Martin Turnbull

Looking across Pershing Square from 6th St #DTLA. In 1952, the square was demolished to build a parking structure. Consequently a much-enjoyed, greenspace was lost. This photo was taken in 1965, when Pershing Square had had a chance to rebound albeit a shadow of its former self. (now photo May 2024)

We’re facing north up Broadway from 7th St #DTLA, circa early 1930s. I’m concerned about those people waiting for a streetcar on a patch of asphalt with only a painted line to separate them from traffic. Granted, those cars were moving as fast as those pedestrians, but still. ("now" photo Dec 2022)

A 1977 photo of a Foster’s Freeze restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd near Vermont Ave. The sign says “Old Fashion” instead of the more typical “Old Fashioned.” And on the far right, way in the distance, we can see the Griffith Observatory.

As the strippers in “Gypsy” wisely taught us: ya gotta have gimmick. By my rough estimation, there are about 130 used tires out from of this used tire store in Hollywood. The photo is from 1933, during the Depression, when people were keen to make a buck however they could.

Looking east on Hollywood Blvd toward Vine as a Red Car rolls west. “The Caine Mutiny” was playing at the Pantages so it was 1954. The NW cnr of Hollywood & Vine was a succession of different cafés. When this photo was taken, it was a Melody Lane with a Pig'n Whistle next door. (now photo Sept 2025)

1938 looking east along Wilshire from Catalina: Bullocks Wilshire, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Talmadge apartments. In the foreground is the sign for the Mona Lisa restaurant, 3343 Wilshire: “Franco-Italian restaurant and an ideal place to take a woman guest for luncheon." (Now photo August 2025)

This crisp photo takes us to the night of November 1, 1932, when Eddie Cantor’s “The Kid from Spain” got its razzle-dazzle premiere at the Wiltern Theatre on the SE corner of Wilshire and Western. Back then, the Wiltern was still owned by Warner Bros, who opened it in 1931. ("now" photo August 2025)

The bright light framing the silhouettes of these seven men is so perfectly timed that it could almost be a still from a movie. Seven men watch an atomic blast exploding in the Nevada desert from the safe distance of downtown Los Angeles at 5.10am on May 5, 1955.

Facing north up Beachwood Dr toward the Hollywood Hills. I wonder if people who lived on the left took the sign for granted and barely even saw it. The Hollywoodland sign went up late in 1923, and it looks pretty intact, so I’m going to guess this photo is mid-to-late 1920s. ("now" photo Oct 2025)

It must have been a slow day on Hollywood Blvd (or perhaps on a Sunday morning?) when this photo of Grauman’s Chinese was taken from across Hollywood Blvd during the run of "Morocco." But it gives us a clear view of the theater during its early days; it was 3 years old here. ("now" photo July 2022)

Here’s a 1950s shot if ever I’ve seen one: the parking lot of the Valley Plaza shopping mall, which was one of the first malls in the San Fernando Valley. (1951) According to my car expert, the newest vehicle in the image is a 1957 Plymouth, so let’s call this circa late 1950s.

In this serene image treats us to the night lights Los Angeles in 1908. (Population approximately 317,000) It reminds us that the city was still very much clustered around downtown LA. This shot was taken from the Mount Wilson Observatory, so we’re looking southwest.

This view of Venice, California was taken from the top of a rollercoaster. We can see (a) how sparsely populated Venice still was in 1918, and (b) how degraded the canals already were a dozen years after opening. In the foreground, we can see the main canal already filling in.

It doesn’t take much to make me happy: give me a vintage photo taken at night in Los Angeles, preferably with a neon sign and during Hollywood’s golden age. This beauty ticks all those boxes. We’re looking south down the eastern side of Vine St past the Brown Derby circa 1950s. (now photo June 2021)

Touring the landmark Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Although I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 30 years, and although the Shrine Auditorium has been standing on Jefferson Blvd south of downtown LA and north of the USC campus for almost 100 years, …

In all the time I've lived in LA, I've never been to the Shrine Auditorium. So when the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles recently organized a series of walking tours of the place, I sighed up immediately. So can see my pics on my blog.

tinyurl.com/8r8jfr2d

Here we have a 1938 view of Warner Bros from the top of the hillside overlooking Barham Blvd. In March, LA suffered through catastrophic rains that damaged the bridge crossing the LA River south of the studio. That’s why all those cars are parked along Barham.

A Pacific Electric Red Car rolls past the Rialto Theatre on Fair Oaks Ave. South Pasadena. The streetcar is so vividly red that I wonder if it was freshly painted. But as the photo was taken circa early 1950s, when the streetcar network was facing extinction, I’m guessing not. ("now" photo May 2024)

Elevated view of the Hollywood Hotel on the northwest corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave, circa 1920s. By this time, the center of Hollywood's social life was the Hollywood Hotel, especially on Thursdays, which, for some reason, became the big social night of the week. (now photo June 2024)

And we're very thankful that it does!

This is a rare photo of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre taken *before* the theater opened on May 18, 1927, with Cecil B. DeMille’s “King of Kings.” In this photo, it looks almost finished I wonder if those workers in front knew they were helping to build a soon-to-be legend. ("now" photo July 2022)

Night shot of the Wise department store on the NW corner of Pine & Broadway, Long Beach, CA, 1932. It opened on October 5, 1929, the same month the stock market crashed (what timing!) and closed in 1934. ("now" photo June 2024)

In this 1928 photo, we’re looking down Garfield Ave, Pasadena, where an automobile is stopped at railway crossbucks. To the immediate right is a steam locomotive pulling a passenger train. What amazes me is that the train tracks run right through a residential area.

Very nice, thanks for asking.

Hanna-Barbera animation building at 3400 Cahuenga Blvd. If the name Hanna-Barbera doesn’t mean much to you, perhaps you’ll recognize the shows that came out of this building: The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, Top Cat, Yogi Bear, and the Flintstones. They were here from 1960 to 1998. ("now" photo Feb 2023)

Hey guys, this is just a heads-up that I'm taking some (very much needed) screen-free vacation time. Tomorrow, I'm flying out to "the old country" (aka Australia) and will be back mid-November.

Here we have a photo catching Hollywood on a bright and sunny day. We’re looking north toward the famed corner of Hollywood and Vine. It shot was taken in the early 1950s when you could park your car for a quarter and then have dinner at the Brown Derby restaurant. Yes, please. (now photo July 2024)

I’m not normally squeamish about these sorts of things, and I’m sure this bridge was perfectly safe, but this Pacific Electric Red Car looks awfully precarious crossing the Arroyo Seco bridge from west to east as it chugs toward South Pasadena and the Ostrich Farm. (circa 1920s)

For those of you who are enjoy my golden-age Hollywood novels, you might like to know that I have released the details of book 3 in my Hollywood's Greatest Year trilogy: SELZNICK'S CONFIDANT.
You can read more about it over on my blog:
tinyurl.com/2zt3rkja

Tournament of Roses Parade passes under the Hotel Green bridge across Raymond Ave, Pasadena on the Los Angeles Saturday Post for January 9, 1904. I imagine is was a publicity coup for the hotel and had a flow-on effect with people staying there and going to its restaurant. ("now" photo April 2019)

Looking north from the 17th St. stop along the Pacific Electric's Newport Beach streetcar line, Huntington Beach, CA, circa 1930s. No matter how many shots I come across of oil wells along the SoCal shoreline, the sight of those loud, ugly, smelly things never fails to amaze me. (now photo May 2025)