Historical Photo Collection

This collection of photos and vintage postcards offer a unique perspective of the rich history that has created the Miracle Mile community.

Here’s a link to an excellent interactive history guide to Wilshire Boulevard, including the Miracle Mile: Curating the City; Wilshire Blvd.

[These images may be subject to copyright; rights assessment is your responsibility.]

Click on a photo to begin slideshow…

: La Brea Tar pits and the old Hancock Ranch House, circa 1910. In the distance to the left are the Hancock oil fields and the Hollywood Hills.

: Several men excavate pleistocene animal remains at Rancho La Brea, circa 1911. In the distance is the Hancock Oil fields and the Hollywood Hills. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Aerial view of La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, circa 1924. Looking from north of 6th St with Curson on the east (top), Ogden on the west (bottom), and Wilshire diagonally disecting the upper portion of the photo.

: Aerial view of Will Rogers Airport southwest of the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. (Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860-1960; USC Digital Library.)

: Miracle Mile, circa 1929. Looking east along Wilshire Boulevard.

: Intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, 1928. Looking east along Wilshire. Note the Gilmore gas station on the northeast corner of Wilshire and La Brea.

: The Fox Ritz Theatre, 5214 Wilshire Boulevard (on the southeast corner of Wilshire and La Brea), circa 1931. Designed by architect Lewis A. Smith, the 1600-seat Fox Ritz opened in 1926. It was demolished in 1977. (Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Another view of the Fox Ritz Theatre, circa 1932. (Los Angeles Public Library.)

: View of Wilshire Boulevard looking east from west of La Brea Avenue, circa 1930. The E. Clem Wilson Building at the northeast corner of Wilshire and La Brea is under construction.

: Wilshire Boulevard at Ridgeley Drive, 1929. The Desmond’s Building (also known as the Wilshire Tower) is on the right.

: The Western Auto Parts store at the northwest corner of Wilshire and Hauser, circa 1930s. This building is the current location of the IHOP restaurant.

: View looking west on Wilshire Boulevard. The Coulter Building is seen on the northeast corner of Hauser and Wilshire. This building was built in 1938 and designed by architect Stiles O. Clements. Citizens National Trust & Savings Bank may also be seen on the right. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: View of the interior of Coulter’s Department Store, the ladies undergarments department, with open merchandising spaces punctuated by columns, service areas along the perimeter and horizontal cabinets with rounded corners. Girdles are displayed on the cabinets along with flower bouquets and svelte statuettes. Staff, dressed in black and wearing corsages, pose behind the service counters. Designed by Stiles O. Clements, this classic Streamline Moderne building was first occupied in 1938 by Coulter’s Dry Goods. In the 1970s, the store changed hands and became a Broadway. After the building was demolished in 1980, the site remained vacant until the late-2000s, when a 5-story mixed-use structure was built. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Designed by Stiles O. Clements, this classic Streamline Moderne building was first occupied in 1938 by Coulter’s Dry Goods. In the 1970s, the store changed hands and became a Broadway. After the building was demolished in 1980, the site remained vacant until the late-2000s, when a 5-story mixed-use structure was built.

: Facing west on Wilshire Boulevard at Hauser Boulevard. Western Auto Supply Company, Ralph’s Supermarket, Leo P. Schaeffer Company Realtors, Silverwoods Hand-Craft Mart, El Rey, Bank of America. Dick Whittington Studio. (USC Digital Library.)

: The Broadway Department Store (formerly Coulter’s), Wishire Blvd, 1972.

: The Broadway (originally Coulter’s) Department Store, 5600 Wilshire Boulevard. Date unknown. (Library of Congress.)

: The Gilmore gas station on the northeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue; photograph dated 1928. The gas station was demolished the following year to make way for the construction of the E. Clem Wilson Building. (“Dick” Whittington Photography Collection, 1924-1987; USC Digital Library.)

