In this atmospheric nighttime shot, we’re looking south along Vine Street from Hollywood Boulevard in 1942. Way down in the distance, that horizontal neon line is the sign for the Ravenswood apartments. It looks as though Vine Street was very well lit, with the streetlights placed fairly closely together. Even so, they create a very film-noir-ish mood where those inky shadows can hide all manner of shifty monkey business.
I wondered about that, too. The sources for the photo all say 1942, so maybe it was at the very start of the year before the blackouts properly kicked in.
You sure this isn’t 1941, before blackout regulations?
I double checked and this is a Dick Whittington photo from the USC Archives, and they date it as 1942.
I wondered about that, too. The sources for the photo all say 1942, so maybe it was at the very start of the year before the blackouts properly kicked in.