noirish Los Angeles

[Earl Boebert]

Here's what Gilbert Thayer's Elcar would have looked like:



More on these fine machines from the Elkhart [Indiana] Carriage Company:

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/286100-elcar/

Cheers,

Earl

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by Mstimc

The banner on the right looks like the Philippine flag.
_________________________________________________________________

You are correct!



Thanks for that info...

In enlarging the photo and looking more closely, in the middle of the lighted Christmas tree it does say "Phillipines." And, despite what I first said, it looks like the other trees on the street have flags of other countries accompanying them as well. Wonder what prompted the idea of internationalism this particular year?

I found a source that says this photo came from the USC Digital Library. They have a similar postcard photo of the street with flag banners and it's dated 1936. HERE.

[Handsome Stranger]

Happy Christmas, all you Noirishers!



[source: USC Digital Library]

[nealberke]

Originally Posted by Handsome Stranger

Happy Christmas, all you Noirishers!



[source: USC Digital Library]

Normally, we wish that everyone a "bright" Christmas, but what if you're a fan of noir????

Anyway, here's 7 noir holiday motion pictures to enjoy while pondering the conundrum.
http://www.criminalelement.com/dark-...-jake-hinkson/

[TracedogsLA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

It's Christmas Eve! I've got all my minions working overtime.



giphy

Yeah, and they're probably in some old factory on Alameda Street. Checkout that cool central belt drive system! I don't recall ever seeing one of those old things on NLA before, and yet with all the old factory photos i wonder if...

Anyway, merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the entire NLA gang here, with special Thanks to Ethereal Reality. I never really got to extend my appreciation for all the awesome work posted by everyone here in all my years of lurking and never taking time to figure out how to post comments. I guess now's a great time. So thank you all. It has truly been mind blowing.

[HossC]

Merry Christmas NLAers.

These three images are from a collection titled "Gaily decorated homes win Christmas lighting prizes", and are dated December 24, 1956. I've also included "now" pictures for each.

Whately Chandler home, 13060 Otsego St, North Hollywood


LAPL


GSV

Sweepstakes winner - Home of Mr and Mrs Paul Seaman, 6312 Cartwright Ave, North Hollywood


LAPL


GSV

Home of Mr and Mrs John P Schuh at 704 View Dr, Burbank


LAPL


GSV

[AlvaroLegido]

Originally Posted by sadykadie2

When the modern world gets too much, I open up my secret weapon! Noirish Los Angeles. I was a single mom for 12 years, a lot of dark nights. Noirish was a safe place then. Thanks forever!

And in the other way round, noirishers are grateful for your contributions. We're somewhat short of feminine sensitivities - around five I guess.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by AlvaroLegido

And in the other way round, noirishers are grateful for your contributions. We're somewhat short of feminine sensitivities - around five I guess.

You don't mean this feminine type, do you?



streetswing

[AlvaroLegido]

[QUOTE=CityBoyDoug;8418756]You don't mean this feminine type, do you?


Well, this type suits better in some room at the Gladden or in the backstage of the Bamba Club...

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by AlvaroLegido

Well, this type suits better in some room at the Gladden or in the backstage of the Bamba Club...

[ethereal_reality]

"King of Norway, Sycamore Grove, Los Angeles 1939."


#1
ebay


Hmmm....which one is he? I see him! He.s standing behind a short table covered in a white cloth with a dark strip... and he appears to have a flower in his lapel.
No, wait...I've changed my mind. The 'flower' is too low, so maybe it's a white kerchief in his breast pocket.




#2
ebay

Norwegian dancing!







#3
ebay


I couldn't locate any evidence of King Haakon VII visiting Los Angeles....but Prince Olav, his son, (the future King of Norway) visited Los Angeles in 1939.


"In the spring of 1939, Prince Olav and Princess Martha went on a grand tour of the United States, to strengthen ties between Norway and the U.S. on the eve of World War II. The royal couple visited Los Angeles, where they met fellow countrywoman Sonja Henie (1912-1969), a figure skater who won gold medals in the 1928, 1932,
and 1936 Olympics. Henie had become a famous movie star, earning $2 million a year during in her heyday." from HISTORYLINK


Would someone look up some [spring 1939] issues of the Los Angeles Times (I don't have a library card), and see if Haakon VII visited Los Angeles as well.
If he didn't [visit], the ebay description is probably incorrect. Haakon was king in 1939 (the date of the snapshots)...Prince Olav didn't become king until 1957.

Thanks.

__

p.s. I found the pics quite some time ago. (more than a year, at least)

[Handsome Stranger]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

"King of Norway, Sycamore Grove, Los Angeles 1939."

Would someone look up some [spring 1939] issues of the Los Angeles Times (I don't have a library card), and see if Haakon VII visited Los Angeles as well. If he didn't [visit], the ebay description is probably incorrect. Haakon was king in 1939 (the date of the snapshots)...Prince Olav didn't become king until 1957.

Thanks.

I searched the LA Times archives for all of 1939. There was no mention of King Haakon VII visiting Los Angeles. I only found articles about a three day visit from Norse royalty Crown Prince Olaf* and Crown Princess Martha.

*This is how the LA Times spelled his name in 1939.

