Islander Ferry, Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro,1930s

1930s, Island Ferry, Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro.  Thank you to Lynn Thompson. 

Newly concrete-lined Los Angeles River, looking north from Elysian Park, 1940

1938, View of the Los Feliz Boulevard Bridge from Riverside Driver looking northeast shortly after half of it was destroyed by Los Angeles River flood waters.  The Police Officer, left, is unknown.  The man on the right is Van Griffith, son of Col. Griffith J. Griffith, who gave Griffith Park to Los Angeles.  Thanks to Water & Power. 

1938, View of floodwaters in the Los Angeles River that have compromised the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge near Elysian Park. (Herald-Examiner Collection) https://buff.ly/4eMsibu.  Thank you to LAPL.  From a rowboat, two heroic newspaper reporters, "Magellan" Eldridge and "Balboa" Watson photographed the floodwaters in the Los Angeles River that have compromised the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge near Elysian Park.  Photograph dated March 1938. 

1939, A train crosses the Mission Tower Railroad Bridge over the Los Angeles River.  Built to accommodate growing rail traffic, the bridge connected the Southern Pacific Railroad's network, a key part of Los Angeles's rail infrastructure.  The adjacent Mission Tower Interlocking control tower managed the complex web of rail lines converging near the Los Angeles Pueblo and Mission Road area, overseeing trains heading north through the San Fernando Valley and east along the Sunset Route.  Thank you to Water & Power.

1940, View of the mostly unpaved L.A. River meandering through Elysian Valley, with the Southern Pacific Railroad Yard, aka, Taylor Yard, visible at center right.

Elysian Valley, often referred to as Frogtown, got its nickname due to the abundance of amphibians that once thrived in the area. Between the 1950s and 1970s, small amphibians—most likely Western Toads—would emerge from the Los Angeles River in such large numbers that they covered the streets, making it nearly impossible for people to walk without stepping on them. These toads typically appeared during rainy periods, responding to the increased moisture as an opportunity to breed in the river.  Thank you to Jack Feldman. 

1940, Image of the newly concrete-lined [paved in 1938] Los Angeles River, looking north from Elysian Park. Visible across the river to the right are houses and the Southern Pacific Railroad's Taylor Yard, with train cars in view. In the center, the tower of the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale stands out, framed by the mountains in the distance. Photo by Bob Plunkett.  Thanks to Jack Feldman.  

1933, Looking north from the Broadway Bridge.  This is the northeast section of Elysian Valley just south of the Figueroa Bridge or the Pasadena Freeway, 11. 

1934, Aerial view showing the Southern Pacific Railroad General Shops in the foreground and Taylor Yard at the top of the photo. The Los Angeles River is visible on the left. Southern Pacific’s General Shops was the most comprehensive railroad maintenance facility in the city's history.  Thank you to Jack Feldman and to the Water & Power Museum.  

Thank you to Robert L. Davis for this comment,

Los Angeles used to be an industrial power house until the Environmental Protection Agency was created to destroy the economy.  Firestone Tires, on Firestone Blvd, Goodyear Tire on Central Ave, Uniroyal Tire at the Citadel, United States Streel on Slauson, Anaconda Copper, Todd Shipyard in San Pedro, the Navy Shipyard on Terminal Island, Star Kist fishing fleet on Terminal Island, Chrysler Plant in Pico Rivera, General Motors in Southgate, Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica and Long Beach, Alcoa Alum in Vernon.  Harvey Aluminum on 190th & Western, Aircraft plants in Hawthorne, Van Nuys, and Inglewood.  Auto wrecking and salvage yards in Gardena, countless foundries that manufactured aircraft parts.  Several engine rebuilding shops such as Engine Rebuilding Corp on 53rd and McKinley, and Rocketdyne in Topanga Canyon and Southgate.  And Lockheed Aircraft in the valley.   Everyone had a job or two.

