noirish Los Angeles - Page 470

Fab Fifties Fan · #**9381** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 6:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Wow! I had no idea. Thanks Jon Paul.

I like the 'vignettes' of the movie stars*.....but I wouldn't want to be standing under that giant urn during an earthquake.

*I just realized I don't recognized any of them. Are they Hispanic actors?

Another thing that confused me about the original photograph was the model. I would never have guessed she was from 1956 (the year the theater was destroyed). I would have guessed a date closer to that late 1970s or early 80s. She sees quite contemporary actually.
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e_r, I think you are spot on with your observation on the vignettes as the one directly below the "killer" urn appears to be the mexican actor Cantinflas. I don't recognize the others though.

Cantinflas

I also totally agree with the model appearing quite contemporary. I had thought perhaps late 60's because of her hair style and makeup.

~Jon Paul

ethereal_reality · #**9382** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 6:39 PM**

The Mason Theater can be seen at far right in this wonderful color photograph.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3930393...n/photostream/

below: The same view today.

google street view

That monstrosity is the Los Angeles Times annex and garage.
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Fab Fifties Fan · #**9383** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 6:50 PM**

So it's not a dirt lot but, still, yuck!!!

~Jon Paul

BifRayRock · #**9384** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 7:01 PM**

Broadway and record holding Lunch Counters?

Woolworth's? (431 S. Broadway) (ER's previous post http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...&postcount=938) or

http://www.cardcow.com

Fosgate and Rees' (449 S Broadway)

LAPL

JJ Newberrys (5th and Broadway) "a mile of counter space"

LAPL Flickr cardcow

BifRayRock · #**9385** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson

I don't remember seeing either of these two images of Court Flight...

ONE BIG LOOK!

This large format photo is too good to pass up - even if its been seen here before in easier-to-view format. (Hope you all agree) (See http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=3378)

http://silentlocations.files.wordpre...w-00012813.jpg

"A fire on October 20, 1943 damaged the line and put it out of commission."

LAPL

sopas ej · #**9386** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 7:38 PM**

The Hat, northwest corner of Garfield Avenue and Valley Boulevard, Alhambra, 1950s. This is the very first location of The Hat, which opened in 1951. It is somewhat of a San Gabriel Valley institution with a big local following. They have since expanded to other SoCal locations.

thehat.com

The Hat, northwest corner of Garfield Avenue and Valley Boulevard, Alhambra, September 23, 2012. The original still exists! I wish their 1950s prices still existed. I just came home from this location after having called in 2 orders of chili cheese fries for take-out. One order can feed a family of four, it's so huge. Their food is pretty good. Prior to today, I've only ever been to the one in Pasadena, which is in an enclosed building.

photo by yours truly

ethereal_reality · #**9387** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 7:38 PM**

I've never heard of The Hat.....amazing that it's still there! Good to hear from you sopas, it has been a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fab Fifties Fan

So it's not a dirt lot but, still, yuck!!!

~Jon Paul

I went back to double check Jon Paul. I believe you were correct in saying it is an empty lot.
I had the wrong side of Broadway.
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sopas ej · #**9388** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I've never heard of The Hat.....amazing that it's still there! Good to hear from you sopas, its been a while.

Thanks. Yeah, the last few months have been quite busy for me--family/illness/death. But now that that chapter is finished, I'm ready to catch up on all the posts in this thread that I haven't seen yet!

ethereal_reality · #**9389** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 8:02 PM**

Residence of A.D. Cajal, Alhambra, Los Angeles County circa 1910

ebay
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BifRayRock · #**9390** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

September 26, 1934 L.A. Times reads: "Charles J. Prudhomme, 80-year-old historian and guide in the City Hall tower who has told countless interesting stories of early Los Angeles to visitors to the City Hall tower since it was built in 1928, died yesterday. For eighteen years Don Carlos, as he was called by his associates, resided in a room at 741 Central avenue, with only his collection of old documents and other mementoes of old California as companions. Prudhomme was born in 1854 in a tiny adobe house just 300 feet from the southeast corner of the City Hall. His great grandfather was first owner of the vast Malibu rancho, having received it as a grant from Gov. Jose de Arrillaga in 1804. His father was Leon Victor Prudhomme, a Frenchman who came to California as a young man, married Mercedes Tapia and was an active citizen. He was president of the vigilantes of this vicinity in 1836. As a boy Prudhomme attended the second public schoolhouse in Los Angeles. It was erected in 1856 and occupied the southeast corner of North Main and Macy Streets. Prudhomme belonged to the first fire volunteers' organization in Los Angeles, was a member of the pioneer French Benevolent Society, and was historian and curator for Ramona Parlor N.S.G.W.. He leaves no immediate family. Rosary services will be conducted tonight at Reed Brothers chapel, 721 West Washington Street. Final rites are to be tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Plaza Church".

