noirish Los Angeles

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

After a few more 'googles', I discovered the cyclorama was originally called the Panorama Rotunda.
Debuting in 1887, it featured a painting nearly 400 feet long and 50 feet high of 'The Battle of Paris 1871'.

below: The Panorama Rotunda as it appeared in the late 1880s.


http://www.panoramaonview.org/panora...geofparis.html
St. Vibiana's can be seen in the distance.
___

Here's a link to Jansen's post 1455 There is more about the Panorama building and those greenhouses around that post. Jansen's map has this link: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/218/4...0e1dec48_b.jpg Maybe there's a way to backtrack.

[MichaelRyerson]

Thanks GW, I appreciate it.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Oviatt Building Fan

.
I’m crossing my fingers that the “Noirish” community can help me to identify the PLACE where this photo (see below) was taken.

The photo below was taken in January 1933 for an unnamed newspaper or magazine. In the foreground, it shows Albert (“Al”) Kaufman, Paramount Pictures’ production head; actor Maurice Chevalier; and James Oviatt. I’ve tried and failed to identify the building where they are. A studio commissary? The interior does not match those of any ‘30s commissaries I’ve seen. A restaurant / nightclub in Hollywood? I think so, but again … no dice finding corresponding photos. Do the Deco murals on the wall ring a bell for anyone?



(Corbis Images)

This past week I've been preparing a post on a 'colorful' (as in lavender) character in Hollywood by the name of Jean Malin.
In his early career Mr. Malin was an actor specializing in female impersonations, but after moving to Hollywood (from New York)
he became a celebrated emcee and master of ceremonies at various night clubs in Hollywood.



After viewing OBF's mystery photo something about the mural caught my eye. It finally dawned on me that it resembled the mural behind Pat DiCicco, Jean Malin, Thelma Todd (the cute bubbly blonde...later murdered) and Lois Wilson circa 1932


http://www.queermusicheritage.us/malin.html

But the location of the photograph was the Club New Yorker, so at first I thought wrong city.

As it turns out, the Club New Yorker was Jean Malin's short lived night club located in the basement of the Hotel Christie in the heart of Hollywood.


http://www.martinturnbull.com/?page_id=19





below: Entrance to Jean Malin's Club New Yorker.


http://www.queermusicheritage.us/malin.html

I wonder if the art deco (terrazzo?) sidewalk design is still there?







I still had some doubt that this was the same location as OBF's 'mystery' photo until this smaller photograph from January of 1933.


http://www.queermusicheritage.us/malin.html


Mystery solved! and it was quite fun


___

[MichaelRyerson]

Mike picks his way down Clay Street in the 'vette looking for the great whatsit.


kiss-me-deadly-bunker-hill
image from parklane pictures, inc.

"An ordinary little girl gets killed and it rings bells all the way to Washington. There's gotta be a pitch... I picked up a girl. If she hadn't gotten in my way, I wouldn't have stopped. She must be connected with somethin' big."
Mike Hammer

[fhammon]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

As it turns out, the Club New Yorker was Jean Malin's short lived night club located in the basement of the Hotel Christie in the heart of Hollywood.


http://www.martinturnbull.com/?page_id=19

Took a look via Google Maps. Only the building on the left still exists sans peaked roofed penthouse.
Something's been altered anyway.
It's now occupied/owned by Scientology.

I wonder if anything of the Hotel Christie's basement(s) still exists under the parking lot or the building(s) next door.

Good work E_R, as always.

[Moxie]

Very cool post about the Club New Yorker, e_r!

I am now very curious about the size and layout of the club, since it appears that all three photos were taken in front of the same section of wall (or did the pattern of dancers repeat?). I suppose the simplest explanation is that those were the VIP tables with the best lighting for snapping photos of the celebs who visited.

[ethereal_reality]

The menu for opening night of Jean Malin's Club New Yorker at the Hotel Christie.


http://www.queermusicheritage.us/jun2004jm.html



..and this card.




___

[fhammon]

Stupid me. I forgot to look around the corner.
It's all there.



