Tag Archives: Nightclubs

Color shot of the Chateau Marmont and The Players on the Sunset Strip, 1955

This shot of the Sunset Strip showing us the Chateau Marmont and The Players nightclub is from 1955 – back when, evidently, Sunset Boulevard wasn’t jam-packed with traffic like it is now. (I have parking envy of that light green … Continue reading

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The crowded dance floor at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, Ambassador Hotel, Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, 1949

When I saw how packed the dance floor was at the Cocoanut Grove in this photograph, I thought “Well now, what we’re seeing is the end of an era.” It looks like almost everybody in the place is on the … Continue reading

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Screenshots from “Hollywood Sights” (1939)

  I recently came across this 7.5 minute video taken around the streets of LA in 1939, when Hollywood film making was experiencing what we now call “Hollywood’s Greatest Year.” It’s an interestingly candid and unfiltered look at what things … Continue reading

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Café Trocadero, 8610 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, circa late 1930s

Before The Hollywood Reporter’s owner, Billy Wilkerson, opened the Café Trocadero on the Sunset Strip on September 17, 1934, the place was a warehouse that he was using to store his alcohol after Prohibition was repealed (and perhaps before…?) He … Continue reading

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The Pumpkin building in all its incarnations, 3611 Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, 1927 to 1957

Mimetic architecture—a novelty style in which the designs mimic the purpose or function of the building—was a very popular thing in LA during the first half of the 20th century. Most of them didn’t last long, mainly because they weren’t … Continue reading

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Venice Pier built by Abbot Kinney showing the auditorium, the Ship Cafe, the dance pavilion

Here we have a shot of the Venice pier that Abbot Kinney (original developer of Venice) built in 1905. From left to right are the auditorium (with 300 seats), the Cabrillo Ship Café, and the dance pavilion with room for … Continue reading

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Trocadero nightclub at 8610 Sunset Blvd, looking south from Sunset Plaza, Los Angeles, circa late 1930s

We can tell that this cool shot of the Trocadero nightclub on the Sunset Strip was taken in the late 1930s from the 1938 or 1939 Cadillac Sixty Special out front. That means that this photo was taken as the … Continue reading

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Vine St, Hollywood, looking south to Hollywood Boulevard from the El Capitan Theater, 1944

We’re looking south down Vine Street from the El Capitan Theater to Hollywood Boulevard. El Capitan Theatre (formerly the Hollywood Playhouse) is hosting to the Ken Murray’s Blackouts, which was a rather racy variety stage show that ran for 3844 … Continue reading

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Night shot of Ciro’s nightclub at 8433 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, 1942

This atmospheric night shot of Ciro’s nightclub on the Sunset Strip is hard to date because the exterior of the place didn’t change much over the years it was open (1940 to 1957.) All we have to go on are … Continue reading

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Pacific Electric Car #5152 westbound on Hollywood Boulevard approaching Highland, circa mid to late 1950s

** UPDATE ** – September 26, 1954 was the last day for streetcar service on Hollywood Boulevard. I love the splash of color that the Pacific Electric Red Cars provided around Los Angeles—especially when we can see them in color. … Continue reading

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