1941, A major storm struck Los Angeles, causing the LA River to surge once more, reminiscent of the catastrophic 1938 floods.  The storm damaged the Mission Tower Railroad Bridge, destroying part of its structure over the Los Angeles River.  Thank you to Water & Power.

1950s, drag racing on the LA River?  Say it isn't so.  Thank you to Lynn Thompson @ Southern California Nostalgia. on October 10, 2024.  Posted here on October 12, 2024.

Actors who were to portray the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz arriving at MGM studios, 1938.

1938, Actors who were to portray the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz arriving at MGM Studios.  Thank you to Linda LaRocca @ Lost Angeles.

 

The Sun Drug Company on the corner of Broadway and 5th, 1920

1920's, The Sun Drug Company on the corner of Broadway and 5th. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection).  Thank you to LAPL. 

Sunset & Broadway, 1940

1940, Looking east on Sunset Boulevard, now Cesar Chavez Avenue, at Broadway.  Note the US Postal Terminal at the left with its two domes.  Thank you to Mel-v VC.

The Greyhound/RTD depot at 6th and Los Angeles Streets, 1976

1950s, Greyhound Depot, 6th and Los Angeles Streets.  Thanks to Martin Turnbull.  

1939, Greyhound Bus Terminal/RTD. Thank you to Martin Turnbull.  

Crazy.  I attended a labor dispute here at the Greyhound terminal.  Workers were picketing in an oval at the entrance/exit to the terminal on the south side of the building, trying to block buses from entering and exiting.  That was a three-year, 1990-1993, nationwide strike.  There were previous Greyhound strikes in 1952, 1982, and 1990.  

1982, RTD bus drivers picketed in front of the parking lot for idle busses at the San Pedro and 16th Street.  The Santa Monica Freeway is visible above the buses in the background.  Photograph dated November 15, 1982. 

1983, AFL-CIO labor union Greyhound bus drivers joined station employees on the picket line outside Greyhound station in downtown Los Angeles, November 9th, 1983 in Los Angeles, California(Photo by Bob Riha, Jr Getty Images).

1983, AFL-CIO labor union Greyhound bus drivers joined station employees on the picket line outside Greyhound station in downtown Los Angeles, November 9th, 1983 in Los Angeles, California(Photo by Bob Riha, Jr Getty Images).  Thanks to Getty Images. 

I am glad that I stopped associating with the Progressive Labor Party, a Maoist group or offshoot of the SDS, Students for a Democratic Society, shortly after that 1990 strike.  I witnessed some pretty ugly behavior.  As the strikers slowed the entrance of buses entering off of 6th Street to a crawl by picketing at the entrance, one picketing driver snuck up to the rear of the bus, opened the cover to the engine, and pulled the rotor cap off the engine, and the bus stalled.  I yelled at him to not do that because the white vans across the street were filled with security hired by Greyhound to indict you if you pull something. I was not an employee, but went there in support of their cause.  Greyhound was advertising for drivers in Los Angeles in Phoenix newspapers for up to 3x the average salary of the driver in Los Angeles.  Just goes to show you how companies feel about their staff.  But this is standard contempt toward uncooperatives.  This is one reason why I do not like unions.  They incite violence by their very nature.  

1976, Greyhound/RTD depot at 6th and Los Angeles Streets.  

Munich-based FlixBus bought Greyhound in 2021 for $78 million.  Greyhound Bus, 1914-2021.

El Monte, CA, 1936 to 1948

1936, February.  "Children at the El Monte subsistence homesteads, California." Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration.  Thank you to HS House Camping.  

1936, February. "El Monte, California, federal subsistence homesteads. Four in family. Three-room house, $17.70 monthly rent to apply on purchase. Father's occupation: carpenter. Earns seventy dollars a month." 4x5 inch nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration.  Thank you to HS House Camping. 

1948, Facing east on Garvey Ave (then US-60-70-99) at Rosemead Blvd (CA-19) in South El Monte -- LIFE photo.

