>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell Howser: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND CALIFORNIA AND AROUND THE CITY OF L.A. FOR A LONG TIME NOW.
AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE LIKE TO GO BACK TO ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL STORIES FOR AN UPDATE BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE WE WERE THERE FOR THE ORIGINAL STORY YEARS AGO.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE UPDATES.
BECAUSE 15 YEARS AGO, WE WERE STANDING ALMOST IN THIS SPOT, LOOKING OVER AT THIS BUILDING, THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING, PREPARING TO GO ON WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA FLASH WAY BACK IN TIME AN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ADVENTURE WE HAD HERE.
AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK FOR THE UPDATE.
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE SURPRISED AT WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE WE WERE HERE 15 YEARS AGO.
HI, I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND RIGHT NOW I'M STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET HERE AT FOURTH AND HILL IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.
THAT'S THE CALIFORNIA PLAZA BACK THERE, THOSE BEAUTIFUL BIG, MODERN GLASS BUILDINGS.
BUT WE ARE NOT HERE TO DO A STORY ABOUT THE NEW BUILDINGS.
WE ARE HERE TO DO A STORY ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL OLD BUILDING RIGHT HERE, THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING, WHICH HAS BEEN A FIXTURE HERE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FOR OVER 50, 60, 70 YEARS NOW.
ACTUALLY, IT'S BOARDED UP NOW, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET INSIDE.
HERE ARE OUR TOUR GUIDES RIGHT HERE.
YOUR NAME, SIR?
>> IRV IRLINGTON WITH GENERAL SERVICES.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.
>> BRUCE FRINSRINGER, HISTORIAN.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> HEY.
JEFFREY WELDON, CITY OF L.A. >> AND BILL STAUBER, CITY OF L.A. Huell: CITY OF L.A.?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> WELL, WE'RE AFFILIATED.
WE'RE PART OF THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER.
Huell: OK, GOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT EACH OF THEM HAS TO OFFER THIS TOUR IN JUST A MOMENT.
BRUCE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
FILL US IN A LITTLE BIT, AND LOUIE, WE CAN GET KIND OF A SHOT OF IT BEHIND BRUCE WHILE HE'S TALKING TO US.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OLD--WHAT IS CALLED THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING.
>> OK, THIS ORIGINALLY WAS THE SITE OF THE--GOING BACK TO 1908, THIS WAS THE SITE OF A LEAN TUBE TRAIN STATION--WAS OVER HERE WHERE THIS PARKING LOT WAS.
AND IT WAS THE TERMINUS FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND PACIFIC RAILROAD, WHICH OPERATED LINES ALL ON THE WEST SIDE OF LOS ANGELES.
WELL, BY 1916, THEY REDEVELOPED THE TRAIN STATION HERE, SURFACING THE MAIN LINES.
BUT IT BECAME SO CONGESTED, OPERATED OVER 450 TRAINS A DAY, THAT PLANS WERE SET IN MOTION TO MAKE A NEW TRAIN STATION ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN.
Huell: SO THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1925, NOT ONLY TO BE AN OFFICE BUILDING, BUT TO BE KIND OF A TERMINAL BUILDING FOR THE OLD ELECTRIC CARS?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEY ACTUALLY DUG A SUBWAY LINE INTO THIS BUILDING WHICH IS OVER A MILE LONG.
Huell: NOW SEE, YOU GAVE AWAY OUR SECRET.
BECAUSE WHAT WE WERE GONNA SAY WAS WE'RE NOT HERE TO DO A STORY ABOUT THE BUILDING, WE'RE HERE TO DO A STORY ABOUT WHAT'S UNDER THE BUILDING.
BECAUSE MOST OF US THINK THAT THE METRO--THE RED LINE IS THE FIRST SUBWAY THAT'S BEING BUILT HERE IN L.A. TODAY.
ACTUALLY, WE HAD A SUBWAY HERE IN L.A. BACK IN THE 19-- >> TWENTIES.
Huell: TWENTIES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
Huell: AND IT'S STILL DOWN THERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA GO SEE.
THE TRAFFIC HAS LET UP, SO WE'RE GONNA JAYWALK QUICKLY ACROSS THE STREET TO THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING.
WE HAVE GOTTEN THE MANAGER OF THE BUILDING TO OPEN IT UP FOR US, 'CAUSE NOBODY'S IN THERE THESE DAYS.
IT'S ALL BOARDED UP.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
Huell: HOW YOU DOING?
>> I'M PRETTY GOOD.
Huell: HUELL HOWSER.
>> GRACIANO.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND YOU'RE GONNA KIND OF LET US THROUGH THE LOCKED DOORS HERE.
>> SURE.
Huell: HERE WE GO.
COME ON IN, FELLAS.
WE'RE GONNA GO IN AND SEE ONE OF PROBABLY THE LEAST KNOWN FACTS ABOUT LOS ANGELES TRANSPORTATION HISTORY--OUR SUBWAY FROM THE 1920s.
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL LOBBY HERE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE US FIRST?
>> HOW ABOUT THE WAITING ROOM?
Huell: THE WAITING ROOM?
>> THE WAITING ROOM, YES.
Huell: SO THIS IS WHERE THEY WOULD COME TO-- >> BUY THEIR TICKETS, WAIT FOR THE TRAIN.
Huell: OK. AND IT'S STILL HERE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.
>> WOW.
Huell: AHH.
SO UNDERNEATH-- >> THERE IT IS.
Huell: THIS DROP CEILING IS THE ORIGINAL-- >> WAITING ROOM.
Huell: NOW, HOW DO WE KNOW THIS WAS THE WAITING ROOM BY LOOKING AT THE CEILING?
>> BECAUSE THIS IS THE STYLE THAT WAS USED OF THE BUILDINGS IN THAT DAY, OF THE TWENTIES.
AND IT WAS, OF COURSE, IT WAS UPDATED WITH THE DROP CEILING IN LATER YEARS.
Huell: MM-HMM.
WELL, NOW, TELL US WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN HERE.
>> I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD JUST BE CONGREGATING, WAITING FOR THEIR SCHEDULED TRAIN, PROBABLY CARRYING LOTS OF BAGS AND PARCELS.
AND NOT UNLIKE UNION STATION, I WOULD THINK, TODAY WITH THE WAITING AREA.
PRETTY MUCH JUST A COMMON AREA FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT BEFORE THEY WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO MEET THEIR SCHEDULED TRAIN.
Huell: WELL, IT'S VERY ORNATE.
LOOK UP HERE, LOUIE, AT THE COLUMNS, THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON IT.
IT'S AMAZING THAT THIS HAS SURVIVED OVER THE YEARS.
>> YEAH, IT REALLY IS.
ESPECIALLY SINCE AT ONE TIME, IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN CONVERTED TO A MORE MODERN SETTING.
Huell: SEE, I WOULD NEVER KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING OR WHAT WE WERE HEADING TOWARD IF WE DIDN'T HAVE GRACIANO HERE WITH US.
OH, BOY.
OK, HERE WE GO.
BOY, THIS IS A TIGHT FIT THROUGH HERE.
NOW, WHAT'S DOWN HERE?
>> UH, THE MAINTENANCE SHOP FOR THE TRAINS.
AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO A TUNNEL.
Huell: TO THE ACTUAL TUNNEL ITSELF.
WATCH YOUR STEP UP THERE, THERE'S ONE MISSING.
NOW, IT IS DARK DOWN HERE.
NOW, THIS IS ALL ORIGINAL STUFF DOWN HERE?
>> IT IS ORIGINAL, YES.
WE HAVE THE FOREMAN'S OFFICE.
Huell: THE FOREMAN'S OFFICE.
>> RIGHT IN HERE.
Huell: GO ON IN AND TAKE A LOOK, LOUIE.
WOW.
THE NAME IS STILL ON THE DOOR.
>> YEAH, ORIGINAL DOORS.
Huell: CAN WE GO INSIDE?
>> SURE.
COME IN.
Huell: I HALF EXPECT HIM TO STILL BE IN HERE.
OH, WOW.
OH.
LOOK OVER HERE.
THIS IS THE...WHAT WOULD THIS HAVE BEEN OVER HERE?
>> THIS WAS MORE OR LESS A BAGGAGE HANDLING AREA AND ANOTHER TICKETING WINDOW.
>> I THINK IT'S WHERE THE TRAINS CAN PICK UP THEIR TRAIN ORDERS.
>> 'CAUSE EACH OPERATOR OR CONDUCTOR AND MOTORMAN OF EACH TRAIN HAD TO PICK UP THEIR ORDERS FOR THAT PARTICULAR TRAIN.
Huell: SO THIS IS WHERE THE WORKMEN THEMSELVES WOULD COME IN?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
Huell: THE ENGINEERS, THE TRAINMEN.
>> TRAINMEN, MOTORMEN, AND CONDUCTORS.
Huell: THIS IS AMAZING THAT THIS IS JUST LIKE IT WAS.
>> OH, YEAH.
AND IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING THIS WALL HERE.
AND I MAY BE MISTAKEN, BUT I UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAS FOR PASSING THROUGH LARGER PARCELS.
THEY COULD ACTUALLY OPEN THIS WALL UP AND PASS LARGER ITEMS THROUGH THE WALL TO WHERE IT WOULD BE TAKEN DOWN TO THE TRAINS AND HANDLED THAT WAY.
Huell: LET'S OPEN THAT UP AND TAKE A LOOK.
