Perhaps because the streetcars were all gone by the time I moved to LA, but I always enjoy encountering a new streetcar shot, especially when we can see one in its natural habitat on the streets of LA. This is actually a still from a Burt Lancaster movie, “Criss Cross.” (1949) You can see him alighting from the Hollywood Boulevard streetcar at the 2nd Street Tunnel in downtown Los Angeles. What intrigues me is the sign at the front: “Sunset Blvd – Hollywood Blvd – Gardner St” – Gardner isn’t a major cross street so I’m wondering why they would highlight it. Does anyone know?
Andie said: “There were small “yards” around the city where extra cars were sidelined during non-rush hours so they could be brought into use without having to transit from the main “depots” to the areas where they were needed. … There was one in North Hollywood just off Vineland, behind a bowling alley. It was still there in 1959 when I started working for Dr. Salkin in the 4418 Vineland Medical building. … There was also a “yard” in Van Nuys, close to the GM plant so workers there would have transportation. Later it was a bus yard for extras needed for peak usage hours.”
Susan said: “About half the cars used the turn back at Gardner St. Junction depending on the time of day. But you could move out on the streetcars to head down Santa Monica Blvd west from Gardner Junction. So Gardner Junction was a major cross-over point from downtown/first part of Hollywood/Beverly Hills line to get on out west down Santa Monica Blvd.”
See also: Gardner Junction, 1954
See also: Harold Lloyd – Film Noir – Criss Cross and the Hill Street Tunnel
A Pacific Electric “Hollywood” class car, so named for obvious reasons…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMwdv4Yh9Dg
http://www.erha.org/pewhl.htm
http://www.pacificelectric.org/pacific-electric/southern-district/hollywood-cars-at-the-alamo-the-watts-line/
Thanks for all these great links, Mitch!
HELLO MARTIAN, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES.WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU ONE DAY I LIVE IN STUDIO CITY TOO,OK BE WELL REGARDS DENIEL EDWARDS. TEXT ANY TIME 818-613-4636. 8-8-17.
etheridgerdanny@gmail.com
That is the Court Street tunnell and the entire hillside was removed in 1956
That was the Hill Street tunnel, which was a dual tunnel for streetcars & automobiles. Temple Street would be to the photographer’s back. Yes, the tunnel ran under Court Hill, from Temple to 1st street. Some consider that Court Hill was considered part of Bunker Hill, until the 1st Street cut basically divided them.
The start of the tunnels is pictured in Interurbans Special 40 of Los Angeles Pacific Album. Both tunnels were only singles at first, and things around them were heavily altered by the time they ended up in flickers. It’s a pretty shocking change to the whole zone including the Hill Street Station and the Buena Vista Freight House. But that’s what happens when the big boys buy you up and bring in the heavy finances.