6724 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles CA
United States
aka "Hollywood Inn Hotel"
http://www.xenu-directory.net/docume...address_id=266

[ethereal_reality]

Jean Malin drowned in 1933 (aged 25) after accidentally driving his car off of Venice Pier. Actress Patsy Kelly and a close friend
and room mate, Jimmy Forlenza were with him at the time but they both survived (Ms. Kelly was hospitalized for two weeks).

At the time of his death, Malin had just finished a two week engagement at 'The Ship Cafe', a local night club on the pier.
As crowds gathered to view the accident, the marquee on 'The Ship Cafe' was still illuminated with the lights eerily spelling out
"The Last Night of Jean Malin".




http://www.queermusicheritage.us/jun2004jm.html









below: 'The Ship Cafe' on Kinney's Venice Pier circa 1905. Perhaps the 1933 'Ship Cafe' was a completely different incarnation,
but this photograph was so beautiful I felt I had to post it.


http://www.ask.com/wiki/History_of_S...ca,_California




Besides his 'strange' death, there is another 'noirish' aspect to Malin's short life. In 1931 Malin married Lucille 'Fay' Helman,
a notorious madam in Manhattan who was convicted in 1936 and 1942 of sending prostitutes across state lines.

___

[KevinW]

Here's a shot of the pier in 1933. I don't see where you could back a car off but it must have been in shallow water.

[Horthos]

Originally Posted by Joe Gillis

Ive read that the Alexandria Hotel had an 8 story 55 room annex built that was only served by stairs and lifts from the main hotel building. In 1934 the annex closed, in 1937 following a disagreement between the 2 owners the hallways between the two properties were bricked up sealing off the 55 rooms.

Apparently it stayed this way for almost 60 years!

Can anyone shed any light on this? I'm looking on Google to identify the annex but it must by now have been brought back into use, bet it looked fascinating as an untouched 60 year old relic of the past

I have not been on here in quite some time, but I have attempted to look into the whole abandoned section of the building (I talked with the management here recently about it, they said they are not aware of any plans at all about it potentially being restored, and most people in this building do not even realize that it exists). It is pretty much impossible to get in, unless you were to climb the side of the building and crawl into one of the windows, and even then, you would not be able to get the next floor above, as there are no staircases in that section of the building. Here are a few pictures I have taken from the fire escape off the back of the building looking in through the windows (where there are many things laying inside covered in dust, from things that look like beer cans, a wheelbarrow, large chunks of the building which have fallen in over the years, broken bottles, and the pigeons which call it home, as the windows have fallen in as well.







Also, there is a building across from the fire escape (I am not sure what it is called though, it is on broadway though, and I THINK the original facade was replaced at some point in time, but I could be wrong). Anyways, on the roof are some very interesting objects which have been thrown on to it most likely by some of the lovely people who live here in the alexandria. Most of the stuff is broken beer bottles and trash of any sort from burger wrappers to soda cups, HOWEVER, there are a few interesting things as well, from a rather large lumpy suitcase, a big ol knife, and a syringe (while the syringe may be difficult to make out in the photo, I know its a syringe, as I am a diabetic, and have to stick the bastards in me about 4 or 5 times a day). You can play a sort of "I spy" if you wish, and try to find other objects of potential shadiness.

This is the back of said building.







This is the top. (2nd image has suitcase, knife, and syringe circled in red. What else can you find?)





This is the front (the reason I do not think this is the original facade is because the back of the building has the nice old brickwork with arched windows, the front just doesnt seem to...I dont know, it just doesnt seem right. Someone enlighten me).



Also since I am somewhat on the subject of the alexandria and its fire escape, it provides some excellent views as well, I took these one night as the fog rolled in nice and low and was illuminated by the lights below.







(ok this one isnt from the fire escape but it is from the 12th floor looking north )




Sorry about the long random post, hopefully you all enjoy the photos though (all of which were taken by me, except for the google earth snapshot)

[so-cal-bear]

.

[ethereal_reality]

Excellent photographs Horthos!!

I am still baffled by how a multi-story building was constructed in downtown Los Angeles without internal staircases
(I realize it was conceived as an 'annex', but it still seems ridiculously short-sighted).

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by kznyc2k

The first time I've ever seen 1950s boxes look even the slightest bit noirish...



1958 Century City model, USC.

Also, lots more (daytime) images of this model can be seen in the LAPL's collection.