>> 'CAUSE ALSO THEY OPERATED L.C.L.
PASSENGERS FREIGHT SERVICE OUT OF HERE, TOO.
Huell: OH, WOW.
AND THIS IS WHERE THEY WOULD KEEP--I'M GONNA TURN ON MY LIGHT SO LOUIE CAN SEE BACK HERE.
THIS IS WHERE THEY WOULD KEEP THE BAGGAGE.
>> A LOT OF YOUR LARGER ITEMS, LARGER QUANTITIES OF ITEMS, THINGS WOULD BE TAKEN THROUGH THIS ROOM AND HANDLED THAT WAY.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S A RATHER LARGE ROOM AND IT PASSES OFF THROUGH THIS DOOR INTO ANOTHER LARGE ROOM, AS I RECALL.
Huell: WELL, WE-- >> THIS IS CAR ASSIGNMENTS.
Huell: THIS IS WHAT?
>> SEE, YOU PUT YOUR--THIS HELD CARDS.
AND THE FOREMAN WOULD UPDATE THE CARDS, TURN IT AROUND SO THE TRAINMEN COULD PICK UP THEIR ORDERS AND CAR ASSIGNMENTS.
AND THIS IS THEIR CARDS WERE KEPT IN THIS CASE.
>> SERVED AS A DOUBLE DUTY, PERHAPS.
>> RIGHT.
Huell: WELL, LET'S GO ON.
IT'S GETTING HOT DOWN HERE, TOO, ISN'T IT?
>> YES.
Huell: THERE'S NO AIR CONDITIONING IN THIS BUILDING ANYMORE.
>> NO AIR CONDITIONING OR NO AIR VENTILATION.
Huell: OH, BOY.
>> THERE WAS NONE ORIGINALLY.
[LAUGHTER] >> [INDISTINCT] Huell: OK, HERE WE GO.
THIS IS THE NEVER-ENDING QUEST IN SEARCH OF THE SUBWAY TUNNEL.
NOW, THIS HAS BEEN BLOCKED OFF DOWN HERE.
>> YEAH, THEY BUILT THIS WALL AFTER THEY STOPPED THE CARS.
I THINK IT WAS-- Huell: OHH!
>> HERE ARE THE TUNNELS.
Huell: THIS IS IT.
OH, BOY.
THIS IS IT, ISN'T IT?
>> IT IS.
THIS IS THE TUNNELS WHERE THE TRAINS USED TO ARRIVE FROM GLENDALE OR, YOU KNOW.
Huell: THIS IS IT.
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED.
NOW, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE?
>> WE'RE ON ONE OF THE PLATFORMS.
Huell: THIS WAS THE PLATFORM WHERE PEOPLE GOT ON AND OFF THE TRAINS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND IT'S ALL BEEN FILLED IN WHERE THE TRACKS WERE--WHERE THE CAMERA IS.
AND THIS--THAT'S ON OUT THE SUBWAY-- THAT'S THE SUBWAY RIGHT ON OUT THERE.
Huell: THIS IS THE TUNNEL.
>> THAT'S THE TUNNEL.
AND THE TRAINS CAME IN OUT AND THIS WAY, AND THEN THIS STRUCTURE IN THE MIDDLE IS THE TRAIN MASTER.
Huell: WELL, LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK HERE.
>> SURE.
Huell: THIS IS...THIS IS AN AMAZING THING TO SEE.
NOW, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON DOWN HERE?
>> HE WOULD ACTUALLY--WELL, AT THE PEAK OF OPERATION OF THIS TERMINAL, THERE WAS OVER 880 TRAINS A DAY OPERATING IN AND OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR SWITCHING--THIS WAS ALL TRACK AND SWITCHES IN THIS AREA.
AND WITH THAT MANY TRAINS COMING IN AND OUT EVERY DAY, IT WAS A VERY BUSY AND RESPONSIBLE JOB TO SEE THAT ALL OF THE TRAINS GOT TO THEIR CORRECT TRACKS, 'CAUSE THE 2 TRACKS THAT CAME IN WERE BRANCHED INTO 5 TRACKS AT THE PLATFORMS TO LOAD THE PASSENGERS FOR THEIR VARIOUS DESTINATIONS.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS TUNNEL DOWN HERE.
I DON'T KNOW--HOW FAR DOES THIS THING GO?
>> THIS GOES OVER A MILE.
OR DID.
IT'S BEEN FILLED IN.
Huell: SO HOW MANY TRACKS WOULD HAVE BEEN RUNNING THROUGH HERE?
>> RIGHT HERE THERE WAS 2 TRACKS, AND THEY HAD SAFETY BLOCKS, SAFETY SIGNALS ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
AND OF COURSE THESE LINES RAN TO GLENDALE, VAN NUYS, HOLLYWOOD, THE HOLLYWOOD AVENUE LINE, AND THEN THEY ALSO HAD A LINE RAN TO SANTA MONICA AND WEST HOLLYWOOD RAN THROUGH HERE.
Huell: NOW, THE PUMPS ARE OPERATING DOWN HERE, AND THIS IS WHERE OUR FRIEND FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES COMES IN.
>> RIGHT.
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A GROUNDWATER PROBLEM HERE, SO THESE PUMPS WERE PUT IN.
AND EVEN AFTER THE ABANDONMENT OF THE FACILITY, THE WATER STILL PRECLUDES, SO WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE PUMPS TO KEEP THE WATER OUT OF THE TUNNEL AREA.
Huell: NOW, DOES THE CITY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ALL OF THIS NOW?
>> JUST THE TUNNEL ITSELF.
THE TUNNEL BELONGS--OR WAS DEEDED TO THE CITY.
THE OTHER PROPERTIES BELONG TO, I BELIEVE IT'S THE SUBWAY CORPORATION OR WHOEVER-- Huell: THE PRIVATE CORPORATION THAT OWNS THE BUILDING.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
Huell: WELL, WHAT'S DOWN HERE?
WE OWN IT, WE WANT TO KNOW.
>> JUST THE TUNNEL, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE NOW, ALL REINFORCED CONCRETE TUNNEL, RUNS APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER A MILE OUT TO THE OTHER END.
ABOUT MIDWAY, IT'S PENETRATED SO IT'S SEALED FROM EITHER END.
YOU HAVE TO EITHER ENTER FROM THE GLENDALE SIDE OR FROM THIS SIDE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF IT.
Huell: WELL, LET'S WALK DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE AND GET A LOOK.
BOY, YOU CAN HEAR THE WATER SEEPING DOWN HERE.
>> IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
WHEN YOU RODE ON THE TRAINS ON THIS, YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THIS BLACK TUNNEL, AND YOU'D SEE THESE LIGHTS FLASHING BY YOU AS YOU WENT ALONG.
AND OF COURSE, AS A SMALL CHILD, I WAS HORRENDOUSLY FASCINATED BY IT.
AND THEY WERE INSIDE THESE LITTLE ALCOVES HERE.
AND THESE ARE FOR THE TRAINMEN IF HE WANTED--WAS SERVICING THE TRACKS, WANTED TO STEP OUT OF THE WAY.
THE TRAINMEN COULD ACTUALLY STEP INTO ONE OF THESE ALCOVES, AND THEY HAD THESE LIGHTS HERE THAT ILLUMINATED THIS TUNNEL ALL THE FULL DISTANCE.
Huell: SO THESE WERE MADE FOR THE TRAINMEN TO GET INTO.
>> WELL, TO DUCK OUT OF THE WAY AND HOLD LIGHT.
>> SAFETY.
>> SAFETY, YEAH.
SAFETY DEVICES.
>> RIGHT.
IT WAS AN ESCAPE ROUTE IN THE EVENT 2 CARS WOULD PASS AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY COULD GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Huell: WELL, LET'S KEEP ON GOING, 'CAUSE THIS IS THE STUFF I WANTED TO SEE.
THIS IS--HEH HEH.
THIS IS NEAT DOWN HERE.
>> OF COURSE, THE REASON IT'S SO HIGH IS YOU HAD--THE TRAINS RAN WITH OVERHEAD TROLLEY WIRES, AND THEY HAD TO HAVE ROOM FOR THE POLES.
Huell: SO THIS WAS DONE WITH ELECTRICITY?
>> YEAH.
Huell: OH, BOY.
LOOK WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO HERE.
>> MUDDY.
Huell: THIS IS--WE ARE SINKING.
WE ARE SINKING DEEP IN MUD HERE.
THIS IS...HEH HEH.
NOW, ARE THERE ANY TRACKS OR ANYTHING LEFT AT ALL?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING'S LEFT HERE, BUT SOME OF THE ROADBED MATERIALS YOU SEE, THE ROCKS AND WHAT'S LEFT OF EVEN THE TIES ARE GONE.
THE RAILS ARE GONE.
AND BASICALLY WE JUST HAVE THE ROCK MATERIAL THAT WAS UNDER THE TRACKS, THAT'S ABOUT ALL THAT'S LEFT.
Huell: WOW.
YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU REALLY GET A SENSE OF HISTORY HERE, DON'T YOU?
>> YOU REALLY DO.
THAT'S--THAT WAS THE MAIN THING THAT IMPRESSED ME WHEN JEFF AND I CAME DOWN HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AS WE WERE COMING DOWN THROUGH THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, IT SEEMED EVERY LEVEL WE WENT DOWN, WE WENT BACK A LITTLE MORE IN TIME.
