Tag Archives: Hotels
Looking west along Requena St (later Market St) toward North Main St, downtown Los Angeles, circa 1890
Most of the pre-1900 photos I’ve seen of downtown Los Angeles show a bustling metropolis, crowded with pedestrians, streets cars, horses, carts, and the odd dog. But this tranquil scene is quite different. We’re looking west along Requena St (later … Continue reading
Looking north up Ivar Ave from around Selma Ave toward The Broadway Hollywood store and Plaza Hotel signs, Hollywood, circa mid 1930s
This mid-1930s photo from Life magazine shows us a slice of Hollywood that no longer exists. We’re looking north up Ivar Ave from around Selma Ave right in the heart of Hollywood. If it wasn’t for those hard-to-miss signs for … Continue reading
Angelenos fill the park benches of a leafy Pershing Square in the heart of downtown Los Angeles circa 1920s or 30s
Here’s another reminder of how leafy and green and shady Pershing Square in the heart of downtown Los Angeles used to be. Look at all those people (all men, as far as I can see—where were the women? At home … Continue reading
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Tagged Biltmore Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles, Hotels, Pershing Square
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Roy Knabenshue flies his 13-passenger dirigible over the Raymond Hotel, Pasadena, California, 1913
Roy Knabenshue was an aeronautical engineer and aviator, who worked with the Wright brothers, so he was there at the very start of aviation. He was big into dirigibles and was the first person to make a dirigible flight over … Continue reading
The listing for the Garden of Allah Hotel in the Los Angeles Extended Area telephone directory for March 1937
I was recently gifted with four Los Angeles telephone books from the 1930s and ’40s. Naturally, the first thing I looked up was the Garden of Allah Hotel, where my Hollywood’s Garden of Allah novels are set. And there it … Continue reading
View looking east along Wilshire Blvd from Camden Dr., Beverly Hills circa 1936
I wish Wilshire Blvd still looked this calm and peaceful. We’re looking east along Wilshire from Camden Dr. in Beverly Hills circa 1936. This was before Rodeo Dr. became the mecca of luxury shopping that it later became. Back when … Continue reading
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Tagged Beverly Hills, Brown Derby restaurant, Hotels, Restaurants, Rodeo Drive, Stores and Shopping, Wilshire Blvd
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Semaphore traffic signals at 5th and Grand Streets, downtown Los Angeles, 1948
I love any vintage shot with a semaphore traffic signal, and in this one from 1948, we get two. The photographer was standing on the driveway leading out of the building on the corner of 5th and Grand Streets in … Continue reading
Looking at the southeast corner of the Garden of Allah Hotel at Sunset Blvd and Havenhurst Dr., West Hollywood, circa late 1950s
The Garden of Allah Hotel on Sunset Blvd at the gateway to the Sunset Strip was open from 1927 to 1959. During those years, it underwent a succession of management teams. At some point in the 1950s, one of those … Continue reading
Color photograph of the Hollywood Hotel, Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, Christmas 1954
From Dave DeCaro’s always-interesting website comes this striking genuine photo from 1954 of the Hollywood Hotel as seen from the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave. It was taken during the holiday season, which is why that white metal … Continue reading
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Tagged Christmas, Color photo, Hollywood, Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood Hotel, Hotels
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Lookout Mountain Inn, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, circa 1910s
In this shot, we’re looking at the 24-room Lookout Mountain Inn that sat atop the aptly named Lookout Mountain off Laurel Canyon. It was built 1910 with verandas on three sides that allowed the $15-a-week guests to take in the … Continue reading