Oct 14, 2024
2013 in the Wood
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2013 in the Wood
Richfield Building (RIP), Los Angeles, California Source: California State Library
The loss of this building had an effect similar to the shock when New York City lost Pennsylvania Station. How could a building so many people loved be smashed to dust?
Building basics, from Wikipedia:
Richfield Tower, also known as the Richfield Oil Company Building, was constructed between 1928 and 1929 and served as the headquarters of Richfield Oil. It was designed by Stiles O. Clements and featured a black and gold Art Deco façade. The unusual color scheme was meant to symbolize the "black gold" that was Richfield's business. Haig Patigian did the exterior sculptures. The building was covered with architectural terra cotta manufactured by Gladding, McBean, as was typical of many west coast buildings from this era. In an unusual move, all four sides were covered since they were all visible in the downtown location.
The 12-floor building was 372 feet (113 m) tall, including a 130-foot (40 m) tower atop the building, emblazoned vertically with the name "Richfield". Lighting on the tower was made to simulate an oilwell gusher and the motif was reused at some Richfield service stations.
The company outgrew the building, and it was demolished in 1969, much to the dismay of Los Angeles residents and those interested in architectural preservation, to make way for the present ARCO Plaza skyscraper complex. The elaborate black-and-gold elevator doors were salvaged from the building and now reside in the lobby of the new ARCO building (now City National Tower).
Links to a couple of relevant articles documenting and reflecting on the building:
Historic American Buildings Survey: Richfield Oil Building
Pacific Coast Architecture Database: Richfield Oil Company of California
LA Times: “A beloved L.A. tower -- and the winged ‘army’ that stood guard -- is gone but not forgotten”
More historic photos below the cut:
The UDSSR Mill
I drove through a wonderful green valley with a nice river when suddenly, behind a lot of trees there was this awesome building. It has once been a mill near the water, but now it’s empty. In this area there have once been a lot of mills but it cost to much to produce in germany so they closed them. It was beautiful to see how nice and sweet they have once built their industrial buildings. And it’s so sad that nobody is working there anymore and the place is rotting alone in this amazing landscape...
HI URBEX PEOPLE
Also Leute, Ich weiß man gibt die Adressen von Lost Places nicht einfach so weiter, vor allem nicht öffentlich. Doch mein Freund und ich stehen am Anfang unserer Abenteuer mit verlassenen Orten, weshalb ich euch fragen möchte, ob ihr mir nicht die eine oder andere Adresse eines Lost Place schicken könntet! Am besten wäre irgendwo in Nrw/im Ruhrpott oder so. Wäre echt total lieb & für Tipps bin ich auch immer offen! (Wir möchten diese Orte auch nur besichtigen und fotografieren, nichts anderes.) Dankeschön im voraus! 🌿🍃🍀
Airlines Terminal Building (demolished), NYC, NY undated photo, unknown photographer
This fine building, located directly across from the Grand Central Terminal, was once a busy hub for air travelers.
From a fantastic history article in 6sqft:
For more than 30 years, the Art Deco-style Airlines Terminal Building served millions of travelers as a spot where flight tickets servicing New York could be purchased and where passengers could board shuttle buses to take them to the various airports... Construction of the Airlines Terminal began in 1939 to create the chic, futuristic design, which included a steel frame and a crown flanked by two eagles...
....Beginning in the 1970’s, the Airlines Building’s value started to decline. It closed in August of 1978 and was later demolished, making way for today’s Philip Morris Building. However, the Art Deco eagles that were perched atop the terminal’s building were preserved and can be found in Richmond, Virginia.
More pics, including vintage, below the cut:
Paramount Theater, Nashville, Tennessee Source: Nashville Public Library
Particularly love the designs over the upper windows.
From the archive:
A photograph of the Paramount Theatre at 721-727 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee circa 1930. The marquee advertises "Gary Cooper & Marlene Deitrich - Morocco - C. Sharpe Minor at the Organ - Eddie Canter." The $500,000 theater opened November 14, 1930, ads boasted "A New Show World in Tomorrow's Theater - a new standard of luxury, comfort and entertainment - a theater to match the achievements of Nashville - Come, marvel, thrill to the living screen." A reported 2,500 patrons visited the theater on opening night, at 60 cents each, outnumbering the seating capacity by 500. The theater was remodeled in 1949 and demolished after 1978.
Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California Source: LA Public Library
I was looking for images of the Title Guarantee Building (on the right) and came across another Deco building, now gone.
From the archive:
Designed by Charles F. Whittlesey and opened in 1906, the auditorium facade was remodeled in 1938 by Stiles O. Clements; the structure was demolished in the 1980s.
Union Bus Terminal, Nashville, Tennessee Source: Nashville Public Library
Not a classic, streamline Greyhound station, but a 1930s bus station nonetheless.
From the archive:
A postcard of the Union Bus Terminal located at 517 Commerce Street in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Built in the latter part of the 1930s, this bus terminal exemplified the art deco architecture style of the time period. According to city directories, this station housed several bus companies including Greyhound, Consolidated and Lewisburg lines. Several public transit riders wait on the corner for buses. Parked cars are lined up on the street outside of the building. This structure is no longer standing.