AND WHEN WE FINALLY HIT THIS PORTION OF THE SUBWAY, YOU COULD ALMOST FEEL THE WIND OF THE TRAINS RIDING BY AND THE BUZZ OF THE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON.
THAT WAS--IT'S AN AMAZING PIECE OF HISTORY.
Huell: YEAH, THAT'S REALLY WHY YOU AND JEFF ARE HERE.
COME OVER HERE, JEFF, AND TALK TO US.
BECAUSE THE TWO OF YOU ALL JUST KIND OF EXPLORED THIS ON YOUR OWN, DIDN'T YOU?
>> YEAH, WE DID.
OUR COMPANY USED TO OCCUPY A BUILDING NEXT DOOR TO THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING.
AND THE REASON WE GOT INTERESTED IN IT TO BEGIN WITH WAS THROUGH A RETIRED EMPLOYEE WHO HAD TOLD US SOME STORIES ABOUT WHAT WAS DOWN HERE.
AND ONE OF THOSE STORIES HAD TO DO WITH SOME OLD AUTOMOBILES THAT WERE KEPT DOWN HERE.
HE ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED THEM WHEN OUR COMPANY WAS MOVING TO NEW FACILITIES.
HE WENT IN THE BASEMENT TO MAKE ONE LAST SEARCH AND FOUND A DOOR THAT LED DOWN INTO THIS AREA.
AND HE HAD A LIGHT WITH HIM AND SHINED THE LIGHT THROUGH THE AREA AND SAW THESE AUTOMOBILES PARKED DOWN IN THIS PART.
Huell: SO THE CITY USED TO STORE IMPOUNDED, PROBABLY, CARS DOWN HERE AFTER IT WENT OUT OF SERVICE AS A RAILROAD.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING.
AND BILL AND I, OF COURSE, BECAME INTERESTED AND HAD TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS.
SO WE CAME DOWN ON OUR LUNCH HOUR AND DID SOME EXPLORING.
Huell: WAS IT LEGAL FOR YOU ALL TO BE DOWN HERE?
>> OH, SURE.
WE HAD OUR TRUSTY COMPANION THAT WE HAVE TODAY WITH US.
AND HE BROUGHT US DOWN HERE.
AND YOU REMEMBER AT THAT TIME, THE TUNNEL DID GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE GLENDALE OPENING, SO THEY JUST DRIVE THE CARS BACK IN HERE AND STORE THEM.
Huell: AND PARK THEM.
>> WE WERE HALF EXPECTING TO SEE A THIRTIES BUICK OR SOMETHING SITTING DOWN HERE IN A GREAT GOLD MINE, BUT WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.
IT'S LONG SINCE GONE.
Huell: WELL, IS ANYTHING DOWN HERE ANYMORE?
COME ON AND TELL US.
IS THERE ANYTHING DOWN HERE?
>> TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NOTHING HERE AT THIS POINT.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN ABANDONED AND VACATED.
AND SO THE ONLY THING WE ARE DOING NOW AGAIN IS ATTEMPTING TO KEEP IT FROM FLOODING BY KEEPING THE PUMPS OPERATING.
Huell: BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA WALK ALL THE WAY TO THE END, LOUIE, I'M GONNA TURN MY LIGHT ON IT DOWN THERE.
BUT BASICALLY, THE TUNNEL WENT A LOT FURTHER, BUT IT'S BEEN BLOCKED OFF BECAUSE OF WHAT?
>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT'S ONE OF THE BANK BUILDINGS THAT'S DOWNTOWN HERE.
I THINK IT WAS BACK IN AROUND 1965 OR 66, THEY PENETRATED THE TUNNEL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S PART OF THEIR FOUNDATION SYSTEM NOW THAT BLOCKS THE TUNNEL.
Huell: SO THE IDEA IS THAT THE ORIGINAL TUNNEL HAS BEEN CHOPPED UP NOW BECAUSE WHEN THE BIG SKYSCRAPERS WERE BUILT, THEIR FOUNDATIONS WENT AT LEAST THIS FAR DOWN.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND NOW THE TUNNEL, LIKE YOU SAY, HAS BEEN SLICED UP AND IS NO LONGER CONTINUOUS.
Huell: WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SECTIONS OF THE TUNNEL THAT HAVE BEEN BLOCKED OFF FOREVER?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW THEY ARE USING THEM FOR SOME MOVIE SHOOTS OCCASIONALLY.
AND THEY FILM VARIOUS EPISODES AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
Huell: HOW DO YOU GET DOWN THERE TO THEM?
>> FROM THE WAY WE CAME IN TO THIS END, AND THE OTHER END, IT'S OPEN AT GLENDALE BOULEVARD.
Huell: NO, BUT I MEAN THE PARTS OF THE TUNNEL IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
>> THERE IS NO PARTS IN BETWEEN.
JUST ONE SECTION'S BLOCKED OFF.
Huell: UH-HUH.
>> IT'S ABOUT MID-WAY THROUGH THE TUNNEL.
Huell: NOW, DIDN'T WE HAVE A DEBATE EARLIER ON ABOUT HOW LONG THIS TUNNEL IS?
>> WELL, THERE WAS DISCUSSION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT FIGURES ARE, BUT IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF BETWEEN A MILE AND A MILE AND A HALF.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S IN THAT RANGE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE.
THE ACTUAL TUNNEL, I BELIEVE, IS PROBABLY CLOSE TO A MILE, BUT THEY PROBABLY HAVE MEASURED IT CLEAR TO GLENDALE BOULEVARD, TOO, AS FAR AS THIS PART OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.
Huell: NOW, LET'S WALK BACK THIS WAY.
BOY, WE ARE SWEATING, AREN'T WE?
IT IS REALLY HUMID DOWN HERE.
WATCH YOUR STEP HERE, LOUIE.
THERE'S A BIG PIPE HERE.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THEM TO BUILD THIS TUNNEL?
>> THIS TUNNEL AND THE BUILDING ITSELF TOOK APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 17 MONTHS TO BUILD BETWEEN MAY OF '24 AND NOVEMBER OF 1925.
Huell: SO THEY MADE GOOD PROGRESS BUILDING THE TUNNEL.
>> MADE VERY EXCELLENT PROGRESS.
AND THE ENTIRE PROJECT CAME TO A SUM TOTAL OF $5 MILLION FOR THE BUILDING AND TUNNEL.
Huell: REALLY?
BOY, OUR METRO LINE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT THESE DAYS, WOULDN'T THEY?
IS THE THING STURDY?
IS IT BUILT--IS IT BUILT WELL?
>> WELL, IT'S BEEN THROUGH HOW MANY EARTHQUAKES, AND YOU NOTICE THAT IT'S PRETTY WELL INTACT AT THIS TIME.
Huell: YEAH, LET'S PUT THE LIGHT BACK ON AGAIN AND LOOK UP HERE.
'CAUSE YEAH, IT'S... >> IT'S ALL POURED IN PLACE, REINFORCED CONCRETE.
AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE THERE AS LONG AS ANY OF US WILL BE AROUND.
IT'S VERY, VERY STURDY.
IT'S BUILT TO LAST INDEFINITELY.
Huell: WOW.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST STANDING HERE LIKE THIS, IT'S SO ERIE BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAY, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO-- >> THAT'S TRUE.
Huell: THAT THIS PLACE WAS HUSTLE BUSTLE.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
YOU CAN ALMOST--LIKE BILL SAYS, YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR THEIR VOICES, THE PEOPLE BUSTLING THROUGH HERE ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM.
THE ECHO, YOU KNOW, IS SORT OF STILL THERE.
Huell: HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD YOU ESTIMATE CAME THROUGH THIS TUNNEL?
>> WELL, IN THE PEAK OF THE WAR TIME IN WORLD WAR II, 1943, 61 MILLION PEOPLE WENT THROUGH THIS TERMINAL.
Huell: 61 MILLION?
>> 61 MILLION PEOPLE WENT THROUGH THIS TERMINAL.
Huell: IN HOW LONG A PERIOD OF TIME?
>> THAT WAS IN ONE YEAR, 1943.
Huell: IN ONE YEAR?
>> ONE YEAR.
1943.
AND THERE'S EVEN MORE AFTER THAT, BECAUSE THEY RAN OVER 780 TRAINS A DAY WENT RIGHT THROUGH THIS THROAT.
Huell: IN THE FORTIES?
>> IN THE FORTIES, DURING THE WAR.
Huell: WOW.
>> IN '44, WHEN IT WAS HARDER TO DRIVE YOUR OWN CAR, IT WENT UP TO 880 TRAINS A DAY WENT RIGHT THROUGH THIS PORTION WHERE WE'RE STANDING.
Huell: WOW.
>> SO THERE WAS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF TRANSPORTATION TOOK PLACE IN THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING.
Huell: SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM TONIGHT WITH MEMORIES OF HAVING COME THROUGH HERE.
>> OH, YES, ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: DID YOU EVER COME THROUGH HERE?
>> YES, I DID.
I RODE IT AS A CHILD.
IT WAS FUN.
I WAS FASCINATED WITH IT.
Huell: DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE IN A SUBWAY OR JUST A LONG TUNNEL?
>> OH, IT WAS--IT FELT LIKE A SUBWAY.
'CAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER SAYS, "WE'RE GONNA GO RIDE THE SUBWAY TODAY."
AND THIS IS IT.
Huell: HAD YOU EVER RIDDEN IT?
>> YES, I DID.
Huell: AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE?
>> IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE.
