Hollywood Christmas

The decorations along Hollywood Boulevard had a number of changes through the years. Some of the pre-war chronology is solid (1928, 1931, 1932, 1934) but dating other photos is a difficult proposition. Until more data comes in, here's what we have:  

1928 - Real trees with lights.

1929 - Deco chevrons on new conical metal trees.

1930 - Deco chevrons with candles.

1931- A repaint with random squiggles. 

1932 - The year of the portraits, small metal trees plus stars 

1933 - Large conical trees painted with a number of different designs.

1934 - A star on either side of the top of the tree. 

1935 - Evidently the same star design as 1934

1936 - ?

1937 - A cross hatch paint job and a little Santa flying atop each tree. 

1938 - 1939 - Two-dimensional painted leaves on the trees plus a star and "Santa Claus Lane." 

1940 - Polka dots on the trees and bases. 

1941 - Trees - but lit for only two weeks.

1942 - 1944 - Giant non-illuminated papier-mache Santas.

1945 - 1959 - Redesigned 26' tall trees. 

1960 - 1962 - Suspended garlands and medallions over the Boulevard.

1963 - 1968 - Two-dimensional revolving trees.

1969 - 1973 - Non-revolving, aluminum-like trees.

1974 + Garlands and chandelier-like ornaments over the street for a few years (at least through 1986), then various designs becoming less and less ornate as the years pass.

 Thanks to Glen Norman and Scott Collette for their research!

1928 - This was the first year for decorating the street and they used real trees. After New Year's Day they were planted on the grounds of the Hollywood Bowl. This stunning December photo of the Warner Theatre from the California Historical Society appears on the USC Digital Library website. The end panel of the marquee says "Vitaphone" and "Popular Prices."

 

In a big post about Hollywood Christmas decorations on his Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page Scott Collette notes: "This tradition started Thanksgiving weekend in 1928, when Hollywood installed 100 real trees along the boulevard from La Brea to Vine, and renamed it Santa Claus Lane for the four weeks before Christmas. This was done to try to lure the city's more festive-minded Christmas shoppers away from downtown, presenting the many shops of Hollywood as basically being a mile-long department store."

 

 

 

1928 - Christmas season at Grauman's Egyptian. Well, his name was still on the signage but by the time of this photo West Coast Theatres was running the place. It's a view from the USC Digital Library looking east.

 

 

1928 - Looking east across Highland Ave. The Hollywood Theatre is hiding beyond the trees on the right. The marquee reveals that they were showing the October release "Show Girl" starring Alice White. This December photo from the California Historical Society collection appears on the USC Digital Library website. 

 

1928 - On the left of the entrance to the Chinese is one of the decorated trees in a wooden planter. Plus Grauman has his own decorations up as well during the run of "Noah's Ark." The film, a silent with added soundtrack, starred Delores Costello and George O'Brien. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for sharing the snapshot from his collection. See his GraumansChinese.org website for a sumptuous history of the theatre.

 

 

 

1929 - Deco was the style for the Christmas trees that year. We're looking west with the Hollywood Theatre on the right side of the "trunk" of the tree. The El Capitan is in the distance. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. 

 

 

1929 - An uncredited Christmas season photo looking east toward the Warner in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Here we have nice chevron patterned trees. Candles would replace the regular streetlamp glass for the next two seasons. 

 

 

 

1930 - The year of the candles. The regular glass on the streetlights was removed with these tubular constructions replacing it. Note the same paint job as the year before. This view toward the Pantages is from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.  

 

 

 

1930 - A busy traffic day during Christmas season. Henry's restaurant would later be remodeled into the Admiral Theatre, later known as the Vine. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo. 

 

 

1930 - A superb view looking west along Hollywood Blvd. Note the Christmas "trees" with deco chevron patterns. The banner at the Warner is advertising Lew Ayres in "The Doorway to Hell," a film that opened November 28. Thanks to David Urov for spotting the photo for a post on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. It appears on page 247 of "The Story of Hollywood: An Illustrated History" by Gregory Paul Williams, available on Amazon. There's a preview of the book to browse on Google Books.

 

 

1930 - The "candles" on either side of the trees replaced the regular streetlight globes. Thanks to Glen Norman for locating this L.A. Times photo. He added it as a comment to a post about the Hollywood Christmas decorations on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page.

 

 

1931 - The Warner running "Safe in Hell" in a shot Ken McIntyre found for his Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. The William Wellman film was a December release that starred Dorothy Mackaill and Donald Cook. Note the new paint job on the Christmas trees -- no more chevron pattern but they're still using the candles.

 

1932 - The year of the portraits. And also the first Hollywood Christmas Parade. We're looking north on Vine St. with Claudette Colbert inspecting Christmas decorations. Behind her we see the stagehouse of what was then called the Mirror Theatre, now the Montalban. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

 

 

1932 - A wider view of Claudette admiring the decorations on Vine St. The photo is from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. It makes an appearance with "26 Vintage Photographs of Hollywood Boulevard...," a 2018 post on the site Vintage Everyday. Also on the Library's site see two additional shots from the same shoot.

