Finding the Dragon of China City
by
Jody Hummer
What is the story of the Dragon of Dragon Road in China City ?
When China City was destroyed, I have wondered, what ever happened to the
iron dragon on Dragon Road.
One day, I am astonished to find this......
Along El Camino Real, by Ed Ainsworth
China City, Los Angeles,
April 2
They even have a streamlined dragon down here in this new-old
Chinatown that is being built out of a woman's dream,
some ancient blacksmith shops, bamboo, movie sets,
crumbling adobe and some saucy little up-to-the-minute Chinese shops.
The streamlined dragon didn't start out to be one.
In fact, it was part of the mechanism of the flagpole
on the old Times Building. Why it was made in that
shape nobody knows, but it is a dead ringer for
a fire-spitting dragon, emblem of China.
It is made out of black iron and is about seven feet long,
with a most terrifying expression.
Mrs. Christine Sterling, creator of Olvera street
and the driving force behind China City
got it from the Los Angeles Wrecking Company,
wreckers of The Times Building, and is going
to use it for a flagpole again, putting
the flag of China in its mouth.
iron dragon on Dragon Road.
One day, I am astonished to find this......
Along El Camino Real, by Ed Ainsworth
China City, Los Angeles,
April 2
They even have a streamlined dragon down here in this new-old
Chinatown that is being built out of a woman's dream,
some ancient blacksmith shops, bamboo, movie sets,
crumbling adobe and some saucy little up-to-the-minute Chinese shops.
The streamlined dragon didn't start out to be one.
In fact, it was part of the mechanism of the flagpole
on the old Times Building. Why it was made in that
shape nobody knows, but it is a dead ringer for
a fire-spitting dragon, emblem of China.
It is made out of black iron and is about seven feet long,
with a most terrifying expression.
Mrs. Christine Sterling, creator of Olvera street
and the driving force behind China City
got it from the Los Angeles Wrecking Company,
wreckers of The Times Building, and is going
to use it for a flagpole again, putting
the flag of China in its mouth.
The first LA Times Building on 1st and Broadway.
See the Iron Dragon over the center of the 2nd floor,
holding the flagpole ?
Here is the Dragon again in a later picture.
After the Labor Union Bombing on October 1, 1910. The Dragon still holds the flagpole.
Re-Building after the Bombing. The Dragon is there.
The 2nd LA Times Building with the Dragon Flagpole still there.
The Dragon standing on Dragon Road in China City
When the 3rd LA Times was built, the flagpole must have been in the demolition salvage,
where movie artists, Tom Kemp, Art Director or William Tuntke, Production Designer, found it for China City.
After China City was destroyed by fire, what happened to the Dragon ?
Who made it ? 62 years later, does the Dragon still exist ?
Jody Hummer
where movie artists, Tom Kemp, Art Director or William Tuntke, Production Designer, found it for China City.
After China City was destroyed by fire, what happened to the Dragon ?
Who made it ? 62 years later, does the Dragon still exist ?
Jody Hummer
Contact Jody Hummer
Chinatown Film Bridge
310.774-6779
Bio
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