Eternal Spring Street: Los Angeles Architectural Reincarnation: The Reinvention of Downtown Los Angeles

ISBN-13: 9781515125198 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 210 str.

Marques Vickers

Opis

"Eternal Spring Street: Los Angeles Architectural Reincarnation" is California author Marques Vickers' celebratory pictorial edition recounting the evolution and transformation of one of downtown Los Angeles' primary boulevards. The book features over sixty contemporary images of the architecture lining the blocks of North and South Spring. The modest dirt highway of Spring Street was originally called the Old Brea Road, servicing as a major commercial artery originating from the Los Angeles' El Pueblo settlement and separating in the direction of the LaBrea Tar Pits and the Cahuenga Pass (present day Hollywood). Spring Street officially derived its name from Trinidad Primavera Ortega, the girlfriend of Lieutenant Edward Ord who drafted the city's initial survey map in 1849 that included street naming rights. Primavera is the Spanish name for Spring and Ord designated the honor to Ortega (the nickname he called her). She was also the granddaughter of Spanish explorer Jose Francisco Ortega. The El Pueblo settlement was established in the mid 18th century along the then fertile banks of the Los Angeles River. The colony's terrain was agriculturally cultivated for vineyards, cattle ranching and later citrus groves before an encroaching urban environment altered the complexion of city towards the close of the 19th century. Drawing from varied archival documentation and narratives, Vickers traces the four major levels of Spring's transformation including: 1) prominent retail sector, 2) cradle of the Silent Film era, 3) bank and financial institution headquarters and 4) contemporary mixed-use developments composed of retail, office and residential condominium lofts. The most recent reinvention followed a prolonged period of four-decade stagnation after World War II. The book profiles each distinctive building's architectural lineage and unique legacy that have been often historically overlooked. In particular, the Alexandria Hotel on the corner of South Spring and West Fifth Streets is prominently profiled for its substantial role in the genesis of the film industry. The Alexandria, between its opening in 1906 and decline with the emergence of the neighboring Biltmore Hotel, was the residential home, office and networking center for many of the most prominent patriarchal actors, directors and producers. Eternal Spring Street further documents numerous colorful and influential contributors to the local opulent history. Among the personalities include John Temple, William Wolfskill, Jean-Luis Vignes, Abel and Arcadia Sterns, Pio Pico, Isaias Hellman, Joaquin Murrieta (his severed and pickled head), Ozro Childs, John C. Fremont, John Parkinson, Prudent Beaudry, George Lehman, Biddy Mason, Remi Nadeau, Sarah Bernhardt (her severed leg), James J. Jeffries, George Ralphs and many others. The book stresses Spring Street's resiliency towards adaptation enabling its current revival and relevance. The architecture features reveals some of the most pronounced and stunning aesthetics of the early 20th century.