I willingly admit to being a fan of mimetic architecture, which is a term used to describe a building constructed in an unusual shape as a novelty, often reflecting the business it houses. Over the years, Los Angeles has had more than its fair share of mimetic architecture, but I think this one is my favorite. It was the office of Sphinx Realty, which stood at 537 N. Fairfax Ave. Why they chose to use the Sphinx as their logo, I don’t know. It’s not like permanence has ever been a feature of LA architecture. It was, however, memorable, and I guess that was the point. From the cars parked out front, I’d say this photo is circa mid-1920s.
Kevin M says: “I tried to track down when this business opened and closed. I could only find it in LA newspapers around 1925-27. After that there was no mention of it, so it did not last long.”
According to Poetry Los Angeles – Reading the Essential Poems of the City by Laurence Goldstein, the Sphinx was pink!
537 N. Fairfax Ave put Sphinx Realty across the street from Fairfax High school. It doesn’t look like the Sphinx was built to last, but is what you see when you drive past that address now. This image is from December 2022.
This was gone by the time I was born in ’46. Strange that I am now living in the country where the original resides.
Egyptologist Howard Carter started exploring the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings, leading to the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. So all things Egyptian were the rage!
When the Egyptian Grand Museum opens this year watch for another resurgence of interest in all things Egyptian .
I posted this YouTube video last week but want to put it up 1 more time because it relates to This posting much better.
https://youtu.be/qh9yVGAx22k
Hollywood the Unusual
Thanks Mark. When someone sent me this image, I thought it looked like a still from a film and reminded me of the one you posted recently. I hadn’t gotten around to watching it yet, but I have now and can see it’s probably taken from it.
What a great little film! I only recognized a very few as still around.
Wow, every frame of that should be printed and studied. The tileworks alone are spectacular. The first of the two service stations is just east of Vine a couple of blocks on the northwest corner, IIRC.
My dad went to Fairfax High. I used to go up to Aaron’s Records which was across from the high school, because the prices and selection were great. I remember buying the Stone Poneys album with Linda Ronstadt there.
Uh, the album had Linda Ronstadt. She wasn’t with me!