Urban Archaeology

[Snowflake]

A friend of mine has a fun blog on silent film and other Hollywood oddities. This week's blog is pretty cool about the strangest house in Hollywood.

Before you click the link, some of the photos are NSFW

The Silent Movie Blog - story of the spiderpool (http://thesilentmovieblog.blog.com/3283281/?page=last)

Makes me want to hiking to find the spiderpool, uh in 90+ degrees, not so much.

The link he referenced at the bottom did not work for me. I need to email him about it, or I typed it wrong.

[Betty]

boobies! ;)

Neat find. And very cool that it's still right there!

[flippyshark]

Mmmm - tasty cheesecake. (Tura Satana!) Oh, and I would love to visit this site myself. If anyone does go, take lots of pictures.

[Kevy Baby]

The link he referenced at the bottom did not work for me. I need to email him about it, or I typed it wrong.I got it to work: http://www.backdrop.net/sm-201/index.php?title=Spiderpool

[Moonliner]

Golden Era Hollywood History: Check.
Cool Art Deco site: Check
History of risque behavior: Check
Abandoned property: Check
Hard to find: Check
Multiple "No Trespassing" signs: Double Check.

You know, A visit to the spider pool could be the PERFECT LoT Swanking.

[€uroMeinke]

You know, A visit to the spider pool could be the PERFECT LoT Swanking.

So who'd like to do some pin-up modeling?

[lashbear]

I will !!

[Kevy Baby]

So who'd like to do some pin-up modeling?

I will !!No no. Pick Me! Pick Me!

[€uroMeinke]

Looks like I will be shooting "The Men of LoT" calendar for 2010

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

First, I love that the blog contains one of Harold Lloyd's pin-ups. Hurrah!

This absolutely demands a LoT swanking of some kind.

Visible mojo for this super awesome post.

(And, L'Hédoniste, I'm sure some of us lady folk would participate with a little persuasion and maybe some booze. And NM does have a portable martini set....)

[€uroMeinke]

They would be - of course - for my private collection...

[Moonliner]

I will !!

No no. Pick Me! Pick Me!

They would be - of course - for my private collection...

Oh thank God!

[CoasterMatt]

One of our VIP guides has some pictures taken there fairly recently

[€uroMeinke]

One of our VIP guides has some pictures taken there fairly recently

For your private collection?

[€uroMeinke]

I returned from my first explorations. You can read about them here (http://cemeinke.livejournal.com/)

[Moonliner]

I returned from my first explorations. You can read about them here (http://cemeinke.livejournal.com/)

Way to go €! Although for some reason only one photo shows up. Were you a loan archaeologist? Did you wear a leather jack and a fedora? Carry a whip?

[€uroMeinke]

Way to go €! Although for some reason only one photo shows up.

Bah, you're the second person who can only view one pic - something must be amiss, but I see all of them so troubleshooting isn't working for me. In the meantime here's the link (http://picasaweb.google.com/cemeinke/SpiderPoolQuest)to the Picasa album where they all should be.

Oh, and I did wear a fedora of sorts - but more bowling shirt than leather jacket...

[Kevy Baby]

Bah, you're the second person who can only view one pic - something must be amiss, but I see all of them so troubleshooting isn't working for me. In the meantime here's the link (http://picasaweb.google.com/cemeinke/SpiderPoolQuest)to the Picasa album where they all should be.Count me as #3. Although, I found that if I right-clicked on the images (or more specifically, the blue question mark where the photo should be), I was able to open each photo in a new window or tab. This allowed me to view the photos in context.

[katiesue]

Me 4

[JWBear]

Me also.

[Alex]

The problems with the photos seem to be in capitalization in the file names (for a couple chaing .JPG to .jpg worked fine) in another changing "Pool" to "pool" seemed to work.

[€uroMeinke]

The problems with the photos seem to be in capitalization in the file names (for a couple chaing .JPG to .jpg worked fine) in another changing "Pool" to "pool" seemed to work.

Interesting, I made those changes and now I can't see the pictures - I guess this may be a fatal flaw in my Picasa experiment

[Snowflake]

Way to go €!

Hope the next adventure proves fruitful in the discovery of the location of the Spider Pool.

This first adventure was cool, though, I can't wait to read further installments and to see photographic evidence of the continued existance of the Spider Pool.

