You know, I just can't walk past a mirror without taking a self portrait.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Skid Row - Los Angeles 7th & Main

As the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg loom over the ash heaps in ‘The Great Gatsby',
so does the smile of Dr. Lee loom over the intersection of 7th and Main in Los Angeles. The intersection, in Skid Row, that was affectionately labeled ‘Bukowsky Square’ by Larry Harnisch  3 to 4 years ago.


George Wilson in  ‘The Great Gatsby’ refers to it as God, “God Knows what you’ve been doing, ………… God sees everything”. Does the same metaphor apply to the smile?
The sign was originally an advertisement for Dr. White. Dr. Lee merely pasted his name over that of his predecessor. Although, I might add rather poorly because as you can see the sign now reads ‘Dr. ‘Dr. Lee’ ’.
This intersection was also once home to ‘Craby Joe’s’. A bar that was made famous by amongst others Charles Bukowski. Although the bar closed in 2007, you can still faintly see the outlines of the removed sign. 
Given the history of the bar and its significant role in the area, shouldn’t the sign be restored and the site declared a landmark ?


I’m not sure about God , but it would certainly make me and quite a few others smile!

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