 

 

1932 - Looking east toward the El Capitan. It's a photo from the California Historical Society appearing on the USC Digital Library website. The truck with the open back doors  just beyond the streetlight is from a sign company. One of the doors says "Neon Displays." Also on the site is a view from the same year looking toward the Roosevelt Hotel.

 

 

 

1932 - A closer look at the El Capitan from the previous photo. Across Highland one can read the banner hanging below the marquee of the Hollywood Theatre advertising "Faithless," an October 1932 release with Tallulah Bankhead and Robert Montgomery. 

 

 

 

late 1932 or January 1933 - A view of the south side of Hollywood Blvd. as we look west from Vine St. Thanks to Glen Norman for locating the photo from the California Historical Society that appears on the USC Digital Library website. The CoCo Cafe was about to open on the corner. The image also appears with "When Hollywood Boulevard Became Santa Claus Lane," a 2012 article by Nathan Masters for the KCET website. On the right note the poster for Boris Karloff in "The Mummy," coming soon to the RKO Hillstreet. The film opened there on January 20, 1933. Carl Laemmle owned the building on the corner and it frequently advertised Universal releases.  

 

 

 

January 1933 - A January view across Highland toward the Hollywood Theatre with the Egyptian beyond. It's a detail from a California Historical Society photo appearing on the USC Digital Library website. The Hollywood had a new vertical and was playing the October 1932 release "Three on a Match" with Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak and Bette Davis. The co-feature was something with Robert Montgomery. 

 

 

November 1933 - The trees were back and this one had a "Mary had a little lamb" design. A banner was up at the El Capitan for Charlotte Greenwood in "The Late Christopher Bean," a show that opened October 30. Thanks to Martin Pal for spotting this shot when it was for sale on Etsy. He shared it on Noirish Los Angeles post #59758. The caption printed on the back of this one: "'I want a star' says Verona Gittere as she points to one of the modernistic trees which will decorate Hollywood Boulevard's Santa Claus Lane."

 

 

1933? - Edward Everett Horton and Douglas Fairbanks helping to decorate. This was a second photo spotted by Martin Pal when it was for sale on Etsy. It was quite a different design for this tree.

1930s - A lovely noirish look west toward the Pantages. The photo is included in the Angel City Press book "Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965" by Tom Zimmerman with J. Eric Lynxwiler. Chris Nichols discussed the book and included this photo and other Hollywood views with his August 2016 Los Angeles magazine article "These Photos Will Transport You to a Neon-Soaked 1930s Hollywood."

 

 

1934 - A view west with the Egyptian on the left and illuminated letters across the street advertising MGM's "The Merry Widow" at the Chinese. It ran for a week from November 29 through December 5. It's a card from Sawyer Scenic Photos in the California Historical Society collection that appears on the USC Digital Library website.  Note the double stars near the top of the Christmas trees for this season.

 

 

 

c.1935 - A noirish look east on a wet night during Christmas season. It's in the USC Digital Library collection. Again it's the regular glass on the streetlights replaced with stars. 

 

 

 

c.1935 - A different paint job on the trees and two stars on the top of each. In this lovely Christmas season photo on Calisphere we're looking west toward the El Capitan. It's a Frasher Foto Card from the Pomona Public Library collection. Note the two stars near the top of each tree for this season. 

 

That empty roof sign frame on the right soon had a J.C. Penney sign on it. Evidently it went up sometime in 1936 or 1937. There's a photo looking in the other direction with the frame still empty while the Hollywood Theatre was running "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town," an April 1936 release.  

 

 

1936 - The Equitable Building at Hollywood & Vine. Beyond, there's a banner visible beyond at the Pantages advertising "Winterset," a December release with Burgess Meredith and Margo. Their co-feature was "Flying Hostess" with William Gargan, Judith Barrett and Andy Devine. The Examiner photo is in the USC Digital Library collection.

   

1937 - The crowd is there for the Christmas parade in this postcard view west on Hollywood Blvd. from the California State Library collection. There's a copy of the image from the negative of the Bob Plunkett photo in the Huntington Library collection. On their site you can enlarge it and look at details.

 

Note the vertical and banner at the Egyptian on the left. They were running "Ali Baba Goes To Town" with Eddie Cantor, a film that had played the Chinese for a week beginning November 3. The illuminated letters across the street in the distance are advertising "Navy Blue and Gold" with Robert Young and Jimmy Stewart. It played the Chinese for a week beginning November 24, 1937. The Vogue, on the right, is running "Jungle Princess" with Dorothy Lamour and Ray Milland, released in November 1936.

 

 

1937 - A Christmas season photo from the Los Angeles Public Library Blackstock Negatives Collection.  The Warner has a banner out for "It's Love I'm After," a November 1937 Warner release with Leslie Howard and Bette Davis. The Library has it as November 1930 but note the billboard advertising whiskey -- prohibition didn't end until 1933. 

 

 

 

1937 - A view from the west with "It's Love I'm After" at the Warner. It's a postcard using a Bob Plunkett photo that's in the Huntington Library collection. 

 

 

1937 - A detail from the Plunkett photo. On the left, the Colony Theatre, later known as the Holly, has a banner out for "Two Men and a Girl" with Deanna Durbin and Adolphe Menjou. The banner at the Warner advises that "Alcatraz Island" has been held over as a co-feature. On the right we have a banner at the Iris Theatre, later known as the Fox, for "Wee Willie Winkie.'