[Snowflake]

The magazine article my friend referenced in his blog, can be had here on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/PICTURE-PLAY-1924-Movie-Magazine-Rudolph-Valentino_W0QQitemZ330256610112QQihZ014QQcategoryZ 280QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). 1924 issue of Picture Play. In case anyone needs the historical reference.

[Kevy Baby]

Interesting, I made those changes and now I can't see the pictures - I guess this may be a fatal flaw in my Picasa experimentAnd they now show up for me. Weird

[Moonliner]

Tooling around in Google earth, I found a site that might be worth checking out. ;)

PM me if you want the location. (Just in case I actually found the place....)

[Snowflake]

Tooling around in Google earth, I found a site that might be worth checking out. ;)

PM me if you want the location.

Bitter East Coaster strikes again! ;)

[Moonliner]

Nope I guess not.

Here is the location I was guessing....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/Moonliner/spider.jpg

It's close but no cigar.

[Kevy Baby]

Nope I guess not.

Here is the location I was guessing....

It's close but no cigar.Well, I wasn't saying you weren't correct. There is still a possibilty. But guessing from the photos of those who have already found the site, I don't think so.

Unless of course, you flew out here and went to the spot since our conversation.

[Moonliner]

Well, I wasn't saying you weren't correct. There is still a possibilty. But guessing from the photos of those who have already found the site, I don't think so.

Unless of course, you flew out here and went to the spot since our conversation.

Psssst.... That photo is a totally different site than the one we were discussing behind the scene.

[Kevy Baby]

Psssst.... That photo is a totally different site than the one we were discussing behind the scene. even if you are correct, I will still tell you that you were wrong.

[Moonliner]

even if you are correct, I will still tell you that you were wrong.

Yeah, but that's only because you don't know the difference.

[Kevy Baby]

Yeah, but that's only because you don't know the difference.I see so few instances where you are right, that they are hard to recognize.

[Moonliner]

I see so few instances where you are right, that they are hard to recognize.

Ahh I see. No problem. Here is a little check list for you to follow...

If Moonliner says yes, and you say no, the correct answer is yes.

If Moonliner says no and you say yes, the correct answer is no.

If Moonliner says yes and you say yes, well sometimes you get lucky

If Moonliner says no and you say no, see above.

It's simple.

[Ghoulish Delight]

So, as near as I can tell, Moony and Kevy are working off-board to find the spider pool so they can sneak in and "take photos for their own private collection", as the kids call it these days.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Ahh I see. No problem. Here is a little check list for you to follow...

If Moonliner says yes, and you say no, the correct answer is yes.

If Moonliner says no and you say yes, the correct answer is no.

If Moonliner says yes and you say yes, well sometimes you get lucky

If Moonliner says no and you say yes, see above.

It's simple.

Rabbit Season!

[Snowflake]

Rabbit Season!

Duck Season!

[Moonliner]

So, as near as I can tell, Moony and Kevy are working off-board to find the spider pool so they can sneak in and "take photos for their own private collection", as the kids call it these days.

Don't you know it's a clear violation of message board etiquette to read a message in small print? There is a clear expectation of privacy.

[€uroMeinke]

Reading some other blog posts I think I have a good idea of the relative location. The trick is identifying some of the landmarks from the ground and then figuring out how to access the place. According to one person who went there, the place could not be identified from the air as the poll has been filled in and the brush and cacti has reclaimed much of the site. The Spider remains, but is vertical.

From one account, it appears there is an approach from the road below up some steep and overgrown terrain. On the other hand the Spider Pool itself is supposedly within 50 feet of one of the neighboring houses. So any visit would require some stealth and possibly multiple trespass violations.

My next goal is to see if I can view any of the spider wall from public locations. Apparently a portion is visible from above the reservoir, but it seems I require a clearer day to spot that.

I'm also continuing the research to see if I can turn up any other first hand accounts as to how the property is accessed to minimize my legal exposure.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Night Vision (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lostamerica/sets/72157602339461189/).

[Moonliner]

According to one person who went there, the place could not be identified from the air as the poll has been filled in and the brush and cacti has reclaimed much of the site.

Oh ye of little faith. I shall wait until your triumphant return to send you my pick for the location as well as the pick of that looser Kevy. Then we can discuss what can and cannot be identified from the air and by whom. :p

[€uroMeinke]

Night Vision (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lostamerica/sets/72157602339461189/).

