noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

I remembered that photo because the blond woman looking down in the center looks like the employee who's in charge of the bank deposit boxes in a film I like from 1956, The Man in the Vault.
She's even wearing the same outfit, or nearly the same. I don't know the actress's name, it's not in the credits nor on IMDB.

GW, I believe Martin Pal was talking about the blonde woman in this photograph.


a. hernandez

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[ethereal_reality]

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Originally Posted by sopas ej

When I saw the above picture I instantly knew the location. It looks like the orchard was where the sprawling UCLA Medical Center
buildings are located now, at the northwest corner of Westwood and LeConte.

Originally Posted by Noir_Noir

https://picturingucla.library.ucla.e...ture%20Orchard

Thanks for figuring out the location, and for the cool aerial, sopas ej and Noir Noir.



Here's another view of UCLA's Subtropical Horticulture Orchard.

The prominent structure with the tall spire is the Fox Theater. (built 1929-1930 / opened in 1931)

#3

picturingucla...Thanks for finding the link again, Noir Noir.




In this aerial from 1936 you can see both the Fox Theater and the Subtropical Horticulture Orchard. (outlined in RED)


waterandpower

note the shadow of the blimp that was carrying the photographer. - - - ->


sidenote:...The Fox Theater opened as the 'Fox Westwood Village'.
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[Otis Criblecoblis]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

77 Sunset Strip gets my vote. Perhaps the original 1950s Dragnet.

CaliNative, I would say that 77 Sunset Strip is the best show, period, but that's just me. It was as a rule not Noirish, but there are a few exceptions, notably S1E2 "Lovely Lady Pity Me" and especially S1E8 "The Well-Selected Frame."

And while it was the first hour-long detective show, the original Dragnet preceded it, both on radio and TV. Coincidentally, Jack Webb was the executive producer for the sixth season of 77SS.

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by transitfan

Used to bowl there when I lived nearby (4th & Hobart, August 1977-August 1979). Also ate many times at the McDonald's (that was the closest one to where I lived until they opened one at Wilshire & Normandie shortly before I moved). Nice to see that they have remodeled it. Passed by that location many times on the old RTD 28 line going to and from school/work at USC (would change at Wilshire for the 95 to get to the campus)

I used to bowl there, too. Played pool there as well. This was in the early '90s.

My other bowling spot was Hollywood Star Lanes, since torn down:

link

My other late night pool place was Hollywood Billiards, also long gone. It was in the basement of this familiar building on the corner of Western and Hollywood.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1016...4!8i8192?hl=en

[CaliNative]

delete

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Otis Criblecoblis

CaliNative, I would say that 77 Sunset Strip is the best show, period, but that's just me. It was as a rule not Noirish, but there are a few exceptions, notably S1E2 "Lovely Lady Pity Me" and especially S1E8 "The Well-Selected Frame."

And while it was the first hour-long detective show, the original Dragnet preceded it, both on radio and TV. Coincidentally, Jack Webb was the executive producer for the sixth season of 77SS.

Jack Webb is something of a mystery. Was he really the serious by the book cop played in the Dragnet series & sequel? Some of the shows (especially in the 1960s remakes) come across as campy. Watch Webb in "Sunset Blvd" and he is nothing like Joe Friday. He is a fun loving party guy p.o.'d that his friend is stealing his girl. It is all acting. Yeah, 77 Sunset Strip is the better show. The Dragnet comedy movie with Ackroyd as Friday & a young Tom Hanks as a rookie cop is funny. Tip: a seldom seen Steve McQueen film "The Sand Pebbles" is well worth watching. 1920s U.S. gunboat on the Yangtze. The Natonalist revolution. Avoid land wars in Asia.

[Martin Pal]

GW, thank you for that screenshot from The Man in the Vault!

But, yes...

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

GW, I believe Martin Pal was talking about the blonde woman in this photograph.
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[Lwize]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

In this aerial from 1936 you can see both the Fox Theater and the Subtropical Horticulture Orchard. (outlined in RED)


waterandpower

As I've had decades of experience shopping & just hanging out there, I find old images of Westwood Village endlessly fascinating.

(I live about two miles south)

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

My other late night pool place was Hollywood Billiards, also long gone. It was in the basement of this familiar building on the corner of Western and Hollywood.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1016...4!8i8192?hl=en

So that's where my Congressman's office is...
_______

Scott, did you know that Lucky Strike bowling in the Hollywood & Highland center (which also has a neon sign near the front entrance that says "The Hollywood Bowl")... the bar is repurposed from Lane #7 of Hollywood Star Lanes, where The Big Lebowski was filmed?
_______

Speaking of bowling AND The Man in the Vault...several scenes are filmed inside and outside of this location, now a CVS at SMB and La Cienega:

[BDiH]

Originally Posted by Scott Charles

I used to bowl there, too. Played pool there as well. This was in the early '90s.

My other bowling spot was Hollywood Star Lanes, since torn down:

link

My other late night pool place was Hollywood Billiards, also long gone. It was in the basement of this familiar building on the corner of Western and Hollywood.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1016...4!8i8192?hl=en

I miss that downstairs joint. Cold beer, peanuts and pool.

[BDiH]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Jack Webb is something of a mystery. Was he really the serious by the book cop played in the Dragnet series & sequel? Some of the shows (especially in the 1960s remakes) come across as campy. Watch Webb in "Sunset Blvd" and he is nothing like Joe Friday. He is a fun loving party guy p.o.'d that his friend is stealing his girl. It is all acting. Yeah, 77 Sunset Strip is the better show. The Dragnet comedy movie with Ackroyd as Friday & a young Tom Hanks as a rookie cop is funny. Tip: a seldom seen Steve McQueen film "The Sand Pebbles" is well worth watching. 1920s U.S. gunboat on the Yangtze. The Natonalist revolution. Avoid land wars in Asia.

