Union Station in Los Angeles is part of the problem I had with train service. You see, I pictured train service as very Nick and Nora with Asta and butlers and Martinis. Union Station in Los Angeles only reinforces that. Union Station is frozen in the height of 1940s cool.
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| Once you see these chairs in person, you never forget them. When they rehabbed the station, they rebuilt and recovered all the chairs in the original stuff. |
I say frozen, and that is a bit wrong. It was frozen in 1940s falling apart until it was refurbished in 1940s cool. Where other train stations became mini-malls - some excellent, like Grand Central in New York and some terrible, like Penn Station in New York - Los Angeles' Union Station looks as prestine as a movie set.
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| The view often seen as the heroes walk out into the sun. |
Well, because it is. Check out the chairs in Union Station. Memorize them and you will see them on every TV show set anywhere. The mentalist uses them all the time. And period move that has a train station, bus terminal or airport uses Union Station. And it really does look like that. Okay, not the people in the cool clothes, but otherwise.
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The picture here is of the ticket windows. These ticket windows aren't used. This room isn't used, except for filming and private events. These ticket windows have been banks, post offices, and (du'h) ticket windows for any number of movies set anytime before "now".
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What about the rest of the terminal - well the "Harvey House" room has been turned into a private dining room for functions. The outside has played everything from a Mission to a Lunatic Asylum to City Hall. (the actual LA City hall is too Iconic!).
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| The old "Harvey House" now a rentable hall. |
Of course there are draw backs. There is no food hall with greasy ass McDonald's being sold. But Olverio Street is right across Main - and Philipee's (Home of the French Dip) is right up the street. So it's all good.
