noirish Los Angeles

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

Joseph Fadler, 1955

These photos, many of which may be found on the thread, all appear to be from the Southern California Edison Archive at the Huntington DL. There's an article on why these photos were taken here:

"Edison’s photographers recorded power generation and distribution, from monumental dams, tall transmission lines and squat power plants, distribution yards and substations. But for those curious enough to look beyond the prosaic telephone poles and switching stations, the Edison archive offers a host of fascinating detail about emerging post-war society in the Los Angeles Basin.

While Edison’s photographers were charged with documenting the electrification of a modern metropolis, they also illustrated electricity’s myriad uses — bold neon advertisements and signage; illuminated storefronts and car showrooms...; whimsical coffee shops and gleaming fast food restaurants; vast supermarkets that served as temples to mass consumption; the domestic comfort and convenience of the modern electric home; and extended leisure activities offered by commercial recreation in bowling alleys, roller skating rinks, night-lit swimming pools and tennis courts."

An online exhibition, introduced by the article above, using some of the Edison photographs for their social history value is here.

$00.20 Burger in 1955

Has the same buying power as:

$1.75 in 2015.

Burger King Value Meal in 2015 ~ Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe $1.69

Interesting take on inflation or the actual lack of it.

[HossC]

I'm still working my way through the USC photoset "Properties about town owned by Hugh Evans Co." from which Tourmaline posted some images recently.


USC Digital Library

There's very little information about the locations of most of the subjects, but this one comes with a big clue next to the door. I found the Shenandoah Arms at 1482 Shenandoah Avenue.


Detail of picture above.

I've gone back to February 2014 to get a GSV shot without leaves on the trees, I think that the building has survived relatively unmolested (I know it's lost its urns from the roof), and even still seems to have the same nameplate by the door. The house next door has been replaced by more modern apartments.


GSV

[tovangar2]

Three extant neon signs not on the Lumens list:

The Frolic Room, in the Pantages Building, 6245 Hollywood Blvd:


I've posted this one before, but only a daytime shot.
Half Moon Motel, 3958 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City:

(it used to drive my kids crazy that the sign says "Half Moon" but shows a crescent moon)

I wish this one was 50 feet tall.
Brent Air Swimming Pool Services,
4721 W Slauson Avenue, Windsor Hills:


But, alas, she's only Tinkerbell-size:

gsv

(all other pix LA Weekly)

[ethereal_reality]

"tinker-bell size" lol.

Originally Posted by pwrof3

I've been spending a lot of time in historic downtown San Pedro lately for work.
If anyone is interested in any buildings in San Pedro, I am willing to take photos!

Thanks for the offer pwrof3! I really enjoyed the photographs you posted.
__

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by HossC

Here's the same view today. I cropped it to include a little more of the brick apartment building mentioned by C. King.


GSV

The building on the right with the large "R" sign on it is the Glendale "Recess" eatery we discussed a few days ago.

Also in the original photo, the streetcar is going along Brand. At the very top of the street, where Brand runs into Kenneth Road, is a planter, now filled with Agapanthas and Crepe Myrtle trees which used to be the anchors for the catenaries for the street cars. Also, just below that, at the juncture of Brand and Mountain is an underground chamber, which, I understood from my mother, was the power supply for that end of the streetcar line, or a restroom for the motormen. It is on a little island with a white wrought iron fence around it. There used to be a stairway down but now it is boarded up.

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by Beaudry

Colleagues, confederates, and comrades—

This Sunday, from 2-4pm, there's a free event I believe may pique some interest among the fold. Am delivering a lecture on the built environment of Victorian LA, with an eye toward, but not limited to, Romanesque revival.

You have to sign up for it; for all the info click here.

Should I have no idea what I'm talking about, a) there will be lots of pretty pictures, and b) it's in a bar so the cocktails and comestibles will be plentiful, so how bad could it be?

