noirish Los Angeles - Page 242

SierraMadre · #**4821** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 3:46 PM**

good grief...that's the first photo I can recall seeing of an incinerator.
In Arcadia where I grew up many were converted into really ugly BBQs.
When I hear people today talk about smog, they usually don't have a clue how bad it was in the 1950's-60's.
People don't like regulations but this city was becoming unbearable.

srk1941 · #**4822** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 5:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangedays

Thanks so much for answering the question. I have the map as posted that shows Rodeo Road joining with Jefferson on the east, but have two maps that do not show it and so wasn't sure. None showed Coliseum, so the question lingered for some time. Do you happen to know if Rodeo Road was paved in 1924-25?

I just uploaded a pic you can use for your blog if you want, or until you get up there yourself. It shows more of LA. The funny thing is, when filming that, I didn't know that was the Village Green

I created my flickr.com page to contribute here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepynoir/

Thank you! I don't know if Rodeo Road was paved in 1923/24, but I don't believe Rodeo existed in this location in 1924. I found an article in the Los Angeles Times from 1936, discussing the donation of land by the Baldwin Family for the creation of a playground next to Dorsey High School (then under construction). That playground became what is now the Rancho Cienega Sports Complex.

Anyway, the article talking about the proposed playground mentions that both Rodeo Road and Santa Barbara (now MLK) would be extended to accomodate the new playground, which suggest to me that they would be extended from the east. I found another note saying that Santa Barbara (between Brighton and Crenshaw) was widened and paved in 1940.

Demonio · #**4823** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

NYPL http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1640789&t=w

Google Street View

The New York Public Library maintains a few vintage images of Los Angeles--the most interesting one I've seen so far is this undated one of a small Eastside park I'd never heard of: ELA Park. (It took me a minute to catch it... E.L.A. Park....) I'm getting more and more interested in Los Angeles east of Main Street--if you don't live there (in NY, for instance), it seems a parallel universe to the L.A. west of Main usually envisioned. The gang troubles there I also read about notwithstanding, it's been interesting to discover whole tidy neighborhoods to the east like this one around ELA Park.

P.S. Welcome Brother Bryson

Hello there! This picture is of Eastlake street in my old neighborhood in Lincoln Heights. A few old Victorian homes around there. I believe the fence was added to keep the local gang and screw ups from ruining that little park. Sad.

Cyberider · #**4824** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 7:39 PM**

This is a wonderful thread and I've been lurking here for months. Especially enjoyed all the Bunker Hill photos and info. Many thanks to all the contributors.

Strangedays, is that 1939/41 map available somewhere online or do you have a copy of it? Being a PE/LARy and map fan, I'd love to see the whole thing.

Thanks,
Dave

strangedays · #**4825** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 8:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyberider

This is a wonderful thread and I've been lurking here for months. Especially enjoyed all the Bunker Hill photos and info. Many thanks to all the contributors.

Strangedays, is that 1939/41 map available somewhere online or do you have a copy of it? Being a PE/LARy and map fan, I'd love to see the whole thing.

Thanks,
Dave

Cyberider, I've tried and tried to get in all in one image but I'm too dumb to figure it out. I do have panning images that are videos but am not able to get it all on screen in one shot and still make it readable. If you are anyone else has any pointers, that would be great. Then I'll upload it. The camera is a Panasonic TM700.

While here and on the subject of maps, here is another shot of the Baldwin Hills map, a Bekins 1941 that strangely does not include Rodeo Road. The LA Times suggests Rodeo Road was extended (how far) along with Santa Barbara in 1936-37.

LOCATION OF WHAT WILL BE CITY'S LARGEST PLAYGROUND
‎
Pay-Per-View - Los Angeles Times - Nov 8, 1936
... south by the projected extensions of Rodeo Road and Santa Barbara avenue, ... TRACT DONATED Conveyed as a gift to the Los Angeles City Playground and ...

But this map lacks the extensions. Maybe because that was the county line? Anyone know?

srk1941 · #**4826** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 8:45 PM**

The Baldwin Hills Village design team had the city move the city limits down to the new Coliseum Street at the south edge of the Village in 1941.

srk1941 · #**4827** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 8:47 PM**

But looking at the Bekins map, I just think it was outdated. Dorsey High School opened in 1937, so Rodeo would have been extended almost to La Brea by '37, which isn't reflected on this map.

