Historic Hollywood Art by Jim Van Schaack

Famous Landmarks of the 20th Century

World War 2 Aircraft

By

Share

Setting Aircraft Combat Standards

At the beginning of World War 2, American aircraft were not seen in combat. It wasn’t until 2 years later, December 7, 1941, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor using Japanese aircraft that the United States declared war on the Axis powers.

Americans did have a hand in the war effort during those first two years, however. The Wright brothers were manufacturing and selling materials, including airplane engines and parts, to the Allied Forces, mainly Britain and the Commonwealth countries like Australia, Canada and New-Zealand, as early as 1939. We also found American pilots fighting on a volunteer basis in Europe flying British aircraft.

After hundreds of Japanese aircraft destroyed the Pearl Harbor fleet and many of the Air Force bases on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, the U.S. became engaged in the war and this pushed the U.S. war effort into full swing.

The determination and enormous economic power of the United States changed the course of World War 2, and helped set the standard for aircraft combat by producing more powerful bombers, faster fighters and rocket and jet-propelled airframes and all this produced a new era of powered, heavier-than-air flight. World War 2 utilized a combination of different aircraft including fighters, interceptors, reconnaissance, anti-ship, ground attack and specialized platforms for a wide variety of mission.

Several combat aircraft were designed and built in the United States. Among the most famous, were the P-51 Mustang, the F4U Corsair, and the B-29 Superforteress, the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The B-29 Superfortress would later become the backbone of the Strategic Air Command, the deterrence arm of U.S. military aviation.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – F4U Corsair, Fighter
Manufacturer: Chance- Vought
Length: 33’-8”, Height: 16’-1”, Wingspan: 41’-0”, Engine: Pratt & Whitney r-2800, 2,450 horse power.
Range: 1,560 miles, Max. Speed 446 mph, Ceiling: 41,500 feet, Gross Weight: 14,670 pounds.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – B-17 Flying Fortress, Bomber
Manufacturer: Boeing
Length: 74’-4”, Height: 19’-2”, Wingspan: 103’-9”, Engines: wright r-1820-97, 1,200 hp each.
Range: 2,000 miles, Max. Speed: 287 mph, Ceiling: 35,600 feet
Gross Weight: 36,135 pounds.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – B-17s and P-51s on a Bombing Mission

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – Hk-1 Hughes Flying Boat
Length: 218’-8”, Height: 79’-4”, Wingspan: 319’-11”, Engines: 8, Pratt & Whitney r-4360, 3,000 hp each.
Range: 3,000 miles, Ceiling: 20,900 feet
Gross Weight: 400,000 pounds.

Designated HK-1 for the joint venture to build a transport boat that can fly, By Howard Hughes and boat builder Henry Kaiser. HK-1 is the worlds largest aircraft. It is constructed of wood thus it’s nickname, “spruce goose”. Hughes designed & built HK-1, and on november 2, 1947 during taxi trials, With Hughes at the controls the HK-1 flew one mile, it never flew again. The HK-1 can be seen at the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinville, Oregon.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – B-24 Liberator, Bomber
Manufacturer: Consolidated
Length: 66’-4”, Height: 17’-11”, Wingspan: 110’-0”, Engines: Pratt & Whitney r-1830-43, 1,200 hp each.
Range: 2,300 miles, Max. Speed:303 mph, Ceiling: 32,000 feet.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – P-38 Lightening, Pursuit
Manufacturer: Lockheed
Length: 37’-10”, Height: 12’-10”, Wingspan: 52’-0”, Engines: 2, Allison v-1710-111/113, 1,475 hp each.
Range: 1,100 miles, Max Speed: 414 mph, Ceiling: 40,000 feet, Gross Weight: 20,700 pounds.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – B-25 Mitchell, Bomber
Manufacturer: North American
Length: 52’-11”, Height: 16’-4”, Wingspan: 67’-7”, Engines: 2, wright r-2600-13, 1700 hp each.
Range: 1,350 Miles, Max. Speed: 272 mph, Ceiling: 24,200 feet
Gross Weight: 34,999 pounds.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT– P-51 Mustang, Pursuit
Manufacturer: North American
Length: 32’-3”, Height: 13’-8”, Wingspan: 37’-0”, Engine: 1, Rolls Royce, Merlin v-1650, 1,695 hp.
Range: 1,000 miles, Max. Speed: 437 mph, Ceiling: 41,900 feet, Gross Weight: 9,200 pounds.

