Here’s some LA history in the making. Admittedly it’s rather sad history, but I’m glad someone thought to take a photo. This is a shot of a Pacific Electric Red Car making its final ride through Hollywood on December 28, 1952. It’s running south on Highland Ave and has stopped at Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood Hotel would have stood just out of frame to the left, but we can see the Hollywood Hotel Florist sign. The hotel itself would only last four more years before it fell to the wrecking ball.
This is roughly the same view in May 2022. The only thing that’s still there is the Hollywood United Methodist Church.
Actually, no. The only thing that is still there is the church, and — if you look to the right of the photo, you’ll see a neon CAFE sign and another diagonal neon sign. Today that diagonal sign is (and was then) The Powerhouse bar. The CAFE sign is (and was then) a Chinese cafe now known as Le Oriental Cafe. They are both still open.
Thanks, Joël. I was probably too fixated on the blade sign for Oldsmobile that I’d never noticed before to consider the other businesses.
I was surprised to find out once that the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance in the film Back to the Future, was filmed in the Hollywood United Methodist Church. That seemed so unlikely to me, but there you have it! I enjoy knowing that every time I go by it!
Wait…didn’t they have to re-film that fish under the water ball for the sequel? So, if they used the church again you should be getting “double your flavor, double your fun” w/o double the milage.
There’s that No Left Turn sign that was kept over on the BofA bank corner until needed.
Out of the frame to the LEFT