A few days ago, I posted a photo from the mid-1930s of Frank Sebastian’s Cotton Club at the intersection of Washington and National Blvd in Culver City. During my research, I came across this interesting aerial photo. Before this place was the Cotton Club, it was a nightclub called The Green Mill. It opened in 1923 (three years into Prohibition) and this photo was taken in 1924. I’m guessing that circular thing out front was a fountain, but it appears to be empty. And look at all that empty land around it, not to mention that enormous parking lot. I guess back then land in Culver City was cheap and plentiful.
Matt H says: “Such a cool photo. For some perspective, we’re looking northwest. Washington Blvd. is running diagonally in the foreground, Venice parallel to it on the opposite side of the property, and National Blvd connecting them, behind it.”
This appears to be some sort of billboard advertising “New Green Mill Being Erected Now” which means this photo is from 1923.
In a plot twist that will surprise nobody, all that empty land is now fully developed. This aerial image of the same area was taken in May 2022.
Yesterday’s photo of Sunset Blvd
A couple of days ago, I posted a night shot of the 
Simon’s Restaurants were a large chain of LA restaurants in the 30s and 40s. I found this photo on a blog post by Alison Martino in which she said this one was near the Orpheum Theater in downtown LA. I have a Simon’s menu that lists 26 different locations, and one of them is at 830 S. Broadway, which puts it right next door. The fact that this sign says “Restaurants” with an s indicates to me that this might have been their headquarters with a restaurant on the ground floor. My contact at the Petersen said that he’s almost positive that magnificent automobile parked out front is a 1933 Pierce-Arrow, so let’s call this photo “circa mid-1930s.”
How cute is this gas station with a miniature Goodyear blimp over their pumps?! It stood at the corner of S. La Brea Ave and W. 2nd St, which puts it not far from the La Brea Tar Pits. From the words “Vulcanizing” and “Tire Service” in the background, I’m guessing this gas station also did a roaring trade in tires, which explains the mini Goodyear blimp. This photo is from 1931, so those two Angelenos were lucky to have job in the depth of the Depression.
I do love a well-lit nighttime shot, especially when it featured signage of backlit letters. This was the CBS radio studios, known as Columbia Square. The KNX featured on the blade sign refers to the CBS affiliate radio station for Los Angeles. Columbia Square opened on April 30, 1938 and this photo was taken in 1939, so the place was still so brand-spanking new that the linoleum probably still smelled of that fresh-out-of-the factory aroma.
Here we have a photo that hearkens back to the days when we had grocery stores that displayed their fruit and vegetables out on the street. Shopping Bag was a chain of grocery stores that began with a little store on Wilshire Blvd in 1930. This location was at the southwest corner of Honolulu Ave and Market St, Montrose, north of Glendale. The billboard appears to be advertising Honey-Meel Bread, whose slogan was “Tastes Better Toasts Better.” At the bottom, there appears to be a reference to the Lone Ranger, whose radio show started in 1933, so perhaps Honey-Meel was a sponsor? So I’m dating this photo circa mid-1930s.
One of the most colorful characters to come out of Culver City was an energetic entrepreneur named Frank Sebastian. Over his multi-decade career, he owned many venues, but the one he’s best known for was Sebastian’s Cotton Club at the intersection of Washington and National Blvds. He transformed the former Green Mill into one of the most respected jazz joints in LA. He sure gave its patrons value for money with “3 shows nitely” as we can see in this photo which I’m guessing was taken when the club was at the height of its popularity, during the Depression. Sebastian shuttered the Cotton Club in 1938 and in 1939 reopened it as Casa Manaña.
When I think of Technicolor (and I often do) I think of their large, white, 3-story building at 6311 Romaine St. in Hollywood. So I was somewhat surprised when someone sent me this photo asking if I knew they had a different building prior to the Romaine location. These headquarters stood at 823 Seward St in Hollywood, which puts it around 8 blocks west of Paramount. It was built in 1930 and so I assume this photo was taken within a year or two.
