Tag Archives: Gas stations
Standard Oil gas station at the corner of Beverly Blvd and La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, circa late 1920s
I never experienced the era of gas station attendants wearing bow ties and caps, who would pump your gas and clean your windshield for you, but it sure must have been nice. This Standard Oil gas station stood at the … Continue reading
Neon lights up the Mark C. Bloome gas station and tire store at 6210 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, 1943
I would imagine that by day, the Mark C. Bloome gas station and tire store on the southwest corner of Sunset Blvd and El Centro Ave in Hollywood would have been unremarkable. But come nightfall, with the lights switched on, … Continue reading
Four attendants working the Union gas station, 4004 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, 1932
This one comes from the “They Sure Don’t Do It Like That Anymore” file. This photo of a Union gas station at 4004 Wilshire Blvd (which puts it at the intersection with Wilton Place) is from 1932 and I can … Continue reading
Looking west along Beverly Blvd from San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, 1944
In this 1944 photo, we’re looking west along Beverly Blvd where it’s crossed by San Vicente Blvd. At first glance, I assume that gorgeous tower sat atop a movie theater, I guess because it reminded me of the Fox Westwood … Continue reading
A color shot of Westwood Village, Los Angeles, circa 1950s
I love this circa 1950s shot of Westwood Village (next to UCLA) mostly because it feels so very 50s: those big cars, the Standard Oil gas station, lots of room on the roads, that old-style Ralphs supermarket sign. Although it’s … Continue reading
National Kanteen and Magnus Root Beer restaurant and Texaco gas station, 766 Vine St, Hollywood, circa late 1920s
Although 766 Vine Street is in the heart of Hollywood (just south of Waring Ave), I love how small-town-local this photo feels. It’s probably from the very late 1920s, and shows us a two-pump Texaco gas station teamed with a … Continue reading
Richfield gas station on the NW corner of Fairfax and Drexel Avenues, Los Angeles, 1931
The original caption of this 1931 photo of people walking toward the northwest corner of Fairfax and Drexel Avenues was the dual-lamp streetlight. But what really caught my eye was (a) the Richfield gas station regular gas for 8½ cents … Continue reading
Calpet gas station, 3237 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, circa 1928
When was the last time you saw a gas station with a roof tiled in a gorgeous geometric pattern, 15-foot gates with fancy grillwork, and attendants wearing some sort of harem-in-the-Arabian-desert uniform? I’m guess it’s been a LONG time. But … Continue reading
Union Oil gas station, Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, circa early 1940s
Judging from the 1940 Chevrolet getting gas in this Union Oil service station, it’s likely that this oh-so-film-noir-ish night shot was taken some time in the early 1940s. If you look at the street lighting in this picture, you’ll see … Continue reading
The Associated gas station on the northeast corner of Rexford Drive and Burton Way, Beverly Hills, 1941
I can’t imagine that the standard greeting at this Associated Gas station was to receive a fresh gardenia from a pretty girl but it sure makes for a nice photo. It was taken on the northeast corner of Rexford Drive … Continue reading