Disposable grandeur, great title – and Apt. It’s kind of sad – raise up, then tear down. The first picture is lovely, I especially like the fronds hanging down into “frame”. In fact the greenery is – almost – like a proscenium arch. Love the rhyme between the pics too.
I should put up some pictures of the Spelling mansion in Bev. Hills – and then all over scale oddities that followed. But, I’ll try to keep it tasteful for the next few days 😉
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D.Vernon
December 26, 2014
About an hour ago I stumbled upon this site. As a result I am heart sick, on the very edge of a breakdown, and in a really blue funk! I spent half of my life in L.A. and every time we had the chance my mom and I would grab a
red car and head for Hollywood. That was our thrill in life and that thrill has been in my old heart ever since. When I see the ruins of those once happy years I become miserably unhappy.
I became a part of Hollywood for a short time as a newscaster at KNX and then at KFWB. I had finally made it
to the big time of radio…and Hollywood. It was the best time of my life. I was so very, very happy.
What a shame. Imagine if someone had lovingly maintained the bones, bringing it into the 21 century. It would have been gorgeous. Well, what do I know… maybe it was less costly to just start from scratch? Still, I can’t help but feel sad for the lost “grandeur.” Great photos.
I could proof my posts before I put them up! Thank you for the spell check. I’m looking at some glorious old interiors now and some houses designed by Wallace Neff – my mood permeates – we’ll see if it becomes just pictures through the weekend 😉
I wrote grandeur at first, then went back to look at yours, knowing that you’d have it right, I changed mine — only to have my spell check highlight it with the red line. I was confused. Surely, Vickie had it right! haha! I have more faith in you then my spell check.
Those old interiors are so substantial and of such high quality. I could probably get lost in those photos and never return.
It’s better now – Pasadena has some of the strongest architectural preservation efforts in the state, but in 1947 when this beauty was destroyed things were very loose in terms of architectural heritage.
Ooh, your reply to me got me thinking – a dangerous notion, I’m sure you’ll agree – that idea of yours concerning McMansions and echt-Xanadus, all those totally tasteless monstrous carbuncles could be part of a BH theme week (or couple of days). “Hollywood’s” worst or funniest excesses, you could include some of your wonderful stories of Hollywood past or names-changed fiction-dusted tales of the present, and what’s more you could call it “HOLLYWOULDN’T”! Yes, sorry, what an awful idea 😉 And no, I haven’t been drinking!
Still love to see some of those architectural horrors tho’ in the future with your appropriately sardonic comments o’course! Regards, George
Dear V
Of course whilst buildings here can and do disappear it is a much less frequent occurrence so far as anything over a certain age is concerned.
Have similar protections been put in place too ensure that California’s immense architectural heritage is protected?
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
It very much depends on the city. Beverly Hills was notorious for siding with developers and the grandiose schemes of property owners (money talks) until a Neutra was threatened a couple of years ago. It’s still lax, but it’s better. Pasadena is the most draconian, and I have to admit, I like it.
Oh if you like draconian, you should see our government agency English Heritage (Cadw, in Wales, Historic Scotland in err Scotland) in action.
They will intervene from beginning to end if they possibly can, even when the architects are trying to be sensitive.
There’s was a great documentary series about them a couple of years ago… hilarious, they nearly drove the people refurbishing St Pancras station to an early grave…
More power to them I say.
As I recall there was a long debate about the handling of a number of Victorian supporting brackets and which colour they should be repainted – despite thee fact they were not ever going to be visible to the eye once the work was complete.
The Genius of Preservation!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
1947 — there’s another lost estate in Pasadena, the Feynes Mansion that was a Moorish Victorian extravaganza built in the 1890s. I think it was razed in the 1960s. The Feynes second house is now a museum.
I don’t think my brain was functioning last night – Orange Grove used to be nothing but stately homes and then after the war it was massively redeveloped (bulldozed) to accommodate all those mid-century apt./condos.
That is too bad. I mourn lost architecture daily, the memories created inside them, the broken links. I understand the need for new housing, but I adore the faded opulence of once great buildings. Think “Sunset Boulevard.”
It was after WWII and the thought was to house returning vets and their families, there was a housing shortage and then a baby boom, the apartments are now kind of glamorous and spacious – but they’re nothing like the lost estates.
.
Disposable grandeur, great title – and Apt. It’s kind of sad – raise up, then tear down. The first picture is lovely, I especially like the fronds hanging down into “frame”. In fact the greenery is – almost – like a proscenium arch. Love the rhyme between the pics too.
