Tag Archives: Beverly Hills

Studio portraitist George Hurrell in his photographic studio, 333 Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 1942

This photo gives us some insight into how high-glamor portraits were taken during those golden days of the Hollywood studio system. George Hurrell came to MGM in the late 1920s after Ramon Novarro showed Norma Shearer some portraits he’d had … Continue reading

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A morning ride with the Los Angeles Riding Academy, which opened its second branch at The Beverly Hills Hotel

It’s amazing to me that people used to go for morning horse rides around Beverly Hills at all, let alone to start and end at the Beverly Hills Hotel. These oh-so-properly dressed riders were with the Los Angeles Riding Academy, … Continue reading

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Mary Pickford (in the white suit) entertains young Royal Air Force students at Pickfair, Beverly Hills, 1944

When Mary Pickford was married to Douglas Fairbanks (1920 to 1936) their palatial estate, Pickfair, was filled with visiting royalty and A-list stars of stage and screen. After they split up, and Mary later married Buddy Rogers (1937 to her … Continue reading

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Ralph’s supermarket at Wilshire Blvd and Crescent Dr., Beverly Hills, 1949

One of my favorite styles of architecture that you see in some of the older buildings around Los Angeles is the soaring tower whose purpose is purely ornamental. It’s probably got an official name but I think of it as … Continue reading

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Looking northeast near the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd and N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, circa 1920

In this circa 1920 photo taken near the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd and N. Beverly Dr in Beverly Hills, we can see the lily pond in Beverly Gardens Park with its original (electrified!) Beverly Hills sign. There is still … Continue reading

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Wilshire Coffee Pot cafe, 8601 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, circa 1925

What better shape for a café than a coffee pot? In this circa 1925 photo, we’re treated to the Wilshire Coffee Pot café at 8601 Wilshire Blvd on the northwest corner of Stanley Drive in Beverly Hills. The sign reads: … Continue reading

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Dolores Drive-in on the northeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Le Doux Rd, Beverly Hills, circa early 1950s

I love how the drive-in restaurants of Los Angeles were often repurposed once the life of the original business had run its course. In a former life this had been a Carpenter’s sandwich stand – home of the 15 cent … Continue reading

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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

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Creswell Drug Store, 8801 Wilshire Blvd at Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, circa 1937

When I found this circa 1937 shot of the Creswell Drug Store, 8801 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, I hoped that the Spanish Colonial Revival style building with the gorgeous cupola atop its turret had survived the wrecking ball, but … Continue reading

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Beacon Laundry, 9134 Wilshire Blvd, one block west of Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, 1940

When the owners of a dry cleaning business decided to open up shop in a mini mall at 9134 Wilshire Blvd, one block west of Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills, they took the name of their store – Beacon Laundry … Continue reading

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