noirish Los Angeles

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Maybe it is a hotel now, but wasn't this building once the original main Elk's Lodge in L.A.?

It was the Elk's Lodge, but the original was at the top of Angels Flight at 3rd and Olive.

[HossC]

Here's a reminder of the Elk's Building at 3rd and Olive:

Originally Posted by FredH

LAPL

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Question for everybody--if you could magically or scientifically visit some past decade in L.A. or anywhere, which decade would you choose? My first choice would be the 1920s. specifically 1924-1929. Would be a fun Sunday to see Sister Aimee at Angelus Temple, and go to a Yankees game in NYC in 1927. etc. Dance the Charleston. Visit a speakeasy. Listen to jazz. Go to the first performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" in 1924. Meet iconoclast H.L. Mencken on his 1926 L.A. & Hollywood visit (he went to a Angelus Temple service). Attend the Scopes Trial. Watch Lindy take off for Paree. Etc.

"Rhapsody in Blue" - If I had to choose, my favorite piece of music! I don't know a lot about H. L. Mencken, but, coincidentally, I just saw this quote of his recently: "As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

What decade to choose? I'd probably choose 1939-1949. I could visit Monkey Island. Take a kodachrome color photo of the NBC Lobby Mural. Among a few (!) other things.

[Beaudry]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Question for everybody--if you could magically or scientifically visit some past decade in L.A. or anywhere, which decade would you choose? My first choice would be the 1920s. specifically 1924-1929. Would be a fun Sunday to see Sister Aimee at Angelus Temple, and go to a Yankees game in NYC in 1927. etc. Dance the Charleston. Visit a speakeasy. Listen to jazz. Go to the first performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" in 1924. Meet iconoclast H.L. Mencken on his 1926 L.A. & Hollywood visit (he went to a Angelus Temple service). Attend the Scopes Trial. Watch Lindy take off for Paree. Etc.

When Kim Cooper and I started up the 1947project back in the day, we were asked just that, and her reply was so good I basically replied "Uh, what she said."



But if I had to pick a decade, it would be 1925-1935. I'd get a job at Richfield, make a pot of money, cash out my stocks in October '29. I'd see the construction of (and visit in their prime) the Richfield, City Hall, the Oviatt, Bullocks Wilshire, all the greats. After the crash I could hang with Chandler at Dabney Oil and with Fante at the Alta Vista (where I could at the same time foil the murders of Robert and Harriet Allen, but then, what if Robert Allen turns out to be a covert Nazi rocket scientist?) and heck, I could go see the color piano!

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Beaudry

When Kim Cooper and I started up the 1947project back in the day, we were asked just that, and her reply was so good I basically replied "Uh, what she said."



But if I had to pick a decade, it would be 1925-1935. I'd get a job at Richfield, make a pot of money, cash out my stocks in October '29. I'd see the construction of (and visit in their prime) the Richfield, City Hall, the Oviatt, Bullocks Wilshire, all the greats. After the crash I could hang with Chandler at Dabney Oil and with Fante at the Alta Vista (where I could at the same time foil the murders of Robert and Harriet Allen, but then, what if Robert Allen turns out to be a covert Nazi rocket scientist?) and heck, I could go see the color piano!

http://www.electricearl.com/labh/Stakeout-01.jpg

From the film....Stakeout on Dope Street.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

It was the Elk's Lodge, but the original was at the top of Angels Flight at 3rd and Olive.

Originally Posted by HossC

Here's a reminder of the Elk's Building at 3rd and Olive:

By sheer coincidence I came across a view of the Elk's Club today that we haven't seen before.



EBAY c.1908



Here's a closer look.




The photographer appears to be standing in an overgrown lot/yard. (was there a house on this lot in 1908?)

___



While the photographer was up on Olive Street....he/she took this expansive view.


EBAY






"from the Hotel Cumberland." [c.1908]




A photograph of the Cumberland was included as well.


EBAY

this pic was smaller...so it didn't enlarge very well.


The photographs were found in this 1908 photo album HERE

[odinthor]

Great finds, e_r! Those are very worthwhile shots to see!

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here's a closer look.

Wow - the above photo is the first image (that I can recall) showing Angels Flight's earlier, hip-style roofed terminal as seen from Olive Street.