1937 - A Christmas time view by Herman Schultheis from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Note the airborne Santa atop each tree. The El Capitan is on the right. 

 

1937 - A Herman Schultheis view across toward where the Admiral/Vine Theatre would later be. It's still a restaurant at this point. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo. More views of Santas atop the  trees. Note the cross-hatch paint job on the trees with this design variation. 

 

1937 - A view looking west from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. It's a Herman Schultheis photo. Note the flying Santas atop the Christmas trees. 

 

 

1937 - A rainy Christmas season day in Hollywood captured by Herman Schultheis in a Los Angeles Public Library photo. We're looking west on Hollywood Blvd. toward the Warner.

 

 

1938 - Beginning this year it was illuminated stars at the top of the trees instead of Santas. The Hollywood Theatre was playing "The Great Waltz," a November release with Luise Rainer and Fernand Gravet. It's a Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection.   

1938 - It's the night of the Christmas Parade. That's the Hollywood over on the right, again with "The Great Waltz" on the marquee. It's another Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection.

 

1938 - A change of program. Here the Hollywood Theatre was running "The Cowboy and the Lady," a November release with Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon. Photo: Herman Schultheis, Los Angeles Public Library

1938 - Another Christmas angle shot with the Hollywood running "The Cowboy and the Lady." Photo: Herman Schultheis, Los Angeles Public Library

 

1938 - A USC Digital Library view by Dick Whittington looking east along Hollywood Blvd. The Warner was playing "The Dawn Patrol," a December release with Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and David Niven.

1938 - A look from across the street during the run of "The Dawn Patrol." It's another Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection.

 

1938 - The lights at night while "The Dawn Patrol" was playing at the Warner. Thanks to Marc Wanamaker for sharing the photo from his Bison Archives. And thanks to April Clemmer for featuring this in her April's Old Hollywood blog post titled "Deck the Palms - Holiday Decor on Hollywood Boulevard."

 

1939 - A view during the November 26 Christmas Parade. The El Capitan has a banner out for "Folies Bergere of 1940". Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

 

Earlier in 1939 Clifford C. Fischer had brought a version of the "Folies" that had been playing the World's Fair in San Francisco to the Chinese. It opened May 12 for a four week run and then moved to the Texas State Fair. A second "more daring" production took over the San Francisco run. Clifford later brought that second company, dubbed "Folies Bergere of 1940," to the El Capitan, opening November 1, 1939. The show was discussed in an October 17 article in the Times.

 

1939 - Another view during the Christmas Parade. The bill that week at Grauman's Chinese was "Another Thin Man" and "Heaven With a Barbed Wire Fence." On the right there's another look at the El Capitan's banner for "Folies Bergere of 1940." It's a photo from Bettman Archives/Getty that appeared on a post of the blog Old Guv Legends. They had spotted it on an Atlantic "Pictures of Christmas Past" post.

 

1939 - Garlands were added for this season, something they didn't have up in 1938. We're looking east across Highland Ave. Ken McIntyre found the photo for his Photos of Los Angeles collection on Facebook.

1939 - Looking east across McCadden Place. The Vogue is on the left and the Egyptian is on the right. Thanks to Ken McIntyre on Photos of Los Angeles for the photo. 

 

 

1939/1940 - Charlotte Greenwood starred in "She Couldn't Say No," opening December 22 at the El Capitan. Thanks to the Los Angeles City Historical Society for including this shot in a post on their Facebook page. 

1940 - It's the year of the polka dots. This Christmastime look east on the Boulevard is by Herman Schultheis. The Hollywood was playing "The Howards of Virginia" with Cary Grant. The photo is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

 

1940 - A view during the November 24 Christmas Parade. The El Capitan had a banner out for "Folies Bergere of 1941," a show that had opened October 21. A Times article on November 28 noted that it would be closing its six week run on December 1. At the Chinese that week it was "Tin Pan Alley" and "The Gay Caballero." Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for locating the photo. After closing at the El Capitan, Producer Clifford C. Fischer then booked a tab version of the show into the Paramount downtown for a week beginning December 3, where it played with the film "Dancing on a Dime.

 

 

1941 - The Friday, November 21 Christmas parade. The El Capitan had a banner out for "The Male Animal," a production with Otto Kruger and Rose Hobart that ran from October 19 until November 29. At the Chinese the night of the photo it was William Powell and Myrna Loy in "Shadow of the Thin Man." It played from November 19 until November 26 along with "Miss Polly" starring Zasu Pitts and Slim Summerville. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for locating this Acme newsphoto. It went out on the wire on December 5. Also see a similar shot taken the same night. It's from the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs "Parades" album, #P-008-4. Ignore the 1933 date they give it.  

 

Kurt notes that there wasn't just one parade in this pre-war period. In addition to the BIG parade the day after Thanksgiving, the Hollywood merchants staged somewhat smaller events every night except Sundays until Christmas. See a November 16 Times photo showing the trees they were using that year as well as "Be Sure To Visit Santa Claus Lane," a Times ad from the Hollywood merchants. Downtown businesses sponsored their own parade and nightly procession. The nightly events continued on Hollywood Blvd. until Christmas despite the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7.  