Oh Yes!

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Reading some other blog posts I think I have a good idea of the relative location. The trick is identifying some of the landmarks from the ground and then figuring out how to access the place. According to one person who went there, the place could not be identified from the air as the poll has been filled in and the brush and cacti has reclaimed much of the site. The Spider remains, but is vertical.

From one account, it appears there is an approach from the road below up some steep and overgrown terrain. On the other hand the Spider Pool itself is supposedly within 50 feet of one of the neighboring houses. So any visit would require some stealth and possibly multiple trespass violations.

My next goal is to see if I can view any of the spider wall from public locations. Apparently a portion is visible from above the reservoir, but it seems I require a clearer day to spot that.

I'm also continuing the research to see if I can turn up any other first hand accounts as to how the property is accessed to minimize my legal exposure.

http://www.backdrop.net/sm-201/index.php?title=Spiderpool-01

[Cadaverous Pallor]

http://www.backdrop.net/sm-201/index.php?title=Spiderpool-01Ooh, paging Snowflake! (http://www.backdrop.net/sm-201/index.php?title=Spiderpool-02) Among the tons of other amazing movie connections...

It is made of studio props!
...
A fence was plucked from the scraps of Rudolph Valentino's THE EAGLE.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Bad news, €.
(http://www.backdrop.net/sm-201/index.php?title=Spiderpool-05)
Information published in 1962 suggests that the old castle was on its last legs:

“Weeds, brush, and neighborhood vandals took their toll of the rambling structure. Even the tiled swimming pool on the hilltop above fell into disrepair. Eventually teenagers [shudder] discovered the house. Their wild parties brought the wrath of both neighbors and police.”

Darrell Gregory, a 28-year old studio policeman, purchased the property in 1958, and “his quick handling of the continuing juvenile invasions earned the admiration of the neighbors”. Unfortunately, his grateful neighbors’ earlier complaints had attracted the attention of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. In response to LADB&S demands, Gregory “tore down most of the outside house, most of the terrace walls, the archway and a utility porch as ordered.” He was granted a delay during which he worked desperately to meet the inspectors’ demands, but ultimately the decision was handed down to raze the house. To make matters worse, the “road below, over which McDermott had brought building supplies, had long since been abandoned and sold to neighbors”. Gregory’s home was landlocked. Even with help from neighbors, perhaps guilt-ridden neighbors, Gregory was unable to bring the building up to code. During a series of inspections, delays, and more inspections, the city passed an ordinance that would prevent division of property in such a way as to deprive a landowner of access. This “Spiderpool” ordnance was too late to help Mr. Gregory. The final decision came in the fall of 1962. Gregory abandoned the property and not long afterwards the house and pool were bulldozed.

Even if part of it still exists, it's locked away from public streets.

[Alex]

A friend of mine on LJ had an interesting post involving urban archaeology today. Her mother has had a history of mental issues and when my friend was a teenager spent much time in a London institution that is now abandoned and the subject of many trespassing arty photo sessions to be found on the web as she found today.

It was interesting to read her mix of intellectual understanding of the art of it and the emotional "**** off" feeling that the pain the place represents to her and so many people isn't properly being respected.

[€uroMeinke]

Bad news, €.
(http://www.backdrop.net/sm-201/index.php?title=Spiderpool-05)


Even if part of it still exists, it's locked away from public streets.

But there's another more recent blog that has pictures of the pool remains. They removed the details of it's location, but there's enough information to get an approximate idea - unfortunately the foliage seems to have covered the view from Google maps to pinpoint it, meaning some exploratory trespass would be required to find it.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

That link contains the street address.

[€uroMeinke]

That link contains the street address.

Sort of - unless I missed it. There's the 3100 Goodview which gets you to the neighborhood as it seems part of that street was taken out so you have a North and South stretch, with a nice expanse in the middle prime for hiding a spider pool - so access is probably up from either Woodrow Wilson, or Pacific View or Valevista. More reconnaissance is required to find the right approach with minimal criminal activity.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Sort of - unless I missed it. There's the 3100 Goodview which gets you to the neighborhood as it seems part of that street was taken out so you have a North and South stretch, with a nice expanse in the middle prime for hiding a spider pool - so access is probably up from either Woodrow Wilson, or Pacific View or Valevista. More reconnaissance is required to find the right approach with minimal criminal activity.

