noirish Los Angeles

[Chuckaluck]

The same Louis Berkhoff, responsible for the Coronet Theater, also exhibited at the "Cinema Theater" at 1122 N. Western Avenue.

http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...jpg?1361156635

At the Cinema Theatre on Western, “Movies ’Round Midnight” fused pulp and high art, presenting groundbreaking films with tantalizing names like Flaming Creatures and Dog Star Man, as well as filmic experiments like Andy Warhol’s crowd-displeasing Sleep. There was drama outside the Cinema Theatre as well as in: Kenneth Anger picketed in 1964, accusing the projection booth of stealing a print of his film Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome starring Anaïs Nin and Marjorie Cameron. http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/l-a-s-ci...-then-and-now/

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/files/20...er_coronet.jpg

[rick m]

Originally Posted by MichaelRyerson

The cottage on Hope Street, Arnold Hylen, 1960

Lovely little, improbable bungalow on Bunker Hill with an outsized date palm growing through its porch roof. Now identified as being 321 S. Hope Street (thanks to rickm).

California State Library, the California History Room

here's the other shot of it by Leonard Nadel...



The Hope Street cottage, Leonard Nadel, 1951

The Hope Street cottage at 321 S. Hope, a somewhat larger neighbor at 323 and the Sawyer Apartments at 327. thanks to rickm for identifying it.

LAPL

Now comes this other unidentified Hope Street cottage by Arnold Hylen...


Another cottage on Hope Street, Arnold Hylen, 1960

I think this may be right next door at 323 S. Hope Street and that clapboard building on the left may be the Sawyer Apartments. In fact, it looks to me as though Hylen didn't even move, making both exposures from essentially the same spot.

California State Library, the California History Room

Correct-o-mundo.. This larger house stood at #323 between the Sawyer Apts and the teeny palm-pierced cottage. At one point in the post WW1 decade a large hotel was planned to be constructed on these addresses- but it fell through as did a number of other pipe dreams acroo the hill. A young woman was rescued from a locked room in this house after neighbors finally reacted to a couple days of screams- she was spinning around "in a St.Vitus dance" trancelike - never to communicate what person(s) had incarcerated her in the dark - Was commited to a mental hospital as an unidentified crime victim. Crime never solved apparently..per the L.A.Times..Failed large building by W.W.Paden written up 3-9-1910 resembled Touraine Apts

[ProphetM]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

USC non-fragmentation challenge!

There is a remarkable 1930s Vermont Avenue-4th Street Panorama available on the SC site which deserves sharing here. When viewed in highest resolution, the detail is wonderful. I am able to view the image in its highest resolution but unable to save/capture it as one complete image. Maybe beyond my present computing capability. I believe the original photographer intended the panorama to be viewed as one image and not piecemeal. Since my previous efforts at 'SC enlargements have received mixed reviews, perhaps one of you tech savvy non-fragmenters care to give it a shot?

Link here > http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/si...ll170/id/72276

Give me some time this evening and I'll stitch it up.

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by ProphetM

Give me some time this evening and I'll stitch it up.

Look forward to it. Thanks

Victory over Japan Day celebration at 7th and Broadway
http://dlproj.library.ucla.edu/deriv...0326304a_j.jpg

[BifRayRock]

AT&T Center, formerly called the SBC Tower, Transamerica Building, and originally the Occidental Life Building.

"Windows" Restaurant offered great views.

1964
http://dlproj.library.ucla.edu/deriv...0167918a_j.jpg

[ProphetM]

Originally Posted by ProphetM

Give me some time this evening and I'll stitch it up.

So I'm downloading the pic pieces at full res, and let me just say: holy crap there are a lot of pieces here. This is going to take longer than I thought.

