noirish Los Angeles

[Mstimc]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

This last one is my favorite
#5


but I'm not entirely sure what's going on.


All Getty Images

If my long years in Public Works serves me right, one of two things:

1. These guys are opening a street valve (or angle stop as they're known) to increase the water flow to the hydrant. hence the fireman with the limp hose

or 2. Its a natural gas leak and these guys are trying to shut off an isolation valve.

[Otis Criblecoblis]

Originally Posted by odinthor

November-December are heavy gardening months for me, odd as that might seem...

I can relate. Lots of debris cleanup, pruning, and the like, and for our alpine redoubt preparations for freezing weather.

The more work you do bookending winter, the less you have to do the rest of the year.

[Otis Criblecoblis]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I like that Those Who Squirm mentioned 'It Happened One Night'.

but I don't recall how the 'wall of jericho' came down in IHON. ...did Clark blow a trumpet?

He blew a toy trumpet, a reed instrument of the type that was at the time called a "goofus."

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Am I the only one that didn't know there was a heliport in Griffith ParK?

No, I was walking though my Glendale neighborhood a few years ago and saw lights up in the park going up and down and had no idea what was happening. After I found out there was a heliport up there figured it was just the fire department(or police) doing practice landings.

It's on the south side of the park, above Cedar Grove.
Google Maps

Here's the view from the heliport of DTLA:
_4140194-Edit.jpg by BillinGlendaleCA, on Flickr

Here's what the heliport looks like:
_A230495.jpg by BillinGlendaleCA, on Flickr

[SHERIFFPAUL]

Survivors of self-propelled gun over cliff at Santa Monica hospital, 10 July 1955. Sergeant 1/C Sol Sirkin;Dr. Clarence Eckvoll;1st Lieutenant. Carl Beaty;PFC Autry Lee Westmoreland Jr.;Esther Hothersall (nurse);M/Sergeant Maurice G Lacourse;Deputy Sheriff Jim Marshall. (Sleeve reads: A 11512).;Caption slip reads: 'Photographer: Snow. Date: 1955-07-10. Reporter: Sid Bernstein. Assignment: Survivors of self-propelled gun over cliff at Santa Monica Hospital. 29-30: Sgt. 1/C Sol Sirkin on operating table for repairs from Dr. Clarence Eckvoll. At left is 1st Lt. Carl Beaty, battalion motor officer. 31-32: Pfc. Autry Lee Westmoreland Jr, has blood pressure taken by Nurse Esther Hothersall. (cq). 83-84: M/Sgt. Maurice G La Course talks to his officers from the x-ray table.'Santa Monica; Los Angeles; California; USA. (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images)

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thanks for checking it out Hoss


'mystery' cliff accident(?)

Here's a trio of getty images without the getty imprint over the pics. (and without information]

The year is 1955.


getty_images





Here's a larger view of the image on the left.



It's rather difficult to see what [exactly] is at the bottom of the cliff. To me, the wrecks look like they're been down there for awhile.




Maybe the policeman is taking inventory of the number of wrecks.

If we could only read what he's writing down on the tablet.

Detail

He's probably writing..."Screw this, I'm not going down there."

__

[SHERIFFPAUL]

Gas main breaks (burns) 8700 Santa Monica Boulevard, 30 November 1955. Jack McGowan (Los Angeles County Fireman).;Caption slip reads: 'Photographer: Sandusky. Date: 1955-11-30. Assignment: Gas main breaks, burns. 8700 Santa Monica Boulevard. D29-30-33-34: General views of fire. D35-36: Los Angeles County Fireman Jack McGowan keeps P.E track cool with fog nozzle as flames consume escaping gas'.8700 Santa Monica Boulevard; West Hollywood; Los Angeles; California; USA. (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images)

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

This could be natural gas from deep underground that's coming up to the surface and burning. It could also be from underground gas pipes.

This happened in the 1980s and has happened many times since 1900.

Originally Posted by Mstimc

If my long years in Public Works serves me right, one of two things:

1. These guys are opening a street valve (or angle stop as they're known) to increase the water flow to the hydrant. hence the fireman with the limp hose

or 2. Its a natural gas leak and these guys are trying to shut off an isolation valve.

[Lomara]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here's another 1955 'mystery'


This last one is my favorite
#5


but I'm not entirely sure what's going on.


All Getty Images

That building at 8701 Santa Monica still stands.


