noirish Los Angeles

[HossC]

There's a sign just outside the pool which says "To Plunge". Of course, this could be a prop, but it may narrow down the location.


RKO Radio Pictures

[Blaster]

The "plunge" sign could be a possible clue if this is a real location and that's the real sign. In a sauna situation, the plunge is a cold water pool. You go from steam to cold plunge and back to steam again then cold plunge -- back and forth to get the ciruclation going! If this location is a sauna or bath house or some kind, that could explain the small size of the pool.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I thought it might be fun to try and figure out where the photographer was situated when he took these slides. (from what roof-top)



#1

ebay

#2

ebay

I think that the pictures were taken from further back than it initially appears. Here's an aerial view from 1980 which shows a parking lot opposite the Brownstone Hotel, then a low commercial building, then another parking lot. The 1972 image also shows the corner opposite the Harold Hotel as a parking lot. There's a much larger building near the "S" of my "S San Pedro Street" label which could've been the photographer's location. Most of the buildings in that area were something to do with clothing manufacturing at the time, although I haven't identified exactly who owned this one. It was demolished between 1980 and 1994, and is now part of the site for the Union Rescue Mission at 545 S San Pedro Street. One of the buildings in the foreground of the second 1970s picture was probably the San Julian Hotel at 526 San Julian Street.


Historic Aerials

[SHERIFFPAUL]

This Los Angeles County deputy was investigating a murder. I think that behind him is a 1923 Pierce-Arrow Series 33 touring car.
— shotgunworld.com

[HossC]

Whilst looking around S San Pedro Street to work out which building e_r's 1970s pictures were taken from, I found this building at 420 San Pedro Street.


GSV

Now known as Little Tokyo Lofts, I can't find any previous mentions (I searched for the old and new names, and the address). In its early days it was the Westinghouse Building. The view below is from 1933.


USC Digital Library

There's a page about Little Tokyo Lofts on condopedia.com which contains the following paragraph:

In 1922, a six-story building was built at 420 South San Pedro Street by general contractor, the Weber Showcase and Fixture Company. It is assumed that it was built for the Westinghouse Electric Company, after all, the words "Electric Bldg" are carved into the front facade above the lobby and the "W" Westinghouse logo is found in the floor tile of the lobby elevator and on the central tower. However, it isn't definite because the oldest building permit with Westinghouse mentioned as owner is dated 1923; documentation from 1922 doesn't mention an owner. The architect, according to city planning records, is unknown.

After looking through the building records, I'd have to disagree with several of these statements. This appears to be the new building permit from 1922. It's for a six-story warehouse at 412 to 424 S San Pedro Street. The owner is given as Harry D Bowman (the 1923 CD lists him as a civil engineer) at 1128 Van Nuys Building. The architects were Noerenberg & Johnson, and the contractor was Earl B Newcomb at 913 Pantages Building.


Online Building Records

The Condopedia page mention the words "Electric Bldg" appearing above the door.


GSV

While that may be true today, the 1933 picture (above) shows that it once said "Westinghouse". The circle on the tower also appears blank in that image - the "W" must've been added later.


Detail of USC image above

[tovangar2]

LAPL shows the full image:

"Murder victim lying by the side of the road next to a car and a police officer. The man in the straw hat is Melvin Purvis of the FBI.
Purvis, Melvin, 1903-1960.
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation."

lapl


Melvin Purvis retired from the FBI in 1935


.

[HossC]

We're all familiar with the Edison building in DTLA, but this one is in Long Beach. It's Julius Shulman's "Job 3253: Kenneth Wing, Edison General Electric Company Building (Long Beach, Calif.), 1961". I feel that I should know the identity of the building behind with the "L" on the roof.



A close-up of the front corner.



Here's the entrance ...



... complete with fountains.



Finally, a view of the rear of the building. The set also has a few more shots of the front.



All from Getty Research Institute

If you look at the 2014/2015 GSV images, you'll see the building getting a makeover. It's now the Edison Apartments at 100 Long Beach Boulevard. The triple rows of blinds have been replaced by single rows, the 1st Street side is considerably different and it's gained a penthouse. You can see plenty of pictures at www.edisonlongbeach.com.


GSV

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by HossC

Whilst looking around S San Pedro Street to work out which building e_r's 1970s pictures were taken from, I found this building at 420 San Pedro Street.


GSV

Now known as Little Tokyo Lofts, I can't find any previous mentions (I searched for the old and new names, and the address). In its early days it was the Westinghouse Building.

LAT Jan 1, 1925:







LAT March 12, 1922:

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by HossC

We're all familiar with the Edison building in DTLA, but this one is in Long Beach. It's Julius Shulman's "Job 3253: Kenneth Wing, Edison General Electric Company Building (Long Beach, Calif.), 1961". I feel that I should know the identity of the building behind with the "L" on the roof.



[...]

Ah, yes--we discussed the "L" building last July in post 35890. That's the Lafayette Hotel (where I had my piano recital)...