I'm glad they went with plan B with the Sun America building and the mall. Hopefully they'll get that subway station too. In case anyone is interested, the angle of the windows at the top of the Sun America building create a really interesting effect at certain times of the year when the sun is being reflected and focused as the fog is rolling in. It creates these intense sun beams through the fog.

[Horthos]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Excellent photographs Horthos!!

I am still baffled by how a multi-story building was constructed in downtown Los Angeles without internal staircases
(I realize it was conceived as an 'annex', but it still seems ridiculously short-sighted).

Well here are some pictures I took quite literally a few minutes ago. The first couple are of the hallway which lead to the abandoned section of the building, where you can see at the end of the hall where it was sealed off. Also there is an exterior shot of the building as well.







And just for added bonus and to add to the noirish theme of this thread, here is some death in the alexandria. The coroners sticker was on that door for close to two months...I have no idea what happened in there, but for the coroners seal to be stuck on for that long, I cant imagine it was very nice...



There are lots of shady people living in here (along with a lot of old folks faking disabilities), the cops are in and out almost every day for some reason or the other, coroners vans tend to be parked out front at least once a month, its just an all around noirish place to be. Its fantastic.

All photos by me...

[fhammon]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Despite it's inglorious past, 'The Beacon' still stands as a testament to L.A. noir! Thx Albany_NY.

I noticed the "For Sale" sign on the front. The place might be ripe for a resurgent Noirish theme bar complete with period correct furnishings and wall photos of past events....or not. Might be an invitation for an historical encore as well. It's sort of a netherworld neighborhood of small industrial buildings and car rentals with the world famous Randy's Doughnuts (giant frosted doughnut) being the most obvious attraction. I'll drive by tomorrow. It's on my way. I'll see if the sign is still there in case anybody's interested....
Noir lives. This is what I've learned here if nothing else.

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Excellent photographs Horthos!!

I am still baffled by how a multi-story building was constructed in downtown Los Angeles without internal staircases
(I realize it was conceived as an 'annex', but it still seems ridiculously short-sighted).

It also seems like it would have been against building codes, even then. Also--is the buildings department not aware of the condition of the building? It looks like was there was some seismic retrofitting at some point--the steel plates--but the masonry is in very bad shape. BTW--re those square plates on brick buildings--what is the other end of the rod attached to? Presumably the steel framework? The other day I was noticing them on Jerry Seinfeld's building at 129 West 81st...actually 757 S. New Hampshire in L.A.:


GoogleSV

[GaylordWilshire]

Is it me, or does scrolling down on the shot below produce a great effect--

Originally Posted by Horthos

[LAboomer52]

Thanks to ethereal reality for amazing info on Jean Malin.

Got me thinking about the Ship Cafe, built in 1905 it was the "in" spot where Valentino had his heels cooled by movie queen Nazimova, who called him a "pimp" and a "gigolo", where Buster Keaton jumped out of one of the restaurant's portholes, and as in most places outside Los Angeles, hootch was available to any well-heeled customer who could afford it. The Ship continued its boisterous activities despite a fire and reconstruction in 1924. A magnet for movie stars, politicians and world class socialites, no wonder Jean Malin ended up here! Apparently it was remodeled it in 1933 for $50,000, reportedly improving the driveway and parking area after his fateful plunge!! But the heyday was before the Depression, and it slipped into obscurity, eventually to be razed in October 1946 along with the rest of the Venice Pier.
http://www.virtualvenice.info/visual/cabrillo.htm

Proprietor of the Ship Cafe 1929-39 Ralph Arnold
lapl

The Ship Cafe, April 14, 1934
lapl

The Ship Cafe, 1946, the pier was condemned
lapl

Venice pier was constantly changing, but for 40 years it was "pure" LA scene.
lapl
lapl

remains before the wrecking ball
lapl

Many great shots of the Venice pier, the ship cafe, and the fire on LAPL site.

[MichaelRyerson]

No, I noticed the same thing. It fairly jumps off the page, sort of a 3-D effect. I've noticed the same thing (although not to this degree) in other shots of tall buildings where the vanishing point is somewhere off the middle-top of the image. cool.