I love any vintage shot with a semaphore traffic signal, and in this one from 1948, we get two. The photographer was standing on the driveway leading out of the building on the corner of 5th and Grand Streets in downtown Los Angeles. The Southern California Edison building is now there, so that driveway is long gone, as is, unfortunately, Simon’s soda fountain shop on the opposite corner. In the background, the building with the arches is the Biltmore Theatre, which stood next to the Biltmore Hotel from 1924 to 1964. The space where it stood is now occupied by the Biltmore office tower, but that pale-brick contrasting on the hotel’s west corner is still in place
Roughly the same view in February 2022:
What I find interesting is the clear light mounted on the back left fender of the 1947 Oldsmobile fastback coupe. It had to be added by the owner. Why? Maybe it is a backup light. Or maybe the car was often parked temporarily on a busy street at night and the owner wanted a bright light on the car’s left side to warm approaching cars. Or maybe it’s there just to make someone wonder why over a half century later. And no, the Simon restaurant chain (mostly drive -ins) were not part of my family, but they were great.
Hey Alan, good job spotting that light. I hadn’t noticed it. It does look like a backup light, doesn’t it?
Alan has the eye of an eagle! I missed the light as well.
We used to enjoy the whirring, almost grinding, sound of the semaphore signals as the blades changed. And the lamppost is another reminder of the stateliness we miss. Great photo!
I proposed using these at The Grove, to Caruso.
IIRC, Simon’s had their start in the Dairy Lunch business, which usually meant storefront locations in the foot traffic zones. It was only later that they went into fountain/grill services and opened the drive-in chain which became the main thrust. Even that didn’t seem to stay as the locations were sold off to Dolores, Stan’s and whomever else may have converted them.
Wow, I don’t remember Simon’s at all. Am I finally too young for something? 🙂
The Edison Bldg was there in 1948. The driveway was actually Hope St which wrapped around the front of the Edison Building to where it met Grand. All this got reconfigured when the area was redeveloped in the 60’s and 70’s.
I missed working in that Edison building by about a year. I’ve seen pictures, and it was really beautiful on the inside. I know I’d have much rather worked downtown than in Rosemead!
Thanks, Gordon. I was wondering about that.