Category Archives: Downtown

Found on EBay — Mullet and Bluett

This postcard of the Mullen and Bluett store has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $3.99.

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Random Shot — 1911

Los Angeles Times file photo I found this picture of the Los Angeles Trust and Savings Building and thought it would be fun to explore. It’s from about 1911. On closer examination, we find an interesting array of transportation: Horse-drawn … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Downtown, Transportation | 5 Comments

Trouble Was His Business — Raymond Chandler

With the 50th anniversary of Raymond Chandler’s death coming up March 26, the Daily Mirror thinks it’s a perfect opportunity to take a long, thoughtful view of his enduring influence. I hope to gather a wide array of readers’ perspectives. … Continue reading

Posted in books, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

In the Theaters, February 20, 1919

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Stage | 4 Comments

Central Vice Reports on the Norbo Grill, 1958

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times The Hotel Norbo, 526 E. 8th St., Feb. 14, 2009 Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times The former Norbo Grill, 530 E. 6th St., Feb. 14, 2009 Photographs by Catriona … Continue reading

Posted in #Jazz, Architecture, Downtown, Food and Drink, LAPD, Music, Nightclubs | 2 Comments

Dodger Tickets Selling Fast, February 13, 1959

This 1959 World Series ticket has been listed on EBay with Buy It Now for $100. Dodger tickets for 1959 were going fast. The team already had grossed $1,250,000 in box seat sales for upcoming games at the Coliseum, according … Continue reading

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Random Shot — Update

Los Angeles Times file photo I received a couple of interesting notes about the photo of the Marsh-Strong Building. Although the photo isn’t dated, it’s evident the building hadn’t opened yet, so I would place it about 1913. Retired LAPD … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Transportation | 2 Comments

Bunker Hill Project; Dodger Stadium Criticized, February 10, 1959

Plans for the Bunker Hill area, which was declared a slum in 1949–and provided a location for many classic noir films. The same area via Google Earth. The "Dream City" from 1st Street to 5th Street and the Harbor Freeway … Continue reading

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Politics, Transportation | Comments Off on Bunker Hill Project; Dodger Stadium Criticized, February 10, 1959

Koufax and Drysdale — Ladies Only!

Don’t you love this ad? Throwback Thursby has more on this tomorrow.

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown | 1 Comment

Random Shot, Downtown

  Los Angeles Times file photo I found this picture of the Marsh-Strong Building, at Spring, Main and 9th streets, while looking for something else. Isn’t it great? An ad for the opening in 1914. Let’s take a closer look. … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Downtown | 5 Comments

Landmark to Be Torn Down, February 8, 1959

Photograph by John Malmin / Los Angeles Times Broadway and 2nd Street in a photo published Feb. 8, 1959. And the intersection via Google maps’ street view, showing The Times corporate garage.  As far as I can determine, the original … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Downtown | 1 Comment

Trial of Former Mayor’s Aide to Begin, Feburary 7, 1939

It’s a bit hard to tell from reference photographs, but I believe this is a Lockheed Hudson being assembled in Burbank. Trial of Joe Shaw, brother of recalled Mayor Frank Shaw, on 66 counts of altering public records. Fire Department … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, broadcasting, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Trial of Former Mayor’s Aide to Begin, Feburary 7, 1939

Sholem Aleichem Turns 150

By Jonathan Kirsch The writer known as Sholem Aleichem (Sholem Rabinovich, 1859-1916) was a towering figure in the Yiddish-speaking world, praised in his own lifetime as "the Jewish Mark Twain." The critic Irving Howe later singled him out as "the … Continue reading

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Nuestro Pueblo, February 1, 1939

This is the bluff overlooking the Cornfield and a good route into downtown if the Pasadena Freeway is jammed. I’ve been neglectful in posting Nuestro Pueblo — so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch. Here’s an interesting entry on a … Continue reading

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Airliner Plunges Into N.Y. River; Dodgers Sign Contracts, February 4, 1959

The Times put out an extra, but the runover page wasn’t microfilmed. All we have is the cover.  Notice that Gov. Pat Brown is opposed to a state lottery. "Evil Woman" Ingrid Bergman pretends she doesn’t know she’s attractive in … Continue reading

Posted in @news, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock — February 3, 1959

Pool Comeback Those who don’t get around to the right places are probably unaware of a significant social phenomenon. Pool halls, where many leading citizens of today learned about life, are back. Well, halfway. Actually they never really disappeared. They … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Downtown, Food and Drink, Matt Weinstock, Transportation | 2 Comments

Company Town

You may recall my recent post about lunch with Harry Medved and the continuing quest to determine the name and date of the first film shot entirely in Los Angeles. Val Almendarez, collections archivist at the Academy of Motion Picture … Continue reading

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Jewish Home for the Aged — Ida Mayer Cummings

Photograph by Ken Dare / Los Angeles Times Ida Mayer Cummings, Dec. 15, 1957. Alicia Mayer Beverley writes from Australia: I ran across your blog entry on the 1957 Women of the Year. My great-grandmother Ida Mayer Cummings is one … Continue reading

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Company Town

The first movie shot entirely in Los Angeles was "In the Power of the Sultan," filmed May 8-9, 1909, according to this 1949 Times feature on actor Hobart Bosworth. Or was it? I recently had lunch with Harry Medved (co-author … Continue reading

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Found on EBay — 1907 Shriners Convention

The 1907 Shriners Convention was a big event in Los Angeles that produced all sorts of memorabilia: glassware, pins, ribbons, postcards, etc. A program, above, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $6.50. (At left, even local businesses got … Continue reading

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