noirish Los Angeles

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Am I correct to say this is the east side of Vine Street just north of Hollywood Boulevard. If so, that's the Pantages Theater looming behind Du-Pars.

You are correct - Du-Par's was at 1718 N Vine (as it used to be). The 1956 CD names the store serving chili as Nick's Place, but by then, the "Thick Steaks Thin Pancakes" joint had become Pacific Finance, so Nick's Place may have had a predecessor.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Let's take up a collection to rebuild it, at least something inspired by it. Maybe a go fund me. Probably a billion would do it, even for a much taller version (see above posts). Get a few billionaires on board. Call it the "City of Angels" tower. Anyway, maybe we should get back to noirish topics. But the Richfield was a noirish era landmark, so it is apropos.

By the time the Richfield Oil building was torn down it was old-hat. People were used to its quirkiness and probably tired of its theatrical oddness. The go-go 1970s demanded that everything had to be new, new, new.

The idea and concept of Historical Landmarks hadn't settled into the LA scene.

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by odinthor

[In a pensive mood]. I wonder how much it would cost to build a replica of the Richfield Building today (appearance outside and in the lobby the same, otherwise up to current code) . . . ? I wonder if there is a mega-corporation which would have the chutzpah to do it . . . ? I wonder if they could take an undistinguished current building of the right size and use that for the core, building a shell replicating the Richfield Building on top of and around it . . . ?

This might be possible as long as the frame of the old building could bear the load of a spire and the new cladding and conform to earthquake codes. I suppose they could add a supplemental load bearing frame on the outside if needed to help carry the spire, or they could use lightweight but sturdy materials. But removing the original cladding would reduce some load. The spire would add weight, but a Richfield-like spire is a must. 3 possible donor buildings to provide the donor frame:

1. Tishman building (20 stories, 250') not far from the original Richfield site

2. City National Bank building on Pershing Square (26 stories, 350')

3. Broadway Plaza office tower on 7th and Hope (33 stories, 400').

My favorite location is on Pershing Square. Using the building on P. square would make it quite tall--350 foot base building plus a 150-175 foot spire-- at least 500' (about 120 feet higher than the Richfield). The building using the Broadway Plaza frame would be the tallest, almost 600 feet including the spire.

Other possibilities: 32 story building in South Park (old 1965 Occidental/Transamerica tower). This one starts at 452', so add a spire and it could be well over 600 feet. 1920s Texaco Building in the historic core, I believe on Hill St. (About 200', maybe 15 stories). But using this would lose you the historic Texaco Building, so I say no. My choice is P. Square. Second choice, maybe the Tishman.

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

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This terrific slide just showed up on eBay.

"Vtg 1950s 35mm Slide Los Angeles Street DU-PARS Restaurant Old Cars Hollywood LA"


eBay

"Thick Steaks Thin Pancakes".....I love that. .......I take it that small building is an annex of Du-Pars.

And someone is serving Chili on the left side of the slide.

....I like the weight scale outside the door of the watch shop.


Am I correct to say this is the east side of Vine Street just north of Holywood Boulevard. If so, that's the Pantages Theater looming behind Du-Pars.
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From the building records, it looks like the building was built in 1933 and DuPars occupied it in the early 50's. It was an Asian themed nightclub in the aughts(and also a filming location for an Asian themed adult movie scene).

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

From the building records, it looks like the building was built in 1933 and DuPars occupied it in the early 50's. It was an Asian themed nightclub in the aughts(and also a filming location for an Asian themed adult movie scene).

I had heard that the food was quite good at Du~par's, so my niece and I went there one time in the 1980s. After five minutes we were obliged to leave the restaurant as no service was offered.

[JimCraig]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

I had heard that the food was quite good at Du~par's, so we went there one time in the 1970s. The owner of the Du~par's had an issue with my faith denomination [Christian] so after five minutes we were obliged to leave the restaurant.

How did he know what denomination you were?

[ethereal_reality]

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This is from a group of photographs that were taken in West Hollywood in 1982. I know that we have already seen some of the photographs but I don't remember this one.

Exotic Cat World, West Hollywood (1982)


Mr. Burlesk

For the life of me I can't figure out what we're looking at here. It looks like the cat building is down in a hole.



update:

I just found some additional information.

"Behind the bar that used to be called Peanuts in these days, adjacent to the French Market Place (the parking lot of which you see in the background).
The driveway exiting to the right goes to Laurel Avenue. West Hollywood, California." ....Mr. Burlesk


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[ethereal_reality]

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. .I need coordinates, baby! (said in best George Costanza voice)



Link / lapl

1929 Dog Show.

"Here is a woman posing with her dogs on the roof of a downtown building....The Gates Hotel is in the distance."