I HAD NEVER BEEN IN A SUBWAY BEFORE, AND THIS WAS--IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CHILD.
Huell: MM-HMM.
SO ANYBODY OVER 40, 50 YEARS OF AGE WOULD REMEMBER THIS VERY WELL.
>> I WOULD THINK ANYBODY 50 OR OLDER THAT LIVED IN L.A., HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, PROBABLY DID RIDE THE SUBWAY.
Huell: YEAH, RIGHT.
WHICH MEANS YOU DIDN'T RIDE IT?
>> THAT I DIDN'T.
Huell: WELL, DO YOU WISH YOU HAD?
>> I WISH I HAD.
IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING CONTRAST TO SEE WHAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES AND COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
AND ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE THAT'S JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WALL THAT THEY'VE BLOCKED OFF IS THE NEW RED LINE THAT RUNS UP THE STREET.
Huell: SO THE NEW RED LINE IS RIGHT UP NEXT TO WHERE THE OLD TUNNEL USED TO BE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DIMENSIONS TO SEE HOW FAR IT IS AWAY, BUT IT'S CLOSE.
RIGHT.
Huell: WOW.
SO, THESE GUYS BACK IN THE TWENTIES KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AS FAR AS PLACEMENT WAS CONCERNED.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
RIGHT TO THE HEART OF TOWN.
BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE--TAKE IT--AHEM--SPLIT THE TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE 2 PACIFIC ELECTRIC STATIONS, ONE ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN AND THIS ONE THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND OF COURSE WITH THE ENTRANCE WITH THE SUBWAY HERE, NO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AT ALL.
Huell: WOW.
WE DIDN'T REALLY LOOK UP HERE.
LOUIE, LET'S GET A LIGHT UP HERE.
THIS--THIS WAS--WAS THIS THE SWITCHING-- >> YES, IT WAS.
IN FACT, I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME STILL PICTURES OF THE TOWER OPERATOR UP THERE OPERATING THE TRACKS IN HERE, JUST TO SWITCH THE TRAINS.
Huell: SO THIS IS WHERE ALL THE DECISIONS WERE MADE AS TO-- >> WHICH TRAIN WENT ON WHICH TRACK.
'CAUSE THE 2 TRACKS BRANCHED INTO 5 TRACKS.
Huell: I GOT YOU.
AND THEN RIGHT HERE AT THE END... OK, THIS IS THE--WELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH IN THERE.
AN OLD DRAWER, BROKEN LIGHTS.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
ANY THOUGHTS AS WE'RE FINISHING UP OUR TRIP DOWN HERE?
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO COME BACK FOR A DAY BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE SUCH A STARK CONTRAST TO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY AS FAR AS OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS GO.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT AT ONE TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FREEWAYS AND THAT THIS WAS THE VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR GETTING INTO THE CITY AVOIDING TRAFFIC.
AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY WHY IT WENT UNDERGROUND RIGHT HERE NEAR THE HEART OF THE CITY.
Huell: SO THEY WENT UNDERGROUND TO AVOID TRAFFIC.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
'CAUSE DOWNTOWN WAS HORRENDOUSLY CONGESTED.
IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS WAS-- THE MAIN REASON THIS WAS BUILT, WAS TO AVOID CONGESTION OF THE TRAINS ON THE STREETS.
IT WAS JUST A MESS, AND THAT'S WHY THEY BROUGHT ALL OF THE LINES OF THE WEST SIDE INTO THIS AREA.
Huell: WELL, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
WE'RE BACK TO THAT SAME POINT IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW, AREN'T WE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WITH THE RED LINE IN PLACE, IT'S NOW AGAIN TO ALLEVIATE THE TRAFFIC.
Huell: WOW.
DO YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE WANTING TO COME DOWN HERE?
>> OH, YES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND SEE THIS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS LEFT OF THE TUNNELS.
Huell: SO THEY REMEMBER IT?
>> OH, YES.
A LOT OF-- Huell: A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER IT.
>> A LOT OF OLD PEOPLE, THEY ALWAYS SAYS, "OH, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID, I RODE THESE CARS," YEAH.
Huell: WELL, COME ON, OLD PEOPLE.
LET'S GO AND FINISH-- [LAUGHTER] Huell: IS THERE ANYMORE TO SEE?
>> UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO IN--NEXT--I MEAN, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL.
Huell: WELL, SURE.
LET'S SEE--LET'S FINISH UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL.
'CAUSE THIS WALL HAS BEEN BUILT HERE AND KIND OF BLOCKED OFF OF, I GUESS, THE SIZE OF WHAT THIS PLACE USED TO BE ALL ABOUT.
OK, HERE WE ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.
NOW, LOOK.
>> IT'S ALL GONE.
>> THE OLD STATION WAITING AREA FOR THE TRAINS IS GONE.
IT'S ALL BEEN REPLACED.
Huell: SO THIS WAS PROBABLY USED BY THE V.A.
AS ONE OF THEIR CLASSROOMS OR SOMETHING WHEN THEY WERE HERE.
>> YES, THIS WAS ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS IN HERE.
Huell: WELL, I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT I LIKE IT BETTER IN THERE THAN I DO OUT HERE.
I THINK WE MADE A MISTAKE ENDING OUR PROGRAM RIGHT HERE.
BUT ACTUALLY, THIS JUST GOES TO PROVE HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO HISTORY ALL THE TIME AND MANY TIMES DON'T KNOW IT.
IT'S JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
Huell: AND ALSO, AS LONG AS WE'RE WAXING ELOQUENT HERE, THAT THE OLD TRAIN LINE, THE OLD SUBWAY THAT WAS LAID DOWN BACK IN THE TWENTIES IS COMING BACK JUST A FEW YARDS FROM HERE WITH THE NEW METRO LINE.
SO HISTORY DOES REPEAT ITSELF.
>> WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, HUELL.
Huell: YOU'RE THE 2 GUYS WHO EXPLORED THIS ON THEIR OWN AND UNCOVERED A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THEIR OWN.
HERE'S THE GUY FROM GENERAL SERVICES.
YOU'RE STILL KIND OF THE WATCHDOG OR THIS THING, AREN'T YOU?
>> I TRY TO KEEP IT DRY.
Huell: KEEP IT SAFE, KEEP IT DRY.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THANKS FOR GIVING US THE TOUR.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
ANYTIME.
Huell: AND WE'RE GONNA PUT YOUR HOME NUMBER ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW SO THAT ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS A TOUR CAN CALL YOU, RIGHT?
>> UH, NO PROBLEM.
[LAUGHTER] Huell: THANKS A LOT.
>> THANK YOU, HUELL.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.
Huell: THAT'S BEEN OUR REPORT FROM LOS ANGELES' FIRST SUBWAY BACK IN THE 1920s.
AND IT'S STILL HERE.
OK, YOU KNOW HOW WE CAN NEVER SEEM TO END A PROGRAM.
WE JUST SAID GOOD-BYE TO EVERYBODY, AND YET YOU REMINDED US THAT THERE WAS STILL ONE OTHER PLACE TO COME.
WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?
>> WE ARE OUTSIDE--THIS IS THE EXIT OF THE SUBWAY.
THIS IS WHERE THE TRAINS CAME TO THE SURFACE AND WENT OUT TO ALL OF THE VARIOUS LINES THAT I DESCRIBED BEFORE.
Huell: AND YOU'VE GOT SOME PICTURES OF THAT, SOME FOOTAGE.
>> ACTUAL MOTION PICTURES OF THE TRAINS GOING IN AND OUT OF THIS TUNNEL.
WE'RE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT USED TO BE A YARD TO STORE ALL THE CARS THAT WERE USED IN ALL THESE VARIOUS LINES.
Huell: NOW, WHERE ARE WE?
WHAT'S THE EXACT ADDRESS?
>> YOU'D KNOW THAT BETTER.
>> THIS IS GLENDALE, AND THIS IS SECOND STREET AND FIRST INTERSECT RIGHT UP HERE, AS YOU CAN SEE.
SO WE'RE APPROXIMATELY AT GLENDALE AND FIRST OR SECOND.
Huell: SO THIS WOULD BE KNOWN AS THE GLENDALE TUNNEL.
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE LINES.
THE CITY WAS SERVED BY THE EXIT OF THE SUBWAY, BUT THERE WAS ACTUALLY 4 LINES SERVICED BY THIS SUBWAY TERMINAL.
Huell: AND THERE'S THE OLD--WHAT IS THAT?
>> THAT'S THE SUBSTATION THAT PROVIDED THE OVERHEAD POWER FOR THE OVERHEAD TROLLEY WIRES, THE 600 VOLTS D.C. AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE FOOTAGE OF MINE, THE CARS RIDING RIGHT THROUGH,ñ GOING UNDER THIS BRIDGE AND ON OUT THIS AVENUE RIGHT HERE.
Huell: WOW.
WELL, THIS IS NEAT, TOO.
>> THIS IS SORT OF THE OUTWARD END OF THE LINE HERE FROM WHERE WE WERE BEFORE.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A NICE TIE-TOGETHER FOR US.
Huell: SO, WHERE WE WERE FOR THE PROGRAM WAS EXACTLY A MILE DOWN THAT OPENING.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AT THE OTHER END OF THAT OPENING, WE WERE THERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
Huell: AND IN BETWEEN HERE AND THERE, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE NEW BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT, AND THAT'S WHAT'S INTERSECTED THE ORIGINAL TUNNEL SO IT DOESN'T GO STRAIGHT THROUGH ANYMORE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
ONE OF THE MAJOR HIGH RISES PENETRATES THE TUNNEL AND BLOCKS IT, SO YOU HAVE ACCESS FROM EITHER END ONLY.
