noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

Man, horse and buggy 1347 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles ca. 1908.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOS-ANGELES-...item234a201a57

Maybe he's on his way to 1807 Bonnie Brae to have his horses shoed





below: Can anyone decipher the man's name? F. W. E_ _ _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ _
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..........is shoed a word?

[ethereal_reality]

I just came across this interesting photograph of Joan Blondell and Bette Davis on the beach.


http://picc.it/c/artistic/pictures/a...19/?style=blog

What the heck is that contraption?
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[mrfredmertz]

I think that is a parabolic microphone for outdoor filming (early 30s style.)

[AlvaroLegido]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I didn't know that oldstuff. -very interesting-
It reminds me a bit of this Victorian on S. Vermont at 27th Street. It has somewhat of a 'flare' at the bottom of the roof as well.

GSV

Funny how the traffic light and the 27th Street sign seem to be standing on the rooftop of this massive Victorian.

[ethereal_reality]

I just came across this photograph of Pacific Electric street-car #5005 going to or coming from Echo Park Ave..


http://www.ebay.com/itm/ORIGINAL-LAB...item54188fd6f0

If this the West Hollywood Yards, my old bungalow is behind that white building at the end of the tracks.
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[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Man, horse and buggy 1347 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles ca. 1908.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOS-ANGELES-...item234a201a57

below: Can anyone decipher the man's name? F. W. E_ _ _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ _
_

I didn't have any luck with the name, but the 1907-09 LA City Directories all show 1347 S. Grand as the Ducommun home:

1908 LA City Directory @ Fold3.com

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Is this the building you're referring to oldstuff?


GAV (google_alley_view)





below: To me, it looks like it's on the same lot as 1807 S. Bonnie Brae.

-that's 1807 on the left. (both have the same color scheme too)



If this smaller building with the central flue was built in 1890 like oldstuff said, it could have possibly been the blacksmiths shop.
_____________





ebay
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That is the one I saw. The door on the alley side looks like it has been re-done for people as opposed to horses or buggies.

If it was, in fact, there from 1890, it would have been prior to the subdivision of the property and there would not necessarily have been "town lots" Mr. Wiesendanger was developing farm properties or acreage into house lots.

[Swink'sBack]

I am looking for old pictures, pre-1960's, of the Beckett Residence at 2218 S. Harvard Street. I know the person who purchased this property in December and plans on restoring it. Obviously old photographs would help and just be cool to see.

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

"The beautiful new home of Dr. and Mrs. W. W. Beckett of No. 2218 Harvard boulevard was brilliantly alight with electricity and gay flowers last evening, at the handsomely appointed reception which they gave in celebration of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

"Dr. and Mrs. Beckett were married just twenty-five years ago yesterday at San Luis Obispo and since then, for most of the time, have made their home in this city, where they possess a large number of friends. Last night's affair was given as a supper and few knew it was an anniversary until they arrived.

"The entire home was trimmed with asparagus ferns in clinging tendrils and the handsome couple received their friends beneath an arch of feathery greens, in which silver tinsel was tightly wound, and from the center of which hung a huge bell of green, covered with shining tinsel, and a silvery electric light formed the clapper. White bride roses graced this room. The drawing-room was in bride roses and ferns, and in the large colonial hall, lit with red candles in odd brass candlesticks, poinsettias formed striking ornaments against the white of the walls. The den was also in poinsettias, and the dining-room was adorned with the flaming blossoms. Below stairs when refreshments were served in the gymnasium, scarlet crepe paper canopied the walls and holly and poinsettias were combined about the room. The table was lit with red candles, set in quaint old brass sconces, and down the center were set pots of the poinsettias.

"The hostess herself was charmingly attired in silver gray satin gown of softest sheen, trimmed with applique and velvet roses,and wore silver ornaments.

"Assisting in receiving were Mmes W. W. D. Turner, Walter Lindley, R. M. Widney, W. H. Richards, Z. L. Parmalee, R. H. Lacey and Mrs. Lee A. Phillips of Stockton and Mrs. Charles Crothers of San Jose, Miss Maude Elizabeth Richards, Miss Hawks, Miss Belle McClung,Miss Clara Parmalee and Miss Zella Kohn Arend's orchestra discoursed sweet music through the evening, and nearly five hundred guests congratulated the popular couple."





All color pics CurbedLA/b&w LAT

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

I didn't have any luck with the name, but the 1907-09 LA City Directories all show 1347 S. Grand as the Ducommun home:

1908 LA City Directory @ Fold3.com

A 1907 directory has a Fritz W. Elsenhans listed at the 1347 address and lists his occupation as a coachman. He probably worked for the family and lived on the premises. He was born in 1861 and died in Los Angeles in 1937. A ship manifest indicates that he arrived in California at San Francisco in 1903. He was born in Austria, is listed as arriving here in steerage, and had left New York and had come through Panama on the way here. The ship manifest lists his occupation as being a butler. When he came from Europe, arriving in New York on the ship "Bremen" in 1900, his occupation is listed as "waiter".