WWII – B-29 Superfortress, Bomber
Manufacturer: Boeing
Length: 99’-0”, Height: 27’-9”, Wingspan: 141’-3”, Engines: 4, Wright r-3350-23, 2,200 hp each.
Range: 5,830 miles, Max. Speed: 365 mph, Ceiling: 31,850 feet
Gross Weight: 105,000 pounds.

WORLD WAR 2 AIRCRAFT – P-40 Warhawk, Pursuit
Manufacturer: Curtiss
Length: 33’-4”, Height: 12’-4”, Wingspan: 37’-4”, Engine: Allison v-1710-99, 1,200 hp.
Range: 750 miles, Max. Speed: 343 mph, Ceiling: 30,000 feet
Gross Weight: 8,400 pounds.

Share

Automobiles

By

Share

1915 The Ford Model “T”

The Ford Model “T” was simply the most important automobile ever built. This car pioneered the assembly line and was the first mass produced auto, affordable to everyone.
The “T” was also extremely durable, it had to be because very few real roads existed and in most of the United States those roads were not paved and were very rough.
The “T” engine was a 20 horse power 177 cubic inch, 4 cylinder in line engine, with a top speed of 40 mph and was started by hand cranking.

1931 Chryslers CG Le Baron Imperial at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

This automobile was a custom built model of Chryslers Imperial model, as in 1931 and 1932 famous custom coach builder LE BARON produced this custom model for the customer who wanted a distinctive and personally styled automobile. Under the hood was an enormous 384.8 cubic inch engine, straight-eight cylinder power plant.

Most auto manufacturers of the 1930s either slowed or stopped production of luxury cars and if they were able concentrated on producing more affordable models and Chrysler did the same.

1931 Chrysler CG Le Baron Imperial

This automobile was a custom built model of Chryslers Imperial model, as in 1931 and 1932 famous custom coach builder LE BARON produced this custom model for the customer who wanted a distinctive and personally styled automobile. Under the hood was an enormous 384.8 cubic inch engine, straight-eight cylinder power plant.
Most auto manufacturers of the 1930s either slowed or stopped production of luxury cars and if they were able concentrated on producing more affordable models and Chrysler did the same.

1932 Ford V-8 Roadster

Produced by Ford in 1932, this body style was used for two models that year, The Model B with a 4 cylinder engine and the Model 18 with a V-8 engine.
The V-8 engine proved to be very popular and helped Ford survive the 1930s depression.
This car was also known as the “Duce”, It’s bodies are still used for HOTRODS.

1934 Duesenberg at Charlie Chaplin Studios

This model Duesenberg was produced by the Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana.
This unsurpassed for luxury and quality automobile was for over a decade the symbol of a wealthy and successful person, the saying at the time was “He drives a Duesenberg”.

1934 Duesenberg at Charlie Chaplin Studios

This model Duesenberg was produced by the Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana.
This unsurpassed for luxury and quality automobile was for over a decade the symbol of a wealthy and successful person, the saying at the time was “He drives a Duesenberg”.

1934 Duesenberg

This model Duesenberg was produced by the Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana.
This unsurpassed for luxury and quality automobile was for over a decade the symbol of a wealthy and successful person, the saying at the time was “He drives a Duesenberg”.

1936 Cord Convertible at the Pan Pacific

Designed by Gorden M. Buehrig for Auburn, Indiana auto manufacturer, E. L. Cord’s who ran the Auburn Automotive Company. The Cord automobile was then and still is in a class of it’s own.
This front wheel drive car was unexcelled for style and performance. Only the depression of the 1930s could have stopped it’s production.

1936 Cord Convertible

Designed by Gorden M. Buehrig for Auburn, Indiana auto manufacturer, E. L. Cord’s who ran the Auburn Automotive Company. The Cord automobile was then and still is in a class of it’s own.
This front wheel drive car was unexcelled for style and performance. Only the depression of the 1930s could have stopped it’s production.

1936 Cord Convertible at the Taj Mahal

Designed by Gorden M. Buehrig for Auburn, Indiana auto manufacturer, E. L. Cord’s who ran the Auburn Automotive Company. The Cord automobile was then and still is in a class of it’s own.
This front wheel drive car was unexcelled for style and performance. Only the depression of the 1930s could have stopped it’s production.

1936 Cord Convertible at Paramount Studios

Designed by Gorden M. Buehrig for Auburn, Indiana auto manufacturer, E. L. Cord’s who ran the Auburn Automotive Company. The Cord automobile was then and still is in a class of it’s own.
This front wheel drive car was unexcelled for style and performance. Only the depression of the 1930s could have stopped it’s production.