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by Handsome Stranger

I searched the LA Times archives for all of 1939. There was no mention of King Haakon VII visiting Los Angeles. I only found articles about a three day visit from Norse royalty Crown Prince Olaf* and Crown Princess Martha.

*This is how the LA Times spelled his name in 1939.

Dang, HS beat me! By minutes, by minutes I tells ya!



Los Angeles Times 5/15/1939 (I omit one paragraph of guests) via ProQuest via CSULB Library.

[Handsome Stranger]

And now I have this song stuck in my head: "You ought a Hear Olaf Laff"

• Video Link

[acorn8332]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

Until April of 2017, I hadn't found any photos that pictured Hollywood Blvd. decorated in anything other than the famous Christmas trees that lined the light poles for many years.
The Santa Claus motif was used in the Spielberg film "1941" (Santa's arms were by his side) but I'd never seen any photos of Santa Claus's lining the street until I found this
snapshot of a soldier in front of one on someone's pinterest account.



Because of the movie marquee this photo was likely taken in December of 1943 or early January of 1944.

I found another Santa Claus photo recently! It's at approximately 6330 Hollywood Blvd. a bit west of Ivar. Do the cars indicate it was probably
the same 1943 holiday season? I wonder if these Santa Claus decorations were only up that one particular year?

jericl cat/Flickr

Pictured: Hollywood Citizen, Mimi's, Thrifty Cut Rate Drug Store, partial blade signs for Warners Theatre and Security Bank.

I'm guessing that the Santas were used for three of the WW2 Holiday Seasons (1942, 43, & 44). The Santas appear to be non-illuminated; the illuminated trees would not be appropriate for wartime dim-out and black-out conditions. Note that the tops of the lanterns have been painted out; normally the GE Form 18-B lanterns would have a clear top. Also MIA are the illuminated bells that would stretch across the Boulevard.

1941 would have been too early for the Santas; the illuminated trees would have already been in place when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Handsome Stranger

Happy Christmas, all you Noirishers!



[source: USC Digital Library]

1920s "flappers" & Playboy Santa at the beach. Those were the days before the Crash & Depression, when there were Blue Skies and the future was bright.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Handsome Stranger

Happy Christmas, all you Noirishers!



[source: USC Digital Library]

That was back when males had to keep their naked chest covered up on the beach.
It was a very different world then. Only the French [mostly] would eventually wear the famous bikini.

The thought of going half naked in public was abhorrent in the 1920s.

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by acorn8332

I'm guessing that the Santas were used for three of the WW2 Holiday Seasons (1942, 43, & 44). The Santas appear to be non-illuminated; the illuminated trees would not be appropriate for wartime dim-out and black-out conditions. Note that the tops of the lanterns have been painted out; normally the GE Form 18-B lanterns would have a clear top. Also MIA are the illuminated bells that would stretch across the Boulevard.

1941 would have been too early for the Santas; the illuminated trees would have already been in place when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

Thanks, Acorn!

That makes a lot of sense and something I hadn't thought of before. (I guess because I had the image of lit Santa Claus's from the Spielberg film.) It also explains why I haven't seen any night shots, but there is a distinct lack of daytime photos as well.

I'm also now wondering, since both photos I've seen were facing west, were these made with Santa facing both ways? Probably, otherwise you'd just see Santa from behind.

(P.S.: I have corrected this in my original post, but "a bit west of Ivar" should "be a bit east of Ivar.")

[SHERIFFPAUL]

Vintage Hollywood Christmas Pics
The 1920s.....

[IMG][IMG][IMG][/IMG][/IMG][/IMG]

Thanks for the pictures ifitshipitshere.com

[Handsome Stranger]

Originally Posted by nealberke

Normally, we wish that everyone a "bright" Christmas, but what if you're a fan of noir????

Anyway, here's 7 noir holiday motion pictures to enjoy while pondering the conundrum.
http://www.criminalelement.com/dark-...-jake-hinkson/

Thanks for this link! From the list I chose to watch "Christmas Holiday" (1944) last night and enjoyed it a lot. Gene Kelly was surprisingly effective playing a psycho killer.

HossC, your historical images of decorated homes reminded me of a house in Manhattan Beach that used to put up an incredible display at Christmastime when I was a kid. Someone went to the trouble to create an entire village in miniature on their front lawn, including an ice pond in one corner with animated skaters that zipped around, and Santa and his reindeer flying overhead. Someone in the house sat by their front window every night to set Santa and crew in motion any time a car would slowly pass by.

Originally Posted by CaliNative

1920s "flappers" & Playboy Santa at the beach. Those were the days before the Crash & Depression, when there were Blue Skies and the future was bright.

I think the future was always a little brighter here The effects of the Great Depression were somewhat mitigated in Los Angeles, as the ascendant movie industry gave steady employment to a lot of people. Without that brightness, could noirishness even be possible? Yin and Yang.

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

That was back when males had to keep their naked chest covered up on the beach. It was a very different world then. Only the French [mostly] would eventually wear the famous bikini. The thought of going half naked in public was abhorrent in the 1920s.

Yes. It was a different day. Ironically it's the same era in which males routinely swam naked at countless YMCA pools across the country, and in public school pools too (in sex-segregated facilities, of course).