noirish Los Angeles

[tovangar2]

LOL, not a hole in the ground after all. Thanks Lorendoc

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

You must remember nearby Food Kart then, oldstuff! That’s where I would be headed with my mom when I would see the icebox.

LINK

It’s a bit hard to see in the above image, so here it is zoomed-in:



The Magnolia Theater (at left) has been covered before on Noirish LA.

Sure, I remember the Magnolia theater, and also the Food Kart. I did not live in that area, but rather on the hill, so did not shop at the Food Kart but had cousins who did. The Magnolia's building is still there, not much changed except for signage and new paint. There is no sign on the outside (as of this last Saturday) to tell what it is used for now.
The other theater in the Magnolia Park area was the California, which was on the opposite side of the street and a lot closer in. It is now a church. All this was in the town that made movies, before we had no movie theaters in which to view them. They closed the Cornell, the Magnolia and the California, the San Val Drive-In, and then a little later, the Picwick Drive-In.

I do have a vague recollection of there being a place somewhere in that vicinity which had old appliances. I think they restored and resold them but I cannot recall the name of the place.

[BDiH]

Originally Posted by oldstuff

Sure, I remember the Magnolia theater, and also the Food Kart. I did not live in that area, but rather on the hill, so did not shop at the Food Kart but had cousins who did. The Magnolia's building is still there, not much changed except for signage and new paint. There is no sign on the outside (as of this last Saturday) to tell what it is used for now.
The other theater in the Magnolia Park area was the California, which was on the opposite side of the street and a lot closer in. It is now a church. All this was in the town that made movies, before we had no movie theaters in which to view them. They closed the Cornell, the Magnolia and the California, the San Val Drive-In, and then a little later, the Picwick Drive-In.

I spent my childhood in those theaters. I remember seeing "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Rhubarb" at the Magnolia in 1951 and "Marty" and "Battle Cry" at the Cornell in 1955. And don't forget another long gone theater, the Major on San Fernando Road.

And does anyone remember Mar-Lin-Do Lanes, the Burbank bowling alley?

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

The Vance Drug Co. was located at 400 S. Broadway.


lapl

...what building was at 400 S. Broadway in 1915? (location of the Vance Drug Store)

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

According to the 1921 Baist and a 1909 Birds Eye view map, the Mason Building.

I found this picture of the Mason Building from when it was nearly new (odinthor mentioned in post #46894 that it was new in 1894).

Chamber of Commerce quarters at Fourth Street and Broadway, 1897


USC Digital Library

And here's a later view which was originally posted in 2016.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Glass Negative #7

Downtown Los Angeles [ca.1920s]


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glass-plate-nega...3?hash=item33c13c8529:g:UUAAAOSwZJBYBXI9

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by BDiH

I spent my childhood in those theaters. I remember seeing "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Rhubarb" at the Magnolia in 1951 and "Marty" and "Battle Cry" at the Cornell in 1955. And don't forget another long gone theater, the Major on San Fernando Road.

And does anyone remember Mar-Lin-Do Lanes, the Burbank bowling alley?

I also remember the Mar-Lin-Do Lanes. It was on San Fernando and it was the first place I ever went bowling. I knew some people who were part of bowling leagues there.

As to the Cornell, you wore your oldest shoes there since the carpet was so sticky. We learned to drive in the parking lot.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

And much to my surprise, I also found a local agency and display room of the Walrus Company at 814 E. Third.



So here's the rub...I'm trying to located a photograph of the building located at 814 E. Third around 1915. I haven't had any luck.

It looks like the Walrus Manufacturing Company might have been part of the Southern California Supply Co. Here's their listing from the 1915 CD - notice that it also mentions soda fountains.


LAPL

They had a much larger advert in the 1920 CD.


LAPL

Although it's numbered 810 E 3rd Street, I believe that this is the same building. The number over the main door actually says 820 (the latest GSV image (February 2018) shows the first floor boarded up and scaffolding across the front of the building). I thought we might have seen this building before as we've looked at the nearby The Joannes Brothers Company building at 800 Traction and the old Santa Fe building at 912 E 3rd Street, but I couldn't find it. Having said that, my usual search method failed to find certain posts I was looking for, even though the words I was searching for are in the posts.


www.laconservancy.org (PDF)

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by oldstuff

Sure, I remember the Magnolia theater, and also the Food Kart. I did not live in that area, but rather on the hill, so did not shop at the Food Kart but had cousins who did. The Magnolia's building is still there, not much changed except for signage and new paint. There is no sign on the outside (as of this last Saturday) to tell what it is used for now.
The other theater in the Magnolia Park area was the California, which was on the opposite side of the street and a lot closer in. It is now a church. All this was in the town that made movies, before we had no movie theaters in which to view them. They closed the Cornell, the Magnolia and the California, the San Val Drive-In, and then a little later, the Picwick Drive-In.

I do have a vague recollection of there being a place somewhere in that vicinity which had old appliances. I think they restored and resold them but I cannot recall the name of the place.

Some of the theaters you mention were just a bit before my time.

