Category Archives: Downtown

July 30, 1938: Sex Crimes Clinic Opens

he search is on for a candidate to face Mayor Frank Shaw in the recall election. The Times story mentions Councilman Stephen W. Cunningham, but more important, it says that Judge Fletcher Bowron and Supervisor John Anson Ford “have indicated … Continue reading

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Spring Street revisited

  C.C. Pierce & Co. Photographers, Los Angeles, Cal., U.S.A. An undated photograph of the Phillips Block, 1887-1912.   After looking at the old photos of Spring Street over the last few days, I wanted to learn more about the … Continue reading

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Nuestro Pueblo

  Below, Ducommun and Garey streets, the general area where this picture was drawn, via Google maps’ street view.   

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Lovers’ death pact at downtown hotel

  The Hotel Ramona on Spring Street.   I stumbled across this story while researching something else and it’s too good not to post. From The Times, Dec, 28, 1891. Email me

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Spring Street revisited

  C.C. Pierce & Co. Photographers, Los Angeles, Cal. U.S.A. This picture was taken from Spring and 2nd streets about 1895, and shows the reverse angle of Spring and 1st, which we looked at yesterday.   One of the most … Continue reading

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Spring Street revisited

  C. C. Pierce Photographer, 1572 W. Pico, Los Angeles This photograph of Spring Street, looking south from Temple, is slightly later than the one in the previous entry and was taken about 1896.    Notice that our single-track, horse-drawn … Continue reading

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Spring Street revisited

  Los Angeles Times file photo When this photo was taken, about 1883, Spring Street took an oblique angle at 1st. We're looking north, possibly from the Nadeau Hotel at what is now the site of The Times Building. The … Continue reading

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‘Discovering’ Chavez Ravine

By Keith ThursbyTimes staff writer The Times published a tidbit about the Hollywood Stars and their owner, Bob Cobb, that made me go looking deeper for more details. Jeane Hoffman reported that Cobb "discovered" Chavez Ravine as a potential home … Continue reading

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Spring Street revisited

Photograph by Munsey Studios, winter 1900 Here’s another detail from the photo I wrote about yesterday. These people are on the sidewalk just to the left of the fellow sitting in the wagon. Here’s a closer look at the people … Continue reading

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Spring Street revisited

Photograph by Munsey Studios, winter 1900 found another image of the Ramona Hotel on Spring Street from about the same era as the earlier picture.  Unfortunately, I scanned it at such great resolution that my computer can’t handle the whole … Continue reading

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Nuestro Pueblo

The 400 block of Jackson Street no longer exists. It’s in the middle of this complex, as shown on Google Earth: I found something really wonderful in researching the temple: A 1950 Sanborn map with an overlay of Little Tokyo … Continue reading

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Spring Street

Photograph by Munsey StudiosThe Hotel Ramona was on the southwest corner of Spring and 3rd streets (305 1/2 S. Spring) on the Ramona Block. It apparently went out of business in 1912, when its furnishings were auctioned off. By 1917 … Continue reading

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President visits L.A.

  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times President Roosevelt at Broadway and 7th Street, July 16, 1938. Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Protesters along the parade route. Photograph by the Los Angeles Times A crowd greets the president, who … Continue reading

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Setback for stadium

July 15, 1958 By Keith Thursby Times staff writer Los Angeles and the Dodgers lost a round in court in their efforts to build a baseball stadium in Chavez Ravine. Superior Court Judge Arnold Praeger ruled that the contract between … Continue reading

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July 15, 1908

ere’s an update on the story of Joseph H.N. Longy, who was arrested on charges of sending threatening letters to local businessmen. The Times gives an elaborate description of his "oil gun" and a primitive hand grenade that was found … Continue reading

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July 14, 1938

he Times lists 25 prospective candidates to run against Mayor Frank Shaw in a recall election. Leading the list is Judge Fletcher Bowron, the eventual winner. The list also includes Judge Fricke, county Supervisor John Anson Ford, former Mayor Porter … Continue reading

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July 13 1938

North Main Street, below, via Google maps’ street view. Where would you rather go for a walk, Main Street 1938 or Main Street 2008? he upcoming election on whether to recall Mayor Frank Shaw is one of the key moments … Continue reading

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Nuestro Pueblo

Above, Orthopaedic Hospital, 2400 S. Flower St., and below, the area as shown in Google maps’ street view feature.

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July 7, 1938

Above, 6th and Hill streets via Google maps’ street view feature.  "Prison Farm" … now there’s a title that leaves nothing to the imagination. According to imdb, Horace McCoy was an uncredited writer on the picture. Not on Netflix! olling … Continue reading

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Nuestro Pueblo

Below, the 900 block of Yale Street via Google maps’ street view feature. Do you think they know there were oil wells there 70 years ago?

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