Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
I came across this interesting art deco building on S. Alvarado, north of Miramar.
GSV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire
LAT July 11, 1937
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I did a quick Google which gave the address of the pawn shop as 186 S Alvarado. That led me to
a listing on loopnet.com which said it was built in 1928 - apparently they're at odds with
GW's LA Times article. They also have a slightly older picture showing a different first floor layout and more subtle color scheme.
www.loopnet.com
The first CD after loopnet's build date is 1929, and that lists a garage belonging to Claude Ferguson at 186 S Alvarado. By 1932 the garage is listed as belonging to Joseph J Lang, and it's Samuel Stone's garage in 1936.
My quick search of the 1938 and 1939 CDs didn't yield any results, so jumping on to 1942, 186 S Alvarado becomes Plastic Industries Technical Institute. It's still called Plastic Center Inc. in 1973.
On a whim I decided to check out USC for pictures of S Alvarado. Lo and behold, they had a collection of photographs titled "Alvarado Street, 100 block south, Los Angeles, CA, 1933". On the left is 186 S Alvarado, back in the days when it was a garage. The first floor is open, but I think I can still see traces of the arches in the doorways of the loopnet picture above. That makes me wonder whether it was a new build in 1937 (as per
GW's post) or just given an art deco makeover. Take a look at the following pictures and see what you think.
USC Digital Library
Here's a close-up. The top of the blade sign still says "Ferguson". Behind the "Clyde Porter" and "Glenn Osborn" names, I think the ghost signs say "Storage" and "Repairs".
Detail of picture above.
The other pictures in the set provide a couple of longer shots. I like the oil well in Dave Kirschner's gas station.
Detail from photo at
USC Digital Library
And from the other side.
Detail from photo at
USC Digital Library