1937 Lincoln Zephyr At The Palladium

Beautifully proportioned Zephyr, elegantly detailed 1937 model was a superb example of aerodynamic design. Here the 1937 Lincoln Zephyr is show in front of the Paladium in Hollywood.

1956 Ford Thunderbird at the Gugenheim Museum

This original two passenger Ford Thunderbird created a market for itself from 1955 to 1958 when it lost its distinctive identity by the 1958 production of the much larger four passenger Thunderbird. This model Thunderbird is still a very popular car and many are still on the road after fifty years.

1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II

The Continental name was revived by Ford as a separate brand in 1955 with the sole model being Lincoln Continent Mark II. A high-class luxury vehicle that if anything was even more exclusive than the original Continental was one of the most expensive cars available at the time. The Continental Mark II was sold for two model years, and only about 3000 were built. They sold to a selection of the world’s richest men including the Shah of Iran, Elvis Presley and the Nelson Rockefeller.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette at Capitol Records

The 1957 Corvette with a Jet Fuel Injection 283 V 8 engine wowed Sebring and was called “One of the Worlds Finest Sports Cars”.

Share

Recollections of Long Beach

By

Share

The Queen Mary Long Beach

Digital Artist Jim Van Schaack has drawn Recollections of Long Beach including the Cunard Line’s RMS Queen Mary ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967.

The RMS Queen Mary Long Beach

The RMS Queen Mary was a Cunard Line (then Cunard White Star Line) ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. Built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, she was designed to be the first of Cunard’s planned two-ship weekly express service from Southampton to New York, in answer to the mainland European superliners of the late twenties and early thirties. Queen Mary and her slightly larger and younger running mate RMS Queen Elizabeth commenced this two-ship service after their release from World War II troop transport duties and continued it for two decades until Queen Mary’s retirement in 1967.

Share

Recollections of Los Angeles

By

Share

Digital Artist Jim Van Schaack has drawings of landmarks of Los Angeles including The Brown Derby, The Casino Ballroom, Los Angeles City Hall and Pan Pacific Auditorium.

The Brown Derby Restaurant

The Brown Derby Restaurant in Los Angeles, California was located on Wilshire Boulevard, some distance from the center of Hollywood. The Brown Derby’s owner was Robert Cobb, creator of the Cobb Salad. His very popular restaurant was a must “hangout” for many Los Angeles and Hollywood celebrities. Sadly, the popular Brown Derby Restaurant was demolished several years ago.

The Casino Ballroom – Avalon, Catalina, California

For at least 7,000 years Catalina Island, just a few miles off the cost of Los Angeles, California, has been inhabited by various native American groups. Explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo visited the island in 1542, only 50 years after Columbus first sailed into the Western Hemisphere. In the late 1800’s Catalina Island became an integral part of Southern California. In 1925 the Casino building at Avalon harbor, pictured here, was constructed and has served as the social center of the island since that time. Catalina island today is the destination by sea and air for vacationers from around the world.

Los Angeles City Hall

Los Angeles City Hall, Dedicated in 1928 this classic building stood for nearly thirty years as Los Angeles’s tallest at 440 feet. Because of the earthquake problems in the area there was a maximum height restriction of 150 feet. City Hall was created By three architectural firms, John Parkinson, design, Albert C. Martin, structural and John C. Austin, working drawings. After all these years the building still remains the symbol of Los Angeles.

Pan Pacific Auditorium Los Angeles, California

Pan Pacific Auditorium, A Los Angeles structure, considered one of Americas finest examples of Streamline Modern Architecture, designed by architects Wurderman & Becket, opened on May 18, 1935 hosting over the years, The Ice Capades, The Globetrotters, hockey, basketball, music and political events. It was closed in 1972 when the Los Angeles Convention Center opened. Later it was used in the movie Xanadu starring Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly. On May 24, 1989 the Queen of Streamline, burned to the ground in one of Los Angeles’ most spectacular fires.

The Getty Museum

The J. Paul Getty Museum, commonly referred to as The Getty, is an art museum in Los Angeles, California. The Getty was designed by Richard Meier for the J. Paul Getty Trust and was built in 1997.

Share

Recollections of Hollywood

By

Share

Age took its toll on Hollywood, so Jim Van Schaack created his “Recollections of Hollywood” digital art series featuring famous landmarks of Hollywood including Capitol Records, The Charlie Chaplin Studio, Cinerama Dome Theatre and more.

