Around Los Angeles
I have a few vintage Los Angeles slide scans for you. They aren't your typical popular tourist sights, but I like them because they show some local history. Your interest level may vary.
First up is this building, which I am ashamed to admit that I did not recognize. But a friend informed me that this is the DWP building, now known as the John Ferraro Building, located at 111 North Hope Street. It was brand new at the time this photo was taken! From one website: The iconic International Style John Ferraro Building dominates the western end of the civic center in downtown Los Angeles, facing east towards City Hall. Glowing with electric light at night and surrounded by a wide reflecting pool with fountains in the daytime, A. C. Martin and Associates’ architectural masterpiece brilliantly symbolizes the building’s function as the headquarters of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP).
Here's a photo taken by my close personal friend, Julius Schulman.
Next is this 1955 photo, with the hand-written note, "New police building". That's helpful! It was... initially named the Police Administration Building or Police Facilities Building, was the former headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department from 1955 until October 2009. It was located in Downtown Los Angeles at 150 North Los Angeles Street. Often nicknamed "The Glass House", the building was named for former LAPD chief William H. Parker in 1966. I wanted to find a contemporary view of it on Google Maps, only to find out that it was torn down in 2019.
And finally, I had this undated, unlabeled slide that I was fairly certain was "somewhere in L.A.". There weren't a lot of clues. But the light blue building to the left had a "Nosh and Rye" shop on the ground floor (I remember radio ads for that place), and of course we get the helpful street address of 8455 something. It turns out to be Beverly Boulevard, the famous Beverly Center would be right behind us if we could turn around.
I found this fun (low-res) shot of the Beverly Center circa 1980, seen roughly from the same location as the previous pic. Incidentally, a small amusement park called Beverly Park used to located on that site, it was... an important source of inspiration for Walt Disney who, following Bradley's example, later founded Disneyland.
Here's a relatively recent view looking eastward (like in my photo). Taco Bell is still there to the right! But the Nosh and Rye is gone, sadly.
I hope you have enjoyed these random vintage views of Los Angeles!
8 comments:
Major-
A.C. Martin - Department of Water & Power and the May Co. Wilshire (now the Academy Museum). The design of these buildings easily defined the architecture of each era they were built. So classy, indeed.
Lots of cars in the parking lot opposite Parker Center: two fords; then a Chevy. On the other side: another Chevy; some foreign job; another Ford (okay a 1956 - which challenges the ID of the image); a Mercury. By now, everyone should be able to fill-in the model years-!
A native born Angeleno would easily recognize the edges of Dart Square on far right edge of the 4th image - and its gigantic Owl Rexall Drug Store-!
I'm a little confused on your ID of the 5th image. The shot [looking north on LaCienega Bl.] is a long block south and west of where the 4th image was taken. [The former] Dart Square would be beyond the right side of the image, and Beverly Park would occupy [most] of what the Beverly Center does in this 'present' image.
It's all good though, as I spent a ton of time in that Rexall Drug Store, with its massive soda fountain and sit-down coffee shop with 'lovely' banquettes: Gale's Fountain Room-!
Thanks, Major.
I'm afraid I know nothing about these locations and buildings. Rather than embarrass myself with dumb questions (I know, I should be used to that by now), I'll just sit back and read what our present, and former, Angelenos have to say about these photos.
I could also make 'funny' and incredibly 'humorous' comments on things and people in the photos, but that would seem inappropriate. And my brain doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders tonight... maybe I should check my spark plugs?
I do enjoy seeing the architecture. Thanks, Major.
Just like that guy who sang about short people and having a friend in me, I LOVE L.A......or at least vintage L.A.!
I'm glad that Nanook confirmed what I was thinking about that circa 1980 shot. I thought we were on La Cienega, because we can see the world famous OSKO'S night club on the left (behind the Dollar Rent-A-Car). That club's exterior (and I think the interior, too) was used in the film, "Thank God It's Friday." Of course the club has since been torn down.
The DWP building is beautiful when it's all lit up at night. I believe they only do that now on special occasions.
Nanook.....is that a Ford Maverick in the 4th image?
Thanks for the vintage L.A. trip, Major!
These definitely evoke that LA feeling, even though I think I’ve only seen the DWP building in person. I’m positive I’ve seen the Police Administration Building on some TV show, maybe Adam-12?
Looking at the vintage Beverly shot, I had forgotten that Taco Bell signs once looked this way. I am trying to figure out what the closest flag on the right is. The next two are California and some North American polity whose name escapes me at the moment, but that closest one…it looks like possibly a corporate flag. “TDAP,” maybe?
The last “recent” view is in itself a time capsule of sorts. There are few pedestrians, widely-spaced, and wearing masks. Interesting that there’s still a Taco Bell on the same property, although it’s almost certainly a different building.
Thanks, Major!
Wow, these are random, and wonderful.
I worked on a LA County high-rise across from the DWP. It was spectacular enough, I had to look it up. We had a swing stage on the outside of my project building, testing windows, so we had a great view. Imagine having the budget to build all those pools. Never happen again.
Yes, Chuck, the Parker building featured largely in several LA police procedural tv shows, Dragnet, Adam-12, and maybe CHiPs. Sad to hear it was demolished, but not surprised.
I visited that Beverly Center around the time of your 4th photo, Major. Just another big meh mall. Sounds like all the fun stuff in LA has been demolished. Was the Garden of Allah cottage hotel around here?
Thanks for these!
JG
@ TM!-
Yes, that is a Maverick - probably a 1972 or 1973.
@ JG-
The Garden of Allah was [formerly] located about 1.3 miles north and .6 miles east of the La Cienega/Beverly Blvd intersection.
@ TM!-
I should also mention, Osko's originally started life in 1963 as The Gas Light; then The Millionaires Club in 1965; later in the 1960's - 1520 AD (and why not-?); in 1969 it became The Climax Club, later Climax II (again, why not-?); and finally in the 1970's: OSKOS. Whew-!
Fun Fact... for a period of time in the 1970's - 1980's, one of the official Los Angeles, porcelain-on-steel street signs on the SW corner of La Cienega & W. 3rd Street, adjacent to the long-standing Captain's Table seafood restaurant, identifying La Cienega Blvd, misspelled La Cienega as La Cienga. I don't believe it was 'fixed' until that area's original "shotgun style" street signs were replaced with the [much-cheaper] stamped aluminum signage, using 3M Scotchlite reflective material for the lettering.
Fun stuff…
All those fabulous fountains around the DWP - showing off its power and water, are about 1’ deep as they are the roof over the parking structure.
I remember going to Beverly Park, popular with weekend dads and celebrities. There was also a huge disco right there across from Rexall.
(Garden of Allah as you may know is the ‘paradise paved to put up a parking lot’, it was supposed to become a massive Frank Gehry project.)
Welton Beckets Parker Center was so notorious that they had to tear it down, but before they did I watched them remove an incredible 36’ mosaic by Joseph Young.
MS
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