Historical Los Angeles

[globetrek]

Originally Posted by Elsongs

San Marino.

Huntington Library Website

I think some one could make nice $$$$ by making stylish yet informative coffee table books about the history of LA's building boom... It would be like SSC but in hard cover.

[CITYofDREAMS]

Originally Posted by globetrek

I think some one could make nice $$$$ by making stylish yet informative coffee table books about the history of LA's building boom... It would be like SSC but in hard cover.

There is a book called "Picturing Los Angeles"... by Jon & Nancy Willkman.
It's covers a little more than just the building boom. It tries to capture the history of the city through photography. The book starts with a picture of LA believed to be from late 1850s or early 1860s and takes you to the city as we know it today.

I really enjoyed it... great book for any LA fan.

[soup or man]

LA Now is the BEST book about Los Angeles. Period.

[godblessbotox]

...i want this sticky

[jumping jupiter]

Originally Posted by CarsonCaliBrotha

That'd be pretty awesome to live across the street from the Wiltern. I think thats what it was in that picture. It was like the Wiltern then across the street big single family houses. Niice. If it was still here today you could walk across the street for concerts. But then again where would the Metro station go?

my husband's grandmother used to say ..."I was born in the parking lot of Wilshire Bullocks." Her beautiful huge craftsman was torn down to build it.

also, her brother when they lived near vermont and wilshire was in the backyard when the barn started to shake......it turned out to be the San Francisco Earthquake.

wow.

[ETOA906]

Originally Posted by CITYofDREAMS

There is a book called "Picturing Los Angeles"... by Jon & Nancy Willkman.
It's covers a little more than just the building boom. It tries to capture the history of the city through photography. The book starts with a picture of LA believed to be from late 1850s or early 1860s and takes you to the city as we know it today.

There was a similar book published during the early 80's building boom titled "Views of Los Angeles". The author who was from Europe was very impressed with how this city's landscape has changed over the years. In the book he used photos taken around Los Angeles from years past and re-shot the picture from the same exact spot the original was taken. One of the photos he used showed a large house at 555 S Hope St on Bunker Hill in the 1880's. He re-shot the photo which showed the Security Pacific Bank skyscraper on that site in the early 80's. Another one I remember was at Third and Hill facing West where Angels Flight used to be. He used three photos for this one since the area changed many times. One photo from the 1800's showed Third St as a dirt road going up and over the hill. Homes could be seen along both side of Third as well as a horse pulling a carriage. The next picture from about the 1930's showed the Third Street Tunnel with traffic and office buildings where homes used to be. The last photo showed the new Angels Plaza housing complex and a missing Angels Flight. Anyone remember this book?

[lovecharlie]

Here are two historic blue/green turquoise Art Deco skyscrapers of Los Angeles. To be honest black n white photos for a change do these no justice.

The Eastern Columbia Building


Built in 1930, the 13 floor turquoise skyscraper is capped by a four sided clock tower trimmed with gold leaf, and a wealth of motifs . Rising 264ft the Eastern Columbia features a two story main entrance spectacularly decorated by a blue and gold terra cotta sunburst. It is no wonder it's considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco Architecture.



Designed by Claud Beelman the building located in the Broadway Theatre District of downtown Los Angeles reopened as condos earlier this year (2007)




The Pellissier Building & Wiltern Theatre


Built in 1931 the Pellissier Building is home to the Wiltern Theatre and together they are both commonly known as The Wiltern. This 155ft, 12 floor blue/green turquoise terra cotta skyscraper is designed in a French Zig Zag Moderne style and features detailed metal panels



Threatened with the wrecking ball twice in the late 1970s, the building was saved by a local group of preservationists and was listed on the National Register Of Historic Places in 1979. Renovation started in 1981 and by 1983 the Pellissier Building was back to its former glory the theatre proved a more difficult job and took a further two years to complete.



Reciving the Los Angeles Historic Preservation Award of Excellence 1994, and after receiving a face lift, it reopened in 2002.



Orginally opened as a Vauderville theatre the Warner Brothers Western Theater, the flagship for the theater chain, reopened in the mid 1930s as the Wiltern Theatre receiving its name from the intersection on which it is located WILshire Boulevard and wesTERN Avenue.

[klamedia]

Originally Posted by lovecharlie

Wow thanx "Charlie" for that! Really interesting. Notice the "auto park" sign up above.

[Fern~Fern*]

I was unaware that "The Wiltern" was known as the "Warner" back in the days. I like how it lite up at night, wish they would do that now. Especially when they have concerts or events. The inside is beautiful and well preserve, I had the chance to check it out when I attended a concert a couple of weeks ago*

[losangelino]

I don't know how to post pictures yet but someone mentioned how the Hall of Records was one of the buildings LA never should have destroyed. I'd say that this Stadium is right up there as well. What must they have been thinking to destroy something like this:

http://www.sportshollywood.com/lawrigley.html

[eyeguy]

great thread & photos here. one correction....

Originally Posted by godblessbotox

richfield towers 1970

this actually arco plaza aka city national plaza - paul hastings tower & city national tower. see #19. LA central library can be seen to the right, and 611 Place to the right of that. acro plaza is also on the board here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=56750

this is the former site of Richfield Tower (1928/29-1968), the building I was looking for when i found this thread. I was wondering exactly where the Richfield Tower was on this block, and where the other buildings in this photo were. I'm also turning up very few pictures of Richfield Tower. As far as it's only appeared in one film, Zabriskie Point (1970), which must have been shot just before the tower's destruction.


and one clarification:

Originally Posted by godblessbotox

i dont know... no title

this one is 611 Place - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/611_Place, circa 67, probably before the destruction of Richfield (behind 611 in this photo). To the immediate right is LA Central Library, and to the right of that is the current location of US Bank Tower.

[eyeguy]

Originally Posted by klamedia

Thank you!!! That almost looks like a satellite picture. How was this possible in 1887????

i seriously doubt that is 1887. it would be interesting to see the source of the photo.

[godblessbotox]

ha, i just write what the library tells me

thanks for the clarifications though

[FROM LOS ANGELES]

More pix...
Wilshire


Spring and 2nd 1934


Grand Av. 1982


Grand Av. circa 1984


Figueroa 1968


Dodger Stadium


South Park 1984


Downtown 1930


City Hall construction


Broadway 1940s


Cal Plaza 2 1992


6th st 1913


3rd st 1973


And something a little newer
Elleven 2005

[klamedia]

LA has really been slow to build vertically. Even Texas cities had more skyscrapers than LA by the mid 80's.

[Fern~Fern*]

This is actually a great thread and seriously needs to be sticky to showcase our lovely history here in Los Angeles....

LASF, can you do us the honor!!!!

[losangelino]

Fascinating. Any plans to restore them to all of their former glory? What a shame that we do away with things like this.

[GilbyDM101]

I think there was a legitimate reason for taking down most if not all neon signs in L.A. During WWII, the military worried that we would be bombed/attacked by the Japanese. The neon signs would’ve made it easier to hit desired targets. Last time I checked, the war between Japan was over so, yeah I think we should put the signs back up!

[eyeguy]

Originally Posted by GilbyDM101

Last time I checked, the war between Japan was over so, yeah I think we should put the signs back up!

either that or the Japanese should bomb Vegas

[yamota]

seeing that the japanese own most of downtown LA now I don't think it would be in their best interest to do that