Mr. Elsenhans appears in the 1920 Census, working as a gardener for a Laura Redden in Pasadena.

[so-cal-bear]

Holy carp! That picture of the 1890's blue house today makes me want to learn how to play a banjo. Well, nevermind, maybe a tuba that the banda music loves. Sweet Tuff Shed house addition there.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Is this the building you're referring to oldstuff?


GAV (google_alley_view)





below: To me, it looks like it's on the same lot as 1807 S. Bonnie Brae.

-that's 1807 on the left. (both have the same color scheme too)



If this smaller building with the central flue was built in 1890 like oldstuff said, it could have possibly been the blacksmiths shop.
_____________





ebay
__

[so-cal-bear]

Seen this photo a long time ago, but man! I love those dual jet ways to load or exit the airplane.

Originally Posted by HossC

I found an interesting history of Los Angeles Airways on a blog called Tails Through Time. Click the link under the image below to see it full-size.


aviationtrivia.blogspot.com

It looks like the building in the picture above is now Terminal 3 at LAX.


Google Maps

[so-cal-bear]

Seen this photo a long time ago, but man! I love those dual jet ways to load or exit the airplane. LAX was poorly planned though. It was an obsolete airport by the mid 60's. I remember the single lane for departures and arrivals on the single horse shoe road. Not until the early 80's dis LAX join the modern world. I hate going to that place even today.

Originally Posted by HossC

I found an interesting history of Los Angeles Airways on a blog called Tails Through Time. Click the link under the image below to see it full-size.


aviationtrivia.blogspot.com

It looks like the building in the picture above is now Terminal 3 at LAX.


Google Maps

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

I didn't have any luck with the name, but the 1907-09 LA City Directories all show 1347 S. Grand as the Ducommun home

Thx Flyingwedge! Great find.

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics24/00031893.jpg
Ducommun's Main Street shop (left half of building) circa 1870-83

By their own account Ducommun is California's oldest company:
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...rated-history/

Ducommun Street is named for the family.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by oldstuff

A 1907 directory has a Fritz W. Elsenhans listed at the 1347 address and lists his occupation as a coachman.

Ahhhh, so his name was Elsenhans! I tried to figure that scribble out for quite some time.



Thanks oldstuff.
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[Ed Workman]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

[SIZE="3"]The service life of a wood utility pole in Los Angeles is quite long. Forty to eighty years is common.

Many factors feed into the pole life: Street widening, change of service, car impacts, the need and the winner is of course decay.

In areas where oak trees grow- like CA foothills add woodpeckers, who make holes in everything , stuff in the acorns and come back when the worm inside has fattened. Thanks for the pic of Van Nuys Blvd-love those poles in the middle of the street

[ethereal_reality]

ebay

So where is 955 Mansfield Avenue?

I was elated, it appears 955 was in the rear of this building on the southeast corner of Mansfield & Romaine. (there are doors along the Mansfield side)


GSV

....but then, after I posted the above photo, I realized I was on the wrong side of the street.

Here's 955 today...nothing more than a parking lot.


GSV
_____

So what's in that mysterious foliage covered building?

[Tetsu]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

Apparently the LADWP cannot keep up with their pole replacement schedule. They're 87,000 behind: http://www.dailynews.com/business/20...their-lifespan One fell over across the street from me and hung there at a crazy angle, held by nothing more than the wires, until a crew showed up.

Ogier Street is there on your map Tetsu, but it's hard to see. It ran between Date & Alvia. Bauchet's elbow is pointing at it. I cheated & looked it up: http://stevemorse.org/census/changes...esChanges2.htm

So it is! Hiding in plain sight (or rather, I just missed it, lol).

[Tetsu]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I didn't know that oldstuff. -very interesting-





I noticed this house too Tetsu...glad u posted the GSV.



It reminds me a bit of this Victorian on S. Vermont at 27th Street. It has somewhat of a 'flare' at the bottom of the roof as well.


GSV


It's bookended by two fixer uppers.


GSV




Fixer-upper #1 (to the north)


GSV



Fixer-upper #2 (to the south)


GSV

I'd like to personally tear off that enclosed 'porch'.

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Oh wow, that's an amazing one! Looks to be a rather late Victorian as well. Those two fixer uppers look like they have great potential too, especially the one to the left.

[ethereal_reality]

C.T. Moore Fire Extinguisher Co.


ebay



The fire extinguisher co. building is gone, but it's next door neighbor is still there.

You can tell by the two horizontal lines that appear in both the vintage postcard and the GSV photo.


GSV
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[ethereal_reality]

I just came across a rather remarkable 1965 video.


There's Henry Fonda smoking while getting a haircut by Jay Sebring (who was murdered by the Manson family in 1969),
a look inside the offices of the William Morris Agency, a rally for the Hollywood Museum that was never built,
a quick glimpse of Schwab's at night.....etc....etc.

All this narrated by Joseph Cotton.

CLICK HERE to see the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rhpoEzu59c



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