: Exterior view, as illustrated in an architectural drawing, of the E. Clem Wilson Building in July 1930, located at the northeast corner of La Brea and Wilshire. (Ralph Morris Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: The E. Clem Wilson Building at the intersection of Wilshire and La Brea, circa 1930.

: E. Clem Wilson building entrance, 5217 Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1930. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: Traffic at the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. The E. Clem Wilson Building was built in 1929. Architects: Meyer & Holler. The building was in Art Deco (Zigzag) Moderne style. Photograph circa 1935. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Exterior view of the Spanish style McDonnell’s Wilshire Cafe on Wilshire west of La Brea Avenue. he E. Clem Wilson Building is present in the background. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Street level view of the E. Clem Wilson Building on the northeast corner of Wilshire at La Brea. Photograph circa 1951. (Dick Whittington Studio; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Looking east on Wilshire at the E. Clem Wilson building at La Brea and Wilshire, 1954.

: The E. Clem Wilson Building, at Wilshire and La Brea, circa 1970s. Looking east along Wilshire.

: Contemporary view of the E. Clem Wilson buiding at Wilshire and La Brea.

: View of an oil field at the northeast corner of Wilshire and Curson. Photograph 1930. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: A view of Wilshire looking west across Masselin Avenue. Notice the ornate lamp posts on each side of the street. The sign on the right advertises the businesses to locate in the Miracle Mile. (Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Auto Show in Hancock Park on Wilshire Boulevard at Stanley Avenue, 1935.

: Wilshire Boulevard at Stanley Avenue, circa 1929. Looking east along Wilshire. (USC Digital Library.)

: Ralph’s Supermarket, Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1930s. Designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements.

: Ralphs arcade-style building on Wilshire and Hauser Blvd. in 1928. Small shops in the building include Dent Music Company and Tom Campbell Nuts. (Ralph Morris Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: The Atlantic and Pacific Food Palace at 5413 Wilshire Boulevard; photograph dated 1935. (Dick Whittington Studio; USC Digital Library.)

: The Atlantic and Pacific Food Palace on the north side of Wilshire Boulevard between Cochran and Cloverdale Avenues, circa 1937. It later became the Roman Food Market and the original structure is now incorporated into a Staples office supply store.

: Los Angeles Times advertisment dated March 29, 1935 announcing the opening of the A & P grocery store at Wilshire and Cochran.

: Aerial view looking west from Wilshire and Sycamore, circa 1930. The oil field on the upper right is where the Park La Brea apartments complex is now located.

: Bob’s Air Mail Service Station on the northwest corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Cochran Avenue in 1936. Bob’s utilized a real twin-prop airplane twith the wings serving as canopies to shade its pumps. The plane was one of two Fokker F-32 aircraft operated by Western Air Express, circa 1930-31. The four engine F-32 was a design failure due to overheating of the two pusher engines and was only briefly in commercial service.

: Another photo postcard of Bob’s Air Mail Service Station 5453 Wilshire Boulevard at Cochran Avenue, circa 1936.

: Chili Bowl restaurant, circa 1937, located at 801 N. La Brea Avenue. (Herman Schultheis Colleciton, Los Angeles Public Library.)

: The Wilshire Bowl, located at 5665 Wilshire Boulevard. Dinners are advertised at $1.50, and there is dancing on Sundays with no cover charge. Larry Kent and his orchestra play nightly. (Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Wilshire Bowl at 5665 Wilshire (at Masselin), circa 1938.

: The Wilshire Bowl was a nightclub (and not a bowling alley). It opened in 1933, by 1943 it was the Louisiana Restaurant. Slapsy Maxie’s took over around 1943 and closed about 1947. By 1952 it was Van de Kamp’s Wilshire Coffee Shop. Photo postcard, circa 1930s.

: Slapsy Maxie’s was a popular Miracle Mile nightclub in the 1940s. It was located at 5665 Wilshire (at the former location of the Wilshire Bowl). Note that the Marfay Buiding next door is under construction.

