Mullen and Bluett was a mid-level department store with a number of locations, including Wilshire Blvd and Hollywood Blvd. The one shown in this photo was at Broadway and Sixth St in downtown Los Angeles. I love the oh-so Art Deco lettering they used out front of the building! Judging from that passing 1934 Ford Cabriolet, we can probably peg this photo circa mid-1930s when people were still working their way out of the Depression. Stores like these were lucky to have survived.
The building is still there. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, the glorious Mullen & Bluett sign is gone. This image is from September 2021.
Looks like the street light is still there. On the left side of the 2021 photo.
Looks like they ruined the lower part of this building. Why can’t they leave these buildings alone or restore them to how they used to look when new!!!!
Why indeed!? I understand taking down the name of the store, but leave the rest alone, please.
It looks like what they were trying to do by putting those arch type shapes above each shop is to emphasis that there were individual shops now there. The horizontal lines originally above the windows encompassed the entire building and better indicated that it was one department store. The addresses above each store also indicates that there are different businesses in the building.
Yes, I see what you mean. Good point.
It appears to be just a facade — likely the original deco front is under there
Could it be that the Mullen & Bluett sign is actually an early revision on the building’s original facade? I don’t have any specific knowledge of this building but to my eye it looks like a Beaux Arts style building that was later altered with the Mullen & Bluett sign. It almost actually even looks post art deco, more streamline modern to my untrained eye. Regardless, it really was a lovely sign while it lasted. Thanks for another great post, Martin.
I wondered about that too (the mix of styles.) It’s quite possible that M&B leased the store after the building itself opened.
Not only the wonderful Art Deco sign is gone, but those lovely vintage street lights as well. So much is lost that is beautiful, but thank God for photographs!