Bunker Hill and Lost Images

SHIMMERING, EXTRAVAGANT giant crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling in every room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Downtown Los Angeles. I walked into this elaborate building for the first time last week and I was awe struck. In jeans and a blouse I felt under-dressed to be in such an exquisite space and yet for me I found the building itself out of place and rather odd. I felt transported back into 1960’s Los Angeles; it is obvious they have kept the building the way it was originally envisioned in 1962. Dorothy Chandler built the building in an effort to renew the arts scene in Los Angles. As well as provide a proper home for the philharmonic. This building houses on of the largest stages in America, however due to the other three performance halls located just a few feet away, this hall is not used as much as it once was.

Walking into this building the history of Los Angeles comes flooding upon you. On the second floor there is homage paid to what that area of downtown once was, with a metal sculpture of Bunker Hill. What was once a historic area with beautiful Victorian Houses and families inhabiting them that had lived there for decades, is now filled with apartment complexes and condos. With this piece of history staring at you the significance of this building becomes apparent. Unlike other buildings that have overtaken the memories of Downtown L.A., this building is part of that history. Built by the wife of the second Editor of the Los Angeles Times, Chandler loved the city and wanted to help the community by building this performance hall.

The sculpture of Bunker Hill brought images of old men walking down the hill to get groceries and the deteriorating buildings which people refused to leave. The videos I have seen on the last days of Bunker Hill will forever remain ingrained in my memory and I smiled at this sculpture for the reminder it brings to anyone who sees it. Though it is actually a model of a set piece, this art piece says so much more about Los Angeles than the rest of the building does. Hopefully it will educate those who don’t know about what once existed on Bunker Hill and for those who do remember it will bring a smile to their face, knowing that even though it is gone, it is not completely forgotten.

--Mickala Jauregui

Photo Credit: My camera

Vanished L.A.: The Exiles

This is the trailer from, The Exiles, the film by Kent Mackenzie, I was telling you all about last night. This is the larger project that came out of his time on Bunker Hill. If you can get a chance to see it you should. Another look at a vanished Los Angeles. This is why we need archivists who are really storytellers.

L.G. 

Dreams From Bunker Hill

Millard Sheets’ Angel’s Flight (1931) 

  

WE TALKED a little bit the other night about Bunker Hill and what's left of it We will look more at the neighborhood in the coming weeks,  but I wanted to share some images of Angel's Flight.


Remember in Criss Cross when Anna was listening in the as Steve and Slim made plans for the big heist? As she was pacing, in the window behind her you could catch a glimpse of the Angel's Flight Railway, a  funicular that, even today, makes the trip up the steep hill connecting Hill Street to Grand Avenue at Third. 

Anna (Yvonne DiCarlo)  in Criss Cross, 1948 image via "Angel's Flight Goes to the Movies"

The Railway has had a complicated history -- you can go here to read more about its  ups and downs, both literally and figuratively -- it has had its own set of tragic noir-esque tales.

Angel's Flight Today Image via Wikipedia

"I walked down the street to­wards An­gel's Flight, won­der­ing what I would do that day. But there was noth­ing to do, and so I de­cid­ed to walk around the town."

                                      -- John Fante  from Ask the Dust

 I'll leave you with a little slice of Bunker Hill from Criss Cross . . . .

L.G.