Author Archives: Martin Turnbull
Color photo of a Pacific Electric red car as it trundles through Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, April 13, 1954
I could find scant information about this color photo of a Pacific Electric red car. It was taken on April 13, 1954 as the streetcar was trundling through Beverly Hills. I assume it was running along the Santa Monica Blvd … Continue reading
Looking east along Wilshire Blvd from Detroit St, Los Angeles, May 1932
In this May 1932 photo looking east along Wilshire Blvd from Detroit St, a few things catch my eye. Look at all that gorgeous detailing along the top of the building on the right. It almost looks like it’s wearing … Continue reading
Color night shot of a Texaco gas station on 3237 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, circa early 1930s
Imagine driving home one night along Wilshire Blvd, you realize you need to fill the tank, and the next gas station in your headlights has red tiles in a striking geometric pattern and a dome that looks like it had … Continue reading
Countless almost-identical automobiles fill the parking lot of the Beverly Hills Speedway, circa 1920
The Beverly Hills Speedway opened on February 28, 1920 on a lot bounded by Wilshire Blvd, South Beverly Dr, Olympic Blvd, S. Lasky Dr. It was a wood-boarded, oval-shaped race track with seating for an impressive 70,000 race fans. It … Continue reading
A new electric streetcar passes an old cable streetcar at the corner of Spring and 1st Streets, downtown Los Angeles, 1896
One name for this 1896 photo could be “Out with the Old, In with the New.” A new electric streetcar is passing an old cable streetcar at the corner of Spring and 1st Streets in downtown LA, looking south. And … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 1800s, Downtown Los Angeles, Horses, Stores and Shopping, Streetcars
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Up-and-coming starlet Rita Hayworth on the northeast corner of Wilshire Blvd and N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 1939
In 1939, Rita Hayworth was still an up-and-coming starlet (she had a minor role in “Only Angels Have Wings” starring Cary Grand and Jean Arthur) when she posed for this photo stepping off the northeast corner of Wilshire Blvd and … Continue reading
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Tagged Beverly Hills, Movie Stars, Theaters, Warner Bros., Wilshire Blvd
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Aerial photo looking east along Santa Monica Blvd from Beverly Hills toward Hollywood, Los Angeles, circa 1924
In this rather amazing aerial photograph, we looking east from Beverly Hills. That main street is Santa Monica Blvd and what used to be known locally as “Little Santa Monica Blvd” is where those train tracks are. (The small building … Continue reading
A Southern Pacific GS-3 class locomotive with passenger carriages stops at the corner of Alameda and Aliso Streets, downtown Los Angeles, circa 1939
Whenever I see a photo like this, I’m often amazed to see a locomotive pulling a line of passenger carriages along a track laid out along city streets. Maybe it was a common sight back then, but it still makes … Continue reading
The Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures 1939 (detailing 1938)
I recently acquired a copy of the the Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures for 1939. Their year books were thick, hard-bound bricks of books that detailed what everything, everyone, every studio, every contract player was doing. Very comprehensive! … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged MGM, Monogram Studios, Movie Stars, Movie Studios, Paramount Pictures, United Artists, Universal Studios, Warner Bros.
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J.C. Penney store, 1202 3rd St, Santa Monica, California, 1949
Not all buildings have to be grand and ornate to catch the eye. They can also be striking with simple, clean lines like this J.C. Penney store. It stood at 1202 3rd St, Santa Monica, on the corner of Wilshire … Continue reading