Random Shot — Hollywood 1941

Posted on February 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

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Los Angeles Times file photo

Here’s another picture I found while looking for something else. It’s the
Hollywood Professional Building, 7046 Hollywood Blvd., built about 1925, in
a photo dated July 2, 1941.

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Luckily, there are all sorts of details to be discovered, like the LAPD patrol car outside the Owl Drug Co. Note the split windshield on this Ford (I think it’s a 1940, but it could be a 1938 or 1939).

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At left, a streetlight standard with two fixtures on top. This looks like a variation of the UM 1906 with fixtures that are usually used on other lights. The fellow at left, by the way, is looking at a paper at a sidewalk newspaper stand.

The stop sign, above, is typical of Los Angeles in the 1940s. Notice, first of all, that the intersection with Sycamore Avenue didn’t have a traffic signal. Also notice the diagonal stripes on the post.

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People strolling Hollywood Boulevard. It’s interesting to note the variety of fashions.
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But this is my favorite discovery: Gargoyles! I want them back!





The intersection today, via Google maps. Without gargoyles!




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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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3 Responses to Random Shot — Hollywood 1941

  1. Sacto's avatar Sacto says:
    February 17, 2009 at 9:55 am

    Nearly all the men are without hats. And this was before the war, which supposedly caused men to ditch their hats when they were demobilized. But maybe they’re just office-workers on a lunch break. Looks about noon or so. “Hatless Jack” by Neil Steinberg is a great book on hats in American culture.

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  2. Nathan's avatar Nathan says:
    February 17, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Hooooray! The Hollywood Professional Building! Without a doubt one of the greats of all LA and underappreciated. Richard King designed this in 1924 for the Bernard Oil Company (for Herman Rehbein of the BOC, if you want to get technical) and they built it as such. Then ownership was transferred to the Toberman & Company Co., and they added three stories in 1929.
    From 1938-56 the Screen Actors Guild took up the whole top floor. Ronald Reagan kept an office here from 47-53.
    This is one impressive Gothic building, and I too am sad that it has lost its gargoyles (and quatrefoils above the doorways). The lobby still has impressive groin vaulting and original fixtures. The gargoyles were probably removed in the late 40s when the City’s parapet ordinance went into effect—note that the top of the building has been “shaved down” flat. Dag’d parapet ordinance!

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  3. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    February 18, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    Guess there weren’t enough owls using drugs to keep the store in business.

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