noirish Los Angeles

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Mackerm

There was some discussion of the Burbank airport's Sky Room on pages 2767-2768.

Martin Turnbull's page has some more pictures.

Thanks. Didn't remember how fancy the Burbank "Sky Room" was! I was just a kid back in the late '50s/early '60s. I do remember watching the prop planes land and take off and that the food was good and the air cool in the summer heat of the Valley.

The planes landing and taking off on the N-S runway flew over the Valhalla Memorial Park cemetery just across the street from the airport. This is where comedian Oliver Hardy is buried, as well as the flamboyant wrestler "Gorgeous George" Wagner, 1920's star Mae Murray, the last stooge "Curly Joe" DeRita, and the psychic Criswell who was often on the Johnny Carson show. There are a greater number of more minor celebrities, like the actress Aneta Corsaut who played Miss Crump, Andy's school teacher lady friend and Opie's teacher on the Andy Griffith Show. This is not a Hollywood Forever Cemetery or Forest Lawn, with countless big stars, but Oliver Hardy, "Gorgeous George" Wagner, Mae Murray and maybe Ms. Crump and Criswell are worth a visit if in the area. If I left out any celebrities, please add them.

Wagner brought pizazz to the ring. Mohammad Ali said he learned a lot of his style and self promotion from Gorgeous George, like how he was the "greatest of all time" and "prettiest" fighter. Playing a foppish dandy, George would have a valet spray perfume as he entered the ring. At first the crowd couldn't figure him out, and booed. Later he became popular and his act made him rich long before the WWE came along.

I haven't been there in decades, and not sure if the grounds are still nicely maintained, but the cemetery used to be a nice place to take a walk. Very park-like with lots of monuments, including one to the pioneers of aviation. I would guess that many aviation pioneers are buried there.

[ethereal_reality]

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MartinPal, it turns out my "munchkin" is spilt coffee.



......................................................At least I hope it's coffee! ...





Thanks for the information on Eaton's Rancho HossC and odinthor.

That was interesting about the outdoor furniture, RudyJK. We appreciate your input.


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[Abellaava]

night dresses for girl in pakistan

[GaylordWilshire]

Hmmm--not going to be the first one to open that link...


...................................................................................................................................................


Moving right along...here's an ad I ran across recently--had to check to see if it still stands, and it does.



LAT Aug 16, 1936





And what would a vintage LA apartment building be without a little noir?




LAT Dec 14, 1938

[HossC]

For some reason, I think the El Tempo Apartments look better in the 1936 advert, even though the only obvious difference is the height of the trees. Then I checked StreetView, and found that the building was painted white up until about 2011. I don't know whether this was the original color, but in my opinion, it looked much better with the white walls contrasting with the red awnings and roof tiles.

[Mackerm]

Does a map show an enormous spring described by members of the Portola Expedition in 1769?


The Portolá expedition was the first exploration of interior areas of California by Europeans.



Hathitrust. Fray Juan Crespi, missionary explorer on the Pacific coast, 1769-1774 by Herbert Eugene Bolton p. 128


Visions of California. Tracing the Trail of the Portolá Expedition in Orange County - San Juan Capistrano Visitor Series Part 3

The top map is from an old book which contains a basic translation of the journals of Fray (friar) Juan Crespi, the most descriptive of the writers.

The second map is from a project to plot the course of the expedition through Orange County. This is the very last map on their blog, which goes into Los Angeles County. They reference a more recent translation of the expedition journals, called A description of distant roads: Original journals of the first expedition into California, 1769-1770 which is much better researched. I don't have access to this book, but the blog contains useful excerpts.

On July 31, 1769, Crespi wrote:

"Some soldiers who went a little distance off from the camp to try to hunt….reported that to the southward…there is a good-sized gap in the range, they came across another very full-flowing, wide river, much larger than the Dulcisimo Nombre de Jesús [Santa Ana River] one behind us, and they say that the river takes its rise upon the very spot from an exceedingly copious spring which boils up out of the ground in great thick surges, giving rise to this large river.”

Portola wrote

in this “valley we discovered, on the south side between two mountains, a spring that flowed like a river, giving evidence of deep soil.”

Costansó added that the soldiers discovered:

“a river of fine water – from sixteen to seventeen yards wide – that rises near the gab of the valley to the south, and at the foot of a low hill that was in sight of our camp, and, at the most, half a league distant.”

The Homestead Blog gives a longer quote by Crespi. (Crespi revised his notes, which may account for the two versions. Also it looks like this could have been written the next day.):

What provides the crowning excellence to this spot is that, at the opening in the above-mentioned range toward the south, out of a very large pool between some knolls there begins to rise a good-sized river . . . and it takes its course through the plain upon the south side, which is no telling how many leagues in width and very good grass-grown soil. On its bed the river bears a great deal of trees, cottonwoods, willows, and other sorts, and here and there on the plain there are sycamore trees. The San Miguel Bridge stream, which we set out from, empties into this river, and I saw the stream flowing close to the river, and it is a big one . . . So the place of San Miguel, along all the spots we have passed through, is the one with the most running water and the largest plains. I called this the River of the big San Miguel Plain. Thus there are two sites here for possible locating a mission; either here at the river, or at the Bridge, whence we set out; but the finer spot is the Bridge of the Stream, with its valley as described before.

Being a map freak, I was aware of a map, one of a series apparently included with Irrigation in California (Southern), an 1888 report by William Hammond Hall, State Engineer.





David Rumsey Map Collection. Monrovia. Detail Irrigation Map.

Here we see a large spring about 1200 feet south of the spot where Valley Boulevard and the railroad tracks still cross the San Gabriel River bed. Leading south from the spring are two ditches to the pond above the Workman Mill (here called Puente Mill.)

I've looked at the historical satellite photos on Google Earth, and I see no evidence of a spring at this spot, which may be because modern ground water levels are reduced from pumping. Also, I can find no description of this spot in the William Hammond Hall book, though it does note that there are many springs bursting from the banks of the river in the Whittier Narrows.

Is this the same spring described by members of the Portola expedition?

[ethereal_reality]

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Excellent epic post Mackerm!.. It's going to take me awhile to delve into it . .but delve I will.



In the mean time, here's a slide from eBay that really captures a moment in time.

"Pershing Square - Los Angeles - Street Scene - 1950s 35mm Kodachrome Slide"


eBay


The slide is similar to one that I've posted in the past but it is, indeed, a different slide.


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[Martin Pal]

I'm not sure when we last posted about the Tail o' the Pup.

On my trip to the drugstore today I discovered where Tail o' the Pup is finally going to soon reappear: 8512 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.

Info below from several different articles/websites:

The historic hot dog-shaped restaurant Tail o’ the Pup is reopening in West Hollywood, located at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd. A beloved city icon, the dramatic 18-foot-wide by 9-foot-tall eatery was first established in 1946, and in 2005, the giant hot dog was moved into storage until a new caretaker was found. In 2018, Tail o’ the Pup was officially acquired by The 1933 Group, and owners Bobby Green, Dimitri Komarov, and Dmitry Liberman have spent the past three years searching for the perfect location. The trio has decided on a walkable corridor along Route 66 for its new 2,700 square-foot property, opening Summer, 2022.

The 1933 Group is also offering this limited edition mug, the sale of which will directly contribute to funding the finishing touches on Tail o' the Pup - opening this summer! Each one-of-a-kind mug arrives in a souvenir box and comes with an exclusive Adopt-A-Pup Club membership certificate.



“We are reveling in the charm of nostalgia with the return of Tail o’ the Pup,” Green said in a press release. “I can’t think of a better way to put a smile on another’s face than to bring back the whimsical, giant hot dog stand that people would go out of their way to see as much as they would search for the Hollywood sign. We are honored to rescue one of America’s most iconic roadside attractions and hope that people see this comeback as another love letter we’ve written to Los Angeles.” The newly located Tail o’ the Pup will feature a new beer garden and al fresco dining areas.

This location has been the home of the previous restaurants, bars and clubs: The Forbidden Restaurant & Lounge, Cafe Benvenuto, Mexico Restaurant, Blackship (Japanese Restaurant), Bar Sopra LA (second floor), L'Scorpion nightclub...among others. Before that, the building housed the offices of "The Doors", featuring Jim Morrison, where manager Bill Siddons handled day-to-day-operations. The building also featured a sound studio where the band recorded three of its six albums. A 1968 publicity photo of the band shot on the outside stairway of the studios HERE.

While the new location won’t be familiar to its loyal customers of 75 years, the iconic hot dog will return for more photographs and hot dogs from both visitors and celebrities.
___________________________________________________

I'm a huge fan of The 1933 Group!

https://www.1933group.com/tailothepup

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Thanks. Didn't remember how fancy the Burbank "Sky Room" was! I was just a kid back in the late '50s/early '60s. I do remember watching the prop planes land and take off and that the food was good and the air cool in the summer heat of the Valley.

The planes landing and taking off on the N-S runway flew over the Valhalla Memorial Park cemetery just across the street from the airport. This is where comedian Oliver Hardy is buried, as well as the flamboyant wrestler "Gorgeous George" Wagner, 1920's star Mae Murray, the last stooge "Curly Joe" DeRita, and the psychic Criswell who was often on the Johnny Carson show. There are a greater number of more minor celebrities, like the actress Aneta Corsaut who played Miss Crump, Andy's school teacher lady friend and Opie's teacher on the Andy Griffith Show. This is not a Hollywood Forever Cemetery or Forest Lawn, with countless big stars, but Oliver Hardy, "Gorgeous George" Wagner, Mae Murray and maybe Ms. Crump and Criswell are worth a visit if in the area. If I left out any celebrities, please add them.

Wagner brought pizazz to the ring. Mohammad Ali said he learned a lot of his style and self promotion from Gorgeous George, like how he was the "greatest of all time" and "prettiest" fighter. Playing a foppish dandy, George would have a valet spray perfume as he entered the ring. At first the crowd couldn't figure him out, and booed. Later he became popular and his act made him rich long before the WWE came along.

I haven't been there in decades, and not sure if the grounds are still nicely maintained, but the cemetery used to be a nice place to take a walk. Very park-like with lots of monuments, including one to the pioneers of aviation. I would guess that many aviation pioneers are buried there.

As part of the monument to the pioneers of aviation, there's a memorial to the the Columbia and Challenger space shuttles.

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

As part of the monument to the pioneers of aviation, there's a memorial to the the Columbia and Challenger space shuttles.

Thanks Bill. I haven't been there since I moved away from the Valley in 1988. Lived in the Valley most of my first 36 years. Don't miss the hot summers, but I do miss other things.

[ethereal_reality]

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Take a look at this little wooden dive bar down in Wilmington.

"La Casiga Bar, 1109 E. Anaheim Street, Wilmington, California - 1977"


eBay

hmm. . .shouldn't the sign say 'Casita' instead of 'Casiga'? ....What is a Casiga?



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[ethereal_reality]

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I need a little help on this next slide. (also from Wilmington)


"Gilbert 5 10 25, 1st & Avalon Boulevard, Wilmington, California - 1977"


eBay


I wanted to see if this building survived but I haven't found where 1st Street crosses Avalon Boulevard. ... All I see are letter streets. .like L St. . .M St. . .so on and so forth.




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[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Take a look at this little wooden dive bar down in Wilmington.

"La Casiga Bar, 1109 E. Anaheim Street, Wilmington, California - 1977"


eBay

hmm. . .shouldn't the sign say 'Casita' (Little House/Cottage) instead of 'Casiga'? ....What is a Casiga?

