Category Archives: Spring Street

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Einar Petersen and His ‘Aladdin and His Lamp’ Murals

One of Einar Petersen’s murals at the Spring Street Guaranty Building and Loan Assn., courtesy of Mary Mallory Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Curbed L.A. recently reported on the renovations at the building. Fame is fleeting. An … Continue reading

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Spring Street | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Oct. 31, 1907: Streetcar Crash at Spring and 2nd Kills 1, Injures 7

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 31, 1907 Los Angeles John J. Mooney, 23, a Southern Pacific machinist who recently arrived from Butte, Mont., was aboard the West 2nd Street car on his way to be initiated … Continue reading

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Oct. 15, 1907: Fire Threatens Orpheum

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 15, 1907 Los Angeles On a rainy night in Los Angeles, a fire broke out in the four-story brick office building at 235 S. Spring St. housing the Orpheum Theater and … Continue reading

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Barney Oldfield Sets Up Shop in Downtown Los Angeles

  A postcard showing the interior of Barney Oldfield’s saloon on South Spring Street, courtesy of Mary Mallory.   ‘Mile a minute” Barney Oldfield, the first automobile racer to achieve that feat while racing, was quick when it came to … Continue reading

Posted in Downtown, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Becomes N.Y. — Again

I wandered down to “New York Street” (Spring Street between 4th and 6th in downtown Los Angeles) last night and saw this Hollywood version of an NYPD patrol car. L.A. Becomes N.Y. Million Dollar Theatre | Street Scene |  CSI: … Continue reading

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What Happened to the Lindbergh Beacon on L.A. City Hall?

Joining us in our question,  blogger Militant Angeleno also asks “What happened to the Lindbergh Beacon on City Hall?” The Militant says: “Leaving the Lindbergh Beacon off during the holiday season makes Huell Howser’s angel cry.” Here’s video.

Posted in Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Spring Street | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Relic of the Past: Horse Flop Found in Downtown Los Angeles!

In the 21st century, one can still find horse flop on Spring Street near City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. So much for the predictions of yesteryear,  in which we would be living in domed cities, get our power from … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, City Hall, Downtown, History, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Einar Petersen and His ‘Aladdin and His Lamp’ Murals

One of Einar Petersen’s murals at the Spring Street Guaranty Building and Loan Assn., courtesy of Mary Mallory Fame is fleeting. An individual might go unrecognized while creating great art while alive, only for the works to be considered masterpieces … Continue reading

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Spring Street | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Becomes N.Y.

Dear New Yorkers: You love to make fun of us, but here we are at Spring and 5th last night, watering down the street for yet another production set in your fair city but filmed in downtown Los Angeles. And … Continue reading

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

L.A. Becomes New York – Again

How much from downtown L.A. to JFK? Yes, they were filming around “New York Street” on Thursday and providing color with fake New York taxis.

Posted in Downtown, Film, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Angels Flight — Another View

This postcard complements the Rediscovering Los Angeles post on Angels Flight. It’s postmarked 1904 and photo was taken from Spring Street looking toward the 3rd Street tunnel.  Bidding starts at $5.

Posted in 1914, Architecture, Broadway, Downtown, Found on EBay, Spring Street, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cafe Bristol Revisited

If you’ll recall from yesterday’s post on the Cafe Bristol, the main entrances were two marble staircases off 4th Street. The door on 4th Street was locked, alas, but I was able to get these shots of the two staircases. … Continue reading

Posted in 1904, Downtown, Food and Drink, Spring Street | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Cafe Bristol – Downtown Los Angeles

I came across another program from the Mason Opera House listed on EBay, this one from 1909. Here’s an ad for the Cafe Bristol, which was in the basement of the Hellman Building at 4th and Spring. It’s listed as … Continue reading

Posted in 1904, 1909, Downtown, Food and Drink, Found on EBay, Spring Street, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Spring Street — 1907

  If this image looking south on Spring Street on this 1907 postcard looks unfamiliar, there’s a reason. Most of the buildings are gone and Spring Street was straightened out to make way for City Hall. The postcard is listed … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Architecture, Downtown, Found on EBay, Spring Street, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Random Shot — Drawing Downtown Los Angeles

This young woman attracted several observers as she stood on 6th Street just west of Spring — near the Starbucks — on  Wednesday evening to sketch the streetscape. I didn’t want to interrupt her to ask her name. All I … Continue reading

Posted in 2013, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Photography, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Los Angeles Stands in for London

Spring Street and 4th in downtown Los Angeles is one of the most popular film locations in the city. It recently stood in for New York, complete with an NYC bus and a subway entrance. Last night, we had the … Continue reading

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When L.A. Becomes New York

Being in L.A. is like living on a huge movie set. The white trucks are everywhere. Because I work downtown, I’m accustomed to seeing it standing in for – yes – New York. All the time. Here are some recent … Continue reading

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Punk Rock Riot on Sunset Boulevard!

  How about this retro artwork on the ad for “Nicholas Nickleby?” Sort of Peter Max via “Yellow Submarine.” Jan. 10, 1983: A riot breaks out among an estimated 2,000 punk rockers during a concert at Studio Instrument Rentals at … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Hollywood, Music, Spring Street, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments