These days, of course, downtown Los Angeles is a jungle of skyscrapers and huge sprawling buildings, but once upon a Victorian time, it was peppered with mansions like this one. It was known as the Hildreth mansion, named after Reverend Edward T. Hildreth, who built his home in 1889 at 357 S. Hope St on the northwest corner of 4th St. This photo is circa 1928, by which time the Hildreth family were all gone and, like so many of its neighbors, had become a boarding house. And also like its neighbors, fell victim to urban renewal and was demolished in around 1954.
This is the northwest corner of Hope and 4th in February 2021:
And here’s one more colorful holiday photo of Hollywood Blvd for this year. In this one we’re looking west along Hollywood Blvd toward Highland Ave, December 1953. In among the “snowy” Christmas trees and silver bells, we can see the sign for the Hollywood Hotel that stood on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Highland. And behind it, we can glimpse the hotel’s red-tiled roof. The place would only be around for 3 more years. The photographer was probably standing in front of what is now McDonalds on Hollywood Blvd’s south side.
Here’s some LA history in the making. Admittedly it’s rather sad history, but I’m glad someone thought to take a photo. This is a shot of a Pacific Electric Red Car making its final ride through Hollywood on December 28, 1952. It’s running south on Highland Ave and has stopped at Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood Hotel would have stood just out of frame to the left, but we can see the Hollywood Hotel Florist sign. The hotel itself would only last four more years before it fell to the wrecking ball.
By painting their sign fire-engine red, I assume United Cigar wanted to ensure you could see their store—from fourteen blocks away. Mission accomplished, I’d say. This store stood at 6th and Hill Streets in downtown Los Angeles—that’s Pershing Square in the background. This photo is from 1952, when the square was still filled with lush greenery and plenty of shade from the LA sun.
It’s hard to tell how big this Christmas tree decoration was but I’m guessing impressively large as it stood out front of the May Company’s flagship department store at the northeast corner of Wilshire Blvd and Fairfax Ave. This photo is circa 1963, but in a way, it’s actually kind of timeless. If those trees were still put up this time of year, driving along Wilshire at night would be a winter wonderland pleasure.
In this photo, we’re looking north up Main St from Fourth St in downtown Los Angeles, circa 1924. It’s one of the less crowded photos I’ve seen of downtown LA from the 1920s. Usually the streets and sidewalks are packed with activity. Note how the cars are all practically identical! But I especially love the streetlamps. With four smaller globes surround a larger one on top, they must have made a pretty sight at night. And that temple-like building on the left caught my eye, too. Turns out it’s the Farmers and Merchant’s National Bank. So it is a temple – to commerce.
One of the delights hidden among the curves and folds of the Hollywoodland development are these remarkable stairs. The Hollywoodland Stairs, also known as the Saroyan Stairs, can be found at the intersection of N Beachwood and Woodshire Drives. The two rows of 148 granite steps with planters in the middle lead up to Belden Drive. They were built in 1923, which is the same year that the Hollywoodland development offered lots for sale. The Hollywoodland sign went up in November of that same year.
Here’s another shot of those electrified metal Christmas trees lining Hollywood Blvd. This one is from 1933. The wet and rainy street gives an extra layer of atmosphere, doesn’t it? Those two radio towers for KFWB stood on the Warner Bros. theater at 6433 Hollywood Blvd, which means we’re looking east from around Whitley Ave.
There are some photos I just want to dive into, and here is one of them. This is the Ralph’s supermarket at Crenshaw Blvd and Manchester Ave in Inglewood in 1956. Maybe it’s the rich (Kodachrome?) color, maybe it’s that Art Deco tower with the pastel patchwork, maybe it’s all those 1950s cars. Whatever reason, I feel like I’m standing beside the photographer in the parking lot before we walk inside and pick up a few groceries.