I should put up some pictures of the Spelling mansion in Bev. Hills – and then all over scale oddities that followed. But, I’ll try to keep it tasteful for the next few days 😉
About an hour ago I stumbled upon this site. As a result I am heart sick, on the very edge of a breakdown, and in a really blue funk! I spent half of my life in L.A. and every time we had the chance my mom and I would grab a
red car and head for Hollywood. That was our thrill in life and that thrill has been in my old heart ever since. When I see the ruins of those once happy years I become miserably unhappy.
I became a part of Hollywood for a short time as a newscaster at KNX and then at KFWB. I had finally made it
to the big time of radio…and Hollywood. It was the best time of my life. I was so very, very happy.
What a shame. Imagine if someone had lovingly maintained the bones, bringing it into the 21 century. It would have been gorgeous. Well, what do I know… maybe it was less costly to just start from scratch? Still, I can’t help but feel sad for the lost “grandeur.” Great photos.
I could proof my posts before I put them up! Thank you for the spell check. I’m looking at some glorious old interiors now and some houses designed by Wallace Neff – my mood permeates – we’ll see if it becomes just pictures through the weekend 😉
I wrote grandeur at first, then went back to look at yours, knowing that you’d have it right, I changed mine — only to have my spell check highlight it with the red line. I was confused. Surely, Vickie had it right! haha! I have more faith in you then my spell check.
Those old interiors are so substantial and of such high quality. I could probably get lost in those photos and never return.
Love the pictures – Santa Barbara and Mission style architecture is absolutely my favorite. Such a shame it couldn’t have been preserved or renovated.
It’s better now – Pasadena has some of the strongest architectural preservation efforts in the state, but in 1947 when this beauty was destroyed things were very loose in terms of architectural heritage.
Why do so many think that new is better? I love the old stuff, and shed a tear when it is torn down.
I am soooo with you on that!!!
Ooh, your reply to me got me thinking – a dangerous notion, I’m sure you’ll agree – that idea of yours concerning McMansions and echt-Xanadus, all those totally tasteless monstrous carbuncles could be part of a BH theme week (or couple of days). “Hollywood’s” worst or funniest excesses, you could include some of your wonderful stories of Hollywood past or names-changed fiction-dusted tales of the present, and what’s more you could call it “HOLLYWOULDN’T”! Yes, sorry, what an awful idea 😉 And no, I haven’t been drinking!
Still love to see some of those architectural horrors tho’ in the future with your appropriately sardonic comments o’course! Regards, George
We’ll see what I can capture on my horrible little iPhone in the next couple of weeks 😉
Dear V
Of course whilst buildings here can and do disappear it is a much less frequent occurrence so far as anything over a certain age is concerned.
Have similar protections been put in place too ensure that California’s immense architectural heritage is protected?
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
It very much depends on the city. Beverly Hills was notorious for siding with developers and the grandiose schemes of property owners (money talks) until a Neutra was threatened a couple of years ago. It’s still lax, but it’s better. Pasadena is the most draconian, and I have to admit, I like it.
Oh if you like draconian, you should see our government agency English Heritage (Cadw, in Wales, Historic Scotland in err Scotland) in action.
They will intervene from beginning to end if they possibly can, even when the architects are trying to be sensitive.
There’s was a great documentary series about them a couple of years ago… hilarious, they nearly drove the people refurbishing St Pancras station to an early grave…
More power to them I say.
Oh! I would love to see that — preservation, architecture, dramatic clashes between creatives — just my cup of tea. Thank you!
As I recall there was a long debate about the handling of a number of Victorian supporting brackets and which colour they should be repainted – despite thee fact they were not ever going to be visible to the eye once the work was complete.
The Genius of Preservation!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
When was it torn down?
1947 — there’s another lost estate in Pasadena, the Feynes Mansion that was a Moorish Victorian extravaganza built in the 1890s. I think it was razed in the 1960s. The Feynes second house is now a museum.
I don’t think my brain was functioning last night – Orange Grove used to be nothing but stately homes and then after the war it was massively redeveloped (bulldozed) to accommodate all those mid-century apt./condos.
That is too bad. I mourn lost architecture daily, the memories created inside them, the broken links. I understand the need for new housing, but I adore the faded opulence of once great buildings. Think “Sunset Boulevard.”
Remind me and I’ll post pictures of lost beauties along the lines of “Sunset Boulevard”…
Wow. That would be incredible.
I consider myself reminded. They’ll be up either sometime over the weekend or next week 🙂
I read your blog regularly, so no hurry. Everything you post is fascinating.
Likewise! And, I’ve already started collecting pictures 🙂
Ha ha. Ya! Consider yourself re-blogged!
The “Evelyn Mullray” house is still there in Pasadena.
Oh yeah. S. El Molino 🙂
YES!!!
The second photo made me gasp. All in the name of Progress, right?
It was after WWII and the thought was to house returning vets and their families, there was a housing shortage and then a baby boom, the apartments are now kind of glamorous and spacious – but they’re nothing like the lost estates.