Are there any other photos in existence showing the old hip-style roof from Olive Street?

For the sake of comparison, here's the old hip-style terminal seen from 3rd and Hill:

LINK

Later, of course, the hip-roofed terminal would be replaced by a long pavilion, then the pavilion itself would be cut down to a fraction of its original size:

LINK

In addition, does anyone know exactly when these changes were made to the terminal?

[Scott Charles]

Can anyone identify the building I'm about to describe? Sadly, I don't even have a photograph of it!

I used to see this building downtown throughout the ’80s, and I think, the ’90s. At one point I went looking for it, and it was gone. I don't know when it disappeared.

It was an old, tall-ish building, probably 10+ stories. It believe it was somewhere in this region:

image link

I know all of this is extremely vague, but here's the kicker - this building had an ocean liner sea ship on top of its roof, similar to this illustration I just made in Photoshop:

Image sources for illustration: 1, 2, 3.

The length of the ship ran east/west.

Does anyone remember the building I'm talking about? I'm sure some of you long time LA residents must remember it...

[Beaudry]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

By sheer coincidence I came across a view of the Elk's Club today that we haven't seen before.



EBAY c.1908

I nearly freakin' crashed buying this on my phone while barrelling up the 605. Yes, I think that's the only shot of the hipped-roof shed from Olive I've seen.

Not cheap, but boy I need that Cumberland pic. The Cumberland, which opened in the spring of '05, is by Marsh & Russell, who designed all the exotic architecture in Venice.



After I get this in the mail I'll make some decent scans for the group!

[HossC]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

In addition, does anyone know exactly when these changes were made to the terminal?

FredH's post that I quoted yesterday has a partial history of the upper terminal. Here's the earliest picture. The full post is here.

Originally Posted by FredH

When Angels Flight started about 1901, the Olive Street station was just a small shelter.


LAPL

[Beaudry]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

Later, of course, the hip-roofed terminal would be replaced by a long pavilion, then the pavilion itself would be cut down to a fraction of its original size:

LINK

In addition, does anyone know exactly when these changes were made to the terminal?

The Train & Williams Beaux-Arts upper terminus was built in the spring of 1910.



The north half came down in '14—



I'm not sure when the shed part was added. It may have been 1952 when the Native Daughters of the Golden West had their big ceremony when they put their plaque there?

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by HossC

FredH's post that I quoted yesterday has a partial history of the upper terminal. Here's the earliest picture. The full post is here.

Thank you for the link, Hoss! And you can just see the old terminal on the far left of the photo...

Originally Posted by Beaudry

The Train & Williams Beaux-Arts upper terminus was built in the spring of 1910.



The north half came down in '14—



I'm not sure when the shed part was added. It may have been 1952 when the Native Daughters of the Golden West had their big ceremony when they put their plaque there?

Thank-you Beaudry, quite fascinating! I did not think these dates were known, actually - kind of like how nobody knows when the statue of the soldier disappeared from MacArthur Park - I'm glad the info still exists!

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

Can anyone identify the building I'm about to describe? Sadly, I don't even have a photograph of it!

I used to see this building downtown throughout the ’80s, and I think, the ’90s. At one point I went looking for it, and it was gone. I don't know when it disappeared.

It was an old, tall-ish building, probably 10+ stories. It believe it was somewhere in this region:

image link

I know all of this is extremely vague, but here's the kicker - this building had an ocean liner sea ship on top of its roof, similar to this illustration I just made in Photoshop:

Image sources for illustration: 1, 2, 3.

The length of the ship ran east/west.

Does anyone remember the building I'm talking about? I'm sure some of you long time LA residents must remember it...

The Friday Morning Club/Variety Arts Center building at 940 South Figueroa Street?



Wikipedia





http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/12/519519.pdf


Your ship is much bigger though.

[Martin Pal]

That must be it, not too many buildings with a ship on top of them, but here's a link to
some boat shaped buildings:

http://www.thisisinsider.com/buildings-shaped-like-boats-2016-5

[AlvaroLegido]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Question for everybody--if you could magically or scientifically visit some past decade in L.A. or anywhere, which decade would you choose? My first choice would be the 1920s. specifically 1924-1929. Would be a fun Sunday to see Sister Aimee at Angelus Temple, and go to a Yankees game in NYC in 1927. etc. Dance the Charleston with a wild flapper. Visit a speakeasy. Listen to jazz. Go to the first performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" in 1924. Meet iconoclast H.L. Mencken on his 1926 L.A. & Hollywood visit (he went to an Angelus Temple service). Attend the Scopes Trial. Watch Lindy take off for Paree. Etc. Maybe the 1960s, when the Doors first broke on through to the other side on the Sunset Strip. Good second choice.