Yes, that was the address I was thinking of.

[Kevy Baby]

Sort of - unless I missed it. There's the 3100 Goodview which gets you to the neighborhood as it seems part of that street was taken out so you have a North and South stretch, with a nice expanse in the middle prime for hiding a spider pool - so access is probably up from either Woodrow Wilson, or Pacific View or Valevista. More reconnaissance is required to find the right approach with minimal criminal activity.I still want to find it. And I am willing to risk a little trespassing.

After all; it ain't illegal if you don't get caught!

[Moonliner]

I still want to find it. And I am willing to risk a little trespassing.


Just carry a clipboard with you. It's amazing what you can get away with if you are seen carrying a clipboard...

Of course it's not an issue since you can't read a map anyways...

[Kevy Baby]

For some reason, Moonliner seems to think he is closer to 3100 Goodview by being a few hundred yards southeast of 3100 Goodview (http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=3100+Goodview+Trail,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90 068&geocode=CeYgmO6KmlSOFcKyCAIdqiPy-A&dirflg=&saddr=2700+goodview+trail,+los+angeles,+ca&f=d&gl=us&sll=34.125607,-118.347645&sspn=0.01,0.01929&ie=UTF8&z=17). Can't quite figure out his logic.

[Morrigoon]

Has anyone thought of going to the county recorder's office and trying to determine the property lines of the site (not to mention figuring out who the owner is?)

[Kevy Baby]

Has anyone thought of going to the county recorder's office and trying to determine the property lines of the site (not to mention figuring out who the owner is?)The exact location of the site is (at least as far as everything I have read) is still unknown - it still requires some on-location reconnaissance.

[€uroMeinke]

Has anyone thought of going to the county recorder's office and trying to determine the property lines of the site (not to mention figuring out who the owner is?)

That's been done - problem is the original property was a hodgepodge of lots and the structure(s) were ultimately condemned, and the original "road" or access no longer exists - at least at that part, so really that leaves poking around to find what part of the property the spider pool (or the remaining mosaic) rests on. Reports from other blogs state parts are visible from the opposite side of the Hollywood Freeway, which means up from Pacific or Woodrow Wilson. Other reports state that when there you are near someone's driveway - so a good day in that neighborhood, you'd probably locate it. Hillside is steep and covered in cactus, so no easy going - not to mention there is probably fencing of some sort. Still, a doable quest that remains on my to do list.

[Morrigoon]

Well, I was thinking that if we know the general location, there might be some assistance in the form of viewing a plat map of that neighborhood.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Go on a weekday so that no one's home

[€uroMeinke]

Not to mention the need to bring along a nude model for the evidencery photo shoot

[Kevy Baby]

Not to mention the need to bring along a nude model for the evidencery photo shootOOHHH!!!

Pick Me! Pick Me!

[€uroMeinke]

OOHHH!!!

Pick Me! Pick Me!

That's what I was afraid of

[Moonliner]

Just carry a clipboard with you. It's amazing what you can get away with if you are seen carrying a clipboard...


Not to mention the need to bring along a nude model for the evidencery photo shoot

OOHHH!!!

Pick Me! Pick Me!

On the other hand, being found naked almost always raises suspicions. Even if you are carrying a clipboard.

[Kevy Baby]

I was just talking with someone about the Spider Pool and ran across this anonymous post from May of last year:
Until recently, the pool property was absentee owned but surrounded by private property. But more recently, the important portions were purchased by local homeowners and it's now part of active private yard property. The days of hiking in for a visit without an invitation are over.

[Moonliner]

I was just talking with someone about the Spider Pool and ran across this anonymous post from May of last year:

I'm not sure the original poster understands the meaning of the phrase "without an invitation"

[Kevy Baby]

I ran across a fun site: WebUrbanist (http://weburbanist.com)

Hidden Inner Beauty of Abandoned Hospitals & Theaters (http://weburbanist.com/2011/03/09/the-hidden-inner-beauty-of-abandoned-hospitals-and-theaters/)
Play Dead: 6 Creepy Abandoned Amusement Parks (http://weburbanist.com/2009/03/13/abandoned-amusement-parks/)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Thanks for the links, Kevy!