Huell: WELL, THE GRAFFITI ARTISTS HAVE FOUND A NEW HOME, HAVEN'T THEY?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: I DON'T KNOW HOW--WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
>> PRETTY COLORFUL, I THINK.
Huell: YEAH.
>> THAT'S FOR SURE.
Huell: BUT AGAIN, IT'S A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS IS THE OTHER END OF THE TUNNEL.
>> TO THE SUBWAY.
Huell: THE OTHER END OF L.A.'S FIRST SUBWAY.
WAS IT REALLY AS GLAMOROUS AS WE HEAR IT WAS, OR IS THIS WHOLE THING BEEN EXAGGERATED OVER THE YEARS?
>> WELL, I THINK WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW GREAT IT WAS WHEN WE HAD IT.
AND NOW THAT WE CAN LOOK BACK ON IT, WE CAN SEE THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A LOT OF VISION IN WHAT WENT INTO IT.
Huell: YEAH.
>> IT'S QUITE A LITTLE BIT OF NOSTALGIA NOW.
Huell: WELL, ISN'T THAT THE WAY IT ALWAYS IS, THOUGH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TILL YOU DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE.
>> I BELIEVE YOU'RE CORRECT.
[HUELL LAUGHS] Huell: OK, NOW IT'S TIME FOR AN UPDATE.
TIME HAS PASSED.
THE OLD SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING IS HERE.
I'M STILL HERE.
MIKE, YOU WEREN'T HERE 15 YEARS AGO.
YOU WEREN'T EVEN BORN YET.
YOU'RE OUR TOUR GUIDE TODAY.
BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE LAST HERE 15 YEARS AGO, THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING WAS BOARDED UP.
IT WAS EMPTY.
IT WAS SITTING HERE DERELICT.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE BUILDING ITSELF SINCE WE WERE HERE 15 YEARS AGO?
>> WELL, FROM THE GROUND FLOOR UP, WE'VE RENOVATED THE BUILDING INTO 277 HIGH-END APARTMENTS, INCLUDING A FITNESS CENTER, MEDIA ROOM, A ROOFTOP SPA WHICH IS ON TOP OF THE BUILDING-- Huell: WOW.
>> WHICH INCLUDES A JACUZZI AND A SITTING AREA, A WATERFALL.
Huell: SO THE OLD BUILDING HAS ñxx BEEN REJUVENATED, RESTORED, REFURBISHED, AND IS UP TO SPEED.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: WOW.
NOW, IS IT STILL CALLED THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING?
>> ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE KNOW IT AS THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING, WE'VE RENAMED THE BUILDING METRO 417.
Huell: METRO 4--THAT HAS A MOREx SOPHISTICATED SOUND TO IT.
ñ >> WELL, METRO AS IN THE METROpp RAIL SYSTEM.
Huell: AH, GOTCHA.
SO YOU'RE STILL KEEPING THAT TIE WITHtdúX THE RAIL SYSTEM.
p >> YES.
Huell: JUST LIKE ORIGINALLY IT HAD THE TIE WITH THE RAILñ ÷÷ SYSTEM.
WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES.
LOTS OF PEOPLE LIVING HERE TODAY.
THE BUILDING IS, BOY, SHINY AND BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.
SOMETHING WE FORGOT TO MENTION OR POINT OUT 15 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE HERE, AND STANDING HERE WAITING FOR THE CAMERA TO TURN ON, I LOOKED OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND NOTICED THESE WINDOWS UP ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
NOW, THOSE AREN'T REAL WINDOWS, ARE THEY?
>> NO, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY TRUMPLOY PAINTINGS.
AND THEY ACTUALLY WERE A WAY TO PUT WINDOWS ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING THAT DIDN'T EXIST, TO MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE THEY WERE ORIGINAL.
Huell: WELL, NOW WAIT A MINUTE.
THAT ONE'S OPENED.
THAT ONE IS A REAL WINDOW, ISN'T IT?
>> NOT ALL OF THEM.
Huell: SOME OF THEM ARE REAL AND SOME OF THEM ARE PAINTED ON.
>> EXACTLY.
YOU CAN SEE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE DIFFERENT KIND OF CONTRASTING COLORS, THE MORE WHITISH GRAY.
THOSE ARE ACTUALLY FACADE WINDOWS.
Huell: AND OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, YOU HAD A PROBLEM OVER HERE.
>> WELL, THOSE-- Huell: 'CAUSE THEY WERE PAINTED ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AS WELL.
>> YEAH, THERE WAS--THERE'S ACTUALLY WINDOWS UP THERE AS WELL, BUT THERE'S A PAINTED SCAFFOLDING WHICH SHOWS SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY MAINTENANCING THE BUILDING.
AND AT ONE POINT IN TIME THERE WAS A PICTURE UP THERE OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE ONE OF THE WORKERS FALLING OFF THE SCAFFOLDING.
AND THAT HAD TO BE CHANGED, EVIDENTLY, BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE BUILDING BECAUSE IT GENERATED, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TOO MANY CALLS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND VARIOUS OTHER AGENCIES THAT THEY FELT THERE WAS A REAL PROBLEM.
Huell: PEOPLE ACTUALLY DROVE BY, LOOKED UP, AND SAW THE PAINTING OF A GUY FALLING OFF THE SCAFFOLD AND THOUGHT IT WAS REAL.
>> THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YES.
Huell: HA!
WELL, THE FAKE WINDOWS ARE STILL ON THE SIDE.
I'M GLAD YOU LEFT THAT TOUCH.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE BUILDING.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO INSIDE THE BUILDING FOR AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE LOBBY AND DOWN BELOW WHERE THAT TUNNEL WAS ORIGINALLY THAT WE VISITED SO MANY YEARS AGO.
pp OK, WE'RE STARTING OUR TOUR INSIDE THE LOBBY OF METRO 417, USED TO BE CALLED THE SUBWAY @ TERMINAL BUILDING.
I'VE GOT TO GET USED TO CALLING IT METRO 417.
BOY, THIS LOBBY MAKES A STATEMENT.
YOU REALLY CLEANED THIS THING UP.
>> YEAH, WE WERE FORTUNATE IN THE FACT THAT THE LOBBY WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE WHEN WE GOT HERE.
WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF PAINTING AND TOUCH UP AND WORK ON SOME OF THE MOSAICS, BUT-- Huell: YEAH, LOOK AT THE CEILING.
THIS ISp ABSOLUTELY--YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T MAKE BUILDINGS LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
>> NO, AND A LOT OF THAT WE DID ú HAVE TO GO IN AND TOUCH UP@s7'WO WITH--WE HAD A PAINTER UP THERE ON A SCAFFOLD FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
Huell: AND THESE ARE THE ELEVATORS.
BOY, THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL, TOO.
>> ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE--THEY'VE ALL BEEN REBUILT AND THEY'RE ALL MODERNIZED, THOSE ARE THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCES AND THE ORIGINAL DOORS TO THE ELEVATORS FROM 1926.
Huell: WOW.
AND HOW MANY FLOORS UP IS THE BUILDING?
>> 12.
Huell: YOU KNOW ALL THE FACTS AND FIGURES BECAUSE YOU MANAGE THIS BUILDING, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING UP.
WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO DOWN AND REVISIT SOME OF THE PLACES WE VISITED 15 YEARS AGO AND SEE IF THEY'RE STILL THERE.
OH, BOY.
IT'S ECHOEY DOWN HERE.
ACTUALLY, WE HAVE GONE, WHAT, DOWN ONE LEVEL AND OVER FROM THE LOBBY.
>> DOWN ONE LEVEL AND OVER ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE LOBBY.
Huell: I DON'T THINK--AND I KNOW THIS IS A HISTORIC ROOM--I DON'T THINK WE WERE HERE 15 YEARS AGO.
WHAT WAS HERE?
WHY DIDN'T WE COME HERE?
>> WELL, THE--WHEN YOU WERE HERE 15 YEARS AGO, MOST OF THIS WAS A HOSPITAL, THE V.A.
HOSPITAL.
AND THEY HAD EXAMINATION ROOMS AND MEDICAL ROOMS ON THE LOWER LEVELS.
AND ON THIS LEVEL THEY HAD SOME OF THAT.
THEY ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF STORAGE AREAS.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS AREA WAS PROBABLY FULL OF THOSE STORAGE AREAS.
Huell: SO MY TOUR GUIDES WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BROUGHT ME HERE.
>> THEY COULDN'T HAVE GOT YOU HERE.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
NOW, BUT WHAT WAS THIS HISTORICALLY.
THIS WAS WHERE YOU BEGAN TO COME DOWN TO GO TO THE TRAINS.
>> YEAH, YOU ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE COME THROUGH THE MAIN LEVEL, DOWN THESE CIRCULAR RAMPS TO THIS LEVEL, AND THEN THE RAMPS TO THE TRAINS ARE ACTUALLY OVER ABOUT 200 FEET-- Huell: I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE OVER HERE.
>> WELL, THERE'S ONE ON EACH END OF THE BUILDING AND 3 IN THE CENTER.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE USED THIS AS KIND OF CIRCULATION SPACE TO GET TO THE SPECIFIC TRACK THAT YOU WANTED TO TAKE YOUR TRAIN FROM.