To give you an idea of the forthcoming what-have-you, assorted screengrabs from the Powerpoint:

Beaudry, I didn't see it mentioned so I'll ask: Where are the 1888 red sandstone courthouse remnants on display? Thanks. MR

[ethereal_reality]

http://pasadenadigitalhistory.com/

"Police and fire personnel responding to automobile collision. We believe this is Colorado Boulevard." written on back of photo. -No Date


__

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by oldstuff

The building on the right with the large "R" sign on it is the Glendale "Recess" eatery we discussed a few days ago.

Also in the original photo, the streetcar is going along Brand. At the very top of the street, where Brand runs into Kenneth Road, is a planter, now filled with Agapanthas and Crepe Myrtle trees which used to be the anchors for the catenaries for the street cars. Also, just below that, at the juncture of Brand and Mountain is an underground chamber, which, I understood from my mother, was the power supply for that end of the streetcar line, or a restroom for the motormen. It is on a little island with a white wrought iron fence around it. There used to be a stairway down but now it is boarded up.

Very interesting information oldstuff. Is this the underground chamber you're talking about?


GSV


It still has an antiquated light.


GSV

[ethereal_reality]

This was in an old file of mine with the other Brand Blvd. photo I just posted (thanks Otis, C. King and HossC for figuring out the location)



old file/eBay, possibly pacificelectric.org.

I believe the 'underground chamber' oldstuff mentioned is directly behind the streetcar. I'm really curious about it.
Do you really think it might have contained a bathroom for motormen?

__

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson

Beaudry, I didn't see it mentioned so I'll ask: Where are the 1888 red sandstone courthouse remnants on display? Thanks. MR

In case Beaudry takes a while, the remnants are in City Terrace Park. I only know this because JScott told me.

1079 N Hazard Ave, ELA:

gsv


lots more pix at Richard Schave's flickr here.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I believe the 'underground chamber' oldstuff mentioned is directly behind the streetcar. I'm really curious about it.
Do you really think it might have contained a bathroom for motormen?

The picture below shows the same intersection on N Brand. I found it in an article on thesource.metro.net which includes a couple of "then and now" comparisons on N Brand. The caption says "The top photo was taken in April 1955 at Brand Boulevard and Mountain Avenue — literally the end of the Pacific Electric line."


http://thesource.metro.net

One of the comments, posted by "mike dunn", says "Concerning Brand and Mountain. Look closely and in the middle of street you see a iron fence. Even into the RTD when Buses layed over there the operators used an underground restroom gained access via this gated entrance."

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

The courthouse remnants are in City Terrace Park.

1079 N Hazard Ave, ELA:


lots more pix at Richard Schave's flickr here.

I'm surprised they're just lying on the ground unprotected.

They should be displayed with dignity like the architectural fragments at the Chicago Art Institute.


http://theartinstituteofchicago.blog...gments_21.html
__

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I'm surprised they're just lying on the ground unprotected.

Generations of kids have played on the remnants. They're pretty worn.


I wonder what happened to Blind Justice:


denver pl (detail)


previously posted by JScott (detail)

"Even before the Long Beach earthquake, the Red
Sandstone Courthouse — once called “the jewel of Los
Angeles” — was dramatically and rapidly deteriorating.
In February 1932 a section of stone from the courthouse
clock tower broke off and crashed through the roof of
Judge Joseph Sproul’s office. The accident fortuitously
occurred at 6:25 a.m., so no one was hurt. The
structure was so compromised that within a few
weeks the clock tower and other ornamentation
were removed and a new roof installed.
A year later, the Long Beach earthquake dealt
the courthouse its final blow."
- California Supreme Court Historical Society


water and power

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by HossC

The picture below shows the same intersection on N Brand. I found it in an article on thesource.metro.net which includes a couple of "then and now" comparisons on N Brand. The caption says "The top photo was taken in April 1955 at Brand Boulevard and Mountain Avenue — literally the end of the Pacific Electric line."


http://thesource.metro.net

One of the comments, posted by "mike dunn", says "Concerning Brand and Mountain. Look closely and in the middle of street you see a iron fence. Even into the RTD when Buses layed over there the operators used an underground restroom gained access via this gated entrance."

