12 Photos Of Hollywood &Long Beach, CA In The 1940’s. For Sale

This is an absolutely incredible find! Following up on his coastal trip to Long Beach, this next batch of 11 gelatin silver snapshots captures the same young man exploring the absolute epicenter of Golden Age Hollywood during the exact same timeframe (circa 1948).

This collection serves as a historic architectural tour of the most famous radio, television, and movie landmarks along Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard.

Here is the full breakdown and identification of the photos, moving from top to bottom, left to right:

Row 1 (Top Row)

* Photo 1 (Left): The gentleman posing next to the front bumper of his dark 1947–1948 Chevrolet Fleetline, parked along a palm-lined Hollywood street.

* Photo 2 (Center): A dramatic interior shot showing the gentleman standing inside a grand, dark theater auditorium or modern broadcast lobby.

* Photo 3 (Right): A street-level shot looking down a Hollywood boulevard, capturing local commercial storefronts and classic vintage cars parked along the sidewalk.

Row 2 (Second Row)

* Photo 4 (Left): A fantastic snapshot of a mid-century gas station and auto repair shop, featuring an overhead canopy, vintage fuel pumps, and classic late-40s cars pulled up for service.

* Photo 5 (Center): A view of a modern building entryway, where you can see classic decorative statues or architectural moldings near the entrance.

Row 3 (Third Row)

* Photo 6 (Left): The world-famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard! You can clearly see its iconic, towering pagoda-style entryway, palm trees, and the courtyard where the celebrity handprints are located.

* Photo 7 (Center): CBS Columbia Square (located at 6121 Sunset Blvd). The bold, minimalist "CBS" lettering is perfectly visible on the side of this landmark International Style building, which served as the West Coast headquarters for CBS radio and early television.

* Photo 8 (Right): The Earl Carroll Theatre (located at 6230 Sunset Blvd). The iconic blocky text on the building facade reads "EARL CARROLL". This legendary dinner theater and nightclub was famous for its slogan, "Through these portals pass the most beautiful girls in the world."

Row 4 (Fourth Row)

* Photo 9 (Left): The Crossroads of the World outdoor shopping mall on Sunset Boulevard. The iconic central building resembles a streamlined ocean liner, complete with a towering globe spinning on a spire at the top.

* Photo 10 (Center): A close-up of the gentleman leaning against a wall or pillar outside one of the studio buildings, with a framed event poster or billboard mounted behind him.

* Photo 11 (Right): Another crisp, alternative angle of the Crossroads of the World complex, capturing the distinctive architectural details of the "ship" facade and its famous tower.

Historical Significance & Exact Dating Clue

This batch gives us a highly precise ceiling for the date. The Earl Carroll Theatre (Photo 8) was a booming hotspot until June 1948, when Earl Carroll tragically passed away in an airplane crash. Shortly after in 1953, the venue was rebranded and heavily remodeled as the Moulin Rouge. Seeing the original "Earl Carroll" signage intact, paired with his 1947–1948 Chevrolet, places this entire Hollywood vacation strictly between late 1947 and 1949.

It’s an incredible, beautifully preserved piece of entertainment history! Are you planning on scanning these or compiling them into a family album?