Garvey Ave was a primary east-west state highway arterial in the San Gabriel Valley prior to construction of Ramona/San Bernardino Fwy (I-10).  Thank you to Arturo Salazar.  

El Monte Legion Stadium, 1970s

El Monte Legion Hall, the birthplace of Rock'n'Roll in Southern California?

1970s, El Monte Legion Stadium, an indoor arena, 1927-1974, in the early 1970s just before it was demolished.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.  

Decent little history of the Auditorium, which was part of El Monte HS, but was renamed once bought by the American Legion.  

1950s, Facade of El Monte Legion Stadium with Greyhound Bus depot visible in the foreground right. 

Some of the phrases that came out of that era, that stadium, or from Art Laboe. 

“This Saturday Night El Monte Legion Stadium Be There Or Be Square."

1957, Courtesy of Art Laboe Archives.  "Beginning with dances he threw at El Monte Legion Stadium in 1955, through a half-century as a beloved Oldies DJ connecting with his audience on a nightly basis, Art Laboe has become an iconic voice for Californians who do not fit the glamorous conception many Americans hold of L.A. As author Susan Straight lyrically suggests, these are the people "cruising, boxing groceries, welding mufflers, changing tires, sewing prom dresses, picking oranges, teaching kids," and calling Laboe every night to dedicate songs to their loved ones."

-Judy Webre June 5 2014 Memories of El Monte: Art Laboe's charmed Life on air.  Thank you to Albert Mena.  

1968, Frank Zappa also recorded "Memories of El Monte." 

101 Freeway Eastbound out of Los Angeles, 1959

1959, Downtown LA traffic.  Thank you to Jason Horton. @ Los Angeles and Southern California Nostalgia, September 23, 2024.

Some social media accounts aren't even capable of providing the minimum of details, and the brain-dead defenders will say, "Well, it's social media that is intended to limit content, like X, you know, it only allows you 144 characters.  What do you expect?"  I expect the minimum.  If you can't do that, it means you failed 7th-grade English.  Is "Who," "What," Where," "When," "Why, and "How" just too painful for these folks?  It's like as a culture we're getting more illiterate thanks to social media.  

Larry White adds, "56 Buick century."  Thanks, Larry, but which car is the "'56 Buick Century"?  Must be the one on the right.  The car in the middle is a Ford Mercury.  

In the photo, we see the obvious ABC Brewing Company.

The Alameda Street, Union Station westbound exit.  

Wolf Koch is helpful,

1957 - SB Santa Ana Fwy US-101 Alameda St NB exit in background; Union Station at right. Distant background, L to R, County Hall of Records; Federal courthouse; County Hall of Justice.

 

Late afternoon view of Observatory Park, Mt. Wilson, CA, 1937

1937, Late afternoon view of Observatory Park, Mt. Wilson, CA.  Thank you to Paul Ayers.  

10th & Broadway, Los Angeles, 1920s

1920s, View is looking south on Broadway at 10th Street.  Two LA Railway "M Line" street cars are seen with the Herald-Examiner Building in the background at the southwest corner of Broadway and 11th Street.  On the left are the Los Angeles Investment Co. and Western Auto Supply, followed by the Paul G. Hoffman Studebaker sales office.  Thank you to Jack Feldman. 

Streetcars on Broadway at 7th St, downtown Los Angeles, 19

1943, Streetcars on Broadway at 7th Street, Downtown, Los Angeles.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.

Big Rock Beach Cafe, Malibu Beach, 1953

1953, Big Rock Beach Cafe, Malibu Beach.  Thank you to Historic Los Angeles.  

Wilshire Boulevard, 1940

1940, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles.  Thank you to Historic Los Angeles.

Parade on Broadway celebrating power from the Hoover Dam, 1936

1936, A parade on Broadway celebrating power from the Hoover Dam.  Thank you to Historic Los Angeles.  

Dedication ceremony of the new LAX, 1961

1961, Dedication ceremony of the new LAX.  Thank you to Historic Los Angeles.