I did go to the Magnolia, once or perhaps twice. I just looked up the California on Cinema Treasures - interesting, I had no idea that was ever a theater. I never knew about the San Val - Cinema Treasures says that the James Cagney classic “White Heat” was filmed there. I remember the Pickwick somewhat vividly, but I don’t think I ever saw a movie there.

I’m pretty sure I never even saw the Cornell Theatre, but my older brother remembers it fondly.

SOURCE

The Major Theater seems to have been gone before I was born, and I neither heard of nor went to the Mar-Lin-Do Lanes.

[riichkay]

Searched the thread and I could not find any reference to the following incident...chronologically, certainly not a part of the classic "noir" period...but a dark story nonetheless...and (naturally) one of the players in our drama had a brief fling as a B-movie actor.

The parking lot at Zody's Discount department store, Sunset Blvd. & Western Ave...Nov. 23, 1973...




Highbrow.com tells us the story of this Pulitzer Prize-winning photo:

In 1973, freelance photographer Anthony Roberts was walking through a parking lot in Los Angeles, California one sunny afternoon when he heard a woman screaming. Approaching the scene, he found a man beating a woman who was lying on the ground. Unarmed, Roberts began taking pictures of the scene, calling out to the man that his photo was being taken. The assailant, who was allegedly trying to kidnap the woman, yelled that he didn’t care and continued to beat the woman while Roberts remained a helpless onlooker.

The noise of the assault caught the attention of a security guard, who responded to the incident with his weapon drawn. As Roberts continued to snap pictures, sure that the police would arrive at any moment, the man revealed a knife and threatened to cut the woman’s throat. The security guard shot the assailant in the head, killing him and saving the woman’s life. The final picture Roberts took before the man died, just before the security guard took the fatal shot, became known as “Fatal Hollywood Drama” and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1974.

“Fatal Hollywood Drama” was the final photo of an entire series that Roberts took documenting the struggle. The series of photos ran in the Los Angeles Times the day after the incident and became national news. The Associated Press nominated the photos for the Pulitzer Prize for spot photography. The series also later was awarded the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Roberts continued with a career in journalistic and commercial photography, and he also became an actor.














Anthony Roberts...



Roberts (1939-2005) was an American actor and photographer. His teenage years spent in California surfing and hot rodding brought him to the attention of Hollywood. Unfortunately he did not go beyond one film, The Beach Girls and the Monster, although he did obtain work modelling and in advertising. His photography activities resulted in his winning the 1974 Pulitzer for news photography but he also varied out commercial photography, including stills for films and album covers.

[OLeander5-5225]

Originally Posted by Lorendoc

It looks like it might be a Velodrome

This aerial was taken a few months later than FlyingWedge's, in late 1927. The structure has gone, and the newspapers announced a new velodrome had been built on Venice near Culver City.


UCSB Aerials 12-31-1927

And thanks HossC for the 25M milestone, it looks great

So, I got these plans for the neighborhood outlined above (and where I live today, on Flores Street) and am sharing for your edification. Interesting to see that Flores Street was originally called Aerial Avenue (maybe to reflect what the area once was, a Velodrome?). I also heard at one time the tract of land between Sweetzer and Orlando was a driving range but I've not seen any proof of that.



http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t554/655Jack/Screen%20Shot%202018
-08-13%20at%2010.40.11_zpspyfecddp.png

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t554/655Jack/Screen%20Shot%202018
-08-13%20at%2010.40.57_zpsdmdp4u0k.png

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t554/655Jack/Screen%20Shot%202018
-08-13%20at%2010.42.08_zps7eh1kk9u.png

Here's a a section from a map of the area without Sweetzer Avenue, Flores or Orlando

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t554...18-08-13%20at%2010.44.17_zps9hvel7em.png

And finally, here's Flores Street with my building right in the middle, just built in 1936 and featured on the cover of the LA Times Real Estate section. Anyone know how I can get a better copy of this?

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t554...18-08-13%20at%2010.44.40_zpsi3qobmtr.png

I find this stuff about my neighborhood very cool. The only real historical evidence I ever had about where I lived were the dates 1935 stamped on the sidewalk. These pictures bring it all the more to life. Thanks all who contributed pictures!

[ethereal_reality]

Amazing items Oleander5-5225. I'm glad you shared them with us.


Walrus / Vance Drug Co. Soda Fountain

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

So here's the rub...I'm trying to located a photograph of the building located at 814 E. Third St. (location of Walrus Co. display room)
also
...what building was at 400 S. Broadway in 1915? (location of the Vance Drug Store)

Any help would be appreciated.
_____________________________________________________________

Thank you for answering my questions and posting the photographs Hoss. I appreciate it buddy.


Here's a 'Walrus' that found a home in Houston TX.


picclick

_

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by OLeander5-5225

So, I got these plans for the neighborhood outlined above (and where I live today, on Flores Street) and am sharing for your edification. Interesting to see that Flores Street was originally called Aerial Avenue (maybe to reflect what the area once was, a Velodrome?). I also heard at one time the tract of land between Sweetzer and Orlando was a driving range but I've not seen any proof of that.