Huell: I WANT TO GO ON THIS TRAIN OVER HERE.
SO.
DON'T ASK ME WHY, I JUST--JUST THAT DOOR LOOKS INTERESTING.
SO WE'RE GONNA WALK THROUGH THIS DOOR AND THEN DOWN TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
YEP, THIS IS IT.
WE'RE HEADING DOWN THE RAMP.
AND WE ARE RECREATING HISTORY BECAUSE, MIKE, THIS IS ONE OF HOW MANY RAMPS?
>> ONE OF 5 RAMPS THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU DOWN TO THE MAIN TRACKS.
Huell: SO THIS IS WHERE LITERALLY OVER THE YEARS, MILLIONS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS, ACTUALLY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, WOULD HAVE COME DOWN THESE RAMPS TO GET TO THE TRAIN.
>> EXACTLY.
Huell: WOW.
YOU CAN FEEL THE HISTORY AROUND YOU HERE.
IT'S KIND OF MUSTY.
CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
>> NO, YOU CAN'T.
Huell: BUT IT'S A GOOD MUST.
IT'S A HISTORIC MUST.
UH-OH.
TRACK 3 AND 4.
AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, MIKE, THIS IS MORE FUN THAN I HAD ON THE ADVENTURE 15 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK--I DON'T REMEMBER BEING IN THIS ROOM, BUT THIS A VERY ECHOEY AND HISTORIC PLACE.
>> YES.
BASICALLY, WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW IS ACTUALLY ON TOP OF THE ORIGINAL TRACKS, AND ABOUT 4 FEET BELOW WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY STANDING, THE TRACK STILL EXISTS.
THEY'VE JUST BEEN COVERED.
AND THEY WERE COVERED BY THE V.A.
WHEN THEY BUILT THE HOSPITAL DOWN HERE IN THE EIGHTIES.
Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.
THE ORIGINAL TRAIN TRACKS ARE 4 FEET BELOW US RIGHT NOW?
>> AND THEY'RE STILL THERE.
THEY'RE DECAYING OVER TIME, BUT THEY'RE STILL THERE.
Huell: BUT WHAT, TRACKS WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE?
AND WHAT, TRACKS OVER THERE?
AND TRACKS OVER THERE?
>> YEAH, THERE'S BASICALLY 4 SHOOTS OF 2 TRACKS WITH LANDINGS IN THE MIDDLE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN BASICALLY WHERE YOU BOARDED THE TRAIN FROM.
Huell: SO, WHAT--WOULD THESE HAVE BEEN THE PLACES WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE STOOD?
AND THE TRAIN WOULD HAVE JUST COME RIGHT BY HERE AND YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ON THE TRAIN?
>> CORRECT.
THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD STAND TO WAIT FOR YOUR TRAIN.
AND THE TRAIN WOULD COME RIGHT DIRECTLY BESIDE US.
Huell: WOW.
SEE, THIS IS AMAZING.
JUST LOOKING OUT HERE NOW, IT IS SO QUIET.
AND TO GO BACK IN TIME AND THINK OF ñññ THE SOUNDS AND THE SIGHTS AND THE SMELLS AND THE ENERGY ALL TAKING PLACE IN THIS ROOM SO MANY YEARS AGO.
NOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE PAY-OFF.
I CAN FEEL THE VIBES.
I CAN FEEL THE ENERGY.
THERE ARE THE DOORS.
AND HERE WE GO.
IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE.
AND LOOK AT THIS.
THE OLD TUNNEL IS STILL HERE.
>> IT'S STILL HERE.
AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS TUNNEL IS IT'S REALLY KIND OF A LOST PART OF OUR HISTORY IN THE FACT THAT IT'S LANDLOCKED BETWEEN 2 BUILDINGS.
AND IT--A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT-- Huell: NOBODY KNOWS IT'S DOWN HERE.
>> NOBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S DOWN HERE, NO.
Huell: IT'S MUSTY DOWN HERE.
>> VERY MUSTY.
VERY HUMID.
Huell: IT'S GOT THAT HUMIDITY DOWN HERE THAT'S BEEN TRAPPED IN HERE.
NOW, WHAT WAS THIS?
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT THIS WAS.
>> THIS, AS I BELIEVE, WAS THE ORIGINAL SWITCHING STATION.
AS THE TRAINS CAME DOWN THE TUNNEL INTO THE SUBWAY TERMINAL, THERE WAS 2 TRACKS THAT CAME IN, AND THIS WAS THEIR WAY OF KIND OF SPLITTING THEM OUT INTO THE 10 TRACKS THAT EXISTED IN THE BUILDING ITSELF.
Huell: CAN WE WALK--IT'S STILL MUDDY.
BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU WHAT'S CHANGED FROM WHEN I WAS HERE SO MANY YEARS AGO--OH, BOY, x THIS IS SLIPPERY.
WATCH OUT, CAMERON--IS THAT YOU'VE PUT SOME LIGHTING DOWN HERE.
WHEN WE WERE HERE BEFORE, WE WERE IN A BLACK HOLE DOWN HERE.
WE HAD TO HAVE LIGHTS TO SHINE UP TO SHOW WHERE WE WERE.
>> YEAH, THERE'S ACTUALLY 2 SUMPS IN HERE THAT ACTUALLY-- THE TUNNEL WILL FILL UP WITH WATER IF THEY'RE NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED, SO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THOSE SUMPS, WE'VE LIT THE AREA.
Huell: NOW, OK, HERE'S THE OLD SWITCHING STATION OVER HERE.
BOY, THAT PLACE HAS GOT A LOT OF HISTORY GOING ON IN THERE.
AND THEN WALKING BACK HERE, BOY, THIS SHOWS IT ALL.
AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THIS TUNNEL DOESN'T REALLY GO THAT MUCH FURTHER DOWN, DOES IT?
>> NO, IT ACTUALLY GOES DOWN ABOUT 300 OR 400 FEET AND INTERSECTS AN ADJACENT BUILDING.
Huell: SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS, WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING THE SKYSCRAPERS ON BUNKER HILL, THIS ORIGINAL TUNNEL GOT INTERSECTED AND CUT OFF, SO IT DOESN'T GO VERY FAR.
>> EXACTLY.
Huell: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THIS, MIKE?
THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR THE KIDS TO COME HAVE A RAVE PARTY.
THIS COULD BE A GREAT DANCE CLUB.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF POSSIBILITIES.
YOU GOT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.
>> WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR YEARS.
AND ANY IDEA THAT ANYBODY HAS, CERTAINLY GIVE US A CALL AND LET US KNOW.
Huell: BUT REALLY, YOU PROBABLY GOT ALL KINDS OF PERMITTING PROBLEMS AND-- >> EXITING, SMOKE CONTROL.
THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES WITH USING THIS SPACE.
Huell: LOOK UP HERE AT THE CEILING.
LOOK UP HERE.
THIS IS ALL STILL ORIGINAL.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE WATER'S KIND OF SEEPED DOWN OVER THE YEARS.
BOY, LOOK AT THIS.
AND THE TRAINS WOULD HAVE BEEN COMING RIGHT THROUGH HERE.
THIS IS WHAT'S INTERESTING.
LOOK, THIS IS WHERE THE TRAIN WOULD HAVE COME, RIGHT UP HERE.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE SWITCHING STATION IN THE MIDDLE AND ANOTHER TRACK OVER HERE.
SO THIS REALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED RIGHT HERE.
AND I'M KIND OF TEMPTED TO GO BACK HERE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
I KEEP THINKING I'M GONNA RUN ACROSS SOMEBODY LIVING BACK HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK SO, MIKE.
I CAN'T FIND YOU.
WHERE ARE YOU?
THERE YOU ARE.
HA HA HA.
>> IT'S GETTING PRETTY--PRETTY MUDDY BACK HERE.
Huell: YEAH.
YEAH, I KNOW.
IT'S REAL MUDDY BACK HERE.
[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: BUT THIS IS INTERESTING.
THIS IS REAL HISTORY.
AND I DON'T THINK THIS HAS CHANGED A BIT FROM THE TIME WE WERE HERE SO MANY YEARS AGO, EXCEPT FOR THE LIGHTING THAT YOU'VE PUT IN.
>> NO, I DON'T THINK THIS HAS CHANGED IN PROBABLY 50 OR 60 YEARS.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
RIGHT HERE.
WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT DOES THIS SAY, MIKE?
>> "DO NOT CROSS TRACKS."
ACTUALLY, WHEN WE DID SOME OF THE EXCAVATING IN THE BUILDING, WE ACTUALLY DID ENCOUNTER SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PLATFORMS AND SAW A NUMBER OF THESE SIGNS IN THE BUILDING AS WE STARTED TO DIG.
Huell: HOW DO THESE THINGS SURVIVE ALL THESE YEARS?
YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT OVER THE YEARS SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TAKEN THEM OUT OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MUSEUM SOMEWHERE OR--HAVE YOU BEEN UP IN HERE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING UP IN THERE?
>> NO, I HAVEN'T.
Huell: DO YOU HAVE GOOD LIABILITY INSURANCE?
>> [CHUCKLES] NOT THAT GOOD.
THERE'S NO STEPS ON THE STAIRS, EITHER.
Huell: HA!
BECAUSE REALLY IF YOU STARTED DIGGING AROUND HERE, UNDERNEATH ALL OF THIS THERE'S PROBABLY SOME HISTORY DOWN HERE.
THIS IS LIKE DIGGING IN AN OLD ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE DOWN HERE.
