noirish Los Angeles

[Valda]

Originally Posted by 3940dxer

e_r, my mother mentioned in an email that this was her music school, so thanks for finding the article!

I did a little more digging and learned that the original address was, appropriately, 2607 Mozart St. This is a couple blocks east of where the 5 freeway is now, and 2 blocks north of Main St. In (I think) the early 30's they expanded and moved to two adjacent houses at 410 and 412 S. Boyle Ave. In 1947 the music program split in two. The Neighborhood Music School moved a block up the street to yet another Victorian house at 358 S. Boyle, the current location. Founder Pearl Odell stayed in the 410/412 homes, running what would become the Los Angeles Music and Art School.

I stopped by 410/412 this morning and took a few photos. Valda, is this where you took violin lessons?

First, I was amazed at the information found about my music school, and its correct name. This wonderful way of digging up old history is new to me, and adds to my memories. Thanks to all who contributed.

David, when I graduated from high school in 1946, I had stopped taking lessons, so the building I would remember is the earlier one. Do you have that picture as well?

[westcork]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

If I may add, the Garvanza name disappeared some time by the mid 20th Century, the area being considered part of Highland Park. It was later revived in the mid or late 90s, I believe. By the time I moved to South Pasadena in 1998, the Garvanza district/neighborhood signs were already in place.

ellenbloom.blogspot.com

"The toll house still exists on the South Pasadena side."

That's news to me! I can't imagine where it would be.

That reminds me of the T-shirts we were printing a few years back. Nobody wanted to buy them... The intention was to print them for every LA Neighborhood, and sell them through local markets and convenience stores.

[IMG] Echo Park T-Shirt by Westcork, on Flickr[/IMG]

[3940dxer]

While looking for old maps to aid my Lookout Mountain investigations, I came across this online exhibit of L.A. Maps on the Library Of Congress site. I couldn't find anything with detail on Laurel Canyon, but there are some other interesting maps, including a 1912 entry they call "Ghost Suburbs of L.A." That map shows Garvanza along with dozens of other surprising "towns" including, down by Robertson and Wilshire, places called Arnaz and (ahem) Gayland. The site seems a good resource, though online availability of some maps is pending.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lamapped...d-exhibit.html

Here's a 1934 paper place map from Bullock's Tea Room that I liked.


http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lamapped...d-exhibit.html

Here's another good resource for old L.A. maps http://hypercities.ats.ucla.edu/

[3940dxer]

Here's a map of the Laurel Canyon / Lookout Mountain / Sunset Plaza area. This is an enlarged scan I made from part of an old auto club map. The good thing is, unlike Google and other online maps, all the little streets are named (including some that don't really exist.) Warning: large file.

P.S. If you see the "F" of Flores St., at the bottom of the image...I used to live there.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by westcork

That reminds me of the T-shirts we were printing a few years back. Nobody wanted to buy them... The intention was to print them for every LA Neighborhood, and sell them through local markets and convenience stores.

[IMG] Echo Park T-Shirt by Westcork, on Flickr[/IMG]

Nobody bought those? I think they're awesome. If I lived in LA I'd totally get one.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by slaverne

We filmed on both the WB and Paramount backlots, in Hancock Park, at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, The Orpheum and LA Theaters and the old Ren-Mar studio (now called Red Studio) in Hollywood. There were other locations around town. Int/Ext Peppy's house was 56 Fremont Place. Int/Ext George and Doris' house was 104 Fremont Place. The Laboratory and jail in the movie within the movie was at the Eagle Rock substation. I hope we do well on Oscar night.

Oh wow, quite a number of places around town. I hope you do well on Oscar night too!

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by westcork

That reminds me of the T-shirts we were printing a few years back. Nobody wanted to buy them... The intention was to print them for every LA Neighborhood, and sell them through local markets and convenience stores.

[IMG] Echo Park T-Shirt by Westcork, on Flickr[/IMG]

Originally Posted by Derek

Nobody bought those? I think they're awesome. If I lived in LA I'd totally get one.

I concur. I'd totally get one too. And knowing how people are, I would think that some people would've started collecting t-shirts for every possible LA neighborhood.

[westcork]

LAPL new pictures added Feb 8, 2012
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00095/
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00096/

folder index
http://jpg1.lapl.org/

[The North One]

Why hello there! would you like to meet my boobs?

[slaverne]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Oh wow, quite a number of places around town. I hope you do well on Oscar night too!

Thanks so much!!