: Van de Kamps coffee shop on Wilshire Boulevards, circa 1969. A windmill was a signature feature of all Van de Kamp locations thoughout Southern California. The restaurant was located at the former location of the Wilshire Bowl and Slapsy Maxie’s nightclub.

: Looking west along Wilshire Boulevard from La Brea Avenue, 1937. (Herman Schultheis Colleciton, Los Angeles Public Library.)

: View to the northwest from the E. Clem Wilson Building at La Brea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. The commercial buildings in the foreground are on the west side of La Brea. The Detroit Arms apartment building is in the lower left corner. Photograph circa 1930s. (Hernam Schultheis Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: View from the E. Clem Wilson Building at Wilshire and La Brea looking west along Wilshire Boulevard circa 1932.

: Aerial view of the intersection of Fairfax Avenue, Olympic Boulevard, and San Vicente Boulevard, circa 1936.

: The Sontag Drug Store, located at the northwest corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Cloverdale Avenue, 1941. It was designed by Anderson and Norstrom in the Art Deco style and completed in 1935. (Photographer: Richard Stagg; USC Digital Library.)

: View looking west from the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Cloverdale Avenue. The Sontag Drug Store is seen on the corner. It is the present location of Wilshire Beauty Supply.

: Looking west across Detroit Street at Wilshire Boulevard (lower left) showing pedestrians outside a Melody Lane Cafe. (Herman J. Schultheis Collection, Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Two women are walking past storefronts and a Melody Lane Cafe, located on the northwest corner of Wilshire Boulevard and South Detroit Street, circa 1937. The entrance of the restaurant features a huge keyhole in the middle. (Herman J. Schultheis Collection; Los Angeles Public Library)

: “‘Miracle Mile’s’ tower attracts — Wilshire Boulevard’s tower building continues to attract leading merchants. The latest lease taken in this ‘Miracle Mile’ building is by Silverwoods. The pioneer clothing firm will occupy the southeast corner, with a frontage of 60 feet. Twenty-year lease costs $500,000. — Firm leases new quarters — Coming as the second downtown merchant to locate in the ‘Miracle Mile’ on Wilshire boulevard in the last few months, announcement was made yesterday of the leasing of space in the Wilshire Tower Building by Silverwood’s. — Quarters to be occupied by the pioneer clothiers is located a the southeast corner of Wilshire boulevard and Burnside avenue, a few blocks west of La Brea avenue. It has a frontage of 60 feet and a depth of 125 feet, an includes the”… — Examiner clipping attached to verso, dated 11 May 1929. (Los Angeles Examiner Collection; USC Digital Library.)

: A view of Silverwood’s in the Wilshire Tower (better known as the Desmond’s building). A large sign on top of the store displays “Silverwoods, Hart Schaffner & Marx, clothes”. The corner of the building is curved and has a large expanse of glass that covers two stories. A 20 mph speed limit sign is posted on a street light. Photo dated: Jun. 24, 1936. (Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Interior Silverwood’s store, circa 1930. Silverwood’s was located in the Demond’s building. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: Desmond’s building, circa 1930s. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: A group of people walks across the street in front of the Desmond’s store window. A large Christmas tree with a star on top is on the sidewalk in front of them. Over the years stores such as Desmond’s and Silverwoods have occupied Wilshire Tower’s ground floor while professionals have leased offices in the eight-story tower. Located at 5514 Wilshire Boulevard, the Zig-Zag Moderne building was designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and built in 1928. This building was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #332 in 1987. Photograph circa 1939. (Herman J. Schultheis Collection; Los Angeles Public Library)

: Looking west along Wilshire Boulevard at La Brea Avenue, circa 1929. The Ritz Theatre is on the left; on the right the Security First National Bank (the first Art Deco structure on the Miracle Mile) is under construction. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Security First National Bank, 5207-5209 Wilshire Boulevard, nearing the completion of construction, circa 1929. (California State Library.)