The trees were up for only a couple of weeks. Scott Collette has the story: "When Pearl Harbor was attacked and Los Angeles was put on watch for possible air raids, the city decided to remove the trees from Hollywood Boulevard just two weeks after their lights were lit in order to be able to comply with blackout orders. The next year, since steel was considered a 'critical material' essential to the war effort, Hollywood donated its art deco trees as scrap and instead installed a hundred 18-foot Santas made from papier-mache. These reappeared in 1943 and 1944, and the parade was canceled for all three years."

 

 

1941 - A Bettman Archives shot of the November 21 Christmas parade. The Pantages was running "You'll Never Get Rich" with Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth along with "Texas," an October release with William Holden and Glenn Ford. Thanks to Martin Pal for locating this in the Getty Images collection. 

 

 

1941?? - The J.J. Newberry store at 6602 Hollywood Blvd. and the Kress store at 6608. Thanks to Martin Pal for spotting the Bison Archives photo on the Hollywood Partnership's Old Hollywood page. They give it a 1937 date. Martin Turnbull also shared it on his Garden of Allah Novels Facebook page. Martin Pal speculates that it may date from 1941, taken after the trees were removed. He comments: 

 

"I thought it would be interesting if the photo was taken in 1941 after that narrow span of time when the metal trees had been taken down because of the Pearl Harbor attack. What I noticed first is the Santa hanging above the boulevard. The Santa, as seen in this photo with a wreath around it, seems to have first appeared in 1937. It was also around in 1938-40, sometimes hung across the road, but never with a wreath around it. 

 

"The... [1941 Pantages parade photo] does have the Santa with the wreath around it in the center of the road. It's also flanked by two stars (that seem to be lighted) in the 1941 photo, however they're spaced far enough apart that they just might be out of frame in this photo. All photos we have from 1942, 1943 and 1944, where Santa Claus has replaced the trees, also have only the Santa Claus with the wreath around it hung across the road. Without the stars -- possibly because they were lighted. It was also included in 1945 and 1946. 1947 has a Santa face with a wreath around it.

"The lamp post has a base that looks like a drum. None of the bases of the metal trees were designed as drums through 1940. The... [1941 Pantages photo] does not show the base of the trees, as crowds are around them. At the top, above the lamps, is the ribbon sign that says Santa Claus Lane. The ribbon sign first appeared as part of the decorations hanging across the road in 1937. That first appeared above the lamps in 1938. Was not there in 1940. But was in 1941. I suppose it's likely the photo is one from 1942-43-44 before the Santas were in place or after taken down. We could know for sure if we could find another 1941 photo with the base of the metal trees shown."

1942 - A photo by Waldemar Sievers. Thanks to Phillip Cutler for locating it for a post on his Classic Hollywood/Los Angeles/SFV Facebook page. It can also be seen on the art poster sites Pixels and FineArtAmerica where they'll sell you a print or the image on a coffee mug. The Hitching Post is hiding behind that Santa on the left.

Glen Norman comments: "'Nightmare' is playing at the Pantages--a November, 1942 release. It began its run on December 2. Non-illuminated Santas replaced the metal Christmas Trees for the war years 1942, 1943, and 1944. The street lights are also wearing their wartime Blackout/Dimout caps."

 

 

1942 - Santa at the Admiral. This revival double bill played one week beginning November 26. "You Can't Get Away With Murder" with Humphrey Bogart and "Three Musketeers" with Don Ameche and the Ritz Brothers were both 1939 releases. The theatre had opened in May 1940 and was later known as the Vine.

 

Thanks to Johnny Wareham on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles for this photo from an album belonging to his mother, who noted "The little arrow [upper right] is pointing to where I worked during Xmas. Just up the street a little ways from the Taft building, still on Hollywood Blvd., is the 'Hitching Post.' Straight up from the theater, about 3 doors is 'Melody Lane' a quite well known restaurant."
 

1942 - The Vogue was running "Secret Enemies," a September release. It's a photo from the Ronald W. Mahan collection. Thanks, Ron!  

 

1943 - Thanks to Martin Pal for the post of this snapshot on his Noirish Los Angeles post #41291. He notes that the film at the Paramount is "True to Life," a December 1943 release with Mary Martin, Dick Powell, Franchot Tone and Victor Moore. Glen Norman notes that the trees would be back, with a new look, for Christmas 1945.

 

1945 - Dancers from the Earl Carroll Theatre are helping decorate the new 26' high trees on Hollywood Blvd. The Chinese was running "Spellbound" with Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck, playing from November 9 through December 13. It's a shot from a set Martha Holmes took for Life magazine.  

 

Thanks to Scott Collette for locating this for a big post about Hollywood Christmas decorations on his Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page. The post includes six more photos taken across from the Chinese. Scott notes that this year marked the return of the parade, the first since 1941.

 

1945 - A parade shot from the Los Angeles Public Library. The November 24 photo is in their Herald Examiner collection.

1945 - The view east toward the Warner in December. The photo was added to the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles by Richard Wojcik and is credited to Electrospark on Flickr.

1945 - "San Antonio," a December release with Errol Flynn and Alexis Smith playing the Warner. Thanks to Sean Ault for locating the photo when it was for sale online. It had a December 31 date written on the edge.
 

