Tag Archives: downtown

L.A. Becomes N.Y.

Posted on September 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

I snapped this photo yesterday of the Million Dollar Theatre on Broadway dressed as the Montclair. Notice the New York taxicab. You’re a long way from home, pal. Hey, it’s Blythe Danner!

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Downtown L.A. — Street Artist (Updated)

Posted on September 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

I came across this street artist last evening while walking in downtown Los Angeles. He’s painting a street scene of the corner of Broadway and 7th Street. Update: Ed Fuentes identifies our artist: “Alex Schaefer. And he has a show … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, Architecture, Art & Artists, Broadway, Downtown | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mason Opera House – a Lost Landmark

Posted on September 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Downtown hipsters know the spot at 1st Street and Broadway as a big hole in the ground, where construction seems to be getting underway. More mature Angelenos may recall the 1950s Cold War monstrosity that was demolished after being damaged … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Architecture, Broadway, Downtown, Found on EBay, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mystery Photo – Historic L.A. Edition

Posted on August 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

L.A. Observed has reposted this image, which was posted by Michael Beschloss, who identifies it as Broadway as it looked about 1902.

Posted in 1906, Broadway, Downtown, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Hamburger’s Department Store, Arrow Movie Theater

Posted on July 8, 2013 by lmharnisch

A postcard of Hamburger’s Department Store is listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $2.99. The classy, oversize May Co. Department Store located at 801 S. Broadway in downtown Los Angeles is up for sale. Today, the mostly empty … Continue reading →

Posted in 1908, Architecture, Broadway, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Pray for Me, I’m Going to See ‘Gangster Squad’

Posted on January 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

I am heading  off to see “Gangster Squad” this morning, not because I expect it to be good, but because I expect it to be very, very bad, as already reflected by the first reviews and the trailers. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Black Dahlia, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

A 100-Year-Old Lesson on L.A. Traffic

Posted on December 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

A Times graphic shows the problem of passengers caught between the streetcars and lanes of traffic. Broadway and 7th Street in 1934, showing a man crossing through a lane of traffic to get to a streetcar. Notice that the driver … Continue reading →

Posted in 1912, Downtown, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Street revisited

Posted on August 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times This picture shows the later stages in the realignment of Spring Street. Demolition workers have sheared off the fronts of several buildings.   One of the most recognizable downtown landmarks–the Hall of Records … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 31, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the Nadeau Hotel (sometimes called the Hotel Nadeau) at Spring and 1st streets (now the site of The Times Building), in an undated drawing. An early ad for a business in the Nadeau, 1889. Photograph by the Los Angeles … Continue reading →

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Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

  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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Lovers’ death pact at downtown hotel

Posted on July 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

  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

Posted on July 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

  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

Posted on July 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

  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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Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on July 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

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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Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on July 6, 2008 by lmharnisch

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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Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on July 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Even allowing for artistic license, it’s difficult to see how Charles Owens could have City Hall looming in the background from our blacksmith shop on Garey Street. Below, a view from 1st Street and Garey via Google maps’ street … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on June 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

Union Station under construction in 1938 and as it appears in Google maps’ street view feature. We can only wonder what became of the palm trees planted by Don Mateo.

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Nuestro Pueblo, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

June 28, 1958

Posted on June 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

Is there oil under Bunker Hill? What an interesting idea, especially now.     

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June 7, 1938

Posted on June 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

New Chinatown opens, 1938. Above and at right, a special feature of New Chinatown is a dragon salvaged from the old Times Building, presumably the one built at 1st Street and Broadway after the 1910 bombing. The metal dragon was … Continue reading →

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May 31, 1908

Posted on May 31, 2008 by lmharnisch

    Above and at left, the "white and many-pillared mansion of commerce" opens at Broadway and 8th in Los Angeles. According to The Times, Hamburger’s Department Store was the largest building on the West Coast and had California’s first … Continue reading →

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