Found on EBay – Symphony Theater

A photograph of what appears to be the opening of Harold Lloyd’s 1921 “Never Weaken” has been listed on EBay. The vendor erroneously says that the theater is the Mason Opera House, but The Times shows that the film premiered at the Symphony, at 6th Street and Broadway, and a few letters of the word “Symphony” are  visible  behind Lloyd’s picture. I don’t encounter the Symphony Theater very often in the old clips. It opened Aug. 29, 1914, “on the east side of Broadway near Sixth,” The Times said.  The theater was apparently demolished in 1923. Bidding on the photo starts at $9.99.

Found on EBay – Batchelder Tile

This Batchelder tile has been listed on EBay. According to the vendor, these tiles are 6 inches square and are stamped Batchelder on the back. Bidding starts at $42 or Buy It Now for $300. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be investigated thoroughly before submitting a bid. ALSO Batchelder tile on the Daily Mirror.

Found on EBay – Ocean Park Bathhouse

The bathhouse at Ocean Park, as shown in the Los Angeles Herald. This card, postmarked 1907, showing the bathhouse at Ocean  Park has been listed on EBay. The bathhouse was dedicated on the Fourth of July, 1905. The bathhouse, built at a cost of $200,000 ($4,789,896.02 USD 2010), contained 531 rooms, 2,500 suits and 5,300 towels. The Los Angeles Herald said "4,000 persons can use the plunges during a period of 10 hours with comfort." The postcard is listed as Buy It Now for $7.23.

Bullet of Mystery – Part 4

In case you just tuned in, I’m posting a small case study of research I did with Caroline Comport on her grandfather Lionel Comport for her master’s thesis. Researching Los Angeles is a treasure hunt, and every time I dig into the resources I find something new. Bullet of Mystery – Part 1 Bullet of Mystery – Part 2 Bullet of Mystery – Part 3   In Part 2, we looked at some of the resources for online newspapers ,and in Part 3 we examined sites that have property records on the corner where Lionel Comport was shot in 1901. This time we’ll look at Sanborn maps of the neighborhood.

Bullet of Mystery -- Part 3

In case you just tuned in, I’m posting a small case study of research I did with Caroline Comport on her grandfather Lionel Comport for her master’s thesis. Researching Los Angeles is a treasure hunt, and every time I dig into the resources I find something new. Bullet of Mystery – Part 1 Bullet of Mystery – Part 2   In Part 2, we looked at some of the resources for online newspapers. Caroline was also interested in the background details of the story. What was the neighborhood like?

Found on EBay – Hollywood Estate

A postcard showing the Hollywood estate of A.G. Bartlett at 6219 Hollywood Blvd. has been listed on EBay. The home was built about 1901 by Bartlett, the head of a downtown music company. The seven-acre estate, north of Hollywood Boulevard and and 210 feet east of Vine Street, was subdivided in 1927.  Bidding starts at $11.99.

Architectural Rambling

I found this postcard of Dr. Alfred G. Schloesser’s Castle Sans Souci in Hollywood (the Times used the addresses 1831 and 1901 Argyle Ave.) and dug into the clips for a little more information.  The castle was built about 1912 for Schloesser, who changed his name to A.G. Castles during World War I. It was designed by Dennis and Farwell, the architects of his previous home, Castle Glengarry, which was on the other side of Argyle.   In 1928, The Times reported that Castles was moving to an even more opulent home to be called Falconhurst Castle, but it’s unclear from the clips as to whether it was built.   It’s equally unclear what became of Dr. Castles, who specialized in miracle cures using glandular treatments. The last mention of him in The Times is a 1932 ad headed “Marvels of Science.”  The postcard is listed as Buy It Now for $12.99.

Coming Attractions -- 'Hollywoodland'

Readers will recognize Mary Mallory as a leading member of the Daily Mirror’s “brain trust.” She’s a photo librarian at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and in her spare time, she has been writing a book about Los Angeles history that will be released May 16. Mary says: My book is an Arcadia Publishing book detailing the history in photographs of the neighborhood of Beachwood Canyon originally known as Hollywoodland.  Hollywoodland extends from 2690 N. Beachwood Drive up towards Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign (this was originally in Hollywoodland before being donated to the Department of Parks and Recreation in 1945).    The book details the early history of Beachwood Canyon, the construction of the development, amenities, histories of many of the homes and architects, a history of the Hollywood Sign, listings of famous residents, and a chapter on movies filmed up there.  It is based on Hollywood Heritage’s S. H. Woodruff Collection (one of the developers of Hollywoodland) and other Hollywood photograph collections, photos from Bison Archives, the Margaret Herrick Library, me, and others, and all profits got to Hollywood Heritage.  I made the suggestion to the HH Board, on which I serve, that we should try to do something with the Woodruff Collection, and since I made the suggestion, I got to do it.  I’ve always wanted to do a book, and especially one on Hollywood history.  I learned so much about the architects, homes, and residents.  It was fun, but I continue to research.  I just walked most of it Saturday trying to get photos of the original homes, trying to identify homes with photos we have.  Here’s a preview.

Blogger's holiday

I’m on vacation this week, so posting will be light.

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 14, 1941

April 14, 1961: One of the joys of these old newspapers is stumbling across an undiscovered gem, and Tom Treanor has one today: An interview with Paul Revere Williams, the famous African American architect. Williams discusses a major project he has been commissioned to design in Medellin, Colombia. A Columbus Ohioan asks if Carole Lombard is really an expert gunwoman. Well, I've seen her shoot both shotgun and rifle, and if Clark Gable's little woman ever points anything bigger than a BB gun in his direction, the movies will be looking for a new he-man, Jimmie Fidler says.

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 2, 1941

April 2, 1941: Tom Treanor talks to Richard Neutra about a 300-unit housing development he designed for a community outside Dallas.   Betty Grable tells Jimmie Fidler: “Any girl in the Hollywood spotlight is handicapped in the game of love. Too many worthwhile men hesitate to ask for dates because they fear her fame and overpublicized earning power. And too many parasites chase her because they hope to win attention by being seen in her company. Consequently, most stars, unsure of their men, lead discontented lives."

Architectural Ramblings -- The Sowden House

Drawing by Charles Owens/Los Angeles Times

The Sowden House by architect Lloyd Wright at 5121 Franklin Ave. is on the market for $4.2 million. You may recall that this was the purported murder HQ of Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel during his supposedly bloody rampage across the city, in which he killed with impunity (the Black Dahlia, Jeanne French and the Red Cars) after coercing authorities into silence by threatening to reveal which prominent Angelenos had (gasp!) VD.  Yes, venereal disease is a far worse crime than murder, at least according to “Black Dahlia Avenger,” “Most Evil” and  whatever may be next (Jimmy Hoffa? Judge Crater?) in the “Evil Genius”  franchise.    ALSO  A virtual tour of the home. The Nuestro Pueblo feature on the home. Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel on the Daily Mirror