Category Archives: Uncategorized
Looking south toward Santa Monica on Roosevelt Highway (later Pacific Coast Hwy) proving that parking has always been a challenge on a sunny, beach-worthy day, circa 1920s
In this photo looking south toward Santa Monica on Roosevelt Highway (later Pacific Coast Hwy) we modern-day Angelenos can take some sort of comfort knowing that those who came before us also found parking to be a challenge on a … Continue reading
Colorized postcard of the entrance Dragon Gorge roller coaster, Ocean Park, Los Angeles, circa 1912
In the 10+ years I’ve been posting daily photos of Hollywood/Los Angeles/Southern California, I’ve never even heard of the structure pictured in this postcard. This was the dramatic entrance to a roller coaster called the Dragon Gorge Scenic Railway, whose … Continue reading
Children crowd around a traveling branch of the Los Angeles Public Library at Stonehurst Avenue Elementary School, 9851 Stonehurst Ave, Sun Valley, May 18, 1957
Until I came across this photo, I’d have thought that every elementary school in America in the 1950s would have had a library. But I gather from this photo that enough of them lacked libraries for the LA Public Library … Continue reading
Chapter 1 preview of “Selznick’s Spotlight” by Martin Turnbull, Book 2 in the Hollywood’s Greatest Year trilogy
Hello fans of golden-era Hollywood, Turner Classic Movies, Gone with the Wind, Vivien Leigh, David O. Selznick, Rebecca, and all things 1939! Last week, I revealed the title, cover art, and description of my upcoming novel, Selznick’s Spotlight. I’ll be … Continue reading
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Night shot of the Bell & Howell building, 716 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, 1936
Bell & Howell was one of the top manufacturers who serviced the motion picture industry. TheY began with projectors, and then expanded their product line tp cameras, film printing and perforators (does anyone know what perforators did?) And it was … Continue reading
Aerial view showing four pleasure piers – Santa Monica Pier, Crystal Pier, Ocean Park Pier, Venice Pier, Los Angeles, circa 1930s
In the 1930s, pleasure-seeking Angelenos certainly weren’t starved for choice when looking for some beachside fun. This aerial shot shows four “pleasure piers” built one next to the other. From the top down, there’s the Santa Monica Pier, Crystal Pier, … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Beaches, Santa Monica, Santa Monica pier, Venice Beach
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A 1950 Ford convertible drives past the NBC television studios on the northeast corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St, Hollywood, circa early 1950s
The NBC network opened its radio studios on the northeast corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St on October 17, 1938, but by the time that black 1950 Ford convertible drove past it, NBC had converted its studios to television. … Continue reading
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Tagged Color photo, NBC Radio / Television, Sunset Blvd, Television
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Looking along the Santa Monica pier past the Blue Streak Racer roller coaster and the Looff Hippodrome, Santa Monica, California, circa 1922
In this circa 1922 photo, we’re looking along the Santa Monica pier from the shoreline out toward the Pacific. It looks like there was plenty of diversion for Angelenos. The ornate building with the cupola was (and still is) the … Continue reading
Looking west along Sunset Blvd toward the Hollywood Palladium where Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra were playing, Los Angeles, November 9, 1949
In this gorgeously atmospheric nighttime shot we’re looking west along Sunset Blvd from El Centro Ave toward the Hollywood Palladium. On the night of November 9, 1949, the headline act was Tex Beneke who was playing with the Glenn Miller … Continue reading
The Edith Jane School of Dancing (aka the Falcon School) at 5610 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, circa 1937
According to the caption for this photo, the building with the arches at 5610 Hollywood Blvd, housed the Edith Jane School of Dancing. It was also known as the Falcon School, but I prefer the first name. The picture is … Continue reading