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

I remember them GW, some were horrors ("grim, inhuman individuals", as Carey McWilliams would have it) who built ridiculous conspicuous-consumption piles (which did create jobs), others, like Homer Laughlin, I'm quite fond of. He was paternalistic, but nicely so, taking his workers on opera outings, etc. and building them recreation parks (although I'm sure some workers would have preferred to get paid more and be given less). Laughlin turned out a good, useful product too. Richfield Oil's spendthrift ways were alarming and damn near sunk the company (the late 20s were, of course, legendary for such pranks), but some decision-maker there had exquisite taste, which we all benefited from (I'm glad the company was rescued by receivership, as I later worked for them off and on over 30 years). Jack Gill would have preferred, I think, to spend all his time building workers' housing and civic projects, but he would have been more broke than he was without commissions from the wealthy. I've voiced my appreciation for the Rindges here too. It's been a trade-off since patriarchy (and patronage of the arts) began.Democracy probably wouldn't result in many mansions.

Ah--the dreaded patriarchy, root of all evil.

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by ProphetM

So I'm downloading the pic pieces at full res, and let me just say: holy crap there are a lot of pieces here. This is going to take longer than I thought.

Sorry, I gave it the college try and figured I needed a 60"+ monitor to fully take advantage of the image. After missing miniature golf tee off, I asked myself what would Sister Aimee do? But that left prayer or a January parade.

Please do not feel obligated.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

The rather unusual Mode O' Day Building at Washington & Hill.


usc digital archive





usc digital archive


Can anyone explain this strange architectural style?
There is a neo-classical cartouche above the doorway on the extreme right....and an art deco 'design' on the corner pillar at the left.
The obelisks along the roof-line are oddly extravagant (as well as dangerous during an earthquake).

"Roberta Semple , Aimee Semple McPherson, and Rheba Crawford at parade."
What was being celebrated?

January 8, 1935
http://dlproj.library.ucla.edu/deriv...0283220a_j.jpg

[BifRayRock]

Designed to eliminate a major traffic problem on the Northwest side of Los Angeles, the First and Glendale viaduct, a $475,000 WPA construction project, is scheduled for completion, under city sponsorship, approximately July 15, 1941. A WPA crew of 270 workers are now engaged on the job. The viaduct will carry First Street over the busy Pacific Electric tracks on Glendale boulevard, thus eliminating a hazard and expediting westbound traffic on Second and First streets and Beverly boulevard into the Wilshire district and Hollywood, and northbound traffic on Glendale into Edendale, Glendale, Burbank and the San Fernando valley area. A reinforced concrete grade separation with a 44-foot roadway and over-all length of approximately 900 feet, the viaduct is now approximately 49 percent completed. Its construction by WPA is part of a citywide WPA program sponsored by the city for improvement of streets and highways and elimination of traffic hazards and bottlenecks." http://livingnewdeal.berkeley.edu/pr...os-angeles-ca/

1941
http://livingnewdeal.berkeley.edu/ln...duct.10146.jpg

http://livingnewdeal.berkeley.edu/ln...17-581x800.jpg


1941
http://dlproj.library.ucla.edu/deriv...0325962a_j.jpg

[unihikid]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here is the location PHX31.


google aerial


I came across it quite by accident a month or so ago. It's on the northwest corner of Arlington & 24th.






There is a nice bungalow next door as well.


gsv


I am not sure, but I think both these homes might be owned by the park district.


gsv
__

Its called The South Seas house,im not sure about how it got its name,but for the longest it was falling apart,had some fire damage,and was just a creepy old house.When i was younger my god parents lived 4 houses across Arlington,and we would drive pass the SS and my dad would tell me "Ms Hooks lives there,she takes bad little boys and girls who dont get good grades and eats them..." Anyway the city restored it and you can visit it.

[westcork]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

1941
http://livingnewdeal.berkeley.edu/ln...duct.10146.jpg

http://livingnewdeal.berkeley.edu/ln...17-581x800.jpg


1941
http://dlproj.library.ucla.edu/deriv...0325962a_j.jpg

This great picture was originally in post 1552 by GSJansen But the link was broken by USC...


http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/se...I-VIA-064.tiff

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by westcork

this great picture was originally in post 1552 by gsjansen but the link was broken by usc...


http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/se...i-via-064.tiff

hotlinking is bad

here is a hosted image.


