Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Back Alley |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Collection |
S.H. Kress & Company |
Catalog Number |
1989.13.1.1455 |
Description |
Print, Photographic; B&W, exterior snapshot taken at street level ; the picture shows a view looking down a back alley; a building in the center carries a vertical "Woolworth" sign; hand-printed notation on back "Wilshire Blvd. - L.A.Calif\showing rear of Woolworth store\two blocks West of prposed Kress\store. Alley is continuation of\Alley in rear of Kress store -\Notice the setback\January 18, 1937"; stamps "859" and "RECEIVED\IN ARCH. DIV\JAN 25 1937" |
Context |
The S.H. Kress & Company, founded by Samuel H. Kress, opened over 300 5-10-25 cent stores in thirty states from New Jersey to Florida and across to California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The first Kress store opened in Memphis, Tennessee in 1896. Many of the early Kress stores started out in rented spaces. By 1909, the Company began to open its stores in new structures created by S.H. Kress & Company architects like Edward F. Sibbert and Seymour Burrell, or built for it by contractors and held under lease. The Kress stores particularly thrived during the Great Depression, as they sold inexpensive products in luxurious spaces. Kress stores ranged in architectural styles, from Neoclassical to Art Deco to Modern and International. Towards the end of the S.H. Kress & Company life, shopping centers and malls overtook free-standing commercial buildings as the preferred retail locations, and new Kress stores were placed in large multistore structure. In 1964, the S.H. Kress & Company was purchased by Genesco, Incorporated, and the company was liquidated in 1980 and 1981. Some of the buildings have been demolished, while others have been renovated and adapted. The documents, plans, photographs, and objects that were gifted to the National Building Museum by numerous donors provide a rich array of information relevant to business, social, architectural, land use, race relations, and commercial history in the United States. |
Credit Line |
Courtesy of National Building Museum, gift of Genesco, Inc. |
Place |
Los Angeles, California |
Additional Notes |
Genesco Store Number: 849 Address: 5352 Wilshire Boulevard Facade Material: Concrete Style: Art Deco Primary Building Architect: Edward F. Sibbert Contractors: |
Date |
1/18/1937 |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Orig/Copy |
Original Print |
Medium |
Photographic paper |
Object Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Donor |
Genesco Inc. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Related Units: 75 photographs, 1 plan, 0.25 inch of documents Book Description: "Opened in 1938, this streamlined Art Deco building by Edward F. Sibbert had reinforced concrete walls. The exterior was a study in perpendicular elements, with surface enlivened by alternating vertical and horizontal patterns cast in concrete and by the contrast of a vertical illuminated Kress sign that soared above the facade and a horizontal sign that spanned it. Inside, mahogany counters and cabinets and marblewood trim were used in the main sales area. A rear entrance allowed access from the parking lot." |
Related Publications |
Wilkerson, Susan, and Hank Griffith. A Guide to the Building Records of S.H. Kress & Co. 5-10-25 Cent Stores at the National Building Museum. Edited by Joyce Eliiot. Washington, DC: National Building Museum Publication Office, 1993. |
Caption |
Black and white photograph of back alley |
Search Terms |
Edward F. Sibbert reinforced concrete walls perpendicular elements alternating vertical horizontal patterns streamlined Art Deco cast contrast illuminated sign span mahogany counters cabinets marblewood trim main sales rear entrance parking lot Store 849 Los Angeles California 5352 Wilshire Boulevard S.H. Kress & Co photograph |