La Brea did continue all the way south, that is covered up by the Bekins logo, making it look like La Brea stops and starts again. Maybe they blocked out the Rodeo and Santa Barbara extensions too?

Fab Fifties Fan · #**4828** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 9:05 PM**

...since that's all they're good for now!

W.G. Nye and Loy E. Moore, owners of the Peerless Incinerator Company, 1854 W. Washington Blvd., display their inventory of backyard incinerators as they hear reports of banning all incinerators. "We're convinced we're being made the goats for some other industry," said Moore, Oct. 20, 1954.

The building is still there and hopefully selling non-polluting party supplies!

Google streetview

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraMadre

good grief...that's the first photo I can recall seeing of an incinerator.
In Arcadia where I grew up many were converted into really ugly BBQs.
When I hear people today talk about smog, they usually don't have a clue how bad it was in the 1950's-60's.
People don't like regulations but this city was becoming unbearable.

~Jon Paul
Photo LAPL

Cyberider · #**4829** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 9:34 PM**

Thanks, strangedays. I'm afraid I'd be no help. Was hoping it was previously posted somewhere and you had just borrowed a portion! If you ever find a solution to the problem, I'll look forward to seeing it. From the time I was a kid (a long time ago) I've just loved studying maps of LA and the evolution of streets and areas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangedays

Cyberider, I've tried and tried to get in all in one image but I'm too dumb to figure it out. I do have panning images that are videos but am not able to get it all on screen in one shot and still make it readable. If you are anyone else has any pointers, that would be great. Then I'll upload it. The camera is a Panasonic TM700.

While here and on the subject of maps, here is another shot of the Baldwin Hills map, a Bekins 1941 that strangely does not include Rodeo Road. The LA Times suggests Rodeo Road was extended (how far) along with Santa Barbara in 1936-37.

Demonio · #**4830** Posted **Sep 29, 2011, 10:55 PM**

That's AWESOME!

strangedays · #**4831** Posted **Sep 30, 2011, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by srk1941

But looking at the Bekins map, I just think it was outdated. Dorsey High School opened in 1937, so Rodeo would have been extended almost to La Brea by '37, which isn't reflected on this map.

La Brea did continue all the way south, that is covered up by the Bekins logo, making it look like La Brea stops and starts again. Maybe they blocked out the Rodeo and Santa Barbara extensions too?

Funny, I just hunted down the LA Times article you mention above too. This Bekins map also shows Jefferson on the east divided as well. Maybe since it is a city map they didn't bother much with county territory and it was a good excuse to throw the cool truck in there instead. Do you know where the old county line was?

All this information is really helping to put the Baldwin Hills into perspective. I read that there was a paved road there somewhere, but maybe paved meant tarred back then.

Here is another lapl photo from 1924. I can't figure what the development might be on the bottom left, but it could be Culver City upper right and the ocean upper left.

We're still on topic because some of The Big Sleep is set in the Baldwin Hills and Marlowe is up to his neck in it.

srk1941 · #**4832** Posted **Sep 30, 2011, 4:01 PM**

It's hard to say for sure, with so little to go on, but I'll bet they're laying out the View Park neighborhood, which was developed in the mid 20's, and features meandering streets like you see here. It appears to be in the right location.

strangedays · #**4833** Posted **Sep 30, 2011, 6:30 PM**

In the view above from 1958, one can see a number of "40 Acres" landmarks, including the "Mayberry" courthouse (right edge, center) and the mansion from Scarlett O'Hara's plantation "Tara," from the film Gone With The Wind (just right of upper left corner).

from http://www.retroweb.com/40acres.html

"40 Acres" is the misnomer that was given to what was actually about 29 acres of land in Culver City, California, first used as a movie studio backlot in 1926 by Cecil DeMille, after he leased the property from Italian immigrate Achille Casserini (on March 22, 1926). DeMille's production company utilized the backlot for numerous silent films, including The King of Kings (1927), for which a large Jerusalem temple and town were constructed, The Fighting Eagle (1927), The Forbidden Woman (1927) and The Godless Girl (1929), DeMille's last silent, and for which a large reform school set was built on the lot. In 1928, DeMille's Culver City studio and backlot were acquired by RKO Pictures, whose films which employed the backlot included Bird of Paradise (1932) and the 1933 classic, King Kong. In 1937, David Selznick acquired the property in a long-term lease, and used the backlot to re-create a Civil War-era Atlanta for his 1939 epic Gone With The Wind (after filming the burning of numerous leftover sets on the lot, including the "King Kong" gate, to depict the burning of Atlanta in the film).

strangedays · #**4834** Posted **Sep 30, 2011, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by srk1941

It's hard to say for sure, with so little to go on, but I'll bet they're laying out the View Park neighborhood, which was developed in the mid 20's, and features meandering streets like you see here. It appears to be in the right location.

