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Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

I am a Los Angeles based novelist of a series of historical novels set in and around the real-life Garden of Allah Hotel which stood on Sunset Blvd from 1927 to…

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Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

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Tally-Ho carriage in front of Los Angeles Pico House Hotel with guest about to leave for Echo Mountain, downtown Los Angeles, 1875

This photo was taken in 1875. This is Pico House, which was considered LA’s first luxury hotel when it opened in 1870. Those people out front are probably guests of the hotel and those horse-drawn carriages are from Tally-Ho, and are about to take them for a day’s excursion to Echo Mountain which was a popular scenic look out north of Altadena, about 15 miles away. I can’t imagine there was much in the way of decent roads at the time, so I’m guessing it took all day to get there and back.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

A Santa Fe Railway Super Chief locomotive crashes into a wall on Aliso St, downtown Los Angeles, January 25, 1948

My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I was sent this photo a few weeks ago. No information came with it so I had to go digging. Apparently, this Santa Fe Railway Super Chief locomotive had been uncoupled from its El Capitan passenger train from Chicago on the morning of January 25, 1948. Somehow the brakes failed and it continued to move forward until it hit and overshot the 20-foot wall lining Aliso Street in downtown LA.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Looking east along Wilshire Blvd past the Warner Bros Theater, during a parade through Beverly Hills, circa mid 1930s

One of Warner Bros.’ flagship theaters was the one that stood at 9404 Wilshire Blvd at Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills. This photo is looking east along Wilshire sometime around the mid 1930s when a parade was in progress. Or maybe it was a bunch of guys on horseback caught in stop-and-go traffic. I don’t know what was playing at the theater that day, but their parking lot looks rather jammed.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Cahuenga Pass when it was just one road and a streetcar track, Hollywood, 1920

Between the Hollywood Freeway and Cahuenga Blvd, these days LA motorists have more than a dozen lanes to drive in when coming and going through the Cahuenga Pass in Hollywood. This photo shows, however, that in 1920, Angelenos had two streetcars and lanes—and those lanes weren’t even painted. In fact, I don’t think they were even paved. Of course, back then, you were driving out into the countryside into the San Fernando Valley, which was practically all fields and orchards.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

N Streetcar passes the Hotel Proctor at 1415 W. 9th St, Los Angeles, circa late 1940s

This was the Los Angeles Railway’s N streetcar on 9th Street, just west of downtown LA. Like the Red Cars, these yellow-and-green ones were easy to spot. This photo is circa late 1940s, just prior to the abandonment of the line in 1950. In the background we can see the Hotel Proctor with its “bachelor apartments”, which I assume were probably just a room with maybe a basin like we’ve seen in many a seedy film noir picture.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

The original Farmers Market at Fairfax Ave and Third St, Los Angeles, circa 1934

Earl Gilmore opened the Farmer’s Market in July 1934 to help Depression-era farmers sell their products. This a photo of the original 18 booths and the accompanying sign says that the farmers paid 50 cents a day to sell their goods. It’s amazing to think that this makeshift little market would evolve into a permanent structure that houses dozens of shops and restaurants, as well as The Grove shopping mall.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Aerial photo of Los Angeles City Hall enshrouded in smog, downtown Los Angeles, circa November, 1954

The smog in this photo is so thick and so gritty that I can almost taste it, 68 years later. This photo was taken circa November 1954 on a day that was particularly heavy that pretty much the only building we can see clearly is the Los Angeles City Hall, and even then, only because it’s closest to the camera and is white. Thankfully the city took measures to clear the air otherwise everybody would have left.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Looking west past the lagoon toward the Windward Ave and the Venice pier, Venice, California, circa 1907

This genteel photo gives is a glimpse into what Abbot Kinney’s original vision was for what he called “Venice of America,” but which we now refer to as Venice. In the foreground, we can see the lagoon, on which Angelenos could take gondola rides. That wide pedestrian walkway lead down to the Venice amusement pier, which had all sorts of rides, games, and diversions. But what stumps me is that circular thing in the foreground that looks like a volcano.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

The California Incline under construction, Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles 1934

