By the masses of paper strewn across the intersection of Fair Oaks Ave and Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, on New Year’s Day in 1950, I say that some big-time partying went on the previous night. I don’t know that time this photo was taken, but there are a lot of people around—probably for the Tournament of Roses Parade that happens every New Year’s Day. I’m guessing those two streetcars marked “Special” have something to do with the parade, which goes down Colorado Blvd.
Aerial photograph of Griffith Observatory as it nears completion, Los Angeles, 1935
This aerial photograph of Griffith Observatory was taken as it neared completion in 1935. (Its official opening was on May 14.) We can see that development between the observatory and Los Feliz Blvd (the straight line near the top of the photo) is fairly sparse. That’s not the case any more. Every square inch of land north of the boulevard is now filled with lovely homes up to where the foothills of Mt Hollywood start to rise up.
A satellite photo from 2020 showing much the same view.
Here’s a closer shot of the Griffith Observatory.
Ida Hancock’s Villa Madama, on the northeast corner of Wilshire Blvd and Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, 1930
In 1909, Ida Hancock, the widow of Major Henry Hancock (owner of Rancho La Brea, which included the La Brea Tar Pits), built a 23-room home that she called Villa Madama on the northeast corner of Wilshire Blvd and Vermont Ave. This shot is from 1930, when the place only had 8 more years in existence before it was razed. These days, you’d never know something so grand ever existed there.
The same view in March 2020. Quite a difference, isn’t it?
Wright’s LTD Importers at Le Conte Ave and Westwood Blvd, Westwood Village, circa 1920s
This shot of Wright’s LTD Importers on Westwood Blvd in Westwood Village reminds us how commercial buildings were designed with such an eye for detail that you don’t often see these days. Those urn-shaped decorations spaced along the roof, the shutters on the windows, the thin metal balustrade around the second floor. From the look of the car parked out front, I’d say this photo is circa 1920s. Wright’s official address was 10906 Le Conte Ave and the building stood on the southwest corner of Le Conte and Westwood Blvd.
This is how it looks today:
Here are some closer shots to see the detailing more clearly:
Richfield Building lit up at night, 555 South Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles
The Richfield Building at 555 South Flower St, downtown LA was a feast of architectural wonder for the eyes during the day, and different sort of feast by night. I thought this was a particularly gorgeous shot framed with foliage in the (I assume) gardens of the LA Central Library. I don’t know when this photo was taken, but by from the sight of that house in the background, I’d say it’s from early in the tower’s 1929 to 1969 lifetime.
Even the street sign was classy!
You can see more photos of the Richfield tower here.
Looking north from Santa Monica Blvd, between Rodeo Dr and Beverly Blvd, Beverly Hills, 1921
I’m eternally glad that someone thought to bring along a camera or photographer when they went up in an airplane or the Goodyear blimp; aerial shots like this give us a whole different perspective. In this 1921 photo facing north, Santa Monica Blvd is along the bottom. Beverly Dr is running up the center of the photo, and Rodeo Drive on the left. Note the bridle path down the center of Rodeo. Prior to 1920, it was used as a one-trolley car system (known locally as “Dinky”) that took people from the Pacific Electric station at Canon Dr and Santa Monica Blvd) to the Beverly Hills Hotel, which we can juuuuust see in the background.
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Streetcars
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Three women stand on Wilshire Blvd opposite the Beverly Theater in Beverly Hills, circa early 1940s
I look at photos like this circa early 1940s shot and wonder what those three women standing on Wilshire Blvd were talking about? Were they saying goodbye after lunch at Nate and Al’s or the Brown Derby? Were they saying hello and talking about where to luncheon? Or were they tossing up whether or not to go see the Fred MacMurray film at the Beverly Theatre behind them. It opened in 1925 and its striking onion dome was a Beverly Hills landmark until the theatre was raised in 2005. I wish I’d had a chance to see it in its original glory – the opulent interior decor included murals based on the Arabian Nights, and a proscenium arch in the circular shape of a Chinese moon gate.
A 1927 view of the Beverly Theatre:
Roughly that same view in April 2019:
Aerial photograph of Beachwood Drive leading up to the Hollywoodland sign, 1924
In this spectacular aerial photograph, we can follow Beachwood Drive as it meanders up into the Hollywood hills until it terminates near the Hollywood sign. The reason why the sign is so bright and clear is because the sign went up in 1923 and this photo was taken in 1924. We can see that development was still mainly on the level ground with only a few homeowners venturing further up into the hillsides to nab the best views.
Douglas W says: “The actress, Spring Byington, owned the last house up on Beachwood. More houses may have been added in later years.”
A streetcar approaches to the intersection of Boyle Ave and 1st Street, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, 1895
Along with Angelino Heights to the north of downtown L.A., Boyle Heights to the city’s east is one of the places where Los Angeles’s 10-million-people sprawl first began. In this photo from 1895, we see a streetcar approach the intersection of Boyle Ave and 1st Street. The city is so far away that we can’t see it, which made the 1st St Streetcar a vital link to the people who lived here (as did the Temple St streetcar did for the residents of Angelino Heights) and allowed Los Angeles to spread further than the confines of downtown.
Roughly that same view in April 2019. Miraculously, the building has survived the ravages of 20th century redevelopment:
And in the “They Sure Don’t Build ‘em Like This Anymore” category, we’ve got this richly detailed office building that stretched the block of Wilshire Blvd between Kenmore Ave and Catalina St. This photo is from 1930, when the main tenant was an insurance company—boring old insurance and it looks like an upscale showroom in Beverly Hills! At the western end was a popular (Italian, I assume) restaurant called Mona Lisa, and on the far right we can see the Gaylord Apartments, which are still with us.