I would choose the 1910s. Bunker Hill at its best, the motion picture studios at their pristine moment.

[riichkay]

I haven't posted for a long time as I was livid at Photobucket....now that the hostage taking is over I'm back (still with Photobucket, I went with their $1.99/mo. plan...that's fair).

Anyway, some screen grabs from a 1926 Harold Lloyd picture, "For Heaven's Sake"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuotlAszaiQ




Harold wrecks a couple of luxury automobiles in the first few minutes.





Later, he herds a bunch of drunks onto a streetcar....our friend John Bengston at silentlocations came up with the above i.d. as 113 N. Larchmont.





Harold and the drunks transfer to a double decker bus, for a harrowing ride through the city streets...what I found interesting here is that Lloyd filmed the roof of the bus from (apparently) the top of another double decker...so you get a view of the city streets from a somewhat elevated perspective.






















































At this point in the picture Harold falls to the front of the bus, which is without driver....the bus is approaching a railroad crossing with two trains going in opposite directions.


I don't know how in the hell Lloyd choreographed the following sequence...I get undercranking, it's possible these vehicles were all crawling along at 5 mph...but Lloyd's hair is clearly blown backward towards the camera, as if the bus is at speed...

[Beaudry]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Jim Dawson must have added this one to his site recently, it's not in his book; I of course had to get on Amazon and pick up a copy. Apparently it's a goofy noir melodrama and an Amazon reviewer adds "Incidentally, there's no Dope Street and there's no stake out."

I like this shot because it shows that area at Third and Hope that seemed particularly seedy:



And it appears the Trico Printing Co. (who are at 701 W Third in the '56 directory, at least) have fled, leaving a bunch of trash behind. People didn't start getting their walking papers from the CRA till '61, and the movie came before that, but they must've known the end was near. (Or they were fleeing Big Lou and his kneecap-breaking crew of enforcers.)

This corner (built as a garage in 1914, designed by OP Dennis) became stores (and a mission) in the 30s, and was one of the first to be demo'd in the early '60s for the Bunker Hill Heating and Cooling Plant, by SK Johnson at DMJM.

And check out the '57 Plymouth! The sequel to Stakeout on Dope Street was apparently Christine.

[Lorendoc]

Originally Posted by riichkay

Wow what a great bunch of captures - thanks!



GSV

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by Noir_Noir

The Friday Morning Club/Variety Arts Center building at 940 South Figueroa Street?



Wikipedia





http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/12/519519.pdf


Your ship is much bigger though.

That's it, Noir_Noir! How on earth did you find it?

Please forgive the oversized ship in my mockup image, I was just trying to make the layout of the ship/building very explicit. But I did get the “Queen Mary” style of the ship correctly - I actually used a model of the Queen Mary in my mockup!

As can be seen in the color photo you posted, the ship is lying east/west, just as I remember.

Armed with the information you provided, I was able to find the following:

LINK

As the above comment notes, you could see the ship from blocks away. I used to see it at night time, and... if I remember correctly... the ship was actually lighted, making it visible during the night.

Here is a post by Milt Larsen, the once-owner of both the Variety Arts Building and the model ship, from his own website:

LINK

So the ship was on the roof since either 1971 or “the sixties” - I'm going to go with 1971, as that number is a lot more precise than an entire decade - but when did the ship disappear?

Larsen says the ship was accidentally destroyed by the person that Larsen sold the building to, but when was that?

LINK

According to the above image, the building was bought by Paul Sehdeva in 1989. This means that the ship was on the roof from roughly 1971 to 1989 - disappearing nearly 30 years ago.

If you can forgive another poor mockup (wrong building... wrong ship...), this is approximately what my memory of the building is like:



Thanks again for finding this information, Noir_Noir - I did a pretty comprehensive search for information a few years ago, and came up with nothing.