Web find - 202 Smiling Irishman Used Cars

#202 was another relatively easy one to track down: the "PICO BLVD"
street sign and the establishment's name came right to the top in
Google. The original was a Kodachrome transparency whose author I have
not been able to determine. Made in 1952 near the corner of West Pico
and South Westmoreland Avenue. I'm not familiar with the latter, but I
worked at a parking lot fifteen or so blocks east, in central Los
Angeles, that was half a block south of Pico on Hope Street, next to and
north of the California Hospital. The building just north of the parking
lot was the location of Earl Scheib's first "Any Car, Any Color" paint
shop. I was working New Year's Eve in 1954 when Earl his own self rolled
up in his new Caddy Coupe Deville, tossed me the keys and said, "Here,
Kid, take care of this for me." I did, of course, and when he came back
after having a drink with the employees in what was by then one of a
dozen or more locations, he went in his trunk and handed me a fifth of
Johnny Walker Black Label.

The building on the other side of Scheib's was a dormitory/apartments
for student nurses completing some residence requirement at the
hospital. One of the apartments across the street was occupied by an
alcoholic postman, who did not like to drink alone. Those two features
alone made the hour-long bus commute from my home in Torrance
worthwhile. I was a good and friendly employee, so I got two raises in
pay over the course of my two-year employment, ending up at a dollar
thirty-five an hour.

I was at work there on Saturdays (I park your car) and Sundays (you park
it and take the keys) while in school at the University of Southern
California. I made more money selling my student tickets to football and
basketball games than working at the lot. That might not have been true
if I'd followed the advice of a senior employee: he showed me the "short
stub" technique of stealing money from the lot owner, Mr. Smith.

Another note with regard to this area: just up the street on the west
side of Hope, (I think erroneously reported as at 1246) was the terrible
old hotel that appears on the cover of The Doors' album "Morrison
Hotel". I understand the band was walking past on the way to a photo
shoot and decided to pose in and around the front of the hotel. The
deskman and manager wouldn't give them permission, so they sneaked back
when no one was looking. The parking lot was at 1360 South Hope.

OK, the automotive tie-in: Scheib's black coupe's roof was painted
white/black/gray mottled, achieved by mixing incompatible paint bases
and spraying. The result looked ok, but didn't catch on: the only places
I saw it subsequently was as a trunk-liner.

I could go on for pages, with stories from this place, but in spite of
its automotive basis, the cars were the least remarkable parts of it.


--
Frank ess

--
Frank ess

On 2014-07-03 02:11:00 +0000, Frank S said:

> #202 was another relatively easy one to track down: the "PICO BLVD"
> street sign and the establishment's name came right to the top in
> Google. The original was a Kodachrome transparency whose author I have
> not been able to determine. Made in 1952 near the corner of West Pico
> and South Westmoreland Avenue. I'm not familiar with the latter, but I
> worked at a parking lot fifteen or so blocks east, in central Los
> Angeles, that was half a block south of Pico on Hope Street, next to and
> north of the California Hospital. The building just north of the parking
> lot was the location of Earl Scheib's first "Any Car, Any Color" paint
> shop. I was working New Year's Eve in 1954 when Earl his own self rolled
> up in his new Caddy Coupe Deville, tossed me the keys and said, "Here,
> Kid, take care of this for me." I did, of course, and when he came back
> after having a drink with the employees in what was by then one of a
> dozen or more locations, he went in his trunk and handed me a fifth of
> Johnny Walker Black Label.
>
> The building on the other side of Scheib's was a dormitory/apartments
> for student nurses completing some residence requirement at the
> hospital. One of the apartments across the street was occupied by an
> alcoholic postman, who did not like to drink alone. Those two features
> alone made the hour-long bus commute from my home in Torrance
> worthwhile. I was a good and friendly employee, so I got two raises in
> pay over the course of my two-year employment, ending up at a dollar
> thirty-five an hour.
>
> I was at work there on Saturdays (I park your car) and Sundays (you park
> it and take the keys) while in school at the University of Southern
> California. I made more money selling my student tickets to football and
> basketball games than working at the lot. That might not have been true
> if I'd followed the advice of a senior employee: he showed me the "short
> stub" technique of stealing money from the lot owner, Mr. Smith.
>
> Another note with regard to this area: just up the street on the west
> side of Hope, (I think erroneously reported as at 1246) was the terrible
> old hotel that appears on the cover of The Doors' album "Morrison
> Hotel". I understand the band was walking past on the way to a photo
> shoot and decided to pose in and around the front of the hotel. The
> deskman and manager wouldn't give them permission, so they sneaked back
> when no one was looking. The parking lot was at 1360 South Hope.
>
> OK, the automotive tie-in: Scheib's black coupe's roof was painted
> white/black/gray mottled, achieved by mixing incompatible paint bases
> and spraying. The result looked ok, but didn't catch on: the only places
> I saw it subsequently was as a trunk-liner.
>
> I could go on for pages, with stories from this place, but in spite of
> its automotive basis, the cars were the least remarkable parts of it.
>
>
> --
> Frank ess

