noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

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This is entirely intriguing.

"Vtg 1920s Photo of 7 Women on Motorcycle City Terrace Los Angeles, CA 12x18"


Currently on eBay




Here's a closer look at the sign on the hill.



I'm pretty sure it says "lots" . . .could be a publicity stunt to sell lots at City Terrace.


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[JFrias777]

[JFrias777]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

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This photograph (and original negative) is listed on eBay by the seller that posted the recently seen Billy Daniels / Mocambo photograph/negative.



"Sunset Blvd 7800 Block Mobilgas Quick Serve Los Angeles CA Original Film Negative 1952"


eBay



The negative shows a bit more than the photograph that was provided by the seller.


I wish they hadn't cut off the house and car on the right.
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[Engineeral]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

This is entirely intriguing.

"Vtg 1920s Photo of 7 Women on Motorcycle City Terrace Los Angeles, CA 12x18"

Here's a closer look at the sign on the hill.



I'm pretty sure it says "lots" . . .could be a publicity stunt to sell lots at City Terrace.


.

I think it says "LOOK CITY TERRACE LOTS $450"

[LAboomer52]

THIS 1910 NEW YEAR’S PARTY DIDN’T TURN OUT WELL. 13 PEOPLE ENDED UP DYING FROM FOOD POISONING, ALONG WITH AN UNATTENDED BABY WHO DIED FROM EXPOSURE DURING THE CHAOS OF THE TRAGEDY. THE DEAD WERE BURIED IN A MASS UNMARKED GRAVE IN THE MARQUEZ FAMILY CEMETERY.


https://socalstairclimbers.com/histo...rustic-canyon/


https://socalstairclimbers.com/histo...rustic-canyon/

A UCLA RESEARCH PROJECT USING GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF THE MASS GRAVE OF THE VICTIMS AND MARKERS WERE PLACED BY DESCENDANTS IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO DIED. THE GRAVEYARD IS THE OLDEST PRIVATE GRAVEYARD IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, AND IS STILL PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT WAS RECOGNIZED IN 2009 AS AN HISTORIC CULTURAL MONUMENT.

According to http://www.lasenora.org/about_the_pa...cemetery0.aspx
The cemetery’s history begins with Rancho Boca de Santa Monica in 1839 when Francisco Marquez and his wife moved from the Pueblo de Los Angeles to the Rancho where he built the first permanent structure in Santa Monica in the upper mesa of Santa Monica Canyon. The Marquez family had 11 children, only 5 of whom survived to adulthood. Consider why they opted for an onsite graveyard back then:
Rancho Boca de Santa Monica was a day’s trip in a carreta pulled by oxen, from the nearest Catholic cemeteries at the Mission San Gabriel and the Plaza Church in Los Angeles. The distance made this family’s many funerals and burials a difficult burden; Marquez set aside a portion of land within view of his adobe house as a cemetery.

It was some years later when the victims of the 1910 tragedy would be buried here, alongside the remains of Indian servants and friends that lived on the rancho, including Sam Carson, who said the famous scout Kit Carson was his uncle. Both Sam and his dog were found dead one day, and were buried together in one grave.

Today, the cemetery finds itself situated behind adobe walls in Santa Monica Canyon surrounded by multi-million dollar homes.

https://goo.gl/maps/WUHYXjQVcudLU6jf6

[LAboomer52]

City Terrace was developed in the 1920s by Oakland native Walter H. Leimert. In 1923 Leimert placed an advertorial piece titled “Los Angeles Pendulum Swings East” in the Los Angeles Times which the Leimert Company claimed that the only reason Los Angeles hadn’t already expanded east was because of inadequate bridges over the Los Angeles River. In 1925, invitations to see City Terrace were sent out which promised only “moderate building restrictions” but “strict race restrictions” — then, quite embarrassingly, entirely par for the course. He later also developed "Leimert Park"
more at:https://ericbrightwell.com/2013/12/2...s%20in%201877.

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

This is entirely intriguing.

"Vtg 1920s Photo of 7 Women on Motorcycle City Terrace Los Angeles, CA 12x18"


Currently on eBay




Here's a closer look at the sign on the hill.



I'm pretty sure it says "lots" . . .could be a publicity stunt to sell lots at City Terrace.


.

"Auto racing at Ascot Speedway, City Terrace, Los Angeles"



hdl.huntington.org



Detail from upper-middle.





The Ascot Speedway operated close to the intersection of Soto St. and Valley Blvd. from 1924 to 1936.

[ethereal_reality]

.
Good eye, Noir Noir.


Here's an aerial view from 1934. (note the large grandstand at lower right)


water-and-power

"Aerial view of the Legion Ascot Speedway located along Soto Street from Valley Blvd. to Multnomah St. The speedway operated between 1924 and 1936 in the Lincoln Heights area."





The Ascot was used as the location in this 28 minute short.

• Video Link

"Burn 'Em Up Barnes is a 1934 American Pre-Code movie serial produced and distributed by Mascot Pictures, along with a feature version of the serial bearing the same title.
It was a loose remake of the 1921 silent film of the same name."