The California Incline, a steeply angled road connecting Ocean Avenue to the Pacific Coast Highway, was first built in 1905. In the mid-1930s, construction on PCH meant that the Incline got an upgrade by widening the road and adding a concrete balustrade. This 1934 shows it getting its makeover. The 1930s was the time of big, fancy beach clubs and we can see two of them in this photo. The one with the turret is Deauville Beach Club and the one farther along is the Santa Monica Athletic Club.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Fond’s Pants Shop, 655 Main St, downtown Los Angeles, circa late 1930s

Here’s a view of something we rarely see anymore: a row of very individual mom-and-pop stores: a shoe store, a pants (and shirts) store, a barber, and a radio repair store. And on the far right, that “Co.” belonged to an Owl Drug Co drugstore. Fond’s Pants were at 655 Main St, downtown LA. I wonder what the difference was between their $2.85 and their $3.85 pants. From the 1936 Ford and the 1937 Chevrolet, I’m putting this photo at circa late 1930s.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Color photo looking north up Whitley Ave from Padre Terrace, Hollywood, 1947

I think of these sorts of photos as slice-of-life shots. Nothing much is happening in this 1947 color photo looking north up Whitley Ave from Padre Terrace in Hollywood, but it does give us a glimpse into what the post-war Hollywood neighborhood looked like with lots of palm trees, green lawns, and well-maintained apartment buildings. On my time travel trip, I’d happily spend an hour or two wandering around this area (and then go to C.C. Brown’s for one of their hot fudge sundaes!)

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

The Mulholland Dam under construction in the Hollywood Hills, February 2, 1924

The Mulholland Dam (named after Water Superintendent William Mulholland, who is also the namesake of Mulholland Drive) sits in Weid Canyon north of Whitley Heights and northeast of the Hollywood Bowl. Construction began on April 1, 1923. This photo was taken ten months later on February 2, 1924 when the curve of the dam had taken shape. It was such a massive project that it wouldn’t be completed until April 14, 1925.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Snow blankets the ground outside Royce Hall on the UCLA campus, Westwood, Los Angeles, January 15, 1932

Snow falls so rarely in Los Angeles, so when it does, it’s worth bringing out the cameras to capture the moment. This particular moment happened on January 15, 1932 on the campus of UCLA in Westwood. The building in the background is Royce Hall, which is one of the college’s four original buildings. On that day, Los Angeles was blanketed with two inches of snow, which lasted until about 11am, and by lunchtime it had all melted away.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

The Santa Monica Pier opens to the public on "Pier Day," September 9, 1909

The pier on Santa Monica beach has had several incarnations over the years—mostly because piers would all too often catch fire—but this photo goes back to the day when the first one opened to the public. It was creatively called “Pier Day” and the first Angelenos were able to stroll its length on Thursday, September 9, 1909. And the US Navy’s Atlantic fleet was there to greet them.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

The MGM front gate and Thalberg Building, Culver City, as seen in "The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story" 1951

Last night, I watched an hour-long film on TCM called “The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story” in which a very wooden MGM production chief, Dore Schary, promoted upcoming MGM films for 1951. It was like an hour-long buffet of movie trailers. But near the start was this shot that answered a question I’ve long wondered: Where was the main gate in relation to the Irving Thalberg building? That’s the building on the left and the main gate was at the end of the road that crosses in front of it.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Hotel Palomares, 344 North Garey Ave, Pomona, California, circa 1904

I wouldn’t have expected to find such an impressive hotel in late-1800s Pomona, but Hotel Palomares at 344 North Garey Ave opened its doors in 1897. By that stage, the city of Pomona had only been around for less than a decade (incorporated in 1888), but someone thought great things were coming. Garey Ave wasn’t even sealed when this photo was taken in 1904, so those grand ladies in their Victorian dresses had to be careful during the rainy season as their horse-drawn carriages pulled up.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Aerial photo of the Hollywood Bowl with the Franciscan Motel in the background, 1949