LOOK DOWN HERE.
LOOK AT THIS.
WHAT WAS THIS?
THIS IS LIKE AN OLD DESK OR A COUNTER OR SOME KIND OF A--WHO KNOWS WHAT ANY OF THIS WAS.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE A DESK FOR SOME SORT OF A WORKSHOP POSSIBLY.
Huell: SEE, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT COMING DOWN HERE IS YOU'RE NOT REAL SURE WHAT YOU'RE GONNA COME ACROSS, WHAT'S STILL HERE, WHAT IS HISTORIC TO THE TIME, OR WHAT WAS JUST DUMPED HERE AT SOME POINT OVER THE YEARS.
YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW.
>> YEAH, YOU DON'T.
AND I'M SURE IF YOU SPENT SOME TIME DOWN HERE, THERE'S PROBABLY A NUMBER OF HIDDEN TREASURES THAT YOU'D UNCOVER.
Huell: PEOPLE PROBABLY DROPPED THINGS OFF THE TRAINS THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THIS GROUND RIGHT NOW.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU.
I'M SURE THAT THAT DID HAPPEN.
Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN ALL OF L.A. AND I THINK I LIKE IT SO MUCH BECAUSE IT IS SO HIDDEN AND SO SUBTERRANEAN AND SO MUSTY.
>> HUMID.
Huell: HUMID.
YOU CAN JUST FEEL THE HISTORY HERE.
>> YOU CAN.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
Huell: THIS IS GONNA BRING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO USED THESE TRAINS FOR SO MANY DECADES IN THE EARLY TO MID 1900s.
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED RIGHT HERE.
AND THE NICE THING ABOUT IT IS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, RIGHT HERE BENEATH THE BUILDING, IT'S STILL HERE WAITING FOR WHATEVER FATE IS GONNA COME ITS WAY.
IT'S A SURVIVOR, IT'S STILL HERE, AND IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF L.A.'S HIDDEN TREASURES.
WE'RE BACK AFTER 15 YEARS.
THIS IS CRAZY.
WE ARE OUTSIDE THE SUBWAY @ TERMINAL BUILDING.
EXCUSE ME,@ú METRO 417 BUILDING.
ú pp@@P >> METRO 417.P @@@@ Huell: WE HAD ALREADY PACKED UP THE CAR.
WE WERE GETTING READY TO PULL OUT AND LEAVE.
WE'D ALREADY SAID GOOD-BYE.
AND, MIKE, JUST PURELY AS A CASUAL ASIDE, THREW OUT SOMETHING THAT HAS GOTTEN ME SO EXCITED AND PROVED THAT THERE'S STILL THINGS ALL OVER THIS CITY THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
WHAT--WHERE HAVE YOU BROUGHT US, MIKE, RIGHT HERE BESIDE YOUR BUILDING?
>> WELL, RIGHT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE BUILDING, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICED, WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE OLD RED CARS THAT EXISTED BACK IN THE TWENTIES THAT SOMEBODY'S TAKEN ON AS A PROJECT, TO START A RESTORATION PROJECT ON.
BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THE CAR.
Huell: IT'S BEEN SITTING HERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
>> IT'S PROBABLY BEEN HERE FOR 40 OR 50 YEARS AT LEAST.
Huell: COVERED IN A BLUE TARP, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL RED CARS.
BUT IT'S NOT RED.
>> IT'S GREEN.xY Huell: GREEN.
BUT THIS IS--AND THIS IS KIND OF AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY.
'CAUSE IT'S SITTING RIGHT HERE, IT'S KIND OF @@@ BOARDED UP.
IT'S COVERED UP WITH THIS TARP.
IT'S GOT A FENC ñ AROUND IT.
IT'S SITTING IN--WELL, THIS IS LIKE A PARKING STRUCTURE OUT HERE.
BUT HERE IT IS, TIED IN DIRECTLY TO THE HISTORY OF WHERE WE HAVE BEEN TODAY, AN ORIGINAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC RED CAR.
>> A YEAR--A DAY END BONUS.
Huell: DOESN'T THAT GET YOUR JUICES FLOWING?
IT GETS ME ALL EXCITED.
>> IT'S CERTAINLY INTERESTING TO SEE.úñ @ Huell: ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT.
@rrú ú÷ THAT IS THE END OF OUR vv÷vvl@td@ ADVENTURE.
WE HAVE RETURNED TO@@ THE SCENE OF THE CRIME, AND WE÷÷ HAVE FOUND SOMETHING EVEN MOREñ INTERESTING AND ANOTHER MYSTERY RIGHT HERE.
WHAT IS THIS RED CAR DOING OVER HERE?
BUT IT TIES IN COMPLETELY AND VERY@ APPROPRIATELY WITH THE HISTORY OF ALL THE PLACES WE HAVE BEEN TODAY ON THIS ADVENTURE IN DOWNTOWN L.A. HISTORY'S ALL AROUND US, YOU JUST GOT TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR IT.
BUT THERE'S MORE TO THIS UPDATE, AND I PROMISE THIS WILL BE OUR LAST STOP.
NOW, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER 15 YEARS AGO WHEN WE ORIGINALLY VISITED THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING AND WENT UNDERGROUND INTO THAT SUBTERRANEAN TUNNEL WHERE THE TRAINS USED TO ARRIVE AND LEAVE, WE ENDED UP THAT ADVENTURE AT A PLACE CALLED BELMONT TUNNEL.
IT WAS THE OPENING ON THE SIDE OF BUNKER HILL WHERE THE TRAINS THAT LEFT AND WERE COMING INTO THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING, THEY WOULD COME IN AND OUT OF BUNKER HILL.
THERE WAS A BIG EMPTY OPENING, A TUNNEL.
THERE WERE DESERTED RAILROAD TRACKS.
AND THERE WAS A BIG OPEN RAIL YARD WHERE THE TRAINS USED TO RUN.
WELL, WE'RE BACK 15 YEARS LATER.
THAT BIG OPEN, EMPTY FIELD IS GONE.
AND LOOK WHAT'S IN ITS PLACE.
THIS BIG, úú NEW, MODERN APARTMENT BUILDING.ñ BUT LOOK WHAT IT'S CALLED.
IT'S NAMED BELMONT STATION IN HONOR OF THE HISTORY OF THIS PIECE OF LAND.
AND I KNOW FROM--'CAUSE WE'VE ALREADY DONE A LITTLE NOSING AROUND--THAT IF WE GO÷÷ INTO THE LOBBY, AND THEN GO TO THE BACK OF THIS BUILDING, THERE'S SOME MORE OF THAT ORIGINAL SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING RED CAR LINE HISTORY STILL HERE.
OK, WE'VE COME INSIDE THE LOBBY.
WE'RE PASSING THROUGH SECURITY.
I ASSUME WE'VE BEEN CLEARED, RIGHT?
CLEARED THROUGH SECURITY.
WE'RE COMING INTO THE MAIN LOBBY ÷0÷x HERE.
STANDING RIGHT BY THIS WONDERFUL RED--I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU CALL THIS.
IS THIS A-- >> THIS IS OUR SEATING AREA.
CENTRAL SEATING AREA.
Huell: SEATING AREA.
WE'VE BEEN MET BY THE OFFICIALS.
I ASSUME YOU ALL WORK FOR BELMONT STATION.
>> WE CERTAINLY DO.
AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE DOING AN UPDATE ON WHAT USED TO BE HERE.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: AND RIGHT HERE IN YOUR LOBBY YOU'VE SET UP THIS WHOLE LITTLE HOMAGE TO THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC SUBWAY AND TERMINAL IN LOS ANGELES.
AND YOU'VE EVEN NAMED THIS BUILDING BELMONT STATION.
NOW, HOW DID THAT ALL COME ABOUT, COMING UP WITH THE NAME?
>> WELL, REALLY WITH THE AREA THAT WE'RE IN, IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE PAST OF WHAT HAS, YOU KNOW, TRANSVERSED OVER HERE OVER THE YEARS.
AND WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
WE HAVE THE BELMONT STATION, YOU KNOW, LAND, ALSO HAS THE TUNNEL IN THE BACK, WHICH IS THE BELMONT TUNNEL.
AND THEN STATION NUMBER 51 WAS THE ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION IN THE BACK.
SO WE REALLY COULDN'T GET AWAY FROM NAMING IT IN SOME REGARDS AS A TRIBUTE TO THE PAST.
Huell: WELL, BELMONT STATION.
DO MOST PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD REMEMBER THAT?
AND ARE THEY IMPRESSED BY THE FACT THAT IT'S CALLED BELMONT STATION?
>> I BELIEVE SO.
THIS WAS A VERY WELL-KNOWN AREA.
IT'S GONE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, A FEW CHANGES OVER THE YEARS.
Huell: WELL, THIS IS A BIG CHANGE.
>> BIG CHANGE.
Huell: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> YEAH, THIS IS--WELL, WE FEEL THIS IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO THE WESTLAKE AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH NEW HOUSING IN L.A., IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT ADDITION.
SO WITH THE, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO STILL, YOU KNOW, LOOK BACK AT OUR PAST AND CELEBRATE IT.
Huell: YEAH, IT TAKES YOU BACK.
ALL THESE YOUNGER PEOPLE AND NEW PEOPLE TO THE CITY COME IN AND SEE THIS TOUCH WITH THE PAST.
EVEN, YOU POINTED OUT, THE LOGO THAT YOU'VE GOT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: IT'S AMAZING.