: The Security First National Bank later became known as the Security Pacific National Bank; photogragh circa 1938. (“Dick” Whittington Photography Collection, 1924-1987; USC Digital Collection.)

: Security First National Bank building, 5207-5209 Wilshire Boulevard. Date unkown. (Library of Congress.)

: Fire Station No. 61 at 5821 West Third Street (near Cochran Avenue), photograph dated Oct. 12, 1939. (Glen Alton Collection; Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive.)

: Wimpy Grill (located at 5425 Wilshire Boulevard, later the Flying Saucer restaurant) and the adjacent shops (later Brown’s Wilshire Bakery) were remodeled to create one large commercial space to accommodate a Staples office supply store. Photograph circa 1938. (Herman J. Schultheis Collection; Los Angeles Public Library)

: Looking north across Wilshire Boulevard towards three businesses, the Flying Saucer restaurant (left), Brown’s Wilshire Bakery, and the Roman Foods Market (right). All three of these storefronts were remodeled to create one large commercial space to accommodate a Staples office supply store. (Marlene Laskey Collection, Los Angeles Public Library.)

: The Dark Room, 5370 Wilshire Boulevard. Constructed in 1937 as the facade for a camera shop. Architect: Marcus P. Miller. Present location of El Toro Cantina. Marvin Rand, Photographer. (Library of Congress.)

: The Four Star Theatre, 5112 Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1930. Architects: Walker & Eisen. In 2001 it was purchased by the Oasis Christian Center and used as a church. In 2012 it was sold and it now threatened with demoliton. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: Another view of the Four Star Theatre, circa 1932. (Dick Whittington Studio, Huntington Digital Library.)

: Wilshire Boulevard between Cloverdale Avenue and Cochran Avenue, circa 1920s. The Dominguez Wilshire was constructed on this site in the 1930s. (Dick Whittington Studio; USC Digital Library.)

: The Dominguez Wilshire Building at 5410 Wilshire under construction; photograph dated 1930. Designed by architects Morgan, Walls, and Clements. (California State Universtiry Dominguez Hills Digital Collections.)

: The Dominguez Wilshire Building shortly after opening; photograph dated 1931. Signs on the street level facade identify the leasing agent as A. W. Ross, the creator of the Miracle Mile. The signs also tout that the building is 75% rented. (Los Angeles Examiner Collection, 1920-1961; USC Digital Library.)

: Dominguez-Wilshire Building, 5400-5420 Wilshire Boulevard. This building represents a classic Moderne type of the 1920s and 1930s. A central tower is presented as an attenuated vertical block where the scale is deceptively presented so that one is not aware of its actual height. The tower is held in place by two-story wings to each side; zigzag (Art Deco) relief ornament. (Library of Congress.)

: Dominguez Wilshire Building entrance, 5410 Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1931. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: Contemporary photograph (circra 2005) of the Wilshire Bouevard entrance of the Dominguez Wilshire Building. (wikimapia.org: http://wikimapia.org/2379401/Wilshire-Dominguez-Building-1930

: View from across Cloverdale Avenue of the rear of the Dominguez Wilshire building, circa 1931. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: Dominguez Wilshire building lobby, circa 1931. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: Interior view of Myer Siegel and Company store, circa 1933. Myer Siegel was located in the Dominguez Wilshire Building. (Mott-Merge Collection; California State Library.)

: Dominguez Wilshire Building, circa 1955. (Californina State University Dominguez Hills Digital Collections.)

: Wilshire Boulevard looking east from Dunsmuir Avenue. The Dominguez Wilshire building on the right; the White Spot restaurant and cocktail lounge on the left. (“Dick” Whittington Photography Collection, 1924-1987; USC Digital Library.)

: The White Spot was a restaurant and cocktail lounge on the north side of Wilshire Boulevard between Dunsmuir and Cochran Avenues. Photograph circa 1940s. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection: Los Angeles Public Library.)

: The White Spot Restaurant, circa 1940s. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Looking east down Wilshire Boulevard at Burnside Avenue, circa 1949.

