Tag Archives: Stores and Shopping
Various stores fill the interesting Martz Flats building at 7th and Flower Sts, downtown Los Angeles, circa 1950
The building shown here in this circa 1950 photo was known as the Martz Flats building—a rather odd name for a rather lovely building. It housed small independent stores like woman’s fashions and embroidery services. These days, of course, downtown … Continue reading
Looking north up a very crowded Broadway from 5th Street, downtown Los Angeles, circa 1923
I don’t know what was going on in downtown Los Angeles on that day in circa 1923, but the sidewalks of Broadway (shown here looking north from 5th Street) were shoulder-to-shoulder packed. And look at the crowd trying to sardine … Continue reading
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Tagged Broadway, Downtown Los Angeles, Stores and Shopping, Streetcars
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The soaring tower of Beacon Laundry, 9134 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, circa 1940
You’ve got to love a city where a dry cleaning business called Beacon Laundry (of course that’s what they called it) builds a 50-foot tower to bring attention to themselves. Earthquakes be damned! We have to let passers-by that we’re … Continue reading
A night shot of the Phoenix Bar and $2.50 Shoes, 421 S. Main St, downtown Los Angeles, circa 1913
If this had been a daytime shot, I doubt it would have even caught my eye, but with their signs lit up, I love the juxtaposition of having a store that sells shoes for $2.50 next to a bar. (The … Continue reading
Color shot of the tower with clock at Farmer’s Market, Fairfax Ave and Third St, Los Angeles, circa late 1950s
I do enjoy coming across genuine color shots of yesteryear Los Angeles. Even though I’m not much of a car guy, but I do appreciate design, especially when they’re lined up like in this shot at the original Farmers Market … Continue reading
Looking east along Hollywood Blvd toward the Taft building on the southeast corner of Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood, 1926
This image is a still from a 1926 silent movie called “The Roaring Road.” It’s about a 100-mile automobile race, and I guess they end up (or start out?) on Hollywood Blvd. In this still, we’re looking east toward Hollywood … Continue reading
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Tagged Hollywood, Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood Blvd, Stores and Shopping
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The United Cigar Company store, 4th and Spring Streets, downtown Los Angeles, 1912
It’s hard to beat a nighttime shot for atmosphere. This is the United Cigar Company store, which stood at 4th and Spring Streets in downtown Los Angeles. It was taken in 1912, just as cars were starting to take over. … Continue reading
Color photo looking east along Wilshire Blvd to the May Co. appliance store, December 1946
Today’s post is a follow-up from yesterday’s post of the aerial shot of Fairfax and Wilshire in 1954 in which I asked what the long, flat building to the east of the department store was. Evidently, not long after the … Continue reading
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Tagged Color photo, Kodachrome, Stores and Shopping, Wilshire Blvd
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Aerial photo of the intersection of Fairfax Ave and Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, 1954
This aerial photo gives us a wonderful bird’s-eye view of the busy intersection of Fairfax Ave and Wilshire Blvd in 1954. The May Co. department store, which opened in 1940 on the northeast corner, dominated the corner then as it … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Restaurants, Stores and Shopping, Wilshire Blvd
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Color photo of the Big Do-Nut Drive In at the southwest corner of W. Century Blvd and Normandie Ave, Westmont, Los Angeles, 1951
And from the “Let’s Not Be Subtle About It” file comes this color (possibly even Kodachrome) photo of a donut joint called the Big Do-Nut Drive In (although technically it looks more like a drive through.) It opened on July … Continue reading