noirish Los Angeles

[Mackerm]

Originally Posted by vexedbystuff

Curiously enough, this John Clair fellow is at least tangentally associated to a Marilyn Monroe grave marker. One of the original ones that was sold at auction in 2019 included 2 photos of him at her vault:

Heritage Auction

Originally Posted by Noir_Noir

I'm not sure he's really at Marilyn's crypt in the pictures. I think it's a mock-up back at his "studio".
[...]
All the pictures feature well made signs and props so he's put some work into the really odd assortment of recreations.

I think I'm sure you're right. It doesn't look like natural sunlight; there are shadows from at least two lights. I was curious enough about the sign in the background to sign up to Heritage Auctions for the hi-res version, so here's the text:

WE SHALL GATHER AT THE
RIVER. THE RIVER THAT FLOWS
BY THE THRONE OF GOD
MARILYN
MONROE
STUDIO
MEMORIAL
SERVICE
LOS ANGELES
CALIFORNIA
AUG. 12, 1962 -

And a belated thanks to CaliNative for all the amazing research on Old Man Rock!

[CaliNative]

When I was in my larval stage living in the Valley back in the 1960s, I remember there were lots of "stilt houses" in the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the city. Are these stilt houses still there?

In the 1965 satirical comedy film "The Loved One" about the cemetery biz (based on the Evelyn Waugh book) there is a scene where cosmetologist for the departed "loved ones" Amy Thanotogenous ( death giver?) dangles on a swing hung from one of the stilt houses. The Loved One was a thinly veiled satire about L.A. cemeteries like Forest Lawn. I recall that Jonathan Winters played a few roles, including the reverand chief of the cemetary. Film is flawed but has quite a few funny moments. Worth a watch. The 600 pound mom of chief mortician Mr. Joyboy (campily played by Rod Steiger) is a hoot. Joyboy has Amy over for dinner with Momsy and I recall Amy runs away in horror as Mrs. Joyboy swallows chickens whole, fearing she may be next. A character played by Robert Morse, Joyboy and Winter's Reverand Chief all compete for the affection of the fetching Amy. Over the top and strange film but funny. The film also takes a look at the British expats living in L.A. working in the film industry, and several big name British actors appear (Sir John Gielgud, Sir Robert Morley, Morse, etc.). Waugh apparently didn't like L.A. very much. I think he might like it better today. L.A. has grown up.

[JimCraig]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

When I was in my larval stage living in the Valley back in the 1960s, I remember there were lots of "stilt houses" in the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the city. Are these stilt houses still there?

In the 1965 satirical comedy film "The Loved One" about the cemetery biz (based on the Evelyn Waugh book) there is a scene where cosmetologist for the departed "loved ones" Amy Thanotogenous ( death giver?) dangles on a swing hung from one of the stilt houses. The Loved One was a thinly veiled satire about L.A. cemeteries like Forest Lawn. I recall that Jonathan Winters played a few roles, including the reverand chief of the cemetary. Film is flawed but has quite a few funny moments. Worth a watch. The 600 pound mom of chief mortician Mr. Joyboy (campily played by Rod Steiger) is a hoot. Joyboy has Amy over for dinner with Momsy and I recall Amy runs away in horror as Mrs. Joyboy swallows chickens whole, fearing she may be next. A character played by Robert Morse, Joyboy and Winter's Reverand Chief all compete for the affection of the fetching Amy. Over the top and strange film but funny. The film also takes a look at the British expats living in L.A. working in the film industry, and several big name British actors appear (Sir John Gielgood, Sir Robert Morley, Morse, etc.). Waugh apparently didn't like L.A. very much. I think he might like it better today. L.A. has grown up.

Dennis Barlow's (Robert Morse) eulogy for his uncle Sir Francis Hinsley (Sir John Gielgud):

They told me Francis Hinsley
They told me you were hung

With red protruding eyeballs
And black, protruding tongue.

I wept as I remembered
How often you and I

Had laughed about Los Angeles
And now ‘tis here you’ll lie.

Here, pickled in formaldehyde
And painted like a whore

Shrimp pink, incorruptible,
Not lost, but gone before.

"The Loved One" the motion picture with "something to offend everyone."

[vexedbystuff]

Originally Posted by Noir_Noir

I'm not sure he's really at Marilyn's crypt in the pictures. I think it's a mock-up back at his "studio".

