find a group of young ladies on a rooftop?" Could it possibly be a Y.W.C.A?
If I remember correctly, we eventually figured out the location...but not in nearly as much detail as you did in your post.
I am especially impressed that you pointed out the ladder and the vantage point of the photographer. That's so awesome Scott!
 I didn't know the girls were members of a specific 'troupe'. I thought they were probably studio contract players.....or women from a casting agency.
& since there are nine women on the roof-top and nine in the photograph below... I think these lovely ladies might be the "RKO Pictures Chorus Girls".
flickr
It's pretty clear this pic was taken at a movie studio. I wonder if it's RKO?
(& just so you all know...I'm also curious about that odd 'flue'-like thingy that looks like a giant matchstick)
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p.s. if you feel the need to count the ladies on the roof (like I just did  ) you can see it HERE
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I tried to find a an aerial of Paramount which shows the "flue like" thingy since that would be the wood or carpenter's shop and would zero in on the location. I settled for some maps of the lot. The flue would be a chimney for burning sawdust and scraps from the wood shop. Most studios had them at the time. There is a spark arrestor on the top to keep the cheap sets (all made of wood) from catching fire and going up like matchsticks.
It appears that the most likely candidate for the building where the women are on the roof would be the Hans Dreier building on the Paramount lot. It was built in 1929 and appears to have a flat roof. It is adjacent (or attached to Stage 9 and kitty-corner across from the carpentry shop which would have had the flue.
The photo is probably flipped since the carpenters shop would actually be to the right of roof of the Dreier building rather than the other side.
Someone who has worked on the Paramount lot, correct me if I'm wrong, and let me know if the Dreier building actually has a flat roof.
I hope it was winter when the picture was taken since it would have been really hot on that roof in summer in the middle of the day!!