 

 

c.1945 - Looking east on Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood is hiding over on the right side. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library.

 

 

 

1946 - A view east toward Cherokee by Bob Plunkett. On the right the News-View/Ritz Theatre marquee can be seen (barely) through the trees. They were running footage from some wedding and from a USC vs. UCLA game. The negative for this postcard is in the Huntington Library collection.  

 

1946 - The Christmas parade goes by the Chinese. The signage was advertising Jeanne Crain in "Margie." The film had a three week run between November 8 and November 26. Thanks to James J. Chun for locating the Bob Plunkett photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

1946 - Looking west toward the Paramount in an uncredited Los Angeles Public Library photo. Note the sign in the upper left for "Blue Skies," a 1946 Paramount release with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Joan Caulfield.   

 

 

 

1946 - A closer look at the Paramount during the run of "Blue Skies." The film opened December 19 for a six week run, closing on January 30, 1947. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the photo when it was offered for sale online.   

 

 

1946 - A cool Christmas season view looking east with the Hollywood Theatre at the right. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

 

1946 - A view looking west at one of the most photographed corners in the city, Hollywood and Vine. The Admiral marquee is glowing brightly in the middle of the image. The uncredited photo is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. This also appears as part of the lovely Noirish Los Angeles post #2330 by GS Jansen featuring several other Hollywood Blvd. Christmas shots by the same photographer.

1946 - A wonderful uncredited Los Angeles Public Library photo looking west with the Pantages playing "The Jolson Story." The film ran from November 7 until December 24. Note the Hitching Post Theatre on the left.

 

 

 

1946 - The crew putting the panels up on the marquee for "It's a Wonderful Life." The California Historical Society photo was acquired from the Jim Lewis collection. It appears on the USC Digital Library website. The film opened Christmas Day at the Pantages and RKO Hillstreet.

 

1946 - A photo looking west on Hollywood Blvd. added to the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page by Alison Martino. We miss the Egyptian (it would be just off to the left) but get a glimpse of the Hollywood Theatre vertical farther down the street on the left.  And farther down there's the tower atop the El Capitan. 

 

1947 - Thanks to Alison Martino for this noirish Christmas view. It was a post on her Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.

 

 

1947 - A Christmas view west toward Vine St. with the Hitching Post running "Thunder Mountain," a June release, along with "Death Valley," out in August 1946. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for spotting the negative for sale on eBay. He shared the image on Noirish post #56171.  

 

c.1947 - A view east at Christmas time toward the Chinese and the El Capitan. It's from the collection of Gianpiero F. Leone. The photo appeared as a post he did on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page. He also added it to the Vintage Los Angeles page. A cropped version appeared on Photos of Los Angeles from Bill Gabel.

 

 

 

c.1947 - A postcard derived from the previous photo. The card's retoucher eliminated the woman in the photo who was walking in the crosswalk. And a few other things were tweaked to make it a night view. Thanks to Brian Michael McCray for sharing the card from his collection on a Vintage Los Angeles post. The card also appears in Elizabeth Fuller's Old Los Angeles Postcards set on Flickr.

1948 - A December view looking east toward the Warner by Arnold Hylen on the Facebook page Arnold Hylen-Photographer-Los Angeles Images of an Era. The Iris Theatre is running a preview of "You Gotta Stay Happy" with Joan Fontaine and James Stewart. Or maybe they're running that feature plus a preview. Thanks to Greta Gustafsson for making the photo available. Note the new style streetlights. 

1948 - Raoul Walsh's "Fighter Squadron" at the Warner in a shot from the collection of Eric Lynxwiler on Flickr. Thanks to Eric for the photo -- and to Arnold Darrow for spotting it.

c.1948 - A Los Angeles Public Library Christmas season look east toward the Warner.  

 

1948 - Another Christmas season photo by Arnold Hylen. Thanks to Mr. Hylen's grand niece, Greta Gustaffson, for making it available.

1948 - The view east toward the Vogue Theatre in a Christmas season photo by Arnold Hylen. The photo comes to us courtesy of his grand- niece Greta Gustafsson. Thanks, Greta! Visit the Arnold Hylen Facebook page she curates: Arnold Hylen - Los Angeles Images of an Era 1850-1950.

The photo also appears on Noirish Los Angeles post #10750 where contributor kznyc2k has a number other Christmas views, all credited to the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.

 

1948 - Looking west through Hollywood and Vine in a December photo by Arnold Hylen. The photo comes to us courtesy of his grand niece Greta Gustafsson. Pay a visit to the Facebook page Greta curates: Arnold Hylen - Los Angeles Images of an Era 1850 - 1950. 

1948 - An Arnold Hylen photo looking west with a sliver of the Egyptian on the left. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting it on Photos of Los Angeles. In the comments to a repeat post in 2022 Ken noted that the poster in the case on the left is for "Command Decision" with Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson and Brian Donlevy. Edwin Schallert reviewed the film for the Times in their December 27 issue. Visit the Arnold Hylen Facebook page curated by his grand-niece Greta Gustafsson. 

