LOS ANGELES is a big city filled with big attractions and more than its share of big people doing big things. But for me – the little things matter more. Here are three of my favourites. ANGEL’S FLIGHT <PHOTO ABOVE, 1969, by photographer JULIUS SHULMAN> is an electric cable railway which runs from Downtown LA to the top of Bunker Hill. The ride takes about 2 minutes and costs 50 cents each way. If you like, climb up the Hill via a stairway of 123 steps and 10 ramps. During the Great Depression, Bunker Hill was home to many poor families who lived in once-elegant Victorian mansions – then degenerated into boarding houses – overlooking the city. Today, it’s the Financial District.
MILLARD SHEETS, a California painter, was fascinated by the Bunker Hill neighbourhood. Two of his paintings, ‘Angel’s Flight, 1931’, and ‘Tenement Flats, 1933-34’ are shown below.
Another little attraction in LA is located at 709 LaBrea Boulevard. This is PINK’S HOT DOG STAND, founded by Paul Pink. It began as a hot dog wagon in 1939, was upgraded in 1946 – and ever since has drawn lineups of locals and tourists until the wee hours.
The world famous HOLLYWOOD SIGN isn’t the original, built for $21,000, and demolished. Today’s steel-lettered sign was erected in 1978. The original had a notorious past, when former Broadway star PEG ENTWHISTLE (photo below), climbed up, and jumped to her death from the letter ‘H’ in 1932. Her parting words in a suicide note: “I am afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E.”
On JUNE 26, 1913, the cornerstone was dedicated for one of TORONTO’s most successful efforts to provide better housing for working people. The new Spruce Court Apartments, Spruce Street at Sumach, were so popular they were occupied ASAP, and a lengthy waiting list began. Hardwood floors, solid millwork, heavy doors with brass fittings, double-hung multi-paned windows, and stone sills – Spruce Court was built to last. And to this day, it’s one of the most successful co-ops in the city. Supervising architect: Birmingham native EDEN SMITH (1858-1949)
PHOTO BELOW – Spruce Court dining room ca1913/City of Toronto Archives
<PHOTO ABOVE – The Crystal Ballroom after a complete renovation, 2018>
TORONTO’s principal square is named after NATHAN PHILLIPS, mayor of all the people from 1955-62. The Square and New City Hall opened in 1965. The architect: Finland’s VILJO REVELL.
And now, $40-50 million later, NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE looks the way the architect intended: a wide open space with plenty of room for a farmer’s market, concerts, ice skating, public events of every description, demonstrations, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the annual Festival of Lights. There are more fountains, a large permanent stage, new snack bar and skate rental building. 100 Queen Street West at Bay.
PHOTOS ABOVE – 1) Road and sidewalk repairs, Adelaide Street; 2) corner of Front and Yonge Streets; 3) corner of Church and King Street East; 4) the Micklethwaite studio above John Wanless Company
GETTING TO THE ZOO – TORONTO’s Zoo is located in the East End of the city in the rolling hills of the Rouge Valley. By car from downtown, take the 401 Eastbound to Exit 389, Meadowvale Road. Follow the Zoo signs to 361A Old Finch Avenue. Large parking lot. By PUBLIC TRANSIT – take the subway (Sheppard Line) to DON MILLS STATION. Bus #85 leaves from here, and will drop you in front of the Zoo entrance about 45 minutes later. Along the way, you’ll pass through suburban Don Mills and Scarborough.
YORKVILLE was the epi-centre of TORONTO’s youth and hippie culture back in the sixties. And the RIVERBOAT COFFEE HOUSE was the epi-centre of Yorkville. All that remains of this famous establishment is a plaque in front of a new five-star hotel. Some of the biggest names in music – Canadian and otherwise – played at the Riverboat: Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlan, Dan Hill and Neil Young, among others.
The cafe is immoralized in ‘Ambulance Blues’ by NEIL YOUNG, shown below in 1965 performing at the RIVERBOAT. <PHOTO – Manfred Buchheit>
Oh, Isabela, proud Isabela,
Toronto Savvy 