The Evans Studio

The Golden Gate Photo Co. of Los Angeles, is about to erect a new studio at Hollywood devoted to motion picture, portrait, publicity, reproduction and commercial purposes, specializing on light effects.  Nelson F. Evans will be business manager.  The Motion Picture World  Sept 13, 1916.

In late 1916, Nelson Evans announced the creation of his new studio, under the name Golden Gate Photo Co., in several trade publications, including The Motion Picture World and Motography.  The studio was located at 6039 Hollywood Blvd, just east of Gower Street.  It's not known when he changed the name from Golden Gate to Evans Studio, but in a letter to Keystone Studio from early March 1917, Evans is requesting that all future correspondence be addressed to Evans Studio rather than Golden Gate.  Interestingly, he also states in the letter that the Golden Gate Photo Co. is the name he is using for "our publicity and news department", but it's unknown if and when the older name ceased to be used altogether.

Several Evans portraits were taken in front of the second floor window at the front of the building, facing south.  This allowed Evans to occasionally use the sun as a light source, adding depth to the photograph.  Other photos show that there was a checkerboard floor in at least one section of the studio.

It's unknown when the studio was torn down, but the lot is currently in use as a parking lot on the west side of the Museum of Death. 

This is one of 2 photographs of the Evans Studio that appear in John Kobal's Hollywood: The Years of Innocence.  The 6 windows on the second floor are the ones seen in many portraits, including this one of Teddy Sampson and Rosemary Theby.  Also notice the use of the sun to backlight Ms. Theby's hair.