The green dot marks Third Street and Harper Avenue. The numbers show the two fields of the Crescent Polo Club:



August 1927 -- Flight C-113 Frame 124 @ UCSB


April 26, 1925, Los Angeles Times:



ProQuest via LAPL


The first reference to polo at Third and Harper that I found was in the December 21, 1924, Los Angeles Times.
This October 17, 1927, Times article was the last I found that mentioned polo or horses at Third and Harper:



ProQuest via LAPL

[ethereal_reality]

Two CYANOTYPE Photographs C.1900 SMITH home 27th St., Los Angeles, CA


EBAY / no longer listed

Smith is too common a name to narrow down where, exactly, the family lived on 27th Street. (maybe oldstuff can whip up some of her magic)
I'd like to see if the Smith's house is still standing.





This 2nd Cyanotype, of a YUCCA plant, was taken by Edna Dauchy (Viola's aunt)



This cyanotype actually brought back memories. Believe it or not, this arid looking plant can grow in central Illinois.
My Grandparents had a Yucca plant along their house and my family had one on our property (now long gone).
What I remember most is the razor sharp 'leaves' (if you fell, or were pushed, into one your screams could be heard in the next county).
If I remember correctly, towards the end of summer a tall stalk with flowers(?), or was it pods?.... grows from the center of the plant.
When I was really small I thought it was a peanut plant because the dried up pods looked like....yep you guessed it....peanuts.


__

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"] [...]

This 2nd Cyanotype, of a YUCCA plant, was taken by Edna Dauchy (Viola's aunt)



This cyanotype actually brought back memories. Believe it or not, this arid looking plant can grow in central Illinois.
My Grandparents had a Yucca plant along their house and my family had one on our property (now long gone).
What I remember most is the razor sharp 'leaves' (if you fell, or were pushed, into one your screams could be heard in the next county).
If I remember correctly, towards the end of summer a tall stalk with flowers(?), or was it pods?.... grows from the center of the plant.
When I was really small I thought it was a peanut plant because the dried up pods looked like....yep you guessed it....peanuts.


__

Yes, absolutely e_r--a spike of rather leathery creamy white flowers comes up from the center of the plant. For those who don't know, with the leaves, it's not just the sharp point at the terminus of the (stiff) leaf--the edges all the way along are serrated, so if you slip and your flesh trails along the edge of the leaf . . . YOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWCHCHCHCHCHCHCH! And lots of nice pretty red blood to enrich the color scheme.

[ethereal_reality]

Thanks odinthor. That's exactly how I remember the plant. Another childhood hazard was stepping on a thistle whilst barefoot!




Does anyone remember this roundish observation building at the LaBrea Tar Pits?


EBAY (no longer listed)

There wasn't an exact date on the slide, but the lady's Mary Tyler Moore patio pants makes me think this is the early or mid 1960s........(perhaps)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

My bad; the building is still there...and in use.


tarpits

I don't remember this building at all. Where the heck is it located?


__

[Lorendoc]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

The green dot marks Third Street and Harper Avenue. The numbers show the two fields of the Crescent Polo Club:

Excellent digging, Flyingwedge! Looking more closely at the first 1927 aerial, the oval doesn't have symmetric shadows the way velodrome tracks would have. Here is the Golden Gate polo field, looks pretty similar:


Google Maps

...not sure why Google feels the need to point out where the bathrooms are The Will Rogers polo field in the Palisades has a squared-off end.

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Does anyone remember this roundish observation building at the LaBrea Tar Pits?



UPDATE:

My bad; the building is still there...and in use.


tarpits

I don't remember this building at all. Is it somewhat hidden...perhaps?
I was probably GOOFING around)

I visited that building a long time ago with my mom, ER. Your link says that the building has been closed to the public for 20 years, but I’m pretty sure my visit took place long before that - probably in the 1970s.

The Observation Pit can be seen here on Google Maps.

Check out this other nice view of the beautiful streamline moderne May Company in the background:

[ethereal_reality]

Thanks Scott Charles.

No wonder I didn't see it! -it's practically hidden behind the art museum.



Is there like a mini-me tar pit back there?


__

[ethereal_reality]

Here are two very intersting magic lantern slides that have just been listed Ebay



Ebay



A closer look at each.

#1


"Shops in a residential section of Los Angeles." This place doesn't look familiar to me at all.






#2


"Large steel plant in Los Angeles County." Do you think this is the Llewellyn Plant?

__

[GaylordWilshire]

Larchmont Village...east side of Larchmont Blvd just north of 1st St. Completed early 1923 and demolished ca 1972. The space occupied by the Wilshire Studios was first occupied by the Birch O'Neal Co, the developer that built the stores at 108-114 N Larchmont...


LAT July 29, 1923



Here's an image from post 9181 that offers a tiny bit of the old buildings....

[HossC]

Here's a clearer image from "Larchmont" by Patricia Lombard.


books.google.com