This is a photo taken in July 1951 on Calle de Madrid - a street at the top of the Riviera (also considered the “Upper Hollywood Riviera.̶ 
It’s super cool - check out the cars! The man who took the photo was amazed at how you used to be able to see views from so many places in the Riviera before all the trees grew up! The trees in this photo are around 3 years old…as the homes in this photo were mostly built around 1948. I am going to post a picture of this same spot as soon as the next clear day comes around so we can compare the views then vs. now. Love the “woody” in the background!
WOW, what a great picture. We used to live across the street! Hi Kelly and Laura! Jerry and I are enjoying life in Palm Springs! I really enjoy your newsletters.
Comment by Linda Van Horn — April 27, 2008 @ 11:18 am
Linda - so nice to hear from you!!! how are you guys?
email me! kelly@kellyandlaura.com
Comment by kellyevans — April 29, 2008 @ 9:59 am
Wow. What a blast from the past… I couldn’t figure out if this was the right blog for just the Calle de Madrid picture or for all the pictures… I lived at 630 Calle de Arboles (1948-1951, age 6 months to 3 years old) and 529 Via la Selva (1951-1969, age 3 to 21)… The snapshot of Riviera Elementary School was the biggest shocker —how bare and utilitarian, and empty!… Rather than October 1952, I think it was probably the spring or summer of 1952 when construction was just completed, the first grass and landscaping put in, before anyone had moved in yet. Notice the street looks freshly paved and striped –and so empty! I started to Kindergarten at Riviera School with Miss Giesing in September 1952 (the first class to go all the way through). I distinctly remember it was the Fall of 1952, because we Kindergarteners used to sing,”I Like Ike”, “I Like Ike”, as we pumped our legs furiously on the swings, echoing the Fall 1952 Eisenhower vs. Adlai Stevenson Presidential campaign. I remember more fencing and finishing touches by that time —not quite that bare… But maybe that is just a 4 year old’s memory. How about that new raw tract of houses just north of Seaside Ranchos? That is quite a bit more raw and bare than I ever remember too…
The black and white photo of lower Hollywood Riviera and the Riviera Beach Club was fascinating too. I would guess that it is the late 1940s or early 1950s, judging from the degree of development in Riviera Village (center of photo) and the degree of development of the (mostly empty) streets. It’s my recollection that the Riviera Beach Club burned down in 1955. If you are interested, some day I would like to get out more old photos (including aerial photos) of Hollywood Riviera in that era and share them with you… No promises about this year, but one of these times soon…
regards,
steve byrd
santa barbara
Comment by steve byrd — June 25, 2008 @ 8:26 pm