noirish Los Angeles

[Lwize]

Woo Hoo! 700 (long) pages!

[GaylordWilshire]

Lwize: I'm showing 875 pages-- I guess it depends on how many posts per page are set to be shown.

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

NW corner of Hobart and James M. Wood Blvd (née 9th Street). Built 1936, designed by Milton J. Black; undated photo:


USC Digital Library -- http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/si...d/2612/rec/203

Here's a Milton J. Black house I don't remember seeing here before--

LAPL

The LAPL's caption: "Residence of Miss Dolores del Rio. Home is built on a corner lot located on Outpost Drive, in Hollywood. Built in 1928. Designer: Milton Black. Architect: J. Ross Castendyck." (Not sure what's going on with the "designer" vs "architect" info.)


More shots, similarly watermarked, here: http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/...tes/?pg=9&r=24


Still there:
GSV



More Milton J Black from the vaults:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=2934

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=1941

[ethereal_reality]

slide/no date
ebay

Can anyone tell me where this slide was taken?

color adjusted
ebay

I'm guessing that is early highway construction in the foreground. The 101 or the Harbor?
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[GaylordWilshire]

A few clues

LAPL


http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=11460

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=11471

[Chuckaluck]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

That clockface is now at the LA Natural History Museum. I took this photo of it last month in the California Room (half of which was blocked off, and the other half poorly lit with many missing exhibits). I believe that the hands are made out of wood, not bronze:

I reckon that this was "one" of "four" clock faces. Not sure how many clocks currently adorn Central LA Superior Court at 111 N Hill.

Now my curiosity is piqued regarding what was housed in the structure above the clocks as well as other areas in the same tower without windows. Must have gotten warm without air conditioning. What happened to the (presumed) eagle perched atop the flag pole? Any special composition to the pointed roof structures, e.g., gilding or copper cladding?



http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5270/5...8ae20cfb_o.jpg

[GaylordWilshire]

Details from http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/co...show/941/rec/2

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

That clockface is now at the LA Natural History Museum.

Which is ONE HUNDRED years old today!

LAT
scvhistory

[Lwize]

Any vintage pictures of 446-448 S Broadway, based on the 1913 LA Times above?

Currently, there is a more modern building covering that address - The 440 Broadway Mall.

[rick m]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

slide/no date
ebay

Can anyone tell me where this slide was taken?

color adjusted
ebay

I'm guessing that is early highway construction in the foreground. The 101 or the Harbor?
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Most unprecedented view- Harbor Freeway construction shown bordering structures on Fremont - Stanley Apts was @ 2nd and Flower - the tiled roof above the tanker truck are bits of the St. Regis on Flower. Lineup of backsides of Bunker Hill Ave homes on high ridge where City hall peeks over.Large whte structure on left edge of this ridge is the Warncliff Apt- once the Berke mansion. Image almost extends to 3rd St on the right edge..

[Linda Hammonds]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

-excellent exploration of the abandoned Elysian Park canal procab! I'm envious.
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Two 'mystery' photographs.

I found these intriguing photographs on ebay quite some time ago. The only information given was 'Alhambra CA' -no date-no explanation-

photo #1


The gentlemen's clothing date the photos to the late 1940s or 1950s.




photo #2


Yet the building(s) seems much more contemporary.

My first thought was religious sect, perhaps something akin to an early version of the Heaven's Gate cult http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven'...eligious_group)

A bit far-fetched I know...but I'm known for my vivid imagination.
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Oh..and before I forget, great research on the 'gland' doctor C.E. Wheeler GaylordWilshire and BifRayRock. Riveting stuff.


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I found an explanation for the pyramid cube in an article by Daniel R Small, called "The Pyramid Cube University of Personal and Solar Magnetism, 1897 | Bob Wondries Ford, 2010". "In 1897, astronomer Frank E. Ormsby, author of the monthly journal “Planets and People,” came up with his architectural vision to house his lifelong project the Pyramid Cube University of Solar and Personal Magnetism. He found his financial backing in an oil man Henry C. Wilhelm who credited Ormsby’s spiritual work in making his fortune. Wilhelm ended up providing land at what is now the northeast corner of South Atlantic Blvd and West Mission Street in Alhambra, California as the site of his university." As of 2010, Bob Wondries Ford was at this Alhambra location. Here is the link to the article, along with photographs of what Ormsby wanted built and what he got once construction was completed.

http://danielrsmall.com/xrays.html

[Retired_in_Texas]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

You can probably relate to this undated photo from LAPL. Location is unknown, but because of the source, it was likely taken in So Cal. (Of course, it portrays a scene that could have been virtually anywhere in North America.)