Maybe that is actually looking from Culver City. Compare this map found at the 40 Acres site.

srk1941 · #**4835** Posted **Sep 30, 2011, 7:33 PM**

The 40 acres studio backlot was just across the Ballona Creek - see where it is curving, lower right here? This is just below what is now the park and overlook.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangedays

Great, great thread. I feel obligated to contribute.

Looking at Baldwin Hills South/West, 1940-49, at what would become Baldwin Hills Park now. The road wrapping around on the right is probably Jefferson, which changed names into Higuera St., which probably intersects at bottom center (off screen) with Moynier Lane. The small road just after Jefferson/Higuera that dead ends into the hills could be Lewawee (based on a 1941 map). (USC Digital Collection)

A shot from the Baldwin Hills north-north/east at the Village Green about 1943. The intersection where the bus is about to turn is Coliseum and Hauser Blvd. You can see the entire video at villagegreenla.net/history.html

Coliseum and Hauser today at center left. Hauser Blvd still dead ends there. The Baldwin Hills Village is now the Village Green. You can see see downtown LA in the tiptop right.

strangedays · #**4836** Posted **Oct 1, 2011, 12:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by srk1941

The 40 acres studio backlot was just across the Ballona Creek - see where it is curving, lower right here? This is just below what is now the park and overlook.

Here is an attempt to compare the angles of yesterday with today while extending a little. Ok, so comparing these two, the 40 Acres Studio would be in the top right hand corner of the Google Earth view. Is this close?

Edit: What is not making sense is where the Baldwin Hills Reservoir would be in the 1924 pic (the circle in the middle in the Google Earth) unless the reservoir was built in that valley and then filled in. Could that be?.

Beaudry · #**4837** Posted **Oct 1, 2011, 7:17 AM**

Been a while since I've posted, and there's a lot on which I want to comment, but before I get to any of that, I'll share a trip I made to the California State Building -- yes, this one:

USC

...even though it's really rather not there. And while in theory one's not supposed to visit what's left, my wayward youth left me with a healthy disrespect for No Trespassing signage. Soooo...

Up Spring from First there's still the stairway to its east entrance, and the entry to the underground parking garage:

The approach from First:

Ouch. Behind, L to R, the Hall of Administration, the Hall of Records, the Criminal Courts.

And here we are, that characteristic John C Austin State Bldg shape --

And there's this flooring,

posted here before, though seen from up in City Hall, but now, let's get a closer look, bust out the ol' Then-n-Nows:

Walk through the revolving door, turn back and look toward First:

Looking across the lobby toward the east:

Looking back out of the building, toward B'way -- at the pit where the 1960 California State Office Bldg used to be.

Note that they're gutting the 1958 Law Library (seen here, center right) -- what's that about? And yes, that crane is up on the site of the Dome, now plugging away at the Broad...

In any event, the midday sun kind of bleached out the images. Would like to see how this marble looks after a good rain. Parting image of a close-up:

Lobby photos, Mott Studios, Cal State Library, accessed here and here

GaylordWilshire · #**4838** Posted **Oct 1, 2011, 1:03 PM**

Beaudry: It may have been a while, but when you post, you really post--that was great!

SierraMadre · #**4839** Posted **Oct 1, 2011, 2:06 PM**

Incredible.....great contribution

gsjansen · #**4840** Posted **Oct 1, 2011, 5:45 PM**

B! what can i say? absofrickinlutely incredible! did you bring images of the before with you, so that you could capture the exact angle, or is this a total recall memory thing?

stunned is all i can say....stunned.

btw, i blew your cover over at the vla facebook page, i had to post the single page of your increduble work! now everyone will know you as beaudry!

you won't forget to let us know when you complete your "after" review of lan, and post it.....right?

you definately get my vote for all time best then and now post ever on the world wide web!