Formosa Cottages

Zwebell Formosa Cottage

I haven’t had any opportunity to take photos since I started this, so I thought I would share some of my old favorites with you.  These photos were taken 20 years ago with a film SLR.

I have a huge love for both Charlie Chaplin and storybook architecture, so when I found the Formosa Cottages, aka the Hansel and Gretel Cottages, my mind was blown.  They were rumored to have been built by Chaplin as either a movie set or guest housing for his nearby studios.  One rumor is that they were built as a set for “A Woman of Paris,” but I watched the film specifically to look for it, and didn’t catch a glimpse.

Zwebell Formosa Cottages

Zwebell Formosa Cottages

What is known is that they were built by the Zwebell’s, a husband and wife architecture team responsible for the El Cabrillo (setting for the TV show Chuck)  and the Andalusa Apartments, which will likely be the subject of a future entry.

This is one of my favorite L.A. landmarks because of the mystery.  One of the apartments was up for rent last year, so we now know that a one bedroom rents for $1895.  Wish I had known at the time, I would love to be able to see  inside one of the units.

The Hansel and Gretel Cottages are located at 1328-1330 North Formosa Ave in Hollywood.

Zwebell Formosa Cottages

Huntington Gardens

The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens features a side garden full of classic statues from Greek Mythology.

And So it Begins

Full Moon behind the Empire State Building

So, why a photo blog?  I’ve been in love with photography for 30 years.  About a year ago, I got my first digital SLR and really need a reason to use it more.  So I decided to combine my love of photography with my love of architecture.

Growing up in Southern California, I’ve always had a love for Hollywood history.  But it’s not just the history, it’s the buildings that appeal to  me most.  I love old buildings and cool buildings, and am fairly well-versed in the hidden architechtural gems of Los Angeles.  This blog is my excuse to get out there and photograph them.

I have some pretty cool photos of Los Angeles hidden gems that I have taken over the past 20 years, but for the most part, I will be taking all new photos for this blog.  This is a change for me to improve my camera skills, get more comfortable with Lightroom, and revisit these beauties.

The first building I fell in love isn’t even in Los Angeles.  It’s the Dakota in NYC.  Long before John Lennon moved in, it was the setting for one of my favorite movies of all time, Rosemary’s Baby, and every time I visit NYC I have to make a pilgrimage there.  I can still believe that it is inhabited by witches.  Next I fell in love with the Bradbury Building in downtown L.A. And then it was the Snow White apartments in Silver Lake, and the Chaplin apartments in Hollywood, and the Shakespeare Bridge, and…well, the list goes on and on.  I look forward to sharing them with you, and I hope that I can introduce you to both some hidden gems, and shed the light on some new angles on some old familiar faces as well.

But to star this off, here’s a photo that’s not from L.A., and certainly not of an obscure building.  It’s the full moon behind the Empire State Building, and is one of my favorites shots I have taken.