YOU'VE EVEN GOT THE EXACT NUMBER OF THE CAR YOU WANTED TO USE.
>> YEAH.
AND THE 51 IS ACTUALLY FOR STATION--THE ELECTRICAL STATION IN THE BACK.
SO WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE A WELL-ROUNDED REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WAS HERE HISTORICALLY, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST CELEBRATE THAT PAST THAT IS NO LONGER A PART OF L.A. Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
I WASx@ PF LOOKING AT THE PICTURES.
I8ú@@ @ ALMOST MISSED--YOU'VE GOT LIKE A LITTLE MUSEUM HERE FILLED WITH MEMORABILIA FROM THE RED CARS.
WHERE'D YOU GET ALL THIS STUFF?
>> WELL, THE LOS ANGELES RAILROAD HERITAGE FOUNDATION WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PROVIDE US WITH ALL OF THIS AS, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OF THE RED CAR LINE.
SO WE HAVE-- Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
ñ >> WE HAVE ANYWHERE FROM A CONDUCTOR'S HAT TO ORIGINAL TICKETS TO THE TICKET PUNCHES THEY USED.
THE BUTTONS THAT WERE ON THE UNIFORMS OF THE CONDUCTORS THAT WERE BRASSED WITH THE INSIGNIA.
Huell: THIS IS LIKE A MUSEUM-CLASS EXHIBIT RIGHT HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THE LITTLE HIDDEN CHARMS OF THIS PLACE.
THAT'S WHY WE FIND IT TO BE, YOU KNOW, A GREAT TRIBUTE TO OUR PAST.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, THE PICTURES ARE HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: THE HOMAGE IS HERE.
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF THIS APARTMENT BUILDING THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT FUNCTIONING TODAY IS STILL VERY MUCH A PART OF THE LANDSCAPE, THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE OF THE CITY.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING NOW.
WE'RE LEAVING THE LOBBY AND GOING OUT BACK.
POVINA THE PROPERTY MANAGER IS LEADING THE WAY.
COME ON, POVINA, BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR PROPERTY RIGHT HERE.
>> YES, IT IS.
Huell: AND, BOY, I WANT TO TELL YOU, WE HAVE HIT THE JACKPOT HERE.
FIRST OFF, LET'S LOOK OVER HERE.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?
>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL TOLUCA 51 SUBSTATION.
Huell: OK.
THIS--WHAT WAS THIS EXACTLY?
I NEVER KNEW FOR SURE HOW IT WAS CONNECTED.
>> WELL, THE TRAINS USED TO COME RIGHT THROUGH HERE.
THERE WAS ABOUT 6 DIFFERENT LANES THAT WERE HERE.
AND THIS WOULD POWER THE TRAINS TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK THROUGH DOWNTOWN L.A.
SO IT WAS KIND OF A, YOU KNOW--IT WAS A POWER STATION AT THE TIME.
Huell: WELL, IT'S GOT WONDERFUL HX ARCHITECTURE.
IT'S GOT WONDERFUL 0 BONES TO IT.
I GOT TO TELL YOU,0 IT'S LOOKING BETTER THAN IT'S LOOKED IN YEARS.
>> OH, YEAH.
Huell: IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD WHEN YOU ALL GOT IT, DID IT?
>> 100 COATS OF GRAFFITI ARE GONE NOW.
YEP.
Huell: NOW, DID YOU MAKE UP THAT FIGURE, 100, OR DO YOU REALLY THINK THERE WERE 100 COATS ON THERE?
>> WE ACTUALLY FOUND--THERE WAS A CHIP AND SOMEBODY ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH UNDER A MICROSCOPE, AND THEY CALCULATED IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE OVER 100 PAINT LAYERS WERE THERE AT THE TIME.
Huell: WOW.
IT JUST LOOKS WONDERFUL.
>> YEAH, WE'RE VERY HAPPY.
Huell: IT LOOKS BETTER THAN IT'S LOOKED IN YEARS.
SO THAT'S THE ORIGINAL--IT WAS CALLED p?úLú÷ THE-- >> TOLUCA SUBSTATION NUMBER 51.÷ x:;éñ÷xDñx Huell: TOLUCA SUBSTATION NUMBERp 51.
IT WAS DEFINITELY PART OFhh xú VxVpVúw THE RED CAR LINE.
@ úWúW@@úú8o@s@çú?úú& >> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
P@p p Huell: AND THEN RIGHT OVER HERE, HHú@@@# LOOK AT THIS, THE RED CAR IS@Ñyw n,lnñ÷÷@ppp÷PíXztlúp @xxXyPb@@ @0pñññ÷@ú HEADING OUR WAY.
THE LIGHT'S BURNING.
IT'S GOT HOLLYWOOD ON THE TOP.
AND THIS IS THE ORIGINAL--WAS THIS BELMONT TUNNEL?
THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED.
>> THIS IS BELMONT TUNNEL THAT RUNS ALL THE WAY BACK UNDER RUNS ALL THE WAY BACK UNDER THE WESTIN BONAVENTURE HOTEL.
@ ú"ú@ Huell: NOW, WE STARTED OFF ANDú@ WALKED THROUGH PART OF THISú 00# ###g;ç;çú0h( TUNNEL HEADING IN THIS( @@@ ÷RP P P P DIRECTION, BUT OVER THE YEARS, ú r THE SKYSCRAPERS HAVE INTERRUPTEg THE TUNNEL.
66% % >> YEP, THEIR FOUNDATIONS AREr@ RIGHT INSIDE OF THAT.
SO ONCE W1 10 SEALED IT UP, THAT WAS THE END @@ OF THE TUNNEL, SO TO SPEAK.
@ Huell: HOW FAR BACK DID THAT ñ@í TUNNEL GO?
IT WASN'T REALLY VER8 DEEP, WAS IT?
>> ORIGINALLY IT WAS--IT WAS A MILE LONG.
ú Huell: OH, I KNOW.
BUT I MEANú@B WHEN YOU GOT IT.
>> OH, GOSH.
Huell: IT DIDN'T GO VERY FAR BACK, DID IT?
>> NO.
NO, I--YOU KNOW, WE( REALLY DIDN'T EXPLORE TOO MUCH@0 p THAT WAS IN THERE.
dú [LAUGHTER]88 ( Huell: YEAH, THERE WERE THINGS MOVING AROUND IN THERE WHEN WE@ WERE HERE LAST TIME.
ú< >> I POKED MY HEAD IN ONCE, AND@ THAT WAS IT FOR ME.
@ Huell: AND I--BUT I LOVE THIS.
(( YOU PAINTED ON HERE THE RED CAR HEADING OUT OF THE TUNNEL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAD A MURALIST THAT CAME IN.
HE ACTUALLY PAINTED THIS FOR US.
IT'S ONE OF THE HOLLYWOOD LINE OF CARS THAT WERE USED BEFORE IT ENDED IN 1955.
Huell: WOW, THIS IS JUST AMAZING.
DO YOU GET A LOT OF@Ñx@ u@@DLL PEOPLE COMING BY HERE JUST KIND OF REMINISCING AND WANTING TO SEE THE OLD THING?
pó >> OH, PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO'VE SEEN IT GO THROUGH THE CHANGES WANT TO@÷ SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO IT.
SO, YES p WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW.ñúú Huell: AND HOW IS THIS USED NOW WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS NICÑ LITTLE PARK HERE?ñ >> THIS IS A DOG PARK.
Huell: A DOG PARK?
>> YES.
Huell: FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BELMONT STATION APARTMENTS.
>> RIGHT.
UH-HUH.
WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY 2 PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE A DOG PARK.
Huell: WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF LIVING HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: BUT THIS IS SUCH A PLEASANT SURPRISE.
IT'S KIND OF HIDDEN, TUCKED AWAY BACK HERE.
YOU'D HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
BUT YOU ALL ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR SAVING IT.
>> I THINK AT THE END, YOU KNOW, WE SERVED A GREAT PURPOSE TO DOWNTOWN L.A. Huell: WELL, YOU'VE GOT THE NEW HOUSING, WHICH IS SORELY NEEDED HERE IN LOS ANGELES, BUT YOU'VE ALSO KEPT REMNANTS OF THE OLD ELECTRICAL BUILDING AND THE ENTRANCE TO THE OLD TUNNEL GOING DOWN INTO THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING.
SO CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'RE VERY PROUD.
Huell: CONGRATULATIONS.
IF I HAD A DOG, I'D BRING HIM BY HERE TO WALK.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
Huell: THIS IS A GREAT DOG PARK.
AND IT'S A WONDERFUL PIECE OF HISTORY.
WE HAVE RELIVED OUR ADVENTURE FROM 15 YEARS AGO WITH THE OLD SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING AND BELMONT TERMINAL.
WE HAVE COME BACK TO SEE WHAT IS STILL HERE AND HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
AND THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE, THE RED CAR IS HEADING OUT OF THE TUNNEL WITH HISp@ú0P: LIGHTS A-BLAZING.
THE RED CAR I< ú 0@p p>.
STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN THIS$ H 8>(d$d@(,<ñ LITTLE PIECE OF LOS ANGELES.
WE ú @ HAVE GONE BACK IN TIME, AND .
WE'VE ENDED UP IN PRESENT-DAYx <<< L.A., SALUTING OUR RED CAR ú(((( SYSTEM, WHICH WAS SUCH((( 8( AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT OUR CITY WAS ALL ABOUT.
[RAGTIME MUSIC PLAYING] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.