noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by HossC

But what's the building behind it on the future site of the May Co building? There's some writing over the entrance, but I can't read it.


Detail of picture above

Good question Hoss.

It's obviously temporary....there's no roof....and the materials look flimsy.

Could it be for a traveling circus?





Even if it was constructed for an itinerant circus, that doesn't explain this stack of giant Rubic Cubes.

[FredH]

[QUOTE=ethereal_reality;7599498]And this is my favorite of all the glass negatives. (I almost fell out of my chair when I first saw it)


Glass Negative #4


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glass-plate-...0AAOSwzaJYBW9H

So many things to look at here. I love the steps going up the hillside behind the cabin-like bungalow.



Can Anyone make out this ghost sign on the building? My Photoshop skills are lacking...along with a few other things.

[HossC]

It looks like G Washington's Instant Coffee.


vintageadbrowser.com

[FredH]

Thanks HossC. That is it. It was driving me nuts.

[ethereal_reality]

Well I certainly couldn't figure it out. I stared at it for quite some time before finally giving up.

So yes, thanks Hoss.

[HossC]

I'm away this weekend, so I'm giving you my Saturday Julius Shulman post a little early. Depending on my return time, you may or may not get one on Sunday .


--------------


Here's an attractive little building from Julius Shulman's archive. This is "Job 905: Blaisdell Medical Building, 1951".



There are only two pictures in this set - here's the one showing the interior.



Both from Getty Research Institute

A quick Google led me to 547 East Union Street in Pasadena. It would be easy to miss the building as it's set back from the road and partially hidden by trees. From what I can see, other than losing the horizontal bars across the windows, the building is intact. It's a shame we can't see more of it. Still in the medical business, it now provides Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery.


GSV

[ethereal_reality]

At first I thought a good portion of the building had been torn down, now I see it's just in the shadows and under some vines.

[ethereal_reality]

Glass Negative #7

Downtown Los Angeles [ca.1920s]


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glass-plate-...AAAOSwZJBYBXI9

So I take it the 'Broadway Basement' was for discounts, right? (sort of like Filene's Basement perhaps)




Let's take a closer look at that giant roof-top Ben-Hur Coffee sign.

detail






Here's the same sign at night. (notice that the lights in the smoke 'travel', eventually spelling out "Coff E. Bean Says"


Huntington archives (this was posted once before on NLA)


Mr. Coff. E. Bean bears a striking resemblance to The Runway Pancake. (if the pancake had arms and legs)


I had this book as a child.

Initially I thought Mr. Bean was the the lid of the coffee can. (he's a bit flat to be a bean)
__






A multitude of flags gracing the facade of the Mason Building across the street.


detail




and a look at the traffic, pedestrians and young palms.



Cass-Smurr-Damer------> anyone familiar with this business?

close-up


Majestic Theater, The Eternal City


The Majestic was located at 845 So. Broadway

I couldn't find anything on 'The Eternal City' (all my google searches led me to Rome)


__

[Earl Boebert]

A movie called "The Eternal City" was released in 1915.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0005250/

Cheers,

Earl

[ethereal_reality]

Thanks Earl.

While looking for a photograph of Pauline Frederick in 'The Eternal City' [1915],
I was surprised to find a second film named 'The Eternal City' that was filmed in 1923 starring Barbara 'the girl who was too beautiful' La Marr.

So I think the poster on the car was probably for this second film. (the glass neg. is dated 1920s)

But then again, I could be wrong. It's happened before.

__




https://sites.google.com/site/downto...jestic-theatre

[ethereal_reality]

I just found this on eBay-

On the front of this postcard it says....

"Group of Height-Limit Business Buildings, Los Angeles, Californa"



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Los-Angeles-...oAAOSwLnBX2D5Q

I haven't figured out yet what intersection is at lower right.

I'm anxious to see if any of these so called 'height-limit' buildings have survived.
_

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I just found this sepia postcard that is also from the 1920s.

On the front of the postcard it says....

"Group of Height-Limit Business Buildings, Los Angeles, Californa"



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Los-Angeles-...oAAOSwLnBX2D5Q

I haven't figured out yet what intersection is at lower right.

I'm anxious to see if any of these so called 'height-limit' buildings have survived.
_

When Los Angeles voters rescinded the 150-foot height limit in 1957, it was with assurances that modern construction methods permit taller structures to be built safely. Earthquake dangers, The Times pointed out editorially at the time, were "largely illusory."

[HenryHuntington]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I just found this sepia postcard that is also from the 1920s.

On the front of the postcard it says....

"Group of Height-Limit Business Buildings, Los Angeles, Californa"



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Los-Angeles-...oAAOSwLnBX2D5Q

I haven't figured out yet what intersection is at lower right.

I'm anxious to see if any of these so called 'height-limit' buildings have survived.
_

If I'm seeing correctly that the streetcar tracks in the intersection in the lower right corner of the photo cross each other at right angles without any curved tracks joining the two lines, my trusty 1945 LATL map suggests that the only intersection on the southeast edge of downtown with that characteristic would be E. 12th St. and Maple Ave.

Of course, the photo appears to have been taken earlier, and I'd have to do more looking before suggesting that the above would be definitive, e_r. But it's a place to start.

[ethereal_reality]

Thanks HH. I'll have to check out your coordinates on Monday. (I've got to make a quick dash to Illinois to visit my Mom)

I really appreciate your help.
__


Before I go, here's....


Glass Negative #8

ebay

I'm hoping someone here on NLA recognizes the rather modern (for the 1920s) residence. It's quite impressive.

