Hotel Clark

This Hotel is on Hill St between 4th and 5th St, in downtown. It was the first sign I happened upon when I was walking around. This sign's great, the huge circled letters really stand out, I can just imagine what it looks like lit up at night....if it still can....which I'm not quite sure about. It's definitely not a hotel anymore, when I walked closer it seemd to be just a storage space. I did some searching on google and came up with a few tidbits about this building.

Link

That page contains a rendition of the hotel from a postcard.

It reads, "Below right is a postcard view of the Clark Hotel, an 11-story structure with 555 rooms, across the street from the Subway Terminal Building. The government of the People's Republic of China bought the hotel in the 1980s to be a business and cultural center — a project that was a casualty of the vagaries of China/U.S. relations."

It's pretty interesting how these buildings have changed hands throughout their lifetimes. After finding that I found

this

Close to the bottom of that page you can see an old picture of the Hotel Clark.

As I was searching for info I found myself just looking at these pages for the historical value they hold. I had no idea there was an incline railroad in downtown LA. Or that they had an elevated train system. It's a real shame that alot of this stuff is gone and no one even knew it existed. I'm really glad someone has taken the time to make websites like the ones above. As an outsider it really starts to get me interested in LA, and learn about a city that's more than just Hollywood and Beverly Hills. And it makes me appreciate this city more than I thought I ever could.

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WestLake Theater

I snapped this on the same trip as the last posting. One thing I forgot to add about that sign...I think there was more to the "O" word, than just an, "O". I guess I'll never know.

Back to this sign. It's on Wilshire, on the eastern side of MacArthur Park. I shot this from the western side, but later drove past and saw that this is no longer a theater.....it's been turned into a swap meet. BUT, I did dig this up from google:

Link

Here you will find a picture of the sign back in the olden days. This webpage was great! I had no idea what this theater was, or what type of theater it had been. But that page cleared it up...it was built in 1926.

"The Westlake is the largest theater in the Macarthur Park area (in downtown Los Angeles). Some of the design is reminiscent of the nearby State Theatre. Surprisingly, the theater's large roof-top neon sign has not only survived, but is still in use."

the webpage also has a bunch of comments from people recollecting their experience with the theater, really great stuff!


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O Town House

The first post of my second year! (well technically my second, but I had to write a post to acknowledge my year anniversary). I shot this sign along Wilshire Blvd. right after Vermont. For some reason this area has a bunch of apt. buildings that have their own huge signs. I like it alot, though I'm not sure the reason. Maybe these buildings are alot older, and that's what they did when they made large apt. buildings back then. Who knows? I couldn't find anything out about this particular building...maybe it's not so historic. I like this picture, though, the framing the palm trees......where else but LA. (and maybe Miami).


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One Year Old

So, I've been at this blog for more than a year now. So far I'm pretty happy with the way it's turned out. True, I had started it with greater expectations, but for the most part I'm happy with what it's formed into. It allows me to get out and see the city I live in and it's wonderful signage. I had no idea how fast some of these signs were going down, and it gives me a sense of pride that I can document them before their final end. I'm sure hundreds of others have taken the same pictures, but it still means alot to me. This blog has made me enjoy LA that much more, and I'm happy for it.

Things to look forward to in the future? Why more signs of course! And hopefully I can start finding more history on those signs. I also hope to make it over to the valley and shoot some of their signs. The few visits I've had over there have made me crane my neck as I watch some really cool signs go past.

So here's to you, Robots vs. Samurai. No one knows what exactly that name has to do with Los Angeles area neon signs, but they've beared with you this long.

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Musso & Frank Grill

Ah, the famous Musso and Frank Grill. The sign says it all. I don't know too much about this place, I've never eaten there...but....wikipedia has a write up on it.

LINK

And if you look in the background, you'll spot a future sign I'll post.

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Billy's Coffee Shop

I can't quite remember where I shot this sign. I know it was downtown, but I can't remember the streets. I like these types of signs, not sure if the lights still work, but I bet they did the old, "light up to the point of the arrow" in their prime. Looks kinda like a sign out of an old noir film.

"It was a dark and stormy night......my coffee cup was empty......and then She walked in....."



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Commercial Exchange

This angle was the only way I could get all of this sign in frame. How else could I get a 10 story tall sign on film? Anyways....I liked this sign alot. It's on the corner of 8th St and Olive....Downtown. It's seems to have quite a history, too. If you have the time, check out the NPR piece, a tour of La's Neon Link. I'm always interested in the history of these signs, so when I can find out more about them, I eat it up!

I also found this bit of info here. "The Commercial Exchange Building was 160 feet high. The building was an important part of the Downtown scene from its completion into the mid-1930s, serving as headquarters for the then-giant Owl Drug Co. It also contained the offices of author Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of the Tarzan character."


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United Foods

Happy New Year!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted. No really great excuses...let's just say I needed a break from the computer when I'd get home from work. But I'm feeling refreshed from the holiday break and am ready to start up the posts!

About a month ago I met up with some friends down in Chinatown, for some Dim Sum. The food was good and so was this sign. Not too many other signs around, though I didn't explore the area too well.

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Fish House

Ah the Fish House. I snapped this shot as I was walking back to my car, in Downtown. I believe it was on Spring St.....but it could have been Main.....between 1st and 2nd. Unfortunately the storefront was empty, so I assume they were going out of business, and not getting ready to go into business. Anyway, I like this sign, you don't see the mosaic style too much, these days. And there was this really cool old man standing outside....waiting for the bus.

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Vogue Theater

I took a recent trip over to Hollywood. Walked up and down the main drag and snapped some photos. Here's the Vogue Theater. It's on Hollywood Blvd, but I can't remember the cross street. It still seems to be in business, though I can't remember who was on the marquee.


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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.

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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."

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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.


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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"?

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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.

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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!

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Half Moon Motel

Sorry for the lack of posts....work's really taking a toll on me. But I've finally gotten a chance to post again. This is the final motel in that string of 4 on Sepulveda just below Venice Blvd. This one might just be my favorite out of all of them. I like not only the sign, but the way it looks against the stone wall. I've got this sign at another angle, I'll post that later.


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Comic Con 2006

Well, I know it's been a good 2 weeks since ComicCon ended, but I'm just now getting caught up. Work's been crazy. Shew! but I'm back for a brief entry. The image above is the last Frank Espinosa Sketchbook available at ComicCon. Frank was kind enough to let me have it and penned this great sketch that scolds me for not drawing enough. Here was the conversation (or what I can remember of it):

Frank: So what do you do, George?

Me: I'm an animator.

Frank: Oh? 2D or 3D?

Me: 3D

Frank: do you still draw?

Me: Ummmmmmm.......not so much as I'd like to

Frank: You should really keep drawing (furrowing his brow)


It was all in good fun, but still it's become that kick in the pants I needed to start up my sketchbook again.....so I have, and hopefully I'll be keeping it up to date, and maybe post it here. As long as work stays out of the way.

So thanks for everything Mr. Espinosa! You were a great person to meet and your comics are always inspiring.


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Beverly Laurel

This is a hotel off Fairfax Ave, on Beverly Blvd. It has a proper sign as well, but I thought I'd post this one first. I see these types of signs alot around LA....The name of the building in giant 3D lettering. I really like it, and I don't really see too much of it in more recent buildings (correct me if I'm wrong).

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