Photos of the Hollywood Bowl tend to draw the eye of the Bowl itself because it IS the Hollywood Bowl, after all. But this aerial photo from 1949 shows us that there was quite a large motel behind it. It was called the Franciscan Motel. I could find no information on the hotel, but it appears to be quite close, so I’m wondering if a good portion of their guests were out-of-towners who came to see a show. I’m not exactly sure where it was, but it looks like the Hollywood Freeway took it out.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

A caravan of Woody wagons heading north on the Hollywood Freeway through Cahuenga Pass, Burbank, California, circa 1942

Here we have a line of cars heading north on the Hollywood Freeway through Cahuenga Pass near the Barham exit in Burbank. But on closer inspection, we can see the cars on the two left lanes are all Woody wagons. So I’m guessing maybe it’s some sort of Woody wagon enthusiasts club taking their pride-and-joys on parade? Or going to a meet with other Woodies? This photo is circa 1942.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Warner Bros soundstages, Burbank, California, 1937

This 1937 photo of the Warner Bros. studio lot gives you an idea of how cavernous the soundstages are. And they need to be. One week they could be housing a Roaring Twenties speakeasy, the next week a pirate ship, and the week after that Malayan rubber plantation. In the 1970s, that mountain in the background became Walton’s Mountain from TV’s “The Waltons."

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Premiere of "The Gaucho" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, November 4, 1927

This photo was taken on November 4, 1927 when hundreds of people showed up to witness the premiere of Douglas Fairbanks’ “The Gaucho,” at Grauman’s Chinese. The theater was so new that this was only the second splashy premiere here held there. Fairbanks was at the height of his popularity, which explains the crowds crammed on the sidewalks on both sides of Hollywood Blvd. Lucky ticket holders were treated to a 12-part live show called a “Prologue” staged by Sid Grauman himself before the movie.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Screenshot of the opening credits to “Hollywood Story” (1951) showing the street signs for Hollywood and Vine

A 1951 picture from Universal called “Hollywood Story” features a whole raft of early 1950s Los Angeles locations. But nothing beats the first shot in the opening credits. It’s perfect for a movie called “Hollywood Story”: the street signs for LA’s most famous corner above a semaphore signal.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Cafe Trocadero, 8610 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood after its 1938 facade remodel

Hollywood Reporter owner, Billy Wilkerson, opened his Café Trocadero at 8610 Sunset Blvd on the Sunset Strip on September 18, 1934. The swanky, French-inspired club it was an instant hit with the It Crowd and stayed that way for four years. But then Wilkerson sold it in 1938 and the new owners gave the facade a makeover, which is what we’re seeing in this photo. Those new owners were gangsters Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen. Not unsurprisingly, people stayed away.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Looking west along Colorado Blvd from Raymond Ave past the Hotel Carlton, Pasadena, California, 1887

It’s images like this that make me thankful someone thought to take a photo of what for them would have been a regular street scene, but for us is a snapshot into a place that no longer exists. We’re looking west along Colorado Blvd from Raymond Ave in Pasadena. The year was 1887, so I can’t tell if the it was paved yet, but either way, it looks like it would have been a bumpy ride. The ornate building on the right is the Hotel Carlton, which seems like it was quite the fancy establishment.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Standard Oil gas station at the corner of Beverly Blvd and La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, circa late 1920s

I never experienced the era of gas station attendants wearing bow ties and caps, who would pump your gas and clean your windshield for you, but it sure must have been nice. This Standard Oil gas station stood at the corner of Beverly Blvd and La Brea Ave circa late 1920s, and those two peppy fellows look like they’re ready to serve. Their sandwich board reads “The New Winter Red Crown” – does anyone know what that refers to?

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Color photo of Fisherman's Wharf, Redondo Beach, California, August 1953

Until I came across this photo, I didn’t know Los Angeles had a Fisherman’s Wharf. Apparently it’s on the Redondo Beach pier, and was filled with the requisite seafood restaurants, a gift shop for souvenirs, and a place to buy tackle. But my favorite is a place called Moon Mullen’s, which is a pretty great name for a hamburger stand. This photo was taken in August 1953, but it looks like the morning haze hasn’t burned off yet.

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Martin Turnbull - Hollywood historical fiction author

Historical and vintage photographs of Los Angeles and Hollywood