Royal Wilshire

I went down Wilshire one last time the weekend before last. This would complete my drive from the Beach to Downtown. Inbetween Western Blvd and Downtown (right before MacArthur Park) there are a bunch of old Apt/Hotel buildings....each with their own giant neon signs. Some are in better condition than others, but they all looked great. This one is on Wilshire by South Rampart Blvd. Quite a large building itself. Really cool sign.

G

West End

This was a peculiar sign. It belongs to this hotel...but the weird thing is the location. It's near the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Sawtelle. But it's a block up from Sanata Monica. So if you were just driving down the road, chances are you wouldn't see it. Maybe it's visible from the 405, but I don't think so. I guess it's not THAT weird, but you would think if someone owned a hotel they'd try to keep it on a main street. I dunno. I like the sign, though. It was one of the first that made me think, "I need to get these thing son film."

G

Los Altos

This was one of many apt. buildings on Wilshire, between Western Ave and MacArthur Park. There were probably 10 or so of these old buildings, I assume still fully functional apt. buildings or hotels. I saw some construction next to this one, but I think it was just the lot next to it and not the building itself. I don't know what it is, but there's something about these signs, I guess it's because most apt. building don't have huge neon signs to advertise the building.... I know mine sure doesn't. But I've noticed aroudn that area and Hollywood, there are quite a few of them. Very cool.


G

Hotel Rosslyn

This seemed like one of the few working hotels left around downtown. I know there are quite a few north of the central library, but this seemed to be one of the few originals. Maybe I'm wrong and it's only a few years old.....but I'd like to think it's pretty old. I think I shot this somewhere around Main St and 9th St.....maybe.


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King's Liquor

I shot this sign after I stopped to shoot a sign on the opposite side of the road. I think it's at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Stanford St. I like it alot, very festive, and how can you not like a sign that touts itself as the "party center"?

G

Tower Theater

I took this picture when I was downtown a couple months ago. I took a couple hours and wandered around the dowtown area, snapping some pictures of all the old signs...which there were quite a few. Alot of these buildings are getting demolished, though. I'm sure if I had gone down there a year or two ago, there would have been even more. As they are renovating the many buildings, they're also tearing down the signs. A few of the signs I snapped that day were part of buildings halfway demolished. I'm glad I couuld get down there and record these, they'll never be seen again. Most are old hotels, and others old theaters. Downtown used to be the premiere center of Hollywood movies.....in the 1930's....but then everyone started moving out and soon left downtown to be just a business center that closes at 5pm. Oh well, I won't go on.

G

Martini

It's been quite awhile since I've updated this, I know....I was VERY busy with work (probably the busiest I've ever been) and then I had the nerve to take a two week vacation to Italy. The vacation was much needed, and we had a wonderful time. I don't think I could describe everything I saw or did. It's a beautiful country and I only saw just a little bit of the northwestern part. Above is a sign in front of one of the many cafes in Torino. I took many, many pictures over there, but not so much of signs......and anyways, this blog's probably better off just showing LA signs, so I won't post any of my other photos. But rest assured (all 5 of you) that I'm back and should be posting reguarly as the weeks progress. I have alot more LA pictures in my arsenol. So stay tuned!

G