5th Street & Olive, 1938

1938, In this view of 5th Street across Olive St in downtown Los Angeles, we’re treated to the sign of the long-gone Biltmore Theatre. Attached to the Biltmore Hotel, the theater was a major stop on the national touring circuit. (Erlanger was a theatrical syndicate similar to Shubert.) This photo was taken in 1938 when “Room Service” was playing—the same “Room Service” that was made into a Marx Brothers movie at RKO. The Biltmore Hotel still exists, but an office tower replaced the theater after the Los Angeles . . . Thank you to Martin Turnbull.  

1951, The Northeast Corner of 5th and Olive Streets, Los Angeles (1951)

By 1951, the northeast corner of 5th and Olive Streets in Los Angeles provided a glimpse of a thriving downtown neighborhood. The area featured a mix of early 20th-century buildings with intricate architectural details and newer post-war structures. Nearby Pershing Square offered a green escape amidst the urban density. Cars and buses crowded the streets, while professionals, shoppers, and tourists navigated the sidewalks. This intersection was a snapshot of downtown Los Angeles at a time of transition and growth.  Thank you to Historical Los Angeles, USA.