I couldn’t find any details of this photo of Angelenos passing by a branch of the Bank of America on Wilshire Blvd, so I can’t even tell you the cross street. But it does strike me as somewhat unnerving to see a lack of lanes painted anywhere on Wilshire as late as 1932, when this photo was taken. That dapper pedestrian in the hat, however, seems quite unperturbed. Behind him is what back then was a new-fangled three-light traffic signal— in late 1931, Wilshire Blvd was the first street to replace the semaphore signals. And behind the traffic signal is the Wilshire Special streetlight only found along Wilshire Blvd.
**UPDATE** – Glen H said: “A super blowup of the photo reveals “La Brea” on the street sign. The view is to the Southwest, between La Brea Ave and Detroit St. The entire block has been cleared for the Metro D (Purple) Line station. There was still a Bank of America on the southwest corner of Wilshire and La Brea until 2015.”
I think the corner sign reads La Brea. Surprised me…with the north-south city rail line crossing here, I as expecting maybe by Vermont. There’s a Richfield station across the road and wall signage for the Southern California Music Company with a four-digit Wilshire Blvd. address. Is this the edge of the city where those light standards stopped?
The letters are dark on a light background, not the reverse we often expect. You have to adjust your eyes to read it that way.
Am I mistaken or does that dapper gentleman appear to have a stemmed cocktail in his right hand?? I enlarged the photo to take a closer look.
Thanks, Martin. Welcome back! We’ve missed your photos! I agree, where are the lanes? Unless, a new road was just tarred. Perhaps why they took the photo in the first place. Looks smooth! Of course, in 1931, the height of the Depression, how many folks had cars. Always thought the semaphore lights were creative, the old STOP/GO signals. They turn up a lot in vintage movies. The problem (or common malfunction), the STOP/GO arms would get stuck or go bananas! Three Stooges material. I agree, the dapper gent looks like he has a cocktail in one hand. Maybe it was a mini celebration for re-paving the road.
Another thing. Think of all the horses and wagons that crossed the area, which probably was a semi dirt road about 30 years earlier. Same with Sunset Boulevard (back in the old days) catering to horse traffic. Todays generation wouldn’t know what in tarnation y’all talkin’ about!
Welcome back. Missed you and hope you had a brilliant time away from it all (and “it all” has been an adventure!)