[HossC]

Thanks, odinthor, I knew we'd covered it. Here's a better view of the Lafayette Hotel in the 1950s when it still had the "L" on the roof.



eBay

And an undated picture of the lobby.


eBay


--------------------


Also, thanks to GW for the follow-up on the Westinghouse Building.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by HossC

I think that the pictures were taken from further back than it initially appears. Here's an aerial view from 1980 which shows a parking lot opposite the Brownstone Hotel, then a low commercial building, then another parking lot. The 1972 image also shows the corner opposite the Harold Hotel as a parking lot. There's a much larger building near the "S" of my "S San Pedro Street" label which could've been the photographer's location. Most of the buildings in that area were something to do with clothing manufacturing at the time, although I haven't identified exactly who owned this one. It was demolished between 1980 and 1994, and is now part of the site for the Union Rescue Mission at 545 S San Pedro Street. One of the buildings in the foreground of the second 1970s picture was probably the San Julian Hotel at 526 San Julian Street.


Historic Aerials

I knew you'd be a game Hoss! Thanks for your research. I really appreciated it.


As for the Harold Hotel.

detail

The present day sign is much more impressive than the simple white blade that's visible in the 1977 photograph (above)

2014

http://evanescent-city.blogspot.com/...partments.html


To be honest, I didn't realize it said Harold at the top until I saw this night view.


evanescent_city

So is this impressive sign original to the building? ...where was it in 1977?
__

[HossC]

This postcard showed up while I was looking for pictures of the Lafayette Hotel. It's the Beach Terrace Apt Hotel, 33 Eleventh Place (Off Ocean Blvd). The source says it's circa 1930–1945.


www.digitalcommonwealth.org

I was slightly surpised to see it's still there. The image below is from 2008.


Detail of picture at www.californiacoastline.org

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by HossC

Whilst looking around S San Pedro Street to work out which building e_r's 1970s pictures were taken from, I found this building at 420 San Pedro Street.

In its early days it was the Westinghouse Building.

1933

USC Digital Library

This was quite a find Hoss. How in the heck did we overlook this interesting building?


While snooping around I came across this image of the light-well/atrium that shows two large structural columns being used as pedestals for plants.


http://www.loftway.com/listing/420-s.../#.WJ0MEjsrJPY

It made me wonder if floor(s) had been removed to create the light-well during the building's conversion to lofts.

The same structural columns appear throughout the building.


http://dtlalofts.me/LALofts/little-t...for-rent-2150/



dtllofts


Here's a view of the light-well.


google_earth


You can see the columns in this close-up (below)


super-zoomarama


So Hoss, do you mind digging up some vintage aerials to see if the current light-well is visible.

As I type this...it all seems vaguely familiar. (I might have asked this same question about some other building)
__

[Blaster]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I knew you'd be a game Hoss! Thanks for your research. I really appreciated it.


As for the Harold Hotel.

detail

The present day sign is much more impressive than the simple white blade that's visible in the 1977 photograph (above)

2014

http://evanescent-city.blogspot.com/...partments.html


To be honest, I didn't realize it said Harold at the top until I saw this night view.


evanescent_city

So is this impressive sign original to the building? ...where was it in 1977?
__

You could probably stash a body inside that HOTEL sign.

(Sorry, just being noir-ish.)

[Mstimc]

Here's a noir all-star list!

http://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/cr...geles-history/

[ethereal_reality]

Oh man, that list is great! Thanks for the heads-up Mstimc.



more ephemera....

"Los Angeles Jewish Sanatorium 1936 Ticket"

ebay

Does anyone know where this sanatorium/expatient home was located?
_

[ethereal_reality]

Early Cellphone?


www.hollywood-kodacrome.skyrocket.com

Noel Neill as TV's Lois Lane in the 'Adventures of Superman' series. [1952-1958]

__

[Blaster]

Great picture. But for the sake of accuracy, I believe this is Noel Neill as Lois Lane in the first SUPERMAN serial from 1948. She reprised her Lois Lane role two years later in the follow-up serial ATOM MAN VS. SUPERMAN, then took a break and replaced Phyllis Coates after the first season of the SUPERMAN TV show in 1953. She played the part until the show ended in 1958.

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Early Cellphone?
____________

Love it!

[Martin Pal]

.

I went bananas when I found these things today!


MONKEY BUSINESS!
by Eddy Graneman
(An Informative Souvenir)

I wish I'd discovered this eBay listing before the auction closed a month ago!
Link here: eBay
Starting bid was $29.95 and it sold (with 3 bids) for $32.00.

This approx. 30 page item was sold at Monkey Island!

The seller didn't have much info on it. He writes, "This is fresh from a closet and shows normal wear and patina for an item of this vintage."


Printed by Elmer M. Greening
5654 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Calif.

eBay


Copyright 1939.




I'd sure like to see the photos on some of these other pages, especially on page 20.

A couple new (to us) photos:




MONKEY LOVE IS INTENSE!







(enlarged) Interior of one of the "Monkey Dormitories."




The booklet cover: Profusely Illustrated




And now, presenting some actual film footage of Monkey Island!
As happens online, I discovered this quite by accident. This is a
short from comedian Lew Lehr called "Monkies is the Cwaziest
People!" (That's how it's spelled on the film, not at the youtube post.)
After the titles, there's about a minute of footage at Monkey Island!
(I wish they'd show the front of the building, but they do not.)

• Video Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcUYi3ZXYSc&t=12s

I also found a slightly longer version (about 15 more seconds) of this Monkey Island footage,
with slightly different narration in a "Movietone Newsette" on this Getty Images site:

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/...tage/594663519

The notes say it was created on January 7, 1939, and has this info: "Comedian [Lew Lehr] visits
Monkey Island in Hollywood; monkeys fight over peanuts and pretzels.