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics34/00066515.jpg

Yes that photo could have easily come from any number of places. There happens to be three old parts stores in my area that somewhat resemble that photo yet today. However, reality is the Hot Rod was born in SoCal and thanks to a few publications, some of which remain in print today, the Hot Rod culture streaked across America like rocket and is still alive and almost well, at least for the time being. Like the architectural trends of the era at the beginnings of Hot Rodding the allure has somewhat waned like the design styles of Art Deco, Streamline Modern, and Googie. It seems all four are somewhat joined at the hip along with such as two lane highways like Route 66 and small non chain motels. All have to some degree fallen victim to the Freeways and Interstate Highways just like Burger Joints with car hops. I frankly get a bit of a kick at watching old Geezers like me attempting to recapture their youth by buying a Hot Rod or a '50s - '70s muscle car. Though I personally own quite a number of cars of that era I still have to laugh at those who missed the scene and think they are now as "hip" as they wanted to be fifty or more years ago.

[Joe Gillis]

For fans of Noirish LA 'Mob City' airs on December 4th

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mob_City

Based on the book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City by John Buntin

Trailer here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv3mLRo8Xaw

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by Lwize

Any vintage pictures of 446-448 S Broadway, based on the 1913 LA Times above?

Currently, there is a more modern building covering that address - The 440 Broadway Mall.

Both USCDL


DLANC

Looks like a prison--presumably the façade covers the old cut-down buildings--why else the inclusion on the "National Register"? (Why at all if so much is lost?)

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by rick m

Most unprecedented view- Harbor Freeway construction shown bordering structures on Fremont - Stanley Apts was @ 2nd and Flower - the tiled roof above the tanker truck are bits of the St. Regis on Flower. Lineup of backsides of Bunker Hill Ave homes on high ridge where City hall peeks over.Large whte structure on left edge of this ridge is the Warncliff Apt- once the Berke mansion. Image almost extends to 3rd St on the right edge..

Excellent help rick_m! -much appreciated. I wish we could read what's written on the back of the construction shanty.
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[ethereal_reality]

I found this on an old cd of mine. I have no information other than the date, 1952.


It shows a 'ghost' sign discovered during the demolition of a building.
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[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/co...show/941/rec/2

-looking into the corner 'tower' of the old Fremont. -pretty cool.
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[ethereal_reality]

-early tourist snapshots of the Charlie Chaplin Studios.


ebay

enlargement






ebay


enlargement

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[ethereal_reality]

The backlot.

Charlie Chaplin Studios

ebay

[Tourmaline]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

The backlot.

Charlie Chaplin Studios

ebay

A reminder that Chaplin's backlot was much more than than its current footprint. The grounds included the large home occupied by brother Sydney and, not surprisingly, included tennis courts and stables. At some point exterior sets were converted into sound stages.

The entire lot was completed in 1919. Chaplin eventually built himself a home on the northern part of the lot, bordering Sunset Boulevard, but he never lived in it. Instead, he first resided at 6147 Temple Hill Dr. in Hollywood, then at 2010 DeMille Dr. before moving to Beverly Hills. Both houses are still standing.

Chaplin, a fit man who enjoyed athletics, was a longstanding member of the , a few blocks east on Sunset, where he often swam. But going there became unnecessary when he outfitted his new studio with a large swimming pool (on the north end, near the house), riding stables with horses and tennis courts. An avid tennis player, Chaplin challenged every celebrity in Hollywood to play him.

The former orchard that was in the center of the property became a thriving backlot where immense outdoor sets were constructed. Two large open-air soundstages were built on the southern end, surrounded by dressing rooms, a film vault, carpenter’s shed and garage. Both were converted to closed soundstages in the mid-'30s.

In 1927, a fire broke out on the soundstage while Chaplin was filming The Circus. Although no one was injured, the immense circus tent set was destroyed, and water damage from extinguishing the fire ruined nearly all of the costumes and props.

In 1928, La Brea Avenue was widened, and all the studio buildings on it had to be moved back from the street 15 feet.

Chaplin sold the northern section of his kingdom in 1942 to Safeway Stores, which demolished the house and swimming pool to build a shopping center. This section of Hollywood, residential when Chaplin arrived, had become extremely commercial along Sunset and La Brea, as it has remained ever since.

Until 1943, only Chaplin made movies at the studio—it was not a rental lot. But that restriction eased slightly that October when Columbia Studios rented the lot for production of its film Curly. http://echopark.patch.com/groups/bus...ywood-e7630558

http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m198220270026.jpg


http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2...-_zoller_2.jpg

http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2...rk-print-1.jpg


Blog states minimall parking now covers the space where Douglas Fairbanks once swam. (below). Probably of little consequence, but it's not clear whether this was part of the backlot or the Sydney Chaplin residence. Not sure it is evident in '26 aerial (below). http://kittypackard.com/charlie-chap...-then-and-now/
http://kittypackard.files.wordpress....immingpool.jpg



Sydney Chaplin's homestead on Sunset Blvd. was a stones throw from the studios.

http://www.image-archeology.com/The_...California.jpg

http://www.image-archeology.com/Resi...fornia_864.jpg

http://www.image-archeology.com/Home...fornia_340.jpg


1926 - backlot "Circus"
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=10415

[ethereal_reality]

Great followup Tourmaline. Thanks.
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