I love these slice-of-life photos taken during LA’s yesteryear. These people were standing under the overhang of Hody’s diner on the northwest corner of Hollywood Blvd and Vine St. I imagine/assume that the photo was taken by the husband of one of the women in the center of the photo, but there are other details that interesting: the shape of the streetlamps along Vine St, the hat-shaped sign of the Brown Derby; and the trashcan marked “Waste Receptacle For Pedestrian Use.” Who else would use it? Motorists? This photo was taken some time in the 1950s.
I thought the auto-colorizer did a pretty good job bringing this scene to life.
This is how that view looked in November 2021.
Trash receptacle not for business use
Ah! That makes more sense. Thanks!
Well you won’t believe this, and I always forget to check it myself, but if we go by your places list then this photo can’t be any later than 1944. Why? The “IT” CAFE sign is still up there down Vine at the Hollywood Plaza Hotel and the venue changed that year: https://martinturnbull.com/hollywood-places/places-e-to-k/
So all those torpedo-boats-on-tires are pre-war designs that will be updated for a short while until the new mosquito fleet of autos come out in 1948.
Oddly though, other info. by John F. here previously, inducates the shotgun signs are no earlier than 1946. There’s a mix of street lamp versions still. (Someone pointed out blackout hoods lasted into mid 1944.) The Keyhole doorway over by Melody Lane (later Hody’s) is reflected in glass at The Broadway’s display windows. There may be a few more clues in there.
You’re right. According to the info I was able to piece together, It Cafe became Les Comiques in 1944. But it’s also possible that Les Comiques didn’t immediately change the name on the side of the marquee. Especially if the shotgun signs are no earlier than 1946.
Western Airlines had an office to the south of the Brown Derby, hence their billboard under the Brown Derby sign. If anyone knows how long or when Western Airlines was there the date might get narrowed down.
Your colorized photo made me realize there are sailors and other uniformed men across the street in front of the Broadway Store.