8701 Santa Monica, West Hollywood by Kimberly, on Flickr

[HossC]

Originally Posted by HossC

I looked up the CDs, and then found that the answer was in Joseph Widney's Wikipedia page:

He owned the parcel of land where the Los Angeles City Hall now stands, as well as much of Mt. Washington, Los Angeles, California, where his last home (a Victorian mansion at 3901 Marmion Way) stood.

It looks like there's apartments there now.

I've tried to find pictures of Joseph Widney's house, but this 1931 aerial is the best I've found so far. I've arrowed the most likely building, but I may be wrong.


mil.library.ucsb.edu

We've visited this intersection before when e_r posted a teaser of the curvy Marmion Hotel (I later posted that its address was 3903 Marmion Way). Sadly, the old house is not visible.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I don't believe we have seen this photograph on NLA......I would have remembered the unique hotel with the 'rounded' corners.



eBay

NB. In this post I found the above photo in the Metro Library and Archive on Flickr, which dated it as November 11, 1954. The post also includes a "now" image.

[Handsome Stranger]

Everyone remember the recent discussions here on the remaining air raid sirens in Los Angeles?



Someone else has taken note of them too, a composer named Lawrence English. He's composed and recorded a 12-minute vocal piece that is being played nightly (through Sunday) over six of the remaining sirens.

Los Angeles Times: "L.A.’s air raid sirens are blaring this week. Why composer Lawrence English says you should listen"

I may attempt to capture one such "performance" on video and share it via YouTube.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Noir_Noir

Laundra Maid was at 8700 Santa Monica Blvd, corner of Westbourne Dr. in West Hollywood.

Whoa Noir Noir.

The ground fire was, literally, steps from my bungalow on Hancock. I can't believe I didn't recognized the area... I walked there daily.


google earth

I tried to make little red 'steps'. It didn't turn out so well.

I had no idea the modern building in the 1955 photograph was the 'Sports Erection' (actually the Sports Connection)...but people in the area called it the Sports Erection. ha ha
I went to a smaller gym a bit further down Santa Monica Blvd. (on the same/south side of the street)

this one.

my old gym card



Only the foundation of my gym is left.

South is at Top

gsv

The large building on the right is the parking garage (plus a gym floor & retail shops) for the old Sports Erection Connection (now 24hr. Fitness)

Inbetween my old gym (now just a foundation) and the large sports complex was one of the oldest lesbian bars in the city. For the life of me,
I can not remember the bar's name. I used to reach inside the bar's open door and grab the weekly papers on the way to my gym.
I believe I mentioned it before in an old post. (I, obviously, can't find the old post without the name of the bar)

Does anyone know the name of this bar?

__

[ethereal_reality]

"Am I the only one who didn't know there was a helipad in Griffin Park?"

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

No, I was walking though my Glendale neighborhood a few years ago and saw lights up in the park going up and down and had no idea what was happening.
After I found out there was a heliport up there figured it was just the fire department(or police) doing practice landings.

Thanks BGC. I thought, perhaps, I was odd man out.
Oh, and thx for sharing your photos. They're always appreciated buddy.


Here's another I found.


spiralaim

It's almost like a glorified curve.

[Mstimc]

Originally Posted by SHERIFFPAUL

Gas main breaks (burns) 8700 Santa Monica Boulevard, 30 November 1955. Jack McGowan (Los Angeles County Fireman).;Caption slip reads: 'Photographer: Sandusky. Date: 1955-11-30. Assignment: Gas main breaks, burns. 8700 Santa Monica Boulevard. D29-30-33-34: General views of fire. D35-36: Los Angeles County Fireman Jack McGowan keeps P.E track cool with fog nozzle as flames consume escaping gas'.8700 Santa Monica Boulevard; West Hollywood; Los Angeles; California; USA. (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images)

So I guess option 2 was right?

[IloveLA]

The WeHo lesbian bar was The Palms

[ethereal_reality]

That's it! Thanks IloveLA.


