Category Archives: Uncategorized
Aerial photo of the old RKO studios rebranded as Desilu Studios Inc, Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, circa late 1950s
After Howard Hughes had bought, mismanaged, and bankrupted RKO studios on Melrose Ave, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s company bought it and rebranded it Desilu Studios Inc. That transaction happened in late 1957, so this aerial shot was probably taken … Continue reading
Aerial photo of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company, 6701 S. Central Ave, Los Angeles, 1923
When the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company factory built their factory at 6701 South Central Ave south of downtown Los Angeles between 1919 and 1920, the land around them was empty. And it was still largely empty a few years … Continue reading
Night view looking west past the Warner Hollywood Theatre, 6433 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, 1937
We’re looking west along Hollywood Blvd toward the Warner Theater, which opened in 1928. The movie featured on the marquee is “Dead End” which was the United Artists picture that spawned the well-known “Dead End Kids.” Those two spotlights blazing … Continue reading
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Tagged Hollywood, Hollywood Blvd, Movie Premiere, Night photo, Warner Bros.
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A bright pink 1957 Lincoln Premiere pulls up outside Ciro’s nightclub, 8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, circa late 1950s
From the early 1940s to the late 1950s, Ciro’s at 8433 Sunset Blvd in the heart of the Sunset Strip was the premier nightclub in all of Los Angeles. In this photo, a bright pink 1957 Lincoln Premiere pulls into … Continue reading
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Tagged Advertisement, Ciro's nightclub, Color photo, Night photo, Nightclubs, Sunset Blvd
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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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