I believe the car is a Stutz Bearcat.
________

On a sidenote:

I've always hated the furs with the head and tail still attached. ewwww

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by HenryHuntington

If I'm seeing correctly that the streetcar tracks in the intersection in the lower right corner of the photo cross each other at right angles without any curved tracks joining the two lines, my trusty 1945 LATL map suggests that the only intersection on the southeast edge of downtown with that characteristic would be E. 12th St. and Maple Ave. The Bendix Building is now on the sec or Maple & 12th....

Of course, the photo appears to have been taken earlier, and I'd have to do more looking before suggesting that the above would be definitive, e_r. But it's a place to start.

You've got it HH-- appears to have been taken from the roof of 407 E Pico, or possibly 1220 S Maple. Note the buildings at the ne and sw corners of 11th & Santee








LAPL


and north from the Bendix Bldg's roof...

USCDL

[HossC]

Here's a quick Julius Shulman post. It's "Job 1561: Richard Wilkes, Bob's Big Boy (Pasadena, Calif.), 1953".



Getty Research Institute

I've only just got back, so I only had time for a quick Google. It appears that Pasadena's Bob's Big Boy was on Colorado Boulevard, although I haven't found a street number. A couple of websites I've found say that the image below shows the Pasadena location.


www.jalopyjournal.com

The following quote is an extract from Cruising Colorado Boulevard: A Memoir:

Cruising Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena at night became a favorite thing to do with my girlfriends. I was the only one in my clique who had a car. Sometimes we stopped at the new restaurant, “McDonalds”. It sported “Golden Arches,” and a sign at the curb that gave a daily count of burgers sold. More often, though, we chose the drive-in restaurant Bobs Big Boy. A pony-tailed carhop wearing a perky outfit and roller skates, took our order. We listened to our favorite music from the restaurant’s speakers, such as Bo Diddley, Tutti Frutti, Hand Clappin’ and Mary Lou. There was also a new singer, Elvis Presley. His just released songs were Love Me Tender, Don’t be Cruel and Hound Dog. We ate, gossiped, giggled and sang. Metal wheels on her skates announced the carhop’s arrival with a tray she hooked on our lowered window, loaded with our burgers and fries, Cokes or shakes.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thanks HH. I'll have to check out your coordinates on Monday. (I've got to make a quick dash to Illinois to visit my Mom)

I really appreciate your help.
__
Before I go, here's....
I'm hoping someone here on NLA recognizes the rather modern (for the 1920s) residence. It's quite impressive.

I believe the car is a Stutz Bearcat.
________
On a sidenote:

I've always hated the furs with the head and tail still attached. ewwww

It certainly has that Stutz look to it...ER
The house...yes, impressive. Hoss will know it's location.

George Sander - right >>

[HenryHuntington]

Originally Posted by HossC

Here's a quick Julius Shulman post. It's "Job 1561: Richard Wilkes, Bob's Big Boy (Pasadena, Calif.), 1953".



Getty Research Institute

I've only just got back, so I only had time for a quick Google. It appears that Pasadena's Bob's Big Boy was on Colorado Boulevard, although I haven't found a street number. A couple of websites I've found say that the image below shows the Pasadena location.


www.jalopyjournal.com

The following quote is an extract from Cruising Colorado Boulevard: A Memoir:

Cruising Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena at night became a favorite thing to do with my girlfriends. I was the only one in my clique who had a car. Sometimes we stopped at the new restaurant, “McDonalds”. It sported “Golden Arches,” and a sign at the curb that gave a daily count of burgers sold. More often, though, we chose the drive-in restaurant Bobs Big Boy. A pony-tailed carhop wearing a perky outfit and roller skates, took our order. We listened to our favorite music from the restaurant’s speakers, such as Bo Diddley, Tutti Frutti, Hand Clappin’ and Mary Lou. There was also a new singer, Elvis Presley. His just released songs were Love Me Tender, Don’t be Cruel and Hound Dog. We ate, gossiped, giggled and sang. Metal wheels on her skates announced the carhop’s arrival with a tray she hooked on our lowered window, loaded with our burgers and fries, Cokes or shakes.

Hoss, this Avenue to the Sky blog post http://avenuetotheskylakeavenuepasad...ke-avenue.html says that the original Bob's Big Boy in Pasadena was at 1616 E. Colorado Blvd. (across Bonnie Ave. from Pasadena City College). IMO, the ridgeline in the exterior photo looks much too close to have been taken in that location.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by HenryHuntington

Hoss, this Avenue to the Sky blog post http://avenuetotheskylakeavenuepasad...ke-avenue.html says that the original Bob's Big Boy in Pasadena was at 1616 E. Colorado Blvd. (across Bonnie Ave. from Pasadena City College). IMO, the ridgeline in the exterior photo looks much too close to have been taken in that location.

I believe that's Bob's Big Boy, Toluca Lake, SoCal, 1960. -[ below ]



www.jalopyjournal.com

[HenryHuntington]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

I believe that's Bob's Big Boy, Toluca Lake, SoCal, 1960. -[ below ]



www.jalopyjournal.com

Even though I can't spend more time wrestling the Googlemobile into place to get a clean screenshot, I can vouch that CityBoyDoug is spot on. The photo was taken from the alley behind the Bob's on Riverside Drive, and the ridge contours line up perfectly. Also, we can all do a happy dance that Bob's remains there.

And while I'm here, thanks also to GaylordWilshire for the definitive follow-up on e_r's Limit Heights Buildings post. Hope things are OK with e_r's mom.