So the Jensen’s Melrose Theatre in East Hollywood isn’t quite forgotten, since it’s been occupied by the Ukranian Culture Center since the 1960′s and I was lucky to check out the inside during a Christmas craft extravaganza. There’s a lot of information about it online (which I think people just copy and pasted from this article) but it’s nice to know that an old 1920′s movie theater, complete with detailed facade, still exists in a part of town where you’d least expect an elaborate stage. The whole neighborhood around is a mix of Hispanic/Armenian families, independent storefronts and hipsters on fixed gear bikes.

I just love how architects and business owners back in the day would permanently affix  and incorporate their ownership on their buildings. I don’t see it so much as a display of ego, but the thought that their name and business were somehow going to be there at that location forever. I rarely see this around town anymore; if anything, the signage at the top of current office buildings changes often enough that putting permanent signage (engraved in stone) on that real estate would probably be a bad business move.

I walked by this self-proclaimed office along Industrial Street between warehouses downtown. Though it’s currently occupied by the Commercial Meat Co (or something like that), I love how its previous occupants still have some sort of a presence. I can’t figure out what the PPSC initials stand for, though. Google, you’ve failed me.

I’m glad these signs exist, though, because otherwise the original use of the space would be forgotten by the rest of the city.

BRB. I’m going to go carve my initials along my apartment building wall now.

A recent trip to Fosselman’s in Alhambra took us by this empty lot but what did I find, hidden behind the covered fence?

It was another old billboard, and this time, for a real estate/loan company, Mang & Co. I’m guessing it was a small business because I can’t find any other information about the name. (And by that, I mean Google.) Well, I did find a law firm in the UK but I have a feeling it’s not quite the same thing.

I just love the old type; it reminds me of the classic Coca-Cola ad. You can’t deny that they did things with style back then.

So several months ago, I embarked on a personal project where I’d document all the cool old buildings I’d find in our sprawling city but after a couple posts, I just got tired of it. I’m sometimes lazy. Leave me alone. But yesterday I re-discovered some more photographs I took and thought I should at least say something about them, right?

Now I can’t decide between continuing the posts over there or just moving them all here. INDECISIONS 2010!!

Anyway, one of my favorite things to find around the city are old ads and billboards painted on the side of buildings, whether they’re to advertising rooms in the hotel itself or whatever local business was around during the time.  At the top of this list is this huge ad along the side of an old dollar store along Western Ave in Koreatown. Sadly, it’s half painted up probably due to a lame beautification project (the building next door looks brand new), and the graffiti under it looks pretty cool, too.

But how fun are these ads for Hoffman’s Cash Grocery and Market? My favorite is the Ever-Ready Drug Co with its prompt “motor delivery”, which is an offer you’d hardly find around nowadays. Also, it’s fun to see the actual place mentioned in a random cookbook  published in 1915. I think the old pharmacy sign still exists on the actual building, but I’ve never managed to get a good picture of it, thanks to traffic.

And that MJB Coffee billboard (a company that still exists!)? I guess it was a statewide ad campaign. Check out another version from Oakland!