 

1948 - A look east with the Chinese running "Unfaithfully Yours" starring Rex Harrison and Linda Darnell along with "Trouble Makers" with Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall. It's a program that ran from December 14 through December 24. It's a photo appearing in Gregory Paul Williams book "The Story of Hollywood: An Illustrated History," available on Amazon. This photo is on page 263. There's a preview of the book to browse on Google Books.

 

1949 - L.A. Mayor Fletcher Bowron and his wife are cruising Hollywood Blvd. during the Hollywood Christmas Parade in this Los Angeles Public Library photo. "All The King's Men" at the Pantages had its Los Angeles premiere on November 16.

 

 
1949 - At the Pantages it's "Bride For Sale," a film that opened December 22 starring Claudette Colbert, George Brent and Robert Young. The Hitching Post, over on the left, has given up on westerns and is running "The Facts of Love." Thanks to Martin Pal for including the photo with many other interesting Hollywood views in his Noirish Los Angeles post #50025. It's a photo from the collection of Eric Lynxwiler that he's shared on Flickr. Thanks, Eric!  

c.1950 - Thanks to Maurice Ideses for locating this noirish Christmas shot looking east toward the Vogue. The Egyptian, with its then-new curvy facade, is hiding just beyond the Pig & Whistle. It was a post on Vintage Los Angeles.

 

1950 - Thanks to Mike Martini Baker for sharing this Christmas view. The Hollywood was running "Mister 880" with Burt Lancaster along with "Three Secrets." It was a post on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern. The photo has also appeared on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page. Bruce Kimmel notes that this bill opened November 8. 

1950 - The view west toward the towers of the Warner during the Christmas parade. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this one for a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

 

1950 - A Christmas parade view from the California State Library collection. A version of the card appears as a post from Bill Gabel on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. It reappeared on a Hollywood Christmas thread for that group from Ken McIntyre. That "Maintain Good Government Vote NO Recall" billboard was to oppose a recall campaign against reform Mayor Fletcher Bowron that had been on the November 7 ballot. He had been elected in 1949 and survived the recall attempt. The 1950 parade is also seen in the 1951 film "Hollywood Story." 

 

1950 - A December view west from Ivar. Thanks to Torbjörn Eriksson for finding this one for a post for the private Facebook group Southern California Nostalgia. In addition to providing the date, Torbjörn gives a credit for the photo to Emil Muench/Archive Photos. 

 

 

 

1950 - Another shot taken moments before or after the one above. Thanks to Richard Wojcik for sharing this one on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page.

c.1951 - A Christmas view from Ken McIntyre's collection. Another version of the card is also on Photos of Los Angeles as a post of Bill Gabel. Note that we no longer have a readerboard in the lot east of the Chinese. Kurt Wahlner, curator of the site GraumansChinese.org notes that that the signage was removed sometime between July 1948 and January 1951. There's a copy of the card in the Kevin Walsh collection and his has a December 1952 postmark. 

 

 

1951 - "Welcome Santa - Merry Xmas To All" says the marquee in this Christmas parade view of the News-View behind the Marymount College float. It's a Los Angeles Daily News photo in the collection of the UCLA Library. That's the News-View / Ritz Theatre across the street. 

 

1952 - A look east on busy Hollywood Blvd. on November 28. In this great view located by Ken McIntyre for Photos of Los Angeles, you can see the Ritz readerboard (then saying "Newsreels" atop it) just above the second car on the right. The towers in the distance are the Warner. The theatre marquee on the extreme left is the Vogue.

The photo also appears on Vintage Los Angeles, SoCal Historic Architecture and  Noirish L.A. post #10750. James J. Chun also did a repost on Photos of LA.

 

 

 

c.1952 - A lovely vista west along Hollywood Blvd. past the marquee of the Academy on the right, a theate later known as the Holly. The marquee says it's "available." Thanks to Bill Gable for finding the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. There's also a slightly cropped version from Richard Garcia on Vintage Los Angeles.

 

1952 - A wonderful view looking east toward Highland. Don Sherman shared this one on the private Photos of Los Angeles group on Facebook. Note above the entrance of the Paramount that they're running the hit that began the 3-D craze, "Bwana Devil." The photo is also in Richard Wojcik's collection and appears on Vintage Los Angeles.

 

1952/1953 - At the Pantages it's "Blackbeard the Pirate" with Robert Newton, Linda Darnell and William Bendix. It had its premiere at the Pantages December 24, 1952 and opened in New York the following day. On the left the Paris is advertising the "First L.A. Showing" of something called "Venus of Paris" along with "Indiscretion." Many thanks to Sean Ault for sharing the photo from his collection.  

 

early 1950s- A Christmas image on Vintage Los Angeles from the Richard Wojcik collection. Another version of the photo appears from Bill Gabel on Photos of Los Angeles.

 

early 1950s- A rainy Christmas season view looking east toward Vine St. The Admiral Theatre marquee is peeking out on the left. Thanks to Sean Ault, a noted historian of transit in the Los Angeles area, for the photo.

 

 

early 1950s - Thanks to Bill Gabel for this Christmas season view, a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. 