The Paramount Swap Meet, 1950s

1950s, The Paramount Swap Meet.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.  Paramount, CA.

Magic Castle, Hollywood, 2007

1981, View looking up from Franklin Avenue showing the Victorian-style "French Chateau" building known as Magic Castle with turrets and architectural detailing and ivy-covered retaining wall in the foreground.  

The Magic Castle was declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No 406 in 1989. 

2007, View showing the driveway entrance to the Magic Castle located at 7001 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood.  

Since 1963, the Magic Castle has been a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts.  It bills itself as "the most unusual private club in the world."  

Mayor Tom Bradley addresses a crowd gathered at the Los Angeles Plaza, 1980

1980, Mayor Tom Bradley addresses a crowd gathered at the Los Angeles Plaza, with the Pico House, City Hall, and other notable buildings visible in the background. Bradley served an unprecedented five terms as Mayor of Los Angeles, from 1973 to 1993. Photo by William Reagh.  Thank you to Jack Feldman, and Water & Power.  

1960, View of the Old Plaza Church from the north end of the Plaza.  City Hall can be seen in the background. 

I sent this post around to the family, and Dan replied, 

Between Spring and Main, Dad worked occasionally in a building called Brunswig. There were some small courtrooms there. 

I had heard of it before, probably when I was searching for details on Union Station.  Now, Dan says that the building is "between Spring and Main."  But its address was on Main Street at 501 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, immediately south of the Plaza Church and directly across the street from the Pico House.  The signage appears to be at the top on a crown and probably a wall sign in front. 

Thank you to Historic Pictoric.  

The Vickrey-Brunswig Building was built in 1888. The building known as the Brunswig Annex, which faced New High St., was demolished. 

Okay, a little explanation.  Spring Street north of Sunset, or what's now called Cesar Chavez Boulevard, turns into New High Street.  I didn't make this stuff up.  

Belonging to Lucien N. Brunswig, president of the Brunswig Drug Company, these buildings were among the largest on Olvera Street. For years the buildings were abandoned and their windows boarded up. As of 2006 they are the planned location for the Plaza de Cultura y Arte.

1960, Birdseye view of the old Adobe Plaza Church.  The large rectangular building has archways surrounding the perimeter of its courtyard and the church roof is made from terracotta tiles.  Union Station can be seen in the distance at right and is identified by its large tower.  In the upper left, stands the Terminal Annex Post Office with its two domed towers. 

I love this shot because when traveling on the west side of the church, it was boarded up and you could not see inside.  You had to go through the front to enter its plaza.  This is one of the few aerial views that helps me understand a place.  Nice.  

1940s, Panoramic view looking east at the intersection of Sunset and Spring with two LARy [Los Angeles Railway] streetcars (side-by-side) in the foreground.  The Union Station tower can be seen at top-center of photo.  The back of the Old Plaza Church is at right with the Los Angeles (cluster of trees) directly behind it.  

I love this shot for the same reason and for the ability to easily identify the streets.  So the street on the west side of the Plaza Church is Spring Street.  That is good intel.  

1940s, Panoramic view looking northeast showing a pair of LARy streetcars passing [with bell] one another near the intersection of Spring and Sunset with the back of the Old Plaza Church at right and the Plaza further back out of view.  The Terminal Annex building with its twin towers looms in the distance. 

A little on the LARy, the Los Angeles Railway.

Broadway and 7th Street, 1942

1942, Streetcar stop at Broadway and 7th Street Downtown Los Angeles.  The view is looking south toward the Loew's State Theater.  Thank you to the Forgotten Splendour. 

Mattel Toys, 13060 E. Temple Blvd, City of Industry, 1969

1969, Mattel Toys, on this day in 1969, Courtesy of Progress Bulletin, Friday, September 19, 1969.  I used to deliver here for UPS every day back in 1979.  Loved that City of Industry and Hacienda Heights route.  Thank you to Scott Sandberg.

Firestone Blvd at Lakewood Blvd, CA 19, in Downey, 1953

1953, Firestