noirish Los Angeles

[andrea517]

Originally Posted by Beaudry

Here's something interesting about the Paris Inn: the color interior picture is from a postcard called "Take a Trip to Paris" and of the "street" -- the left side (or banke, if you will) was known as the "Bohemian Side" and the right side of the room was known as the "Formal Side."

I did not know that! Interesting. I wish my grandparents had taken more outside photos of LA. They got married after the war was over (my grandpa was a Marine). He would go watch her perform (she danced at a few places but Paris Inn the longest) and escort her home on the Red Car. They spent tons of time in downtown (and lived coincidentally a mile from where I am now in Silver Lake) and Hollywood. I'll have to get their photo albums to see if they have any interesting outside photos I can post.

[kanhawk]

malumot, thank you for that story of Bogie's first wife (or was she the first?). I had no idea who she was but I thought she looked an awful lot like an older, less attractive version of this woman:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6...5abe970c-800wi

Now who could she be? I think Bogie had a type

Originally Posted by malumot

Mayo Methot (March 3, 1904 – June 9, 1951), also known as Mayo Methot Bogart, was an American film and theater actress.

Methot and Bogart became a couple of high-profile Hollywood celebrities, but it was not a smooth marriage. Both drank heavily, and Methot gained a reputation for her violent excesses when under the influence. They became known as "The Battling Bogarts," with Methot's nickname widely known, for her combativeness, as "Sluggy." Bogart later named his motor yacht Sluggy, in her honor.

PS - Dead at 47! See what that Green River bourbon will do to ya! LOL

[malumot]

Purely conjecture -

But it looks like they simply removed the pumps, threw up three walls and enclosed it.

As to the window removal - Happens pretty much everywhere when a neighborhood goes on the shnide. If you look at Jansen's then-and-now of the "crash-victim" at Dillon and Beverly - almost all the first-floor windows have been plastered over there too.

Lastly ---that funny looking tree next door to The Rex..... I think it's a Bunya Bunya tree. Native to Australia, you see a few of them here and there. They have an interesting habit of dropping most of their lower limbs as the tree grows. Looks something like a Norfolk Island Pine, which you do see more of.

Remember you had a LOT of former Midwest farmers who came out here in late 1800s and early-mid 1900s. And you can imagine that, being farmers, they were geeked-stoked-amped-excited about the prospect of growing and experimenting with exotic plants and trees that wouldn't grow in Dubuque. (Think about how many gardens and arboretums and such were established during this time).

I can only recall seeing it in older neighborhoods. It's an ungainly bird, not at all currently favored by landscapers, and was probably planted more as a novelty than anything else.

PS...I went back and took a look at that pic of The Rex...with the vacant lot to its left. What was there before? I'm betting a house...but why was it cleared? That palm tree is +/-60 feet tall......and that pic was obviously taken in the 20s.....which means that palm tree dates from 1875 or thereabouts. (It takes them about 50 years to get that tall.) Who or what was at that south end of Bunker Hill back in the 1870s, I wonder? That was pretty much the end of town in the 1870s wasn't it?

The problem with this thread (if it is one): For every answer come two new questions. LOL

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=2814

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

sopas_ej
You have a great eye.
The gabled bungalow is definitely still there, but I can't decide about the corner building.

I believe the white building (Banner & Sign Factory) is the same building as in the 1951 photograph.
The dimensions seem identical.....but I have no idea why anyone would want to cover over those great windows.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=2814

[sopas ej]

Speaking of landscaping, is it just me, or is anyone else noticing that lately, it seems that birds of paradise are making a comeback in landscaping in SoCal?

It of course is the official flower of the City of Los Angeles. Very apropos, then, for Union Station:


ca.myphotoscout.com

[malumot]

Great point Sopas!

In a word - yes, I think so too. And what's even more odd/strange/fascinating is that it's not just the Bird of Paradise, but LOTS of landscape trees and shrubs......the fact they fall in and out of fashion. (I had no idea until I read something about this, and, sure enough, it made sense).

Here's one that used to be everywhere. Hollywood, or Twisting, Juniper. TONS of these were planted in the 50s and 60s. Lots of older ones are still around, but I almost never see these planted new. (If you wanted one from Home Depot you would have to special order it.)

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Speaking of landscaping, is it just me, or is anyone else noticing that lately, it seems that birds of paradise are making a comeback in landscaping in SoCal?

It of course is the official flower of the City of Los Angeles. Very apropos, then, for Union Station:


ca.myphotoscout.com

[gsjansen]

Originally Posted by Beaudry

I'm going to spend a couple nights in the "Wilshire Grand" (Statler/Hilton) this month, just to be able to say I did, but mostly because I'll be shooting lots of then-n-nowz against the photos from the opening day book they issued. Demolition commences, I'm told, in 45 days.

yeek gads! 45 days??!!?.........sheeeeesh

i wonder who'll they'll have at the demolition commencement program. celeste holms was the choice for the groundbreaking ceremony back in 50


Source: USC Digital Archive http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...G-STA-003?v=hr

Conrad Hilton standing outside the statler after purchasing the chain in 1954




Source: USC Digital Archive http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...STA-034~1?v=hr


Source: USC Digital Archive http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...STA-035~1?v=hr

1951 and now

[gsjansen]

Originally Posted by andrea517

Thank you thank you. I have been looking for a photo forever of the outside of the Paris Inn. My grandmother danced there in the '40s and then the new Paris Inn when it moved up to Broadway in the '50s. I have inside photos but never any outside ones. Thanks also for the wonderful site. Makes walking in LA so much more interesting.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

usc archive

an image posted earlier in the thread of the paris inn when it was located on north broadway.

Andrea, i have to admit, it didn't even occur to me that this was the relocated location of the paris until you mentioned it in your post. Welcome to the thread!

******* i just realized *******

the paris inn did not get replaced by the gas station on market street, it's actually the building behind the gas station





1951 image of the paris inn taken my arnold Hylen


Source: California State Library http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...QNSIUGIVNV.jpg

[MichaelRyerson]

above Sunset, which you can see running across the bottom of the hill beyond the grille work of that beautiful automobile. When I was quite small we lived on Descanso Drive and my parents told the story of the day (mid-late '40's?) a garbage truck flipped over on its back while climbing Micheltorena. Folklore had it the steepest street in Los Angeles.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

A view of Silver Lake, looking north on Micheltorena Street from Sunset Blvd.




usc digital archive





Below: Micheltorena Hill in Silver Lake.



silverlake.org

[MichaelRyerson]

Really enjoyed your Ramona Parkway/Freeway series. Great leg work.

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Past

View southwest from the Macy Street viaduct showing the proposed route of Ramona Boulevard, November 15, 1933.

USC Digital Library http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search.../chs-m703.html


View southwest from the Macy Street viaduct showing Ramona Boulevard upon completion, April 16, 1935.

USC Digital Library http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search.../chs-m704.html


Our sopas_ej posted these comparative views earlier this month which fit right in the sequence here...



Happy New Year, everyone!

-Scott

[GaylordWilshire]

Michael Haering/LAPL http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics18/00018729.jpg

Simi Valley, August 2, 1970

Dinner at Romanoff's for the first person to identify the young lady on the left.

[gsjansen]

lynette "squeaky" fromme





anyway, i'll have to pass on romanoff's, the repo men are hot on my trail, and since i'm about to lose my car, now i'll have to write. my agent tells me starvation is the best thing for creativity.....the big faker.....(and i'm sure that was indeed the "F" word mr. gillis meant to say........ )

[Beaudry]

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by gsjansen

In addition to Norma telling Joe, "Own three blocks downtown, I've got oil in Bakersfield, pumping, pumping, pumping! What's it for but to buy us anything we want?" and others, one of my favorite Sunset Blvd lines accompanies your screenshot...

"No. He was hard at work in Bel-Air, making with the golf sticks."


Excellent Squeaky i.d., gs-- ok, don't blame you for passing on dinner at Mike's. The Battling Bogarts might be there. We'll do Schwab's with Artie and Betty sometime soon.

[ethereal_reality]

Some spectacular photos of the Statler Hotel (now the Wilshire Grand) under construction.



usc digital archive





usc digital archive





usc digital archive






below: An aerial view of the finished product (the expansive white building to the right of the Harbor Freeway)


usc digital archive

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Beaudry

I'm going to spend a couple nights in the "Wilshire Grand" (Statler/Hilton) this month, just to be able to say I did, but mostly because I'll be shooting lots of then-n-nowz against the photos from the opening day book they issued. Demolition commences, I'm told, in 45 days.

Enjoy your stay Beaudry......take lots of interesting photos!


ebay

[MikeD]

Originally Posted by malumot

Great point Sopas!

In a word - yes, I think so too. And what's even more odd/strange/fascinating is that it's not just the Bird of Paradise, but LOTS of landscape trees and shrubs......the fact they fall in and out of fashion. (I had no idea until I read something about this, and, sure enough, it made sense).

Here's one that used to be everywhere. Hollywood, or Twisting, Juniper. TONS of these were planted in the 50s and 60s. Lots of older ones are still around, but I almost never see these planted new. (If you wanted one from Home Depot you would have to special order it.)