 

1953 - A November look at a slice of the Admiral. It's part of Beaudry's fine Noirish Los Angeles post #28689 featuring photos from the book "LAPD '53" (Abrams) by James Ellroy and L.A. Police Museum executive director Glynn Martin. Also see the Los Angeles magazine article about the book: "James Ellroy and Glynn Martin Revisit the LAPD's Grim Archives..."

1953 - A December view from the Metro Library and Archive looking west on Hollywood Blvd. toward the Warner. The caption notes that it would be the last Christmas for the Red Line cars.

  
early 50s - Thanks to Sean Ault for this Christmas season view looking east toward the Warner. It's one he found on eBay.

1953 - A December photo from the Richard Wojcik collection on Vintage Los Angeles. Richard credits the photo to OERM/Walter Abennseth. In addition to Richard's 2012 post, the shot also had a 2014 re-post, another later in 2014 and another in 2015.

1953 - A photo from Richard Wojcik on Vintage Los Angeles. On a re-post Richard notes that Red Car service on Hollywood Blvd. would end in 1954. He credits the photo to Roger Bogenberger / Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society.

1954 - Thanks to Hillary Hess on Facebook for this great "No Business Like Show Business" photo on Facebook. Woody Wise spotted it for a share on his All Movie Theatres page.

1954 - A Christmas shopping expedition. On the left the Academy (later known as the Holly Theatre) is seen running William Wellman's "The Track of the Cat," a November release with Robert Mitchum and Teresa Wright. The co-feature was "The Shanghai Story," out in September. Across Wilcox St. the Warner can be seen running "This Is Cinerama," then in its second year. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the photo when it was for sale online. 

 

1954 - A sweet December view of the Admiral/Vine Theatre's marquee in the center of the image as we look west. The Warner is down the street. Thanks to Richard Wojcik for the postcard from his collection, appearing on Vintage Los Angeles.  The Admiral was running "The Wild One," a February release with Brando along with "My Forbidden Past," a 1951 release with Robert Mitchum and Ava Gardner.

The card has also been seen in various versions on the So Cal Historic Architecture Facebook page, on Gaylord Wilshire's Noirish Los Angeles post #9302, on Photos of Los Angeles and in Elizabeth Fuller's Old Los Angeles Postcards collection on Flickr.

Elizabeth gives us what is on the back of the one she has, mailed in January 1958: "Famous intersection in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world. Motion Picture Studios, Broadcasting Studios, Famous hotels and restaurants are nearby. Here, a visitor to the southland may by chance catch a glimpse of his favorite celebrity." "Greetings: We are having a wonderful time out here. It is sunny and warm - 79 degrees today. Fine places to see and go to - we are starting back this week. We'll see you soon I hope. Lillian Art"

 

 

1954 - Another view of the Admiral running "The Wild One" and "My Forbidden Past." The banner says "New Wide Screen." Thanks to Richard Wojcik for sharing the photo from his collection.  

1954 - A terrific Christmas view of the Pantages from the Richard Wojcik collection on the Facebook page for the non-public group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles. 

1955 - "The Rains of Ranchipur" with Lana Turner and Richard Burton opened at the Chinese on December 16. The film had a four week run ending January 12, 1956. It's a photo from the Adsausage Los Angeles Photo Archive.
 

 

1956 - "Giant" at the Chinese. It had a ten week run from October 17 through December 24. Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating this photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.   

 

 

1956 - The parade crowd at the Pantages with Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford in "Teahouse of the August Moon" running that week. Thanks to Historic Hollywood Photographs for this shot by an unknown photographer.  

 

 

1957 - A delightful view of the Chinese running "Kiss Them For Me" with Cary Grant and Jayne Mansfield which premiered November 15. It's a post from Richard Wojcik on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles. The photo also appears in the Classic Los Angeles Photos section of the Kingsley Collection, a terrific group of photos from the estate of Barbara Harlen. Note that exciting new construction in the center of the photo rising on the Hollywood Hotel site.

 

1957 - The December 1 Christmas parade. "Kiss Them For Me" was still playing at the Chinese. Thanks to Martin Turnbull for locating the photo. 

1957/58 - On the right the Vogue has "Peyton Place," a run that began December 13, 1957 at the Vogue and the Loyola after the world premiere the night before at the Beverly. "April Love" and "Three Faces of Eve" are playing at the New-View. It's a photo by Frank J. Thomas in the Frank J. Thomas Archives. It's on Flickr from the Manitoba Museum of Finds Art. Thanks to Martin Pal for finding the photo to include with other Hollywood Christmas views in his Noirish Los Angeles post #50025. 

 

1959 - A street view during a Christmas parade that appeared on Ed Fuentes' blog [view] from a loft. The photo is from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
 

1959 - Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for this "Beloved Infidel" shot he found on eBay and shared on his Noirish post # 52066. The film, starring Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr, opened November 20 for a four week run, closing December 17. That's the manager's 1956 Cadillac in front.
 

1959 - Thanks to Sean Ault for finding this "Beloved Infidel" shot. Also see a version posted by Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality that he found on eBay and shared on his Noirish post # 52066.

 

1960/61 - "World's Greatest Attraction" Thanks to Alison Martino for posting this colorful view from the Richard Wojcik collection on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern. The Warner was doing a revival run of "This Is Cinerama" which ran for 22 weeks beginning November 2, 1960.