Architectural model of a 922 foot long viaduct

Architectural model of the First Street viaduct (looking south).

USC digital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Collection, 1920-1961

[ethereal_reality]

An excellent 1930s aerial of the famous Farmers Market (long gone Gilmore Stadium can be seen in the upper left-hand corner).


postcard/ebay




and today.


google earth
__

[ethereal_reality]

intriguing postcard from 1908.


rppc/ebay



http://www.ebay.com/itm/RPPC-LOS-ANG...item257c2a353d
__

[ethereal_reality]

ebay


__

[Chuckaluck]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

An excellent 1930s aerial of the famous Farmers Market (long gone Gilmore Stadium can be seen in the upper left-hand corner).


postcard/ebay


and today.


google earth
__

The good 'ol days . . .

1967
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6088/6...9982b68f_b.jpg

[tovangar2]

Speaking of screen grabs of 3rd and Olive, gsjansen posted a couple of screenshots from "My Gun is Quick" (1957), a Mike Hammer outing, a year or two back: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=4253.
Here's a few more of my faves with Bunker Hill contrasting nicely with mid-century modern LA. It seemed all of a piece to me back then.

(All below from MGM/UA via netflix):

Mean streets:




Hillcrest Hotel:


Trouble on Clay Street:


Going down:


"Unconcerned but not disinterested":


Did the Frenchman defenestrate himself or was he pushed?:


Everybody drives a Ford:


3rd & Olive:


Tailing the perp:


Hugging the curve:


Taking the Harbor:


Closing the gap:


Hitting the beach:


Down at the docks:


Outside "Immigration":


The bad guy's glam digs:


"LAPD HQ" (old Parker Center, 150 Los Angeles Street)


Lobby card with a bit of highly suggestive imagery:


If anyone hasn't seen it, the whole thing's on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAiued1AWzw

[ethereal_reality]

excellent screengrabs T2!
__

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

"Roberta Semple , Aimee Semple McPherson, and Rheba Crawford at parade."
What was being celebrated?

January 8, 1935
http://dlproj.library.ucla.edu/deriv...0283220a_j.jpg

don't know about the parade BRR, but here's a snapshot of the mode-o-day I found yesterday.


ebay

very noirish looking buildings at street level. I wish I could read the signs.
__

[ethereal_reality]

rppc/ebay

If I remember correctly, the church was destroyed by fire back in 2007.



The church lot is still fenced off and sits empty just east of the Capitol Records building.


google earth




the foundation is still visible.


google earth




The fenced off lot from Carlos Ave. with the Capitol Records building in the distance.


gsv





The view along Argyle Avenue.


gsv

If memory serves me, this little church was also famous for a weekly radio broadcast.
At one time I had all the answers but haven't been able to locate my old files (with vintage photographs and church history)
__

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

excellent screengrabs T2!

Thank you Boss. Do you recognize the the building in the next to last screen grab? I can't ID it. The sequence under the "My Gun is Quick" titles is great. Lots of neon.

The Little County Church of Hollywood: http://ladailymirror.com/2013/05/27/...f-bygone-days/



As well as the International Mart (Mode O' Day) and Mann's Chinese, Raymond M Kennedy (1891-1976) did the following, among many. The firm he worked for, Meyer & Holler, often get the credit for their architects' buildings.

Hollywood First National Building (1927) Hollywood and Highland:

http://www.capturedplaces.com/los_an...nkbuilding.php

The Petroleum Securities Building (1924), 714 S Flower

http://www.you-are-here.com/downtown/petroleum.html

The Fox Theater, 500-512 N Harbor, Fullerton (1925):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fu...ox_theatre.JPG

Fox (detail):

http://www.northorangecountyrealesta...est-city-live/

Ocean Center Building, 110 W Ocean, Long Beach (1929):

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