Fascinating background, Frank, and good sleuthing.

On 7/2/14, 10:11 PM, Frank S wrote:
> #202 was another relatively easy one to track down: the "PICO BLVD"
> street sign and the establishment's name came right to the top in
> Google. The original was a Kodachrome transparency whose author I have
> not been able to determine. Made in 1952 near the corner of West Pico
> and South Westmoreland Avenue. I'm not familiar with the latter, but I
> worked at a parking lot fifteen or so blocks east, in central Los
> Angeles, that was half a block south of Pico on Hope Street, next to and
> north of the California Hospital. The building just north of the parking
> lot was the location of Earl Scheib's first "Any Car, Any Color" paint
> shop. I was working New Year's Eve in 1954 when Earl his own self rolled
> up in his new Caddy Coupe Deville, tossed me the keys and said, "Here,
> Kid, take care of this for me." I did, of course, and when he came back
> after having a drink with the employees in what was by then one of a
> dozen or more locations, he went in his trunk and handed me a fifth of
> Johnny Walker Black Label.
>
> The building on the other side of Scheib's was a dormitory/apartments
> for student nurses completing some residence requirement at the
> hospital. One of the apartments across the street was occupied by an
> alcoholic postman, who did not like to drink alone. Those two features
> alone made the hour-long bus commute from my home in Torrance
> worthwhile. I was a good and friendly employee, so I got two raises in
> pay over the course of my two-year employment, ending up at a dollar
> thirty-five an hour.
>
> I was at work there on Saturdays (I park your car) and Sundays (you park
> it and take the keys) while in school at the University of Southern
> California. I made more money selling my student tickets to football and
> basketball games than working at the lot. That might not have been true
> if I'd followed the advice of a senior employee: he showed me the "short
> stub" technique of stealing money from the lot owner, Mr. Smith.
>
> Another note with regard to this area: just up the street on the west
> side of Hope, (I think erroneously reported as at 1246) was the terrible
> old hotel that appears on the cover of The Doors' album "Morrison
> Hotel". I understand the band was walking past on the way to a photo
> shoot and decided to pose in and around the front of the hotel. The
> deskman and manager wouldn't give them permission, so they sneaked back
> when no one was looking. The parking lot was at 1360 South Hope.
>
> OK, the automotive tie-in: Scheib's black coupe's roof was painted
> white/black/gray mottled, achieved by mixing incompatible paint bases
> and spraying. The result looked ok, but didn't catch on: the only places
> I saw it subsequently was as a trunk-liner.
>
> I could go on for pages, with stories from this place, but in spite of
> its automotive basis, the cars were the least remarkable parts of it.
>
>
Great story Frank, see how old photos get the mind working, and the
juices flowing.

Rich

>
> Fascinating background, Frank, and good sleuthing.

Thank you, Dave.

>>
> Great story Frank, see how old photos get the mind working, and the
> juices flowing.
>
> Rich

Yes Rich. Such flows make me know how rich I am, experience-ly speaking.
And just keep me smiling.


--
Frank ess