History The History Of Los Angeles

The Biltmore.........The last place the Black Dahlia was seen alive.They even have a Martini there named after her.

 

I remember the day Engineer Bill came to Redondo Beach in about 1961/62. I was about 5 or 6 and there must have been 10,000 other kids screaming to see him. There was a train engine--can't remember if it was Santa Fe or Union Pacific--but that engine was as spit-polished shiny clean as they come. The wheels and all of the attachments were painted ultra glossy bright gray. No grease or oil anywhere. Just a great looking train, and Engineer Bill waving to us all from the inside the train. That's a cool trip down memory lane.

 

Everytime I look at these I cant help but hear Jack Webb saying, "This is the city, Los Angeles California"

 

Just the facts, ma'am

 

Bob's Beef Burger used to be In-N-Out before the partners split up. I used to know Bob's Daughter

 

1929 Los Angeles Auto Show. 4 large tents photo before fire destroyed 1,000,000 worth of cars and the after photo which the original was a panarama 36 inches wide.

 

My Mom went to High School with Doc Kleckner (used to run Bob's) she was best friends with his girlfriend '65 or '66

 

I just browsed the last 150 pages over the last 4 nights and man am i hooked, great photos guys i can't wait for the next 150 pages and more, keep them photos and stories coming guys.

 

Correct. A-6 SkyRaider...lotta air-racers using the engines & props. Big H.P.

 

speaking of which, this photo from the Los Angeles Examiner, this photo with the following caption appeared in 1947 (no exact date given); Elizabeth Short's murder is refered to as the "Black Dahlia" case. The automobile in this picture is evidently connected to the case, but no information is given as to exactly how. A man examines clothes he is removing from an auto with a completely broken out front windshield. (looks like a burned-out 36 ford phaeton)

 

Hollywood & Vine, 1947, notice that the new traffic lights had only two colors, red and green, and the stop sign, just in case?

 

The "Hollywoodland" sign falls down, this caption from 1947:
The huge size of the toppled H in the Hollywoodland sign is shown, by comparison with Radio Singer Jane Webb. A fuss has been stirred up in the City Council about either restoring the H or removing the entire sign. Photo dated April 12, 1947.

 

This is an interesting piece of LA history, football at Gilmore Stadium, 1947, caption reads: Football at Gilmore Stadium, located near the present-day Farmer's Market in the Fairfax District. The dirt oval surrounding the field was used for auto racing. Photo dated: July 14, 1947.

 

Wow...more Marengo please My Dad grew up on, & Grandma lived on, the corner of Marengo & I think Washington?? 2-block up from the train tracks.

 

I'm going to say it again . . . outstanding L.A. racing history here, a perfect addition to this thread. Well done Harry!

Plug the HDMI cable from the TV into your laptop and enjoy!

Harry is posting a new (approx. 10 minutes each) part of the series online every Tuesday. The 4th in the series is now up.

 

1958 - Nice drive through Burbank. Bob's Big Boy, some regular old cars and a few empty lots!
<TT style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">Another black and white drive thru familiar territory...<VAR></VAR></TT>

<TT style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<WBR>v=3Rk1r6M0G8I&feature=youtu.be<WBR> </TT>

 

Maybe Los Angeles's first "Red Car," around 1874

 

Late 1890s:

 

Baldwin Ave and Sierra Madre Ave, 1908 (I lived up the street in the 1970s)

 

This might have been posted before, hope not (red cars awaiting destruction, 1961

 

In 1960 my fourth grade class from Calimesa Elementary School went on a field trip to the L.A. Harbor. Those Red Cars were stacked like cord wood out on Terminal Island. Just the year before I had ridden on some of them that still ran near Exposition Park.

 

WOW! This picture is fantastic. I was there just this afternoon. The hotel you see beyond the street car is still there.

Where the building is to the right of the street car is approximately a few dozen feet from the present day Baldwin & Sierra Madre intersection and where a small office building stands. Upstairs in that building was shot a scene from the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In fact this intersection figures prominantly in the movie for a few scenes.

 

My family owned that store at 733 S Central from 1919 till 1990...That big old grump was Harrell Weaver...My great grandfather Chet Encell who built the drive thru store in 1938 (finished in 40) hired that grumpy guy straight out of the navy walking drunk down Central Ave when he was 21...He worked his last shift at 66 the day we closed in 1990...We sold the building and half the block between 7th and 8th St when my uncle John Encell died and forced 10 years of family litigation...We Never Close was true for many many years...

 

Chet Encell was my great great grandfather...It started as a garage and parts house at 729 Central around 1919...In about 1938 the drive thru 24 hour parts warehouse was opened at newly built building at 733 S Central where WE NEVER CLOSE was true till mid 80s and we finally closed for good when my one uncle John Encell died in 1990s forcing a 10 year litigation of the buildings owned between 7th and 8th on Central...At one time we had traffic backed up 3 blocks waiting to drive thru at all hours of day and night. My great grandfather held alot of Japanese friends homes, business', and valuables for them when they were interned during WWII...We had a great life thanks to all the wonderful people in Los Angeles...I have lots of photos via my mom Mary Encell Brown...Chan Brown

 

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/g_cliser/sets/72157625895927403/

Great photos !! Thanks

 

The last line that ran for the Red Car was from Long Beach to L.A. I don't know when it shut down but when I was 4 and 5 yrs old my folks would put me on it in Long Beach and pin a note to my jacket and ask the conductor to make sure I got off at the right stop. My great aunt and uncle lived on Union ave in L.A. and I'd go spend the weekend with them. We'd walk over to either Echo or MacArthur park, can't remember which one now, and rent row boats. This would have been in '60 and '61. Funny what you remember when you see a picture.

 

OMG! We were just talking about Encell's on Wednesday. My buddy Oscar's dad owned Central Chevrolets Body Shop in the 50's and knew Encell's well. I worked at LAUSD in the BD Garage. We had an acct there and I always made sure to get something there, I never wanted such a great Auto Parts place to go out if business. Thanx 4 providing insight as to why it's no longer around.

 

Pacific Electric was not the only game in town, Los Angeles electric also ran electric cars, this photo from '49:

 

Boarding the Red Cars, 1948