Tag Archives: Aerial photographs
Aerial shot of the NBC Studios at Sunset and Vine, Hollywood, circa mid 1950s
Nearly all shots of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood focus on the NBC radio (and later television) studios on the northeast corner. But this aerial shot shows us how big those studios were. They covered the whole block … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Hollywood, NBC Radio / Television, Radio, Sunset Blvd
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Aerial view of the “Thief of Bagdad” set at the Pickford-Fairbanks Studios, Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, 1923
Back in 1923, when Douglas Fairbanks was making “The Thief of Bagdad” (1924) at the Pickford-Fairbanks Studios at Santa Monica Blvd and Formosa Ave, the locals were treated to the splendid sight of the movie’s enormous Arabian set. Given the … Continue reading
Aerial shot of First National / Warner Bros. Studios soundstage with sign to Mines Airfield, 1928
At first glance of this aerial shot of First National / Warner Bros. Studios, I wondered what mines are in LA? And why would Warners paint a huge sign on top of one of their soundstages pointing to one? But … Continue reading
Construction of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Disneyland, circa late 1954
I almost didn’t want to post this photo because a part of me wants to think that magic fairy dust built Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland in one sparkling cinematic moment. But no. Real men sitting on real scaffolding put … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Anaheim, Disney, Disneyland, Themeparks
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Aerial shot of new development between Wilshire Blvd and Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, 1924
It’s hard to think Los Angeles land ever being this empty, even as recently as 1924, when this aerial was taken. We’re looking a swath of land to the immediate west of what we now think of as Century City. … Continue reading
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Tagged 20th Century-Fox, Aerial photographs, Los Angeles, Wilshire Blvd
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Aerial view of Wilshire Blvd from MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, circa 1930s
In a view that I can only assume was taken from an aircraft, we’re looking east along Wilshire Blvd after it passes through MacArthur Park, makes a 45-degree turn, then heads due west. We can see the striking tower of … Continue reading
Aerial view of the Beverly Hills Speedway during a racing event in 1922
The Beverly Hills Speedway was an enormous (1.25-mile) racetrack made of wood that stood south of Wilshire from 1920 to 1924 between Lasky Drive to the west and Beverly Drive to the east. In this aerial photo we can see … Continue reading
Aerial view of the Garden of Allah Hotel, Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, circa 1940s
A previously unseen (by me, at least) photo of the Garden of Allah Hotel is always cause of excitement around these here parts. (My thanks to Jerry for sending me this one.) It’s odd that there is neither a car … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Color photo, Hotels, Sunset Blvd, The Garden of Allah Hotel
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Buster Keaton’s Lone Star Studio, 1025 Lillian Way, Hollywood, circa early to mid 1920s
In this aerial photograph of Hollywood, we can see Buster Keaton’s Lone Star Studio at 1025 Lillian Way, just west of Vine Street. In the pre-talkie era, movies didn’t need sound stages so they were often open-air so as to … Continue reading
Aerial view Tarzana Ranch, the estate of Tarzan author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles circa 1920s
Apparently it paid very, very well to write stories about a guy raised in the African jungle. In March 1919, Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of the Tarzan books, bought 550 acres of land from L.A. Times owner Harrison Gray Otis … Continue reading