I could find very little information on this photo, but here’s what I could piece together: It was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt for Life Magazine in 1936. That’s a 1933 Ford Victoria going for a drive in what I presume to be the Hollywood Hills. But as that house under construction appears to be on its own, my *guess* is that the photo wasn’t taken in Hollywoodland as I’d have thought by the mid-1930s, there might have been more development. Wherever that house is/was, I can see why the owners built there: it looks like it commanded a wonderful view across Los Angeles.
** UPDATE ** – Other location suggestions on Facebook were Los Feliz, the Trousdale Estates, Mulholland Dr. going up from the Cahuenga side, or Laurel Canyon looking east across Hollywood.
It appears that the house is being built in a developed area as there is street lighting. Maybe the style of the lamppost might reveal the general location. To the left is the walkway to what one could surmise is another house with a front lawn and sprinkler system. If we shout loud enough the guy on the roof might tell us where we are. Eisenstaedt posed the car (it is parked as the front wheels are not turned into the road curve) to obtain the composition he sought. He was an excellent stillman.
Thanks, Martin for the memories! I think you are right. The photo has to have been taken near the Hollywood sign, aka Hollywoodland. Actually, it was pioneer movie producer Mack Sennett who brought much attention to the area, wanting to build a house there. I think he opted to stay in Studio City where he had his production company. However, it was LA Times publisher Harry Chandler who developed lots of property in the Hills. If you head up Beachwood Drive up to the sign you’ll spot some cute cottage type homes (now reconverted), but stylish, probably for folks in the movie industry. You had to have money as this was during the Depression. My guess it was folks who worked at Paramount. Bottom, there were more people in the movie industry who could afford a house, much less a new Ford! Thanks, Martin. Keep the pix rolling!
PS. A fun note about Harry Chandler. He acquired and sold a large portion of land in Hollywood and North Hollywood, making him one of the largest landowners in the country. That said, he walked to work, or at least did not use a car much. And he was the publisher of the LA Times. There was also a pollution problem in the 1930s, and that could be a reason. He lived a frugal life and supported the Salvation Army. An American hero. He passed at age 80 in 1944, and Chandler Avenue in No Ho is named after him. I often wonder where the name came from everytime I’m stuck at the light there. I thought it was named after mystery writer Raymond Chandler!