Is this also him in two more pictures e_r has posted?









All the pictures feature well made signs and props so he's put some work into the really odd assortment of recreations.

It sure looks like him in those 2 other pictures.

I think you're right on this being in a studio. There are 2 more images on the auction site that show the "grave" - one shows stone pattern, but the other looks like it's white with no pattern:

Heritage Auction

[Earl Boebert]

Originally Posted by vexedbystuff

It sure looks like him in those 2 other pictures.

I think you're right on this being in a studio. There are 2 more images on the auction site that show the "grave" - one shows stone pattern, but the other looks like it's white with no pattern:

Heritage Auction

Agreed. Plus the seams between the "panels" in the studio version don't look the same as photos of the actual site.

Earl

[rick m]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

When I was in my larval stage living in the Valley back in the 1960s, I remember there were lots of "stilt houses" in the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the city. Are these stilt houses still there?

In the 1965 satirical comedy film "The Loved One" about the cemetery biz (based on the Evelyn Waugh book) there is a scene where cosmetologist for the departed "loved ones" Amy Thanotogenous ( death giver?) dangles on a swing hung from one of the stilt houses. The Loved One was a thinly veiled satire about L.A. cemeteries like Forest Lawn. I recall that Jonathan Winters played a few roles, including the reverand chief of the cemetary. Film is flawed but has quite a few funny moments. Worth a watch. The 600 pound mom of chief mortician Mr. Joyboy (campily played by Rod Steiger) is a hoot. Joyboy has Amy over for dinner with Momsy and I recall Amy runs away in horror as Mrs. Joyboy swallows chickens whole, fearing she may be next. A character played by Robert Morse, Joyboy and Winter's Reverand Chief all compete for the affection of the fetching Amy. Over the top and strange film but funny. The film also takes a look at the British expats living in L.A. working in the film industry, and several big name British actors appear (Sir John Gielgood, Sir Robert Morley, Morse, etc.). Waugh apparently didn't like L.A. very much. I think he might like it better today. L.A. has grown up.

I had acquaintance with homeowner Ralph of this still stilting house up in Sherman Oaks on Deervale Drive-back in early 1970s - scenes filmed there before construction was even completed---

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by craigs

Not likely the right place, but I found a 1959 Factor Residence off Mulholland in Sherman Oaks that has been extensively remodeled and expanded, so it doesn't look the same. And it is not in Beverly Hills.

Thanks for the tip, craigs. That's quite a house! I never would have guessed it was built in 1959.
Since the ebay seller listed both Beverly Hills and Los Angeles perhaps the location is a guesstimate.



I asked myself which Factor might have been building a house in 1975? The first person to come to mind was Max Factor Jr.'s son, Donald. He was 41 in 1975.


And in 1973 he sold his previous home to none other than Diana Ross.

Ebony July 1973





The home looks fairly modern.


That's Diana's yellow Rolls Royce parked in front.









Donald Factor was interested in modern poetry and was a collector of modern art. He associated with Los Angeles artists in the 1960s and had connections with the Ferus Gallery


"He married his high school sweetheart, Lynn Harper Factor, in 1958. While working for Max Factor & Company cosmetics as a marketing executive, the couple welcomed two children into their home - which was custom built to house the early works of Warhol, Lichtenstein, Stella, Johns, and Ruscha, and other notable artists shown at the Ferus Gallery."

Is the 'custom-built' house, mentioned above, the home under construction in the eBay photographs.

. . .info from his obituary


You can read the rest of the obituary, Here





The house under construction in the 1975 photographs looks like a home designed to display modern art works. (few windows / modern design / bunker-like)




But I never found the address.



.

[ethereal_reality]

.
Mystery wagon and crew.....eBay







There's so much to take in I don't know know where to begin.

The wagon's arrival appears to have been somewhat of an event as the shop keepers have come out to view it.

Let's start with the business signs on the buildings. (see below)



I see Lowrie and co. and Charles B. Boothe & Co.



And the wagon's arrival was important enough for someone to write down the names of the crew directly on the photograph!

I can make out most of them but several are rather elusive.





Wright

Bennett (?)

Fliut (?)

Ford (?)

Judd (?)





The seller included this detail.



I'm not sure why the sepia is so pronounced but it looks wonderful.