1955

Originally Posted by SHERIFFPAUL

Survivors of self-propelled gun over cliff at Santa Monica hospital, 10 July 1955. Sergeant 1/C Sol Sirkin;Dr. Clarence Eckvoll;1st Lieutenant. Carl Beaty;PFC Autry Lee Westmoreland Jr.;Esther Hothersall (nurse);M/Sergeant Maurice G Lacourse;Deputy Sheriff Jim Marshall. (Sleeve reads: A 11512).;Caption slip reads: 'Photographer: Snow. Date: 1955-07-10. Reporter: Sid Bernstein. Assignment: Survivors of self-propelled gun over cliff at Santa Monica Hospital. 29-30: Sgt. 1/C Sol Sirkin on operating table for repairs from Dr. Clarence Eckvoll. At left is 1st Lt. Carl Beaty, battalion motor officer. 31-32: Pfc. Autry Lee Westmoreland Jr, has blood pressure taken by Nurse Esther Hothersall. (cq). 83-84: M/Sgt. Maurice G La Course talks to his officers from the x-ray table.'Santa Monica; Los Angeles; California; USA. (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images)

I'm thoroughly confused by this description SheriffPaul.

What, pray-tell, is a "self-propelled gun over cliff."

Are we talking..something akin to this?


They forgot the part about having a net at the end. LOL






SheriffPaul's description found HERE
gettyimages

Yep, still confused.

__

[ethereal_reality]

A BIG location 'mystery' for tonight.

"Ries Brothers Photos of Land Around Hollywood California 1923"[/SIZE]


EBAY






#1


I'd say the best clue is the shape of the mountains.







The uniquely shaped mountain is in this pic as well.

#2








In this one, an idyllic creek appears.

#3



Let's take a closer look at the hacienda on the left.


DETAIL, PHOTO #3

note the curved steps leading up to the house from the creek. (to the right of the tree)








#4





Here's a closer look at the castle-like structure


DETAIL PHOTO#4

also note the parked cars.




and the residence across the creek.


DETAIL, PHOTO#4

note the large residence in the distance as well.








#5


not much to see here.








And lastly, #6



At first glance, the structure in the foreground appears to be a barn, but I think it's being used for other purposes as well.



For one thing, there are flues.....too many flues.


DETAIL PHOTO #6

And a barn usually doesn't have windows on the second floor. That's where the hayloft is located.


All photos at ebay

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

A BIG location 'mystery' for tonight.

"Ries Brothers Photos of Land Around Hollywood California 1923"


EBAY

#1


I'd say the best clue is the shape of the mountains.

The uniquely shaped mountain is in this pic as well.

#2


In this one, an idyllic creek appears.

#3

That's Mount Lee (aka, home of the Hollywood Sign):



The description of the photos is inaccurate, however - the photos weren't taken “around Hollywood”, but from the Valley. In other words, the Hollywood Sign sits on the other side of the mountain.

To get that exact view of Mt. Lee, one must be in Toluca Lake:



LINK TO SCENE ON GOOGLE MAPS

I therefore suspect that the body of water shown in the photos is actually Toluca Lake itself. In the screenshot below, you can see that that Toluca Lake falls directly in the line-of-sight that one must view to see Mt. Lee from that angle.

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

That's it! Thanks IloveLA.


1955


I'm thoroughly confused by this description SheriffPaul.

What, pray-tell, is a "self-propelled gun over cliff."

Are we talking..something akin to this?


They forgot the part about having a net at the end. LOL






SheriffPaul's description found HERE
gettyimages

Yep, still confused.

__

a self propelled gun is a large gun mounted on a heavy truck or a tank-like vehicle. The category would also include "railroad guns" which were mounted to rail cars.

[Earl Boebert]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

:

[snip]

What, pray-tell, is a "self-propelled gun over cliff."



Yep, still confused.

__

Probably a M41, like this:



Could be the later M44:



If the latter, it would have been brand new

Must have been a hell of a ride down that hill.

Cheers,

Earl

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

#3




#4

Was just trying to figure out these two pictures.

This is Toluca Lake in 1927, four years later than the pictures.


mil.library.ucsb.edu - Flight C_113, Frame 159


Would this equate to where the pictures might have been shot - # 3 looking east and # 4 looking west with the Lakeside Golf Club parking area to the left of the 1923 picture?

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

A BIG location 'mystery' for tonight.

"Ries Brothers Photos of Land Around Hollywood California 1923"[/SIZE]


EBAY






#1


I'd say the best clue is the shape of the mountains.







The uniquely shaped mountain is in this pic as well.

#2

The mountain in the background of your car ad post has the same shape, my guess(though I've not nailed down the exact location) is that ad was shot in the Hollywoodland(ridges above Beachwood canyon) development.