I found Hollywood Junipers at Home Depot about 15 years ago here on Long Island, NY. Bought three of them. I don't remember how much I paid, probably around 12 bucks each which would be a lot for me. I always liked the look of them on my trips to LA. Mine are still alive but a lot more spindly then the one in the picture.

And let me take this opportunity to thank whoever posted that link to 'Highway Patrol' on Hulu. It's great. I haven't seen it in probably 45 years. "Leave your blood at the Red Cross, not on the highway" cracks me up every time.

[malumot]

And Jansen - ........gotta love "the boy" Joe Gillis. I could (and have) watch that movie over and over and over.

Originally Posted by MikeD

I found Hollywood Junipers at Home Depot about 15 years ago here on Long Island, NY. Bought three of them. I don't remember how much I paid, probably around 12 bucks which would be a lot for me. I always liked the look of them on my trips to LA. Mine are still alive but a lot more spindly then the one in the picture.

And let me take this opportunity to thank whoever posted that link to 'Highway Patrol' on Hulu. It's great. I haven't seen it in probably 45 years. "Leave your blood at the Red Cross, not on the highway" cracks me up every time.

[mdiederi]

Originally Posted by JeffDiego

Fascinating photos of The Garden of Allah , and Nazimovoa.
Speaking of unusual, long-gone apartment complexes that I don't believe have been featured here,
a pal who lived in West Hollywood in the 50's says that there was a very large complex of stage-set
like French cottage-style apartments, probably built in the twenties which may have been called Normandy Village.
(Similar in architectural style to the small and still-standing "French Village Apartments" located in a quiet
residential area of Hollywood, supposedly having a connection to Charlie Chaplin).I believe it fronted on the Sunset
Strip and was a block square in size. I came across a photo of it on the LA Times a few years ago. Lots of peaked roofs
and picturesque stairways. Anyone have photos or info?

A tidbit of gossip (my pal is probably the world's expert on old Hollywood and forgotten celebrities; he wrote many books
on the subject) is that among the residents there was Harald Ramand (also known as Harald Maresch, originally from Vienna),
the man who got Lupe Velez pregnant before she committed suicide in 1944 (he was blamed and it ruined his budding movie career).
He lived at the complex with a gay lover.

There was an earlier "French Village" that got torn down, but it wasn't on sunset:

The Lost French Village of Hollywood

Complete story here:
http://paradiseleased.wordpress.com/...-of-hollywood/

The French Village, 1920, an enchanting little group of bungalows and artist’s studios, was designed by architects
Walter S. and F. Pierpont Davis (who also designed the Roman Gardens at 2000 North Highland Avenue 1926 and the
Court of the Fountains (today known as Villa D’Este) at 1355 North Laurel Avenue in West Hollywood 1928), and their
partner Henry F. Withey, on the corner of Cahuenga and Highland. Each of the cottages were completely unique in design
and personality. The French Village was intended for the transitory well-to-do and its construction led to ever more
elaborate apartment courts in Hollywood.

Original 1920 site plan for the French Village:


The Monkey House named for an elaborate and whimsical bas-relief carving of a group of monkeys cavorting over the home’s entrance.

Minnie Sweet Muchmore, a well-known artist and interior decorator, was the first occupant of the Monkey House.

Tower House:

Legendary designer Gilbert Adrian lived in the Tower House.

1925 modification for street widening.


House of Jonah & the Whale, House of the Virgin Mary and the House of Henry the Fourth studio:

Prominent landscape architect Stuart Chisholm lived in the House of Henry the Fourth


French Pavilion with its elaborate tapestry brickwork:

By 1930, the French Pavilion had been taken over by writer Cyril Hume and his wife, actress Helen Chandler.
Both were to achieve notable successes while living at the French Village, Hume as the screenwriter for
Tarzan of the Apes for MGM and Chandler as “Mina,” the object of Bela Lugosi’s unholy desires in Dracula (1931).

Throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s, the French Village continued to serve the artistic community
with a steady roster of actors, writers, costume designers, dance instructors and singing coaches
in residence. But that all came to an end with the construction of the Hollywood Freeway.

The site today.


Hollywood Freeway under construction 1952.

uscdl

[Beaudry]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Enjoy your stay Beaudry......take lots of interesting photos!


ebay

Caught word that the hotel isn't looking at wrecking balls til November. Which may be, but I'm not taking any chances.

[gsjansen]

mdiederi, amazing post on the french village. thank you so much!


GW, the continuing saga of trying to find additional info about berkley square.............................

i keep looking, but not a whole lot out there.

i did find a really nice 1908 security savings bank map of los angeles over at the david rumsey historical map site

below is a zoomed in portion of the map centered on berkley square



the search continues..............................................