Believe it or not, finding usable toilets for bus-trolley drivers is a real problem worldwide. Some cities actually hire people to constantly scout out locations that their bus drivers can use.
One city in Oregon pays $100,000 a year to the potty finder man.

Martha and Bob. A day in their life.

"What did you do today at work, Dear?"
"I had a great day. I visited 75 toilets, most smelled OK and I added them to my list."
"I'm so proud of you, Bob. What a wonderful husband."

[Tetsu]

Originally Posted by Tourmaline

Lucretia Garfield's First Lady tenure: 4 March, 1881 - 19 September, 1881

1001 Buena Vista Street, Pasadena. Former First Lady's picturesque abode.
http://www.family-images.com/ca/CA%2...ld%20Color.jpg

Interesting coincidence, a physical copy of the postcard of the Lucretia Garfield residence in South Pasadena, recently posted by Tourmaline, is currently on display at the Pasadena Public Library:

my file

Next to it is a postcard of the Robert Burdette house, which we've also previously discussed on NLA:

my file

[Wig-Wag]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Believe it or not, finding usable toilets for bus-trolley drivers is a real problem worldwide. Some cities actually hire people to constantly scout out locations that their bus drivers can use.
One city in Oregon pays $100,000 a year to the potty finder man.

Martha and Bob. A day in their life.

"What did you do today at work, Dear?"
"I had a great day. I visited 75 toilets, most smelled OK and I added them to my list."
"I'm so proud of you, Bob. What a wonderful husband."

To ad a bit more to this loo-loo of a discussion, it appears that in the 1940's there was an above ground comfort station at this location as seen in this photo from the PERY Historical society site: http://www.pacificelectric.org/categ...trict/page/20/. Note that the motorman of PCC 5003 is beating feet in the direction of the tile roofed structure with multiple vent windows. The house to the right is still there today, overlooking the former underground facility that has appeared in 1950's photo.

Cheers,
Jack

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Wig-Wag

To ad a bit more to this loo-loo of a discussion, it appears that in the 1940's there was an above ground comfort station at this location as seen in this photo from the PERY Historical society site: http://www.pacificelectric.org/categ...trict/page/20/. Note that the motorman of PCC 5003 is beating feet in the direction of the tile roofed structure with multiple vent windows. The house to the right is still there today, overlooking the former underground facility that has appeared in 1950's photo.

Cheers,
Jack

Most interesting Jack. I notice the same house at the right. We can see how tall the palm trees have grown. My guess is the toilet might be PRIVATE...he probably had a key to the door. That site does not seem to be a location where you would place a public loo.

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by pwrof3

I've been spending a lot of time in historic downtown San Pedro lately for work.

And here is the Bank of San Pedro. Miraculously restored on the outside, but it looks like it's been modernized on the inside as it has been turned into lofts.
WP_20150402_21_06_11_Pro by ryanrpalmer, on Flickr
.
WP_20150402_21_06_55_Pro by ryanrpalmer, on Flickr

Would love to see some historic photos of these.

Also, if anyone is interested in any buildings in San Pedro, I am willing to take photos!

Hey, thanks for your offer!

This photo looks west on 7th Street from Centre Street toward Mesa Street and the Bank of San Pedro building on the SW corner of Mesa and 7th. Compared with your nice current photos, it looks like the original second story was removed and two new, recessed upper stories were added when the building was made a part of the lofts that were built on either side of it:

LAPL -- http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics48/00043986.jpg

The photo was taken April 4, 1942, and it shows a Japanese evacuees' auto caravan. Have the streetlights in the photo been modified for wartime?

[Beaudry]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

In case Beaudry takes a while, the remnants are in City Terrace Park. I only know this because JScott told me.

1079 N Hazard Ave, ELA:

gsv


lots more pix at Richard Schave's flickr here.

I do tend to take a while! The curse of being eternally distracted. Get theeself off to City Terrace Park, indeed!

[Beaudry]