noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

Here's an especially nice image of Mimi Forsythe.



glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Does anyone have an idea what is above the garage doors at 1611 N Normandie Avenue? ........1926 is too early for graffiti, right?

to be more descriptive: it looks like a cut-out sign (of graffiti) on a slanted roof.

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Could we be looking at laundry hung out to dry?

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

FW is correct. It appears to be one day of washing for the baby. Diapers, sheets for the crib and possibly towels and clothes. This was back in the day when mothers washed a lot of diapers. There were no diaper washing companies and disposable diapers hadn't been perfected. It was one smelly mess. Dirty diapers were kept in a metal can with a pop-up lid....soiled diapers are changed many times in 24 hours.

Zooming in on the original, the laundry is bigger than diapers.


USC Digital Library

It looks like the garages have gone, although the layout of the residential units doesn't seem to have changed over the years (I can see them on a 1927 aerial despite its fuzziness). The garages and washing were at the back of the driveway to the left of the Google marker.


Google Maps

[ethereal_reality]

I didn't realize the garage had a flat roof. (I probably should have know)

I'm still confused about the height of the clothes line. It's too high.
And if the clothes line is directly above the flat roof...it's too low. with the bottom of the clothes touching the roof

[Valentino]

The clothes touching the roof may be an illusion, due to lack of depth perception. There appear to be two clotheslines, which may be on pulleys, that might originate from two second story windows in the adjacent building.

P.S. Didn't want to post until I had something to contribute, other than a comment, but have nothing of value to share to date.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I didn't realize the garage had a flat roof. (I probably should have know)

I'm still confused about the height of the clothes line. It's too high.
And if the clothes line is directly above the flat roof...it's too low. with the bottom of the clothes touching the roof

Its possible that the clothes line is on the roof of the garage.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by HossC

Zooming in on the original, the laundry is bigger than diapers.


USC Digital Library

Hoss, can you please help us out here and identify each piece of laundry? Also, if you have the time, what is the make and model of the car in the garage? I'm scratching my head over this.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Valentino

The clothes touching the roof may be an illusion, due to lack of depth perception. There appear to be two clotheslines, which may be on pulleys, that might originate from two second story windows in the adjacent building.

P.S. Didn't want to post until I had something to contribute, other than a comment, but have nothing of value to share to date.

Valentino: welcome to this thread. Boy did you step in with a comment at the right time.

That dang clothes line has become a real cause célèbre. Just what is on that line...is it pajamas, sheets, or baby diapers...maybe all three and then some?

My guess is that's its Monday....wash day.

Here is my proof:

Wash on Monday,
Iron on Tuesday,
Bake on Wednesday,
Brew on Thursday,
Churn on Friday,
Mend on Saturday,
Go to meeting on Sunday.

This all goes back to the Mayflower colony in the year 1620.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Hoss, can you please help us out here and identify each piece of laundry?

Hoss was just clarifying your response CBD.
His close-up is much clearer than the fuzzy one that you and I were looking at.

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Its possible that the clothes line is on the roof of the garage.

If it's on the roof of the garage it's too low. Nix that. I just looked again.

If the clothes line is hanging over the far side of the roof, then I'd say...yes, it's a possibility.
______________________________________

update:

If you look closely, you can see the empty clothes line that runs across the front edge of the roof. The line we see with the clothes is in the back. I'd say CBD is correct.


update 2

I was looking at a telephone line :




DETAIL

but there's also a middle line. (#2 above) -with two garments....maybe three.


I have now entered the realm of "beating a dead horse".


giphy

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Valentino

The clothes touching the roof may be an illusion, due to lack of depth perception. There appear to be two clotheslines, which may be on pulleys, that might originate from two second story windows in the adjacent building.

I just saw your post Valentino. You were correct all along. I was..pretty much..repeating what you had already said. My apologies.


Welcome to the thread Valentino.

[Tikiman]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Hoss was just clarifying your response CBD.
His close-up is much clearer than the fuzzy one that you and I were looking at.


If it's on the roof of the garage it's too low. Nix that. I just looked again.

If the clothes line is hanging over the far side of the roof, then I'd say...yes, it's a possibility.
______________________________________

update:

If you look closely, you can see the empty clothes line that runs across the front edge of the roof. The line we see with the clothes is in the back. I'd say CBD is correct.


update 2

I was looking at a telephone line


DETAIL

but there's also a middle line. (#2 above) -with two garments....maybe three.


I have now entered the realm of "beating a dead horse".


giphy

You may note that the line runs off past our view to the left. It could very well be that there is a structure with a second story that direction. Also; in those times, clothes lines often were on a pulley system so you could hang all laundry from the porch and run it out over the yard or whatever to dry - then just pull it back in. This may be the case here.

[ethereal_reality]

Yes Tikiman, clothes lines with pulleys (usually between two tenements) have been seen in numerous old movies.
In fact, I'm trying to find an example as we speak. (so far nothing)

hmmm....perhaps the film The Window [1949] (if I remember correctly, the entire film takes place in tenements)
There might be a pulley line visible in Hitchcock's Rear Window? (is that what the lady used to lower her dog down to the ground?)

[Handsome Stranger]

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1945




The Window, 1949

[ethereal_reality]

A-ha...perfect example!

Thanks Handsome Stranger.



And The Window too! (HS added it later)

[Valentino]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I just saw your post Valentino. You were correct all along. I was..pretty much..repeating what you had already said. My apologies.


Welcome to the thread Valentino.

Thank you e_r and CBD.

That's a very snazzy gif.

Could be a hint there, as he is pull(ey)ing the shade.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Valentino

Could be a hint there, as he is pull(ey)ing the shade.

You're thinking like one of us already! -frightening.

[ethereal_reality]

'mystery location (no laundry in sight)


Ebay




with damaged border.



Garden City Photos. 608 E. Fifth Street Los Angeles, Cal.




reverse (no Vanilla Fudge recipe this time)




The Clues:

appears to have been partially erased. I believe the name of the owner is at the top

DETAIL


streets

DETAIL

I believe it says Sacramento near Mateo.

If anyone can make out the owner's name we might be able to locate [exactly where the house used to be. (the area is industrial now)

[GaylordWilshire]

In the 1890 CD there is a Collins family at the NWC of Sacramento and Mateo--Thomas a carpenter and Mary a dressmaker, though no "R A" or "R O"... It seems totally flat at Sacramento and Mateo today and there appears to be a sloping street in the vintage view.... But then the Herald of June 28, 1892, reports the sale of Lot 85 of Hiscock & Smith's Addition by R. A. Collins to an Anna Hosburg.... Lot 85, with a house on it on the 1910 Baist, was right at the NWC of Sac & Mateo....

[Handsome Stranger]

Enhanced contrast:



My best guess is R.A. Colton or R.A. Cotton.

[ethereal_reality]

One more mystery location for tonight.


“Los Angeles, Cal. flooding in front of Miller Apts. Feb. 19, 1914”.


Ebay


If you closely, you can see the tops of some interesting buildings behind the large sign.




a closer look.

DETAIL

Good luck!

__

[sadykadie2]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

Great to see Irene "in the flesh." I looked at her daughter's website, but when "Email me" is clicked...there is no address...and the last blogpost was nearly 7 years ago....

Dang, Gaylordwilshire, you're good!