I can never pass over Sand Pebbles when it's on TV. Richard ("Walter Denton") Crenna is great. Before Dragnet, the big cop show was Racket Squad, with Reed Hadley.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by BDiH

I can never pass over Sand Pebbles when it's on TV. Richard ("Walter Denton") Crenna is great. Before Dragnet, the big cop show was Racket Squad, with Reed Hadley.

bing

Yeah, the good old days of good guys vs. bad guys. Now these rackets are totally protected....no one goes to jail anymore....
LA has reverted back to its nostalgic days of nonstop crime. One might call it Noir Part II.

[ethereal_reality]

.
re: The mystery lady walking out of the Hollywood Palladium.

Originally Posted by AlvaroLegido

Funny, she looks like Jo Stafford who sang the same years with brother Tommy!

It could very well be her, AlvaroLegido. The smile is similar.


pinterest








THIS IS INTERESTING.

Hollywood Palladium opening night. (October 31, 1940)

"Inside, an overflow crowd estimated at more than 10,000 jammed the dance floor as actress Dorothy Lamour walked on stage to greet bandleader Tommy Dorsey.

The Ribbon Is Cut.

After a few words, she cut a ribbon of orchids, officially opening the spacious dance hall.



And soon Dorsey began sliding his trombone effortlessly through the opening strains of his still-popular theme song, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You.”

Adding their vocal talents to Dorsey’s music were the Pied Pipers, headed by Jo Stafford, and a skinny young New Jersey singer, Frank Sinatra."

latimes

.

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by BDiH

I can never pass over Sand Pebbles when it's on TV. Richard ("Walter Denton") Crenna is great. Before Dragnet, the big cop show was Racket Squad, with Reed Hadley.

Crenna was great as the skipper. A very young Candice Bergen as a missionary whom Holman (McQueen) loves but never really gets to tell her except for an embrace at the end. He saves her at the China Lights Mission under attack by the Nationalists but dies doing so, as does the captain. Mako as the bright and eager to learn assistant Chinese mechanic Holman teaches. Boxing match between the Mako character and a bully on the ship is memorable. Holman's friend seaman "Frenchy" (Richard Attenborough). The whole story is great and tragic. The novel is a good read for fans of the film. China is so full of potential but so full of problems, as we have found out. I guess you could also say the U.S. is so full of potential but also so full of problems. The last couple of months have been traumatic for many. We are living noir. Watching good films like the Sand Pebbles and good series like "Better Call Saul" helps pass the time until things open up again. Several good novels, films and plays should emerge from this period. We are living dark history. "May you live in interesting times"--old Chinese curse.

[ethereal_reality]

.
Mystery location.

Seller's description:..... "Photo 3 Pretty Girls Step Inn Topanga Beach CA 1937 Dodge 1932 Buick Cars"


eBay


Apparently, the three ladies have stopped at a greasy spoon called the STEP INN.



hmm, I'm familiar with Topanga Canyon but not a 'Topanga Beach'.

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[odinthor]

If we're talking bowling alleys, just over the county line from Los Angeles County, my home territory Rossmoor had its modest bowling alley from the late 1950s until about 2006:


pinterest

It and its neighbor restaurant the Rossmoor Inn are now a Marshall's and a Sprout's. If the original structures were retained, they're hidden under an exterior shell.

And literally a stone's throw from the bowling alley was a Parasol Restaurant:


pinterest

The building is a survivor and is now a Panera restaurant. There was another of similar appearance in Torrance.

Here's the Parasol's light and cheerful interior, as it was originally:


https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4G70_The_Old_Parasol_Coffee_Shop_Seal_Beach_CA

[KevinW]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
Mystery location.

Seller's description:..... "Photo 3 Pretty Girls Step Inn Topanga Beach CA 1937 Dodge 1932 Buick Cars"


eBay






hmm, I'm familiar with Topanga Canyon but not a 'Topanga Beach'.

.

Apparently, the three ladies have stopped at a greasy spoon called the STEP INN.
The Step Inn is now either the Malibu Feed Bin or Oasis Imports at PCH and Topanga Cyn Blvd. Not sure they're the same buildings but the topography is a dead match.

[Bristolian]

Palos Verdes Bowl on Crenshaw in Torrance closed at the end of January and is slated for demolition or is already gone. It opened in 1958. Appropriately, the front facade was covered in PV stone.




Article here: https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/...-bowl-closing/

[Noir_Noir]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.
Mystery location.

Seller's description:..... "Photo 3 Pretty Girls Step Inn Topanga Beach CA 1937 Dodge 1932 Buick Cars"


eBay


Apparently, the three ladies have stopped at a greasy spoon called the STEP INN.

Originally Posted by KevinW

The Step Inn is now either the Malibu Feed Bin or Oasis Imports at PCH and Topanga Cyn Blvd. Not sure they're the same buildings but the topography is a dead match.

Some of the history of the Step Inn -



messengermountainnews.com


In the film Kirk Douglas and Arthur Kennedy have just been dropped off at the Step Inn.






youtube.com - Clip from Champion (1949)


1940 aerial with what I think is the Step Inn arrowed -



mil.library.ucsb.edu

[Scott Charles]

Originally Posted by BDiH

I miss that downstairs joint. Cold beer, peanuts and pool.

Hollywood Billiards really was a cool, moody place. When I look back at all the places I used to hang out, I sometimes feel like I took them for granted. There certainly isn't any place like the Hollywood Billiards anymore.