In late 1951, when William Holden was shooting “The Turning Point,” Paramount could have built a grimy, dilapidated, ramshackle set. But why bother when Main Street in downtown had already deteriorated to exactly the seedy setting they needed. This is a production shot at 157 S. Main Street, located down the street from City Hall. Note that Holden’s scene partner is standing on a quarter apple box to make him look taller. Usually it’s the hero who would stand on something to make him look more heroic.
This is a color shot of that block taken around the same time.
And this is what that block looks like these days. This image is from May 2019:
I wonder what was playing on the television in the early ’50s at the 141 Club
and what would a afternoon having a few drinks at the two dive bars or a room at the White Star later been like. Downtown L.A. already past its heyday?