: A team of reindeer pulls a loaded sleigh across the sky in this night view of Wilshire Boulevard looking east at Burnside. A neon sign for the Bank of America is visible as well as the El Rey Theater on the far left, and the Wilshire Tower on the right. Photogragh circa 1937, (Herman J. Schultheis Collection; Los Angeles Public Library)

: Exterior view of J. J. Buck’s residence at 8th and South Genesee Avenue. The home was built in 1934. Architect: Rudolph M. Schindler. Photograph circa 1930s. (Photographer: W. P. Woodcock; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: The Buck House as viewed from the east (South Genesee Avenue). Photograph circa 1930s. (Los Angeles City Department of Planning Historical Monuments List: http://cityplanning.lacity.org/complan/HCM/dsp_hcm_result.cfm?community=Wilshire)

: A billboard on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard (just west of Stanley Avenue) promoting the war effort in 1943. {Library of Congress)

: The Arthur Murray dance studio at the southeast corner of Wilshire and Stanley, 1948. Dick Whittington Studio. (USC Digital Library.)

: Photographed in February 1952 by the renowned architectural photographer, Julius Schulman, the western headquarters of the Prudential insurance company was designed by the Beckett Weldon firm. The building, located at Curson and Wilshire, is now known as Museum Square. (USC Digital Library.)

: Looking east along Wilshire Boulevard at Curson Avenue, 1950. The Prudential Building on the left is now Museum Square, which houses the headquaters of the Screen Actors Guild and several restaurants on the street level, including The Counter and Marie Callender’s.

: Looking east along Wilshire Boulevard with the Prudential Building (now known as Musem Square) on the left. (“Dick” Whittington Photography Collection, 1924-1987; USC Digital Library.)

: Simons Drive-In Cafe, circa 1939. Located at the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax, the restaurant was distinguished by the tall pylon emerging from the center of the round building. (Dick Whittington Studio, Huntington Digital Library.)

: Another view of Simons Drive In Cafe; photogragh dated 1939. Note on the far left the May Co. gas station located on the southeast corner of Fairfax Avenue and 6th Street. (Automobile Club of Southern California collection, 1892-1963; USC Digital Library.)

: Another view of Simons Drive In Cafe showing the uniformed servers, circa 1930s.

: Night time view of Simons Drive-In Cafe, circa 1940s. Simon’s was located on the northwest corner of Fairfax and Wilshire that is now the site of Johnnie’s Coffee Shop.

: Simons Drive In Cafe; photograph dated 1938. The following year construction would begin on the May Company on the lot with the billboard. (“Dick” Whittington Photography Collection, 1924-1987; USC Digital Collection.)

: Looking northeast across Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue at the May Company under contruction, circa 1939. Architects: Albert C. Martin & S.A. Marx. The building was purchased by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1994. (Dick Whittington Studio; USC Digital Library.)

: The May Company Department Store Building, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1970s. Future home of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar Museum. Marvin Rand, Photographer. (Library of Congress.)

: View of Fairfax Avenue side of the May Company, circa 1940s.

: Aerial view of the east and north sides of the May Company; photograph dated 1940. (“Dick” Whittington Photography Collection, 1924-1987; USC Digital Library.)

: May Company at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, circa 1950,

: Night time view of the May Company at Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, 1949.

: Christmas season view of the May Company Annex, circa 1940s. The annex fronted on Wilshire Boulevard, just east of the main store. It was demolished after the Los Angeles Museum of Art acquired the May Company property and is the present location of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum.

: Another view of the May Company at Wilshire and Fairfax, circa 1950s. Dick Whittington Studios. (USC Digital Library)

: Postcard of May Company at Wilshire and Fairfax, looking east along Wilshire Boulevard, 1947. (Pomona Public Library.)

: Postcard looking west along Wilshire, 1947 (Pomona Public Library.)

: A view east along Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1947. The El Rey Theate is on the left, the Desmond’s Building is on the right. (Frasher Foto Postcard Collection, Pomona Public Library.)