I believe the Ascot first shows up at 3:43


Oh, and thanks for the information LAboomer52. We appreciate it.
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[LAboomer52]

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...y27-story.html

"Legion Ascot Speedway in the hills east of Lincoln Heights became known as the “Killer Track” when Al Gordon and his riding mechanic, Spider Matlock, died in a crash before 35,000 spectators. More than 20 people had been killed since Legion Ascot opened in 1924. Seven years after Gordon and Matlock died, the track’s former janitor, Linden Emerson, turned himself in for burning down the grandstand in April 1936. He said that even though the track was closed by then, “I thought they might reopen it and kill some more of my friends.”

Happily, the scenic hills directly behind the track largely escaped Leimert's 1920's housing track plans.
Ascot Hills Park provides an urban sanctuary now for people, dogs, wildlife and amazing views of DTLA.
See many great pics posted on google map: https://goo.gl/maps/w6NnkK93A2gTMq8F9

[JeffDiego]

Originally Posted by LAboomer52

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...y27-story.html

"Legion Ascot Speedway in the hills east of Lincoln Heights became known as the “Killer Track” when Al Gordon and his riding mechanic, Spider Matlock, died in a crash before 35,000 spectators. More than 20 people had been killed since Legion Ascot opened in 1924. Seven years after Gordon and Matlock died, the track’s former janitor, Linden Emerson, turned himself in for burning down the grandstand in April 1936. He said that even though the track was closed by then, “I thought they might reopen it and kill some more of my friends.”

Happily, the scenic hills directly behind the track largely escaped Leimert's 1920's housing track plans.
Ascot Hills Park provides an urban sanctuary now for people, dogs, wildlife and amazing views of DTLA.
See many great pics posted on google map: https://goo.gl/maps/w6NnkK93A2gTMq8F9

Yes, LAboomer52, thanks for these various fascinating articles and links.

[Lwize]

Originally Posted by LAboomer52

See many great pics posted on google map: https://goo.gl/maps/w6NnkK93A2gTMq8F9

Can anyone superimpose the track on the Google Maps image of Ascot APrk?
I can't quite visualize where the track was.

[LAboomer52]

If you go into 3D mode on google map you can see how the hills match the historical pics

https://goo.gl/maps/K7ChddeehSph2wTy7

[ethereal_reality]

Here's a view of the Ascot from the east in relation to a couple of landmarks. The photo was taken in 1932, two years before the track closed due to the high number racing fatalities.


water-and-power

Unless I'm seeing things there's something fairly large in the center of the track.



detail



There's nothing in the center in the 1934 photograph, here.

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[ethereal_reality]

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Here are a couple of mystery photographs.

The seller says the building is somewhere in Los Angeles. . . possibly Pasadena.


eBay..no longer listed



And here it is with signage.


eBay..no longer listed

. .and a really HUGE refrigeration unit.


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[HossC]

Originally Posted by Lwize

Can anyone superimpose the track on the Google Maps image of Ascot Park?
I can't quite visualize where the track was.

Here's the Legion Ascot Speedway in a 1928 Aerial. I can't see any large structures in the center. Below is a current aerial view with the track location superimposed.



mil.library.ucsb.edu/Google Maps

[ethereal_reality]

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It's interesting to see how much larger the race track is (was) compared to the high school track.... It's much larger than I had imagined.



You did a good job, Hoss.
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[LAboomer52]

https://www.hotrodhotline.com/conten...o#.ZFqhc-zMIqt

This picture posted on hotrodhotline.com is taken from a book which is still available on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Legion-Ascot-.../dp/B0007BHKA0

It appears the observation tower in the center had multi levels, perhaps for press and officials of the speedway.


Earlier photos show a road running through the middle and no real parking area which later pics reveal were eventually added.

Closeups from an early 1924 high rez pic on Huntington reveal a lot of off roading by spectators in the adjacent hilly areas. I didn't know those 20's cars could negotiate such terrain! Also cars and spectators in the middle of the track, thus explaining earlier pics which show a road running through the middle.



https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/i.../0/default.jpg

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.


The seller says the building is somewhere in Los Angeles. . . possibly Pasadena.



eBay..no longer listed

. .and a really HUGE refrigeration unit.


.

3255 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena.



Google Maps

[ethereal_reality]

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How did you figure it out so quickly, Noir Noir? ..Do tell.


I was kind of hoping the old wood frame building was still there...

Oh wait! Maybe it is there. Is it the 2 story building with the five upstair windows?.I faintly see horizontal lines on the side that match the old wooden bldg.

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
How did you figure it out so quickly, Noir Noir? ..Do tell.

I called in some favors e_r. I got onto my contact in the cottage cheese world. After some fast digging and arm twisting, he came through with the skinny.



Google Books - Commercial Fertilizers Agricultural Minerals, Issue 139 (1935)

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I was kind of hoping the old wood frame building was still there...

Oh wait! Maybe it is there. Is it the 2 story building with the five upstair windows?.I faintly see horizontal lines on the side that match the old wooden bldg.

loopnet.com has a build date of 1974 for that property.