A vanished city lives again...

Thursday, January 15, 2009

New treasures!

Last month, I got this neat old postcard of Broadway near its intersection with Temple Street. The photo was taken from the top of the south entrance of the Broadway Tunnel. The design of the reverse side of this Rieder postcard indicates it was printed between 1907-'08. The photo, however, dates to approximately 1903. The Braly Building (1902-'03) can be seen in the distance, just to the right of the Court House. The scene can't be later than 1904, though, otherwise the Hotel Lankershim would be visible at the far end of Broadway.



This is one of my absolute favorite views of the vanished city. I just feel totally at home here, gazing at this simple scene...



Then, last week, this old medicine bottle showed up on eBay. Broadway & Temple! Holy crap! I just had to have it. And, as of today, I do!


Photo by J Scott Shannon.

I know a little bit about antique bottles, and this one definitely dates to pre-1915. So, it's essentially contemporaneous with the postcard view! I wonder which of the three possible corner buildings housed the Bodenmann pharmacy. I will find out eventually, I'm sure!