: Stiles O. Clements designed the two-story, 55,000-square-foot Mullen and Bluett Store. It opened for business in 1949 and was demolished in 2006.

: Designed by Clarence R. Ward for the Firestone Tire Company. Constructed in 1937 at 8th Street and La Brea Avenue. In 2013 it was granted Historic-Cultural Monument status as a fine example of Streamline Moderne architecture. (Photo courtesy of You-Are-Here.com: http://www.you-are-here.com/modern/firestone.html)

: Looking to the northwest; the vacant area in the upper righthand corner is now occupied by Park La Brea. Dick Whittington Studio, circa 1940.

: Frederick H. Ecker, chairman of the board of Metropolitian Life Insurance Co., points to a drawing showing a section of the $40,000,000 development the company plans for the Park La Brea residential community. The development will include 18 apartment buildings 13 stories high, business and park areas. Photo dated: March 3, 1948. (Herald-Examiner Colletction; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Aerial view is looking east from Fairfax with Wilshire on the right. View shows the Park La Brea Towers and Miracle Mile area. The towers, a residential community, was built at a cost of $40,000,000, which includes 18 apartment buildings 13-stories high, and business and park areas. Photo dated: February 10, 1965. (Spence Air Photos; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Aerial view of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art campus, circa 1965. In the background are the Park La Brea appartments. The La Brea Tar Pits can be seen to the right of the museum. The museum was built in 1964 at Wilshire Boulevard and Genesee Avenue.

: The May Company on the northeast corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, circa 1950s.

: The Seibu department store was constructed in the early 1960s across from the May Company at Wilshire and Fairfax. This view is looking north along Fairfax with the May Company in the distance. The building later housed Orbach’s department store and is now the home of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Photograph circa 1962.

: Another view of the Seibu department store at the southeast corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, circa 1962.

: Located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard and built in 1962 for the U.S. branch of Japanese department chain store, Seibu, from 1964-1986 it housed Ohrbach’s department store. Many years later, Robert E. Petersen, founder of Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines purchased the building, and along with his wife, Margie, founded the $40 million dollar Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994. The historic building was designed by Welton Becket and Associates. Photograph 1978. (Marlene Laskey Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: The top photograph shows the aftermath of a two-vehicle collision along Wilshire Boulevard just east of Fairfax Avenue, along with a mysteriously cheerful group of bystanders. Taken with the contemporary photograph, the montage depicts two significant changes to the Boulevard’s streetscape that have taken place since mid-century. During the late 1950s, its Miracle Mile section was outfitted with traffic islands planted with palm trees, now landmarks in themselves. The bottom photo also shows two of the many large bus shelters installed along its length during the implementation of Metro Rapid bus service in the early 2000s. (Caption and photographs courtesy of urban diachrony: http://urbandiachrony.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/wilshire-boulevard-east-of-fairfax-avenue-1952-2011/.)

: Aerial view facing northwest over Wilshire Boulevard and Orange Grove Avenue of the May Company and the west end of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art campus. (Dick Whittington Studio; USC Digital Library.)

: Tom Bergin’s was founded by its namesake, a 46-year-old lawyer, in 1936. The establishment was originally located at 6110 Wilshire Boulevard and named the “Old Horseshoe Tavern and Thoroughbred Club” in honor of a Boston-area watering hole owned by Bergin’s uncle. In 1949, Bergin built a new eatery, re-named Tom Bergin’s Horseshoe Tavern, at 840 South Fairfax Avenue. Employees and customers alike carried the pub’s legendary horseshoe-shaped bar three blocks south to its new home where it it still in operation today. Postcard, circa 1955.

: Contemporary view of the horseshoe-shaped bar at Tom Bergin’s tavern. The establishment is decorated with cardboard shamrocks bearing the names of “regular”customers, including Cary Grant and Kiefer Sutherland.(Photograph courtesy of iamnotastalker.com)

: Contemporary view of the neon signage at Tom Bergin’s Taven on South Fairfax Avenue.

