It’s Not Farewell, My Lovely Raymond Chandler Square Signs

The Raymond Chandler Square signage disappeared from the intersection of Hollywood and Cahuenga boulevards last year, but I’m happy to report it was just a short goodbye.

Alan Kroeber of Hollywood informs me that the signs are back in place, celebrating the location of the office of Chandler’s fictional private eye, Philip Marlowe, in the “Cahuenga Building.”

The corner became a cultural historical landmark several years ago at the urging of journalist Jess Bravin, an honor that would no doubt shock Marlowe. He called his office “the dog house” and spent many idle moments there transferring his mail from the door slot to the wastebasket, dueling with house flies and taking an occasional nip.

Incidentally, the Chandler Square signs were temporarily removed for a reason that any gumshoe could appreciate -- the installation of surveillance cameras.

*

Out with the “dirty”: Barry Kibrick noticed that an Echo Park laundromat, under new management, has made a clean break with its old signage (see before and after photos).

*

All the city’s a stage: Joe Markowitz wrote one of my favorite entries in the annual limerick contest of the L.A. Downtown News in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. All together now:

Though I get here by train, not by jet

I can’t place where I am just yet

One day it’s Shanghai

The next day, NY

Then I realize I’ve walked through a set

*

Which might explain: That funny, authentic-looking street sign that said “Whatever” at the intersection of 1st Street and Broadway -- not far from some film trucks.

*

Everything’s unstable around here, I guess: On craigslist.org, Brad Johnson of Advertising Age found availability for a space at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, with the “BEST LOCATION! ... includes endowment care ... views of Warner Bros. Studios. This area is rising 30% a year.”

Hope the attendants have been warned about the rising land.

*

miscelLAny: The deal for an Arab firm to manage six U.S. ports may have fallen through. But, coincidence of coincidences, Dubai is coming to L.A., sponsored by Kontainer Gallery. This has nothing to do with shipping containers. Dubai is an art show “profiling the work of three emerging artists,” according to the Wilshire Boulevard gallery -- artists from Great Britain and the United States.

*

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083; by fax at (213) 237-4712; by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012; and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.