Here we have a rather historic moment captured for prosperity: On March 27, 1921, the Los Angeles Philharmonic played its first concert. It was the first Easter sunrise service at the Hollywood Bowl. As we can see, it was a rather rudimentary affair. The stage was a plain wooden platform, with a dais for the conductor and Grand Lady In Big Hat, whoever she was. There was no seating yet, so the 2,000 attendees sat on the grassy knolls of Daisy Dell. The service ended with them singing along as the orchestra played “Holy Holy Holy.” Judging by those overcoats, it also must have been rather chilly. I wonder if anyone thought to bring along a thermos of hot coffee.
First Easter sunrise service in the Hollywood Bowl, March 27, 1921
The home of Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer at 707 Ocean Front, Santa Monica, California, circa 1931
Before Malibu became the beachside addressed favored by Hollywood’s celebrated, the place to build was along Ocean Front (now Pacific Coast Highway.) In 1926, MGM chief, Louis B. Mayer, had his leading set designer, Cedric Gibbons, come up with a 20-room villa at 624. A few doors down from them lived Anita Loos (author of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”.) Paramount founder, Jesse Lasky and his wife Bessie were known for the Sunday night parties at 609. 20th Century-Fox president, Darryl F. Zanuck, had a beach house at 546, which he called “Surf Cottage” and which was anything but a small little cottage. Sam Goldwyn was at 602, and of course, the mother lode was the 110-room palace that William Randolph Hearst built for Marion Davies at 415. So it was almost inevitable the MGM production head, Irving Thalberg and queen-of-the-lot, Norma Shearer, would build another Gibbons-designed house at 707 Ocean Front. I don’t have a date on this photo, but they moved in around 1931, so I assume it was taken there. Ironically, because of Thalberg’s delicate health, he needed quality sleep, so he had the rooms in his French Norman style home soundproofed so that he wouldn’t be disturbed by the sounds of the ocean.
Picking beans on the Hammel and Denker ranch in present-day Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, circa early 1900s
As hard as it is to believe, these people are picking beans on what was known at the time as the Hammel and Denker ranch but later became known as Beverly Hills. This photo was taken circa early 1900s, when much of the 3,055-acre was ranch used to grow beans. But around this time, a group of investors formed the Amalgamated Oil Company and went looking for oil. So it’s possible that this crop of beans was the last to be farmed before Amalgamated Oil vainly searched for oil and was later forced to resort to their backup plan: a housing development. I’d say things worked out for them in the long run.
I thought this auto-colorized version did a pretty good job bringing this scene to life.
Marchetti’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Western Ave and Fifth St, Los Angeles, circa 1930
Another entry into the “They Sure Don’t Make ’Em Like That Any More” file is Marchetti’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Western Ave and Fifth St. This photo is circa 1930, back when they took some care to create a memorable and appealing building that makes you want to go in and order a big plate of lasagna. Well, it worked because that’s all I can think of now. Mmmmm…lasagna…
This is roughly the same view in April 2018. From Marchetti’s to a Carl’s Jr burger joint – it’s times like these that I despair for humanity.
Looking north up a crowded Broadway from 7th Street, downtown Los Angeles, circa 1930s
This photo looking north up Broadway from 7th St reminds us how downtown was in heart of L.A. the 1930s. After the war, L.A. experienced a huge population boom, so it was probably inevitable that the ever-sprawling city become decentralized. But look at that sidewalk across 7th Street – it’s packed shoulder to shoulder. And nearly everybody is wearing hats, suits, coats, and neckties—even the little boy at the bottom right near the diamond-shaped sign. Speaking of that sign, I’m not sure what “Beach Road North” refers to. My guess is PCH (the Pacific Coast Highway) but I’m open to suggestions.
** UPDATE ** Before it was called PCH, it was called Roosevelt Highway, and before that, it was called Beach Road North (which made sense because it was a road that followed the beach northward up the coast.)
Roughly the same view in February 2021. At last someone thought to put in a tree.
The Sovereign Apartments at 2nd St and Washington Ave, Santa Monica, California, 1931
I have no information about this Spanish Revival Style apartment block at 2nd St and Washington Ave in Santa Monica other than they were called the Sovereign Apartments, they were built in 1928, this photo is from 1931, and they’re still around. But I wanted to feature it because I think it’s wonderful example of how an everyday building such as a block of apartments could, with a bit of imagination and flair, be a thing of beauty and charm, and a pleasure to look at. It reeks with atmosphere, doesn’t it?
Here are a couple of interior photos:
This is roughly the same view in 2021:
Color aerial photograph of Disneyland, Anaheim, California, August 1963
This photo treats us to an aerial photo that’s also in color. We’re looking at Disneyland in August of 1963, where we can make out the Jungle Cruise at top right, the Matterhorn on the left, and the nearby swirling tea cups of the Mad Tea Party. Also interesting to note is how lightly developed the land around the theme park is. It’s no longer empty land or filled with orchards, but there are still large pockets of empty land just waiting for the bulldozers and backhoes that will surely arrive one day soon.
This satellite image from 2021 shows the area around Disneyland is a liiiiiiiitle but more filled in these days:
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Anaheim, Color photo, Disney, Disneyland, Themeparks
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Aerial shot of Westwood Village, Los Angeles, circa early 1930s
Being used to a Los Angeles of 10 million people and practically every square inch developed, landscaped, and accounted for, I never tire of seeing L.A. of yesteryear when great swaths of land were still wide open and there for the taking. This aerial shot shows us Westwood Village, which is sandwiched between Beverly Hills to the east and Brentwood to the west. I’m guessing this is from the early 1930s because the Janss Dome (Westwood’s first building) went up in 1929. We can also see the clock tower at 10900 W. Weyburn Ave. They’re both still around, which is more than I can say for those great swaths of open land.
This satellite image is from 2021. When I said every square inch is developed, I wasn’t exaggerating.
The Santa Claus Lane Christmas Parade passes in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, November 22, 1940
This sure must have been a sight to see in person: the Santa Claus Lane Christmas Parade passing in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Closing Hollywood Blvd off to traffic must have been a logistical headache, but oh, how bright and twinkly it looked with those huge electrical Christmas trees lining both sides of the streets and searchlights criss-crossing the sky. The caption on this photo said “circa 1940.” If that’s the case, it was probably the last Christmas parade Angelenos enjoyed before the realities of war hit hard on December 7 the following year.
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Tagged Christmas, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood, Hollywood Blvd, Night photo, Theaters
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Looking north up Fair Oaks Ave past the Acme Hotel on the southwest corner of Dayton St, Pasadena, California, circa 1898
This photo takes us back to Pasadena in around 1898. We’re looking north up Fair Oaks Ave from the southwest corner of Dayton St. On the left we can see the Acme Hotel (surely they could have come up with a more imaginative name than that?) I’d love to see a photo of the front of the hotel because their corner-facing turret looks like it was quite picturesque. From the horse-carriage tracks along the street, it appears that Fair Oaks Ave wasn’t paved over, but it was wide enough to accommodate lots of horse-drawn vehicles, which was probably handy when the weather turned wet and muddy.
Roughly the same view in February 2021:
