It's a Miracle!

Wilshire Blvd., looking east at Burnside Ave., 1937, Herman Schultheis, photographer.  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.

Holiday decorations went up on the Miracle Mile  BEFORE Thanksgiving this year!  This is the stretch of Wilshire Boulevard from La Brea Avenue on the east to Fairfax Avenue on the west.  Many beautiful Art Deco and Stream-lined Moderne style buildings from the 1920s, 30s and 1940s have been preserved and are still in use on this stretch of Wilshire. Here's a wonderful mini-history of this historic area.

This is our neighborhood.  I've seen so many changes in the 25 years I've lived close to the MM.  I've seen even more changes since my childhood, about two miles west.  Happily, there are still miracles to be seen on this lovely street.

In 1937 photographer HermanJ. Schultheis moved to Los Angeles.  He documented many areas of our great City during his residence.  I recently came across these photos from December 1937, Miracle Mile, Los Angeles.  Thanks, Herman.

Miracle Mile, Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 1937, Herman Schultheis, photographer

Description from LAPL website of above photo: Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and built in 1929, the Zig-Zag Modern style Desmond's/Wilshire Tower, which spans the address on Wilshire Blvd. from 5500-5522, and was declared City of LA Historic Cultural Monument #332 in 1987.  

1937.  Herman Schultheis, photographer.  Garland is hung on the windows of Silverwoods, located at 5522 Wilshire Boulevard in the Wilshire Tower building.

I will take a walk down the Miracle Mile this weekend to see how the 2014 holiday decorations compare to those in 1937.