I'm pretty sure that the sign says "LA CASITA", but with a stylized "T". If you look at the white neon part, it's a bit clearer. Although I'm sure that La Casita closed many years ago, there are a few mentions on Google, such as www.yellowpages.com.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I need a little help on this next slide. (also from Wilmington)

"Gilbert 5 10 25, 1st & Avalon Boulevard, Wilmington, California - 1977"


eBay

I wanted to see if this building survived but I haven't found where 1st Street crosses Avalon Boulevard. ... All I see are letter streets. .like L St. . .M St. . .soon and so forth.

It's not E 1st Street, it's E I Street, and the building survives.


GSV

[ethereal_reality]

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Thanks Hoss!


Now let's [time] travel farther into the past.


I think this is such a magnificent photograph.

"RARE RPPC JARRETT BLACKSMITH CARRIAGE PASADENA AVE & AVENUE 61 LOS ANGELES"


eBay





And here's a slightly closer (and clearer) look.


detail


What I thought was a decorated hobby horse is actually a small wooden table bench holding cogs and wheels.

note the fancy ladder on the right. (and the street sign, of course)


Oh! And what is that leaning on the fence between the two buildings. . .any ideas?
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[Mackerm]

FORGING AHEAD
Local Blacksmiths Keep an Old Art Form Alive

Blacksmithing is an art form with deep roots in Northeast Los Angeles. In the early 1900s, blacksmith shops dotted Pasadena Avenue (now North Figueroa Street). The Jarrett family were prominent members of the community, and the Jarrett Brothers established their blacksmith business at 6060 Pasadena Avenue, where a Taco Bell and and a Smart and Final now stand.

Granted, early Los Angeles blacksmithing may have had more to do with function than art.

"Some nail a horse shoe on their door
For better or for worse.
We take the shoe, we fit it well
And nail it to your horse."
Jarrett Bros.
Highland Park Herald
19 January 1907

LA Art News, February 2018, p3.

Not sure I agree exactly with LA Art News's placement. The 1927 Baist map shows Ave. 61 continuing south of Figueroa, offset to the east from the portion north of Figueroa. You can see the old pavement just east of the Smart & Final parking lot, partly obliterated by the Gold line tracks. Then again, it makes sense that Ave. 61 could have continued in line with the portion North of Figueroa in the distant past. But this taught dopey me that Pasadena Avenue was renamed.

[Engineeral]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

What I thought was a decorated hobby horse is actually a small wooden table bench holding cogs and wheels.
.

The tool with the cogs and wheels is a "rolling mill" used to turn metal strips to the diameter of carriage wheel tires and hub bands before welding and shrinking on to the wheels or hubs,

[Handsome Stranger]

I happened to see a 1940 Looney Tunes short on TV recently, "You Ought to Be in Pictures." Very inventive mix of live action and animation. There's a fascinating shot of Porky Pig careening down a street in what I assume is Hollywood. Several business signs on the right are legible.


source: MeTV broadcast


source: MeTV broadcast


source: MeTV broadcast

So, gang, what street is Porky driving on?

This view right outside Leon Schlesinger Productions was easy to identify. Looking southwest along Van Ness Avenue at Fernwood Avenue.


source: MeTV broadcast

[HossC]

Originally Posted by Handsome Stranger

So, gang, what street is Porky driving on?

While searching out the businesses, I came upon an article documenting this very scene. You can see the ones above and several more in Porky Pig on Sunset Boulevard.

[Handsome Stranger]

Thanks, HossC! That blog entry is a nice find!

One more frame grab to share now. I recently purchased a couple of new ClassicFlix Blu-rays featuring restored Our Gang shorts from the Hal Roach era. The restoration work on the discs is superb. Here's a frame from a 1933 short called "The Kid from Borneo."


source: The Little Rascals, The ClassicFlix Restorations Vol. 4

That's young George "Spanky" McFarland running across a vacant lot with a familiar landmark visible in the hills.