The Capitol Records Building

Capitol Records is an unusual building, said to resemble a stack of records, was built in the mid1950s. Capitol Records was the home studio of Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Beach Boys, the Beatles, and Dave Koz to name a few of their top artists. The building is a favorite stop of many Hollywood tours as it is located near Hollywood and Vine.

The Charlie Chaplin Studio

The Charlie Chaplin Studio is just west of the center of Hollywood, located in the first block south of Sunset Boulevard, is the Charlie Chaplin Studio. This studio was built with its Tudor style buildings in 1919 by silent screen star Charlie Chaplin. Although quite small by current standards, this studio is still in operation. The buildings that surround the production lot still appear much as they did long ago. The Charlie Chaplin Studio is currently operated by the Jim Henson Company.

The Cinerama Dome Theatre

The Cinerama Dome Theatre is one of the newer structures in the Hollywood area. This distinctive domed building was the first wide-screen movie theater on the West Coast.

Earl Carroll Theatre

The Earl Carroll Theatre was open in 1938, on Sunset Boulevard by New York Impresario Earl Carroll. This dazzling night club and theatre who’s facade held two of Hollywood’s most renowned landmarks: the 20 foot high neon painting of Beryl Wallace, one of Carroll’s “most beautiful girls in the world” and the “Wall of Fame” presenting in cement the personal inscriptions to Earl Carroll of more than 150 of Hollywood’s most glamorous stars.

The 60-foot wide double revolving turntable on the 80-foot main stage, the three swings which lowered from the auditorium ceiling, the elevator, revolving staircase and rain machine were part of a stage machinery complex not duplicated in any other theatre in America.

Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre

Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre Yesterday & Today This famous theatre is located on Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of old Hollywood. Built in 1922 by showman Sid Grauman with an Egyptian theme, it was the site of Hollywood’s first movie premiere.

Recently renovated, this theatre is now operated by the American Cinematheque and shows movies on a regular schedule.

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, one of the most famous sites in Hollywood has changed completely since its opening in 1927, with the gala premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings. This spectacular Chinese themed theatre is possibly the most visited Hollywood landmark. It was the creation of Hollywood showman Sid Grauman.

Much of the theatre’s attraction stems from the many glamorous premieres held here, with media, search lights, limousines, movie stars galore and screaming crowds. Another reason for the thousands of visitors is the theatre’s patio or forecourt with its signatures and hand and footprints imbedded in the concrete pavement of Hollywood’s most famous.

The Hollywood Bowl

The Hollywood Bowl is located only a few blocks north of Hollywood Boulevard. The site had been the home of a small band of Gabrielino Indians. In the 1920s the area had been a chicken ranch. Because the site was a perfect amphitheater shape the Hollywood Bowl was built in 1926.

On warm summer evenings up to 18,000 viewers gather to picnic, often in high style, under the stars to listen to classical, country, pop, jazz and rock music. The Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since the 1920s. Most popular concerts include the Easter Sunrise Service, the July 4th program, and the Tchaikovsky Spectacular with cannons, a military band and fireworks.

The Hollywood Palladium

The Hollywood Palladium, Opened in 1940, the nightclub, ballroom has consistently presented top notch musical events. With it’s 11,000 square foot oval dance floor it can accommodate over 6000. In the early days The Palladium was Hollywood’s Flagship for fun where all of the name big bands entertained, Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman to name a few. On any evening, you might have seen familiar faces like Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Tyrone Power or Betty Grable.

Musso and Franks Grill

Musso and Franks Grill is Hollywood’s oldest restaurant, having opened in 1919. While the building has been modernized, the restaurant continues to attract Hollywood luminaries and visitors from around the world.

Paramount Pictures Studio

Paramount Pictures Studio is the gateway to one of Hollywood’s most famous studios. Blockbuster films produced at Paramount Studios include: The Ten Commandments, The Godfather, Forest Gump, Top Gun, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The founder of Paramount Pictures was Adolph Zukor. Celebrities included actors Rudolph Valentino, Marlene Dietrich, the Marx Brothers, Carole Lombard, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Tom Hanks, Eddie Murphy and Tom Cruise have all worked here.

Universal Studios

Universal Studios, founded in 1912 by film pioneer Carl Lemmle. In 1915 the company launched Universal City a 230 – acre municipality. Universal is an attraction for visitors from around the world where they visit an operating studie and see how pictures are made behind the scenes. Director/Producer Steven Spielberg has brought Universal numerous successes, including Back to the future, Jurassic Park and ET.

Share