The wagon appears to be more than what initially meets the eye. If you look closer the rear wagon wheels are much LARGER than the front wheels AND unless my eyes are deceiving me
there appears to be something rather large (and draped?) on the wagon. I believe it is even reflected in the store window....Do you see it?



I can't go without mentioning the unique street sign at the head of the alley...(also note the shopkeepers in the background looking on)






Oh, and one more thing. This is, in fact, Los Angeles. (I'm not sure why the seller included question marks because the seller included information on Boothe)



lapl

126 - 128 S. Los Angeles St.

And as you can see the Boothe's residence was on S. Bonnie Brea at 824.




I can't stop!


The dentist upstairs is Nettleton.






And there's an insurance salesman upstairs as well.



"What's going on out here?"




.

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Want to know why Charles B. Boothe has lost his store windows?

A disgruntled fellow wielding a broomstick, that's why.



cdnc.ucr.edu - Los Angeles Herald, 26 April 1899

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
Mystery wagon and crew.....eBay







[...]

.

e_r, Mr. Boothe's concern seemed to make use of four-horse teams, and he's showing off his all-white team plus his all-black team, hitched together for the photo.


LA Times, 1/30/1898.

The third name down written on the photo is likely "Flint."

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

Those brown stains on MM niche marble are usually body fluids leaking from a coffin in the upper chamber..

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
Mystery wagon and crew.....eBay







There's so much to take in I don't know know where to begin.

[...]

Oh, and one more thing. This is, in fact, Los Angeles. (I'm not sure why the seller included question marks because the seller included information on Boothe)



lapl

126 - 128 S. Los Angeles St.

And as you can see the Boothe's residence was on S. Bonnie Brea at 824.

[...]

.

824 S. Bonnie Brae is worth a look:


gsv

Of the names written on the photo, consulting the 1900-1901 CD, I have some guesses (there are more people in the photo than there are names written):

Wright is probably Charles A. Wright, expressman, residence 506 Ida (Ida St. seems to have been in the area just west of Echo Park, starting at Temple and running north for ? about four blocks).

Bennett is perhaps A. Joseph Bennett, liveryman, 505 E. 4th.

Flint is maybe Arthur Flint, horse shoer, of 1018 W 24th.

Ford is likely Benjamin Ford, teamster, living at 1517 W. 38th. Perhaps teamster Ford is the person up on the wagon.

Judd is maybe assisting the photographer and so is perhaps Chauncey W. Judd, photo printer, "25 Ransom Blk., 205 1/2 S. Main, r[esidence] 650 Tehama"; and, if so, is likely the gent off to the right dressed in office clothes. Looking at the way the name is written on the photo, "Judd" seems to have been an afterthought.

[ethereal_reality]

.


Amazing research on the mystery names, Odinthor! .. ... ...I didn't think to check to see if 824 S. Bonnie Brae was still standing. What a pleasant surprise. It's an amazing house!

Thanks so much.

Originally Posted by Noir_Noir

Want to know why Charles B. Boothe has lost his store windows?

A disgruntled fellow wielding a broomstick, that's why.
.

Oh my! I didn't realize the windows were boarded up. I thought they were ugly blinds.

What are the odds that the photographer captured the image when Mr. Boothe had yet to replace the windows.

Magnificent discovery, Noir Noir.
.

[ethereal_reality]

.
Mystery location.

Here's another intriguing photograph currently on eBay

"1913 Los Angeles, California RPPC Ice Cream, Tobacco, Soft Drinks, Grocery Store."


eBay

I'm surprised the name of the store isn't displayed more prominently. (in fact, I don't see it at all)

If you look closely there is a very good clue. The street sign on the corner!

And yet, it's too blurry to read.


detail






update:

I just realized the seller included additional information.

" Vintage, original, and one-of-a-kind, circa 1913 real photo postcard featuring a small Ice Cream & Grocery store in Los Angeles. Image is sharp and detailed. Lots of signs including one on the right window reading Cigars & Tobacco. The street signs are on the white post to the right of the telephone pole. The sign on the right is 87th street and the address on the door is 8724. It looks to me like the other street name is Sepulveda."

. . .but not the name of the store.

Starting bid:...U.S. $ 225.00
.

[ethereal_reality]

Wait! There's more.


Here's the back of the grocery store photo. (Los Angeles Cal - 11/21/13)




If we can figure out who Cocky's parents were we might be able to figure out the name of the store!



.