 

 

1961 - A Christmas view located by Ken McIntyre for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. Thanks to Bruce Kimmel for dating the photo. He notes that "The Grass is Greener" and "On the Double" opened at the Admiral on November 22 for a one week run.

 

 

 

1961 - A Christmas season view west toward the Warner. Thanks Ken McIntyre for posting the shot on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. The theatre had a remodel and the Cinerama installation was removed. Here the letters above the readerboards once again say "Warner." Cinerama would be back in October 1962. 

 

1961 - "West Side Story" opened at the Chinese on December 13 and had a 57 week run -- in 70mm and 6 track sound, of course. Thanks to the Chinese Theatre for sharing this photo from their collection as a post on the TCL Chinese Theatre Facebook page.  

 

1963 - Thanks to Richard Wojcik on Vintage Los Angeles for this holiday shot looking east. It was taken right after Christmas following the opening of "The Cardinal" at the Egyptian. This was the first year for the two-dimensional revolving trees.

1963 - Thanks to Richard Wojcik for this fine December photo of the Iris Theatre, to be renamed the Fox in 1968. It was a post on Vintage Los Angeles.

 

1963 - A fine look at the Cinerama neon up on the vertical at the Warner in a December photo. It's on Vintage Los Angeles from the Richard Wojcik collection. Thanks, Richard!
 

1963 - A December "Cleopatra" shot on Vintage Los Angeles from the collection of Richard Wojcik. Note the added neon on the vertical. Thanks, Richard! 

1960s - Thanks to Martin Pal for this shot from Vicky Valentine's collection looking east from Highland Ave. Martin shared it on his Noirish Los Angeles post #33734. Thanks also to Hoss C for his post #33735 where he had done some color correction for us.

 

1966 - Looking west past the Egyptian toward the Hollywood Theatre and Highland Ave. In the distance there's the tower of the El Capitan building. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for the photo on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.

1966 - Another vista looking west toward Hollywood and Highland found by Ken McIntyre for the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. Note the black hulk of the El Capitan beyond. 1968 was the last year for the revolving trees.

 

1969 - Thanks to Glen Norman for this photo he took during the Santa Claus Parade on November 26. Loew's is now back to it's original name, the El Capitan. 

 

 

1972 - Looking east toward the Fox Theatre. Thanks to the Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for the image. It's their #HB-419, included as one of 226 photos in their gallery Hollywood Boulevard 1941-1990. Also see a Christmas 1972 view looking west toward the theatre, the collection's #HB-414. 

 

1972 - Note the signage still partially up from Nixon's presidential reelection campaign. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting this Christmas season shot of the Hollywood Theatre when it was offered for sale online. Bruce Kimmel comments: "Week of December 6. They were playing 'The Sin of Adam and Eve' and 'Sweet Sugar.'"

1973 - A November parade view. Thanks to Historic Hollywood Photographs for this shot by an unknown photographer, one of 101 photos appearing in a Christmas album on their website.  Note posters in the cases for "Coffy."

 

 

1973 - The parade as seen from the Roosevelt Hotel. This "Magnum Force" postcard is on Flickr from the collection of Roloff de Jeu. The film ran six weeks beginning Christmas Day. On the far right notice the vertical for the El Capitan -- at this time saying still "Loew's" although by the time of the photo it had been taken over by General Cinema. The back of the card reads: "Santa Claus Lane Parade. Passing in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the famous parade marches down Hollywood Blvd. with the Stars of Hollywood." 
 

1973 - On the right Loew's Holly had been renamed the Holly Cinema by the time this shot was taken. We're looking west. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo for a post on the on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

 

 

1975 - The vista east on Hollywood Blvd. from Highland. In this photo discovered by Ken McIntyre for the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page the Hollywood Theatre is at the lower right with the Egyptian up the street. 

 

 

1976 - The Pantages with "Return of a Man Called Horse" and "Missouri Breaks." Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. Bruce Kimmel calls this a "horrid double bill" and notes that it opened December 1.  

1977 - Thanks to the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for this Christmas parade image, their #P-008-162. See the site's Parade Gallery for over a hundred shots of various Hollywood parades. Also from the 1977 parade see #P-008-160 and #P-008-163. 

 

c.1978 - A shot from the 5th year of the "Deep Throat" run at the Pussycat. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding the photo. 

 

 

 

1979 - A Christmas season view with the Paramount running "And Justice for All." Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating the shot for a post on Photos of Los Angeles.  

 

1982 - Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for this December photo. The Warner had been renamed the Hollywood Pacific in 1968.

 
2015 - Christmas decorations going up. It's a photo from a "Holiday Trees" post on the Pantages Blog.

2016 - Thanks to Shawn Dudley for this December look down from the W Hotel. It was a post on  Photos of Los Angeles. In the background we get the lights atop Capitol Records.

2017 - All wonderfully decorated again. Who else puts Christmas trees on their marquee? "Hamilton" was running until December 30. Photo: Bill Counter

2018 - A Wicked Christmas at the Pantages. Photo: Bill Counter

 

More information: See Mary Mallory's "Lighting the Way On Santa Claus Lane," a 2021 post on the Hollywood Heritage blog. The post also appears on the L.A. Daily Mirror site

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