In this slice-of-life photo, we get to stand on Broadway (at 11th St) in downtown Los Angeles in 1928. It’s been a while since I’ve walked that far down Broadway, but that sidewalk looks remarkably wide. The sign in the background puzzles me a little. It reads “We Sell Homes Payable Like Rent.” So in other words mortgage? But it’s the semaphore traffic signal that really has me stumped. Usually you see them on street corners, so what is it doing in the middle of the block? If it’s some sort of crosswalk, it’s not working because all those automobiles and streetcars are ignoring the “STOP” sign.
I couldn’t recreate the 1928 view but it looks to me like the building in the background is this one we can see in this January 2022 image of the northeast corner of Broadway and 11th.
Very good building sleuthing, Martin! And that answers your traffic signal question, since that building is set on the corner of Broadway and 11th. The signal does appear to be set back aways, but it may just be the angle the photo was taken, making it appear to be in nowhere near a corner. Either that or they had very wide crosswalks to go with their very wide sidewalks, which put the signals farther back then they would be today.
Broadway has 17′ sidewalks and a 56′ roadway on a 90′ right of way. Most sidewalks are 10′ to 12′. The Acme signals were located nearside of the intersection just at or prior to the crosswalk which, in this case, is just outside of the photo. The vehicles are stopped and queuing upstream of the crosswalk.
Thanks for filling us in, John.
The Los Angeles Investment Company, among others, sold “kit” houses in the ’20s. Without seeing a company name, I would believe the sign refers to “kit” house sales.
John Bengtson recently posted some very interesting information on this block and the buildings in his silent film locations blog (here): https://silentlocations.com/2024/03/02/harold-lloyd-dorothy-devore-movie-pilot-frank-clarke-stunt-birds-of-a-feather/