[odinthor]

[B]e_r[/B, it appears that Cocky's initials are OLB (at bottom of postcard); hence parents with last name starting with B who are ? grocers are to be sought. And/or a family with surname starting with B who have a son whose first name starts with "O." Anyone here have lots of time and want to pore over the City Directories?



The "ARGO" on the sign near Cocky would be Argo Starch.


antiqueadvertising.com

a still-existing company. In fact, I have Argo Corn Starch in my kitchen right now (the logo has changed).

So a grocery store . . . owner last name "B" . . . has Tetley's Teas and Argo starch . . . is on a corner . . . hmmmmm . . .

[Handsome Stranger]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

In the 1965 satirical comedy film "The Loved One" about the cemetery biz (based on the Evelyn Waugh book) there is a scene where cosmetologist for the departed "loved ones" Amy Thanotogenous ( death giver?) dangles on a swing hung from one of the stilt houses.

A few years ago there was a screening of the movie followed by a Q&A session with stars Robert Morse and Anjanette Comer, along with cinematographer Haskell Wexler. Here's what Robert Morse and Anjanette Comer had to say about the swing scene.

RM: I think the most scariest thing is the way she ran around in that house above Coldwater Canyon. That house was shaking. It really was shaking. It really was scary. And I think it was remarkable that you went out on the swing. Did you do that with any protection at all? You just said...

AC: No.

RM: ..."Sure Tony, I'll do that!"

AC: I thought it was great.

RM: I know you do. I was there!

AC: It was great. I don't even think, uh, the script was anything that different. I just accepted it all.

There's a video of the Q&A on YouTube but the picture is very dark and the sound is often nearly inaudible.

[Lorendoc]

Originally Posted by odinthor

e_r, it appears that Cocky's initials are OLB (at bottom of postcard); hence parents with last name starting with B who are ? grocers are to be sought. And/or a family with surname starting with B who have a son whose first name starts with "O." Anyone here have lots of time and want to pore over the City Directories?



The "ARGO" on the sign near Cocky would be Argo Starch.


So a grocery store . . . owner last name "B" . . . has Tetley's Teas and Argo starch . . . is on a corner . . . hmmmmm . . .

FWIW, the 1914 CD has three listings for "8724" all on S Hoover: John Stuart "Dairy" (twice) and "8724 1/2" S Hoover: John Bondoffer, who was a "milker." Well, at least a grocery store/ice cream place might be considered "dairy adjacent"? (the names were Stewart and Bodendorfer in the 1913 CD)

Not so sure I trust the seller's "Sepulveda and 87th" comment; in 1913 that would have been bean fields at most. Do y'all agree with his decipherment of the street number?

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Handsome Stranger

A few years ago there was a screening of the movie followed by a Q&A session with stars Robert Morse and Anjanette Comer, along with cinematographer Haskell Wexler. Here's what Robert Morse and Anjanette Comer had to say about the swing scene.

RM: I think the most scariest thing is the way she ran around in that house above Coldwater Canyon. That house was shaking. It really was shaking. It really was scary. And I think it was remarkable that you went out on the swing. Did you do that with any protection at all? You just said...

AC: No.

RM: ..."Sure Tony, I'll do that!"

AC: I thought it was great.

RM: I know you do. I was there!

AC: It was great. I don't even think, uh, the script was anything that different. I just accepted it all.

There's a video of the Q&A on YouTube but the picture is very dark and the sound is often nearly inaudible.

There she is, lovely Aimee Thanotogenos (Comer) on the stilt house swing. Thanks Mr. Stranger. The talented sleuths here can find anything! As I recall, the departed Aimee's mortal remains were shot into orbit on a rocket at the end of the film by young rocket prodigy Paul Williams. The horror of seeing 600 lb. Momsy Joyboy downing chickens and roast suckling pig with ravenous gusto was too much for the poor girl. Truly a noirish L.A. moment.

[Snix]

Greenblatt's Delicatessen closed yesterday after about a 100-year run. The original location was at 4810 S. Vermont. Here is their current location at Sunset and Laurel shortly before Greenblatt's moved in.
Hans Morris Greenblatt died in a horrible auto accident at Sunset and Highland in 1958.

Harold A. Parker/Huntington Library
https://www.lamag.com/digestblog/greenbl...-citys-oldest-businesses-closes-up-shop/


Los Angeles Times 10/29/58