I have a question. I'm researching a TNT pilot called LA Noir. Have there been postings with photos of the Central Ave. jazz district from the 40s?

[westcork]

Here's a strange map that shows an incomplete Harbor Freeway. I can't seem to find the date:

LAPL

LAPL

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by slaverne

Thanks so much!!

I have a question. I'm researching a TNT pilot called LA Noir. Have there been postings with photos of the Central Ave. jazz district from the 40s?

Not that I can recall off the top of my head, not any recent ones, anyway. But here's a picture of the Dunbar Hotel from 1938:

USC Archive

Here's a shot of the Dunbar in 1928:

LAPL

Lincoln Theatre, Central and 23rd, 1962

LAPL

Cafe Zombie (5434 S. Central Avenue) police roundup, 1947. Joseph Adolphus Lewis was found with marijuana in his guitar case

LAPL

A youth at Cafe Zombie.

LAPL

1942. A table at the Downbeat Club, 4201 South Central Avenue.

LAPL

An advert from 1941.

LAPL

The Last Word nightclub, 4205 S. Central Avenue, 1941.

LAPL

Here's an auto repair shop at 2322 S. Central Avenue, 1927.

LAPL

Central Avenue and 41st Street, circa 1944.

LAPL

Dunbar Cocktail Lounge and Grill, circa 1945

LAPL

A handbill, circa 1945.

LAPL

Downbeat Club, circa 1941.

LAPL

Club Alabam, circa 1945. Central Avenue and 42nd Street.

LAPL

I wish I could find exteriors of the nightclubs.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by westcork

LAPL

Wow, looking at the above map, you can see the 4-level, but north of there, it looks like the Arroyo Seco Parkway wasn't even extended to that point yet. Very interesting!

[slaverne]

Thank you so much!!! These are so helpful. We are doing a pitch and need images to suggest the feel of the series. I've had a hard time finding images for this particular part of LA in the 40s. This forum is such a wonderful resource.

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by westcork

Here's a strange map that shows an incomplete Harbor Freeway. I can't seem to find the date:
LAPL

Great map. It's dated May 15, 1952

[GaylordWilshire]

Vintage Los Angeles

Google Street View

Not long ago, I posted a clip similar to the following one--early '50s Sunset Plaza color. In terms of L.A.
nostalgia, it's just the kind of thing that makes my mouth water: youtube


P.S.: A question: Not that I don't think it's the fair thing to do, but why are we required to post photo sources here, and facebook page photos, for example, do not seem ever to have any attributions? The top shot here is a case in point.

[minkykat]

Have been reading the book LA NOIR, enjoying it very much.

Hubby wants to know; what was the exact address of Mickey Cohen's bombed out manse? I know that it was on Moreno Ave. Anyone have the addy or some pictures?

Thanks!

[GaylordWilshire]

Just enter "Moreno" in the search box, and you will find it....

[nickdahammer]

I'll buy one! Have any Mt. Washingtons?

Originally Posted by westcork

That reminds me of the T-shirts we were printing a few years back. Nobody wanted to buy them... The intention was to print them for every LA Neighborhood, and sell them through local markets and convenience stores.

[IMG] Echo Park T-Shirt by Westcork, on Flickr[/IMG]

[ethereal_reality]

I recently found these snapshots of a construction site at 1250 N. Main Street dated 1943.


ebay




ebay





below: I googled the address and found the building still intact at N. Main & Elmyra Street.


google street view





google street view







below: Across Elmyra Street from the Kelite Building is the William Mead Housing Project (415 units, 1942) built on the former site
of the Southern Refining & Amalgamated Oil Company (1900-1924). In other words it was built on toxic waste.



google street view







below: Many of the units in the William Mead Homes feature attractive corner windows.



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






below: Aerial of the Kelite Building at 1250 N. Main Street (above the 'teardrop' A) and the neighboring William Mead Homes.
In this view Elmyra Street turns into Cardinal Street at the curve.


google street view






below: Noirish alert !

By pure coincidence, the construction snapshots I found on ebay led me to the site of a body dump (the same year as the 'Black Dahlia' murder).
A mail clerk stumbled across the naked body of 21 year old Rosenda Mondragon at North Main and Elmyra Street on the morning of July 8th 1947.


below: Information on the Rosenda Mondragon murder.



Michael Newton



below: Looking south on North Main toward the intersection with Elmyra Street (the site of the body dump).


http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntylaurie/3352350210/

___