There is something wonderfully 1940s noir about these old apartments behind the bus stop on Mission Street. South Pas is known for its stunning homes -- Craftsman, Victorian, Spanish, Tudor, Traditional, Transitional -- but it only has a handful of these simple post-War structures so prevalent in the rest of LA. Los Angeles county had a pretty big housing boom in the years right after World War 2, and it is evidenced in the scads of cozy, slightly tattered little places that look a lot like this.I can just see Barbara Stanwyck or Veronica Lake bursting through that door and running down the steps to meet Robert Mitchum...
But then again, I tend to think like that.
13 comments:
Great little apartment. Looks like Robert Mitchum spent a little too much time with the hedgeclippers though! HA
I'm a fan of glass block (around the doorway). I have several blocks from some earlier dumpster dive. Have never had a place to put them.
Yes, and Veronica or Barbara would be wearing a neglige and satin slippers with marabou puffs on top. Bette Davis, on the other hand, would calmly stop by to collect the rent, wearing a hat.
What is the tree logo on the trash container? Something wonderfully South Pas, I bet!
Phew! I was sure I was going to be expected to come up with a screenplay to tie into this shot. What a relief.
There's a lot of pressure associated with subscribing to Laurie's site.
It doesn't look like any scene I recall from the film but my first thought was of Day of the Locust.
I'm just going to wait for my heart rate to stabilize now.
As you will notice from your other blog I am heavily reading at the moment. It would have to be the homage to the time LA confidential. Russell Crowe is going to walk up those steps and Veronica lake wannabe Kim Basinger is going to open the door to temptation.
Hello Laurie...
Nice picture ! The ring is high !
I love the idea for a storyline!
but, would they come rushing out the door, down the steps and onto a bus? ;-) If they took a few more steps to their left they'll be in Pasadena shortly!
the tree on the trashcan is the seal of SoPas. Check it out here: http://www.ci.south-pasadena.ca.us/about/index.html
Those names and some of the comments instantly release a rush of collective images of the middle of last century. Add Barbra Stanwyck to that list ...
The glass blocks are a symbol of that period and most certainly worth a dumpster dive!
......or Lauren Bacall would say to Bogie as he enters, "If you want anything, all you have to do is whistle. You know how to whistle don't you Steve?" Or is that from another movie? Does look like a setting for an old movie. Square hedge, cone-shaped hedge. Why? Must be a goofy gardener. I wonder what's for dinner.....whatever they have down the street at the diner I'm guessing. People don't cook here. Not in a negligee and fuzzy slippers. They only drink martinis.
It's the little bungalow Joan Crawford lives in. She's making the rent by serving up hash and baking pies for the local diner. She's determined to build a better life for herself. Determined to make it. She's going to the top, and no man will ever call her "honey" again.
I'm thinking maybe Ava Gardner or a drunk Betty Davis, with cigarette in hand. All of the concrete is so steadfast and solid. Representative of the period. I like the blue frame of the screen door. :~) I might tilt it so that the red of the curb is the same size at the bottom, but that's just me.
Hello everybody,
I didn't expect to get one of my imaginary movie fixes but you all ran with the noir idea, didn't you? (Wayne? Have you recovered?)
I will never be able to look at this building again without thinking Bette Davis is in there plotting something with Joan Crawford. I love that! Oh, and any reference to LA Confidential is welcome here. I really like that film.
Thanks for the South Pas seal link, Trish. You always have such great background information for us.
Dixie (Mom) -- martinis. Yep!
Pasadena Adj, could you incorporate the bricks into a mosaic? I keep imagining your tile work translated to big mural.
Judy, I left the slanted red line on purpose because this little building goes up a slight hill. I liked the cockeyed look of it, especially with those bizarre shrubs that make no sense -- but on another day I might have straightened it out. (Then again, I usually like stuff that's kind of cockeyed.)
See you guys next time! Thanks again!
love that glass brick.
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