: Contemporary view of Tom Bergin’s Taven, 2013. The restaurant and bar has been recently restored by new owners. (Courtesy of K. Hixon.)

: Windshield view west along Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1955.

: Du-par’s Miracle Mile location was at 5601 Wilshire Boulevard. Photo circa 1978.

: The El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1987. Architect Clifford A. Balch designed this art deco gem. The theatre opened in 1937 and was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1991. Since the early 1990s it has been a popular club with live concerts, including Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello.(William Reagh, photographer; California State Library.)

: Night view of the El Rey Theatre, circa 1960s.

: The “Googie” style Johnie’s Coffee Shop, located at 6101 Wilshire Boulevard at Fairfax Avenue (formely the location of Simons Drive In Cafe). Photograph 1978. (Marlene Laskey Collection; Los Angeles Public Library.)

: Contemporary view of Johnie’s Coffee Shop sign. Although no longer open for business, the restaurant is a popular location for films and television shows. See “The Miracle Mile in Film”: http://miraclemilela.com/the-miracle-mile/the-miracle-mile-in-film/

: Marfay Building, 5657 Wilshire Boulevard, 1955. It was built in 1949 by Welton Becket and Walter Wurdeman, who had their architectural offices at this location. The bottom floor had a variety of businesses over the years, including a famed jewelry store, Donavan and Seamans, etc. (Photographer: Julius Schulman; Los Angeles Examiner Collection, 1920-1961; USC Digital Library.)

: Although they may not appear particularly exceptional at first glance, both the building and original photograph are linked to several of the most important figures in 20th century Modernism. The 5-story commercial building at 5657 Wilshire Boulevard was built in 1949 by the Marfay Development Co., and designed by the firm of Walter Wurdeman and Welton Becket, who also moved their firm’s offices into the top floor. Welton Becket & Associates kept its Los Angeles office here through the end of the 1950s, when their space was taken up by William L. Pereira & Associates. Eventually, Pereira’s firm occupied the entire building, where it remained until its founder’s death in 1985. It was likely at that point that the original International Style facade was torn down for its Postmodern replacement. The original photograph was taken in 1955 by the late Julius Shulman, perhaps the most well-known and influential architectural photographer of the last century. Shulman and Becket were close both professionally and personally; many of Becket’s early works in Southern California were documented extensively in Shulman’s photography. (Caption and photographs courtesy of urban diachrony: http://urbandiachrony.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/5657-wilshire-boulevard-1955-2010/.)

: Built by W. Douglas Lee, t.he 22-story Lee Tower at 5455 Wilshire Boulevard was the tallest office bulding in Los Angeles at the time of its contruction in 1960. Photograph dated 10 April 1960. (Los Angeles Examiner Collection, 1920-1961; USC Digital Library.)

: Lee Tower, 5455 Wilshire Boulevard. Photograph dated 20 August 1961. (Los Angeles Examiner Collection, 1920-1961; USC Digital Library.)

: Miracle Mile (1940). Looking West on Wilshire, at night.

: Miracle Mile (1952). Looking east on Wilshire.

: Looking east on Wilshire (Circa 1950).

: Miracle Mile (1954). Looking east on Wilshire Boulevard.

: Looking West on Wilshire from the entrance of the LaBrea Tar Pits.

: Looking East on Wilshire (circa 1960). El Rey Theatre on left.

: Looking east from Wilshire and Hauser (Circa 1960).

: Looking east down Wilshire Blvd.

: Linen finishe postcard view looking west along Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1950.

: Linen finish postcard of Wilshire Boulevard looking east, circa 1950s.

: Postcard, circa 1960s. Wilshire Boulevard from Fairfax Avenue with the May Company and Orbach’s (present site of the Petersen Automobile Musuem).

: Miracle Mile (1960). Looking East on Wilshire from La Brea/Wilshire.

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