I thought I'd try and figure out what building the woman and her two dogs are on top of. . .but so far I haven't been able to figure it out.

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[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by JimCraig

How did he know what denomination you were?

Good question Jim. Don't remember all of the details. But nothing was said.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Link / lapl

1929 Dog Show.

"Here is a woman posing with her dogs on the roof of a downtown building....The Gates Hotel is in the distance."

I thought I'd try and figure out what building the woman and her two dogs are on top of. . .but so far I haven't been able to figure it out.

I'm going for the Fine Arts Building. The aerial below is actually from 1940, but nothing was built in the 1930s to obscure its view of the Gates Hotel and the Jonathan Club. The image also shows the impressive shadow of the recently discussed Richfield Building.


mil.library.ucsb.edu

[ethereal_reality]

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Excellent! I believe you're correct Hoss. Thanks for the help.

[Arch2000]

Originally Posted by HossC

I'm going for the Fine Arts Building. The aerial below is actually from 1940, but nothing was built in the 1930s to obscure its view of the Gates Hotel and the Jonathan Club. The image also shows the impressive shadow of the recently discussed Richfield Building.


mil.library.ucsb.edu

Yeah, that's clearly the Jonathan Club. Can't confirm the photo is from the Fine Arts Building (I used to work inside but never went to the roof as I recall).

What is the long peaked building (Mission Style roof), with the large arched window/opening to the center-left of the original photo (and seen in the aerial)? A church? Reminds me of Union Station...

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by Arch2000

Yeah, that's clearly the Jonathan Club. Can't confirm the photo is from the Fine Arts Building (I used to work inside but never went to the roof as I recall).

What is the long peaked building (Mission Style roof), with the large arched window/opening to the center-left of the original photo (and seen in the aerial)? A church? Reminds me of Union Station...

St. Paul's Episcopal cathedral, built in 1922 and demolished in 1980.

[HossC]

Here's Saint Pauls' Episcopal Cathedral in May 1926. Its previous incarnation was where the Biltmore Hotel now stands.


USC Digital Library

Here's a later ground level view.

Originally Posted by Bristolian

Another view showing the Flying A sign and St. Pauls Cathedral

Examiner/USC

[CityBoyDoug]

Thanks Hoss and Bristolian for photos of the church.

_______________________________________________________________________


W&P file

Bus stop on Wilshire Blvd.

Some music to go with this......Stop (Let Me Off The Bus) Universal music...1955
listen at link below.

https://youtu.be/I2U47wGhsMc


Shamley Productions 1960

[ethereal_reality]

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LAX


An interesting look inside one of the LAX terminals on May 2, 1962!


The following amateur slides show Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell on location shooting a film. (1962)





I'm not entirely sure what movie they were making.







I love the globe lighting fixtures. Does anyone know if they're still there?
















Here's one more.









the slides / found on eBay a year or so ago.





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[Martin Pal]

The movie they were making starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell (and Lucille Ball) is "Critic's Choice" and was released in April of 1963.

This lobby card appears to be from the scene in question being filmed:

IMDB

[Cam330]

Re: Dupar's slide posted by ethereal_reality - The "Thin Pancakes" place was a Tip's Restaurant. In the 50s and 60s they had several in the Santa Clarita Valley.
https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/lw3513.htm

[MartinTurnbull]

[QUOTE=CaliNative;9091411]^^^

This belongs back in L.A./Hollywood. It looks wrong and sad in the snow.

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The good news is that the sign has been rescued from the wilds of Michigan and is now back in California. It's not LA/Hollywood, but it's closer than it was.

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[ethereal_reality]

I'm glad the Garden of Allah sign in back in California.


Earlier today I happened upon a group of 14 amateur slides of the Skid Row area in the 1960s. (and perhaps a few from the late 1950s) The slides are being sold separately.

The majority of the slides are of the L.A. Mission and are a bit faded.

Like this one.


eBay

Do you see the store (Borin) to the right of the mission - I'll show you a better pic of it below.










The following three slides aren't as faded and I find them the most intriguing.


#1


eBay

The seller dates this one as 1967.










Here's a poor man down on his luck.

#2


eBay

I couldn't help but notice the old timey lettering on the wall behind the man. And at lower left here are three numbers of a street address - 695.

Do you think we can figure out what business this is/was?






This next slide shows a man hanging laundry on a rooftop clothesline. No doubt a SRO. (or the roof of the mission?)

#3


eBay


I think there's a possibility we can figure out which rooftop this is if one of you fine sleuths recognize any of the buildings in the distance.



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