Undated photo of Charles Prudhomme (left) and Don Geronimo Lopez (right). (Names/spelling per source notes)

USC Digital

BifRayRock · #**9391** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 9:59 PM**

USC Digital

Recently posted the above 1941 photograph of 9th and Figueroa and wondered about the "20¢ Times” Theater (and Finkle Arms). The "20¢" was never part of the theater's name. With a little assistance from the Floyd B. Bariscale site, the "Times" started out as the Playhouse (1924) and eventually became the Variety Arts theater. It hosted live stage plays, radio dramas, television shows, musical performances, and of course, 20¢ Movies. I am unfamiliar with the building, but sources indicate the building housed two theaters with live performances upstairs (250 seats) and movies downstairs (950 seats). Wonder how the smoking balcony affected the theater above it?

>http://bigorangelandmarks.blogspot.c...-building.html and >https://sites.google.com/site/downto...y-arts-theatre

FLICKR

Other views of the Playhouse/Times/Variety Arts:

1926

LAPL

1930

LAPL

1941

USC Digital

1977

FLICKR

2008

FLICKR

ethereal_reality · #**9392** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 10:11 PM**

I certainly didn't notice that the '20cent Times Theater' in your 1941 photo was the old Playhouse.
Thanks for pointing that out bifrayrock.

I wonder what the 'The Playhouse' is used for today. It looks like it's in pretty good shape.
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ethereal_reality · #**9393** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 10:17 PM**

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metroli...9123/lightbox/

I've been trying to read the hotel sign at the corner of the building but I can't quite make it out.*
The entrance on the right look like the old Nadeau Hotel entrance but I know that can't be right.
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* I just found out this is the corner of First and Main.

BifRayRock · #**9394** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I wonder what the 'The Playhouse' is used for today. It looks like it's in pretty good shape.
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The old gal has got a new role as a haunted house - in addition to being used for movie/tv production.

See recent LA Times article: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...,3155904.story

Those Who Squirm! · #**9395** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 11:01 PM**

Quote:

Here's another post about 1646 N Spring

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=7577

You'll see in this one the plaque on the facade, the date of which agrees with the records you found. I'm not sure if we ever figured out what exactly "House of 1646 N. Spring" means. Maybe there is no particular meaning--

I'd be willing to bet that the "kissing ducks" are the logo of whatever that business was.

Zillow says incorrectly that it is a private house, though who knows--maybe at one time it was.

Those Who Squirm! · #**9396** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 11:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3940dxer

And then there is the very old wedge shaped building, at 1635 N. Spring St., at Baker. I have a note that it dates to 1888. Have seen it described as the "Charles Raphael Plate Glass Co. Building at Junction Block", but I've also seen the the block called "Raphael Block". I think we can all agree that it would look better without the "mural".

I can't quite agree with you on the mural; anything that allows the occupants or owners to feel comfortable with the existing structure is preferable to its being abandoned or replaced.

I'm not entirely sure about this, but I seem to recall a few other old narrow buildings around town that were also glass works. It makes sense that a long narrow space with plenty of ventilation would have been perfect for dealing with the high temperatures involved in glass-making.

Those Who Squirm! · #**9397** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 11:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

Youtube

Just saw one of those TCM "Travetalks" about Los Angeles in the late '30s. It seems that what's on TCM isn't usually available on Youtube, and this was no exception. But I was led to a very interesting and very early color film about Olvera Street. I didn't see a date on the title card--the Youtube notation for it says "1937"--but judging by the cars and the early '30s hats, I'd say it was filmed at least 6 years earlier than that. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Dni...3FC1845A0A8589

I've watched this film in the Prelinger Archives collection; maybe they have the other TravelTalk items. Speaking of which, I'm wondering how James Fitzpatrick ever got that rural Midwestern accent seeing as how he was born in New England.

For our purposes here it's considerably more interesting that his narration obviously refers to "Sonoratown" and, IIRC, specifically mentions adobes that were still in existence at the time. Also, the way he mentions iced tea at La Golondrina suggests that Prohibition hasn't been repealed yet, placing it somewhere between 1930 and 1933.

Los Angeles Past · #**9398** Posted **Sep 24, 2012, 12:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I've been trying to read the hotel sign at the corner of the building but I can't quite make it out.*
The entrance on the right look like the old Nadeau Hotel entrance but I know that can't be right.
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* I just found out this is the corner of First and Main.

This is the Natick House/Natick Hotel.

ethereal_reality · #**9399** Posted **Sep 24, 2012, 2:44 AM**

Thanks Scott....much appreciated.

I should have known.

ethereal_reality · #**9400** Posted **Sep 24, 2012, 5:23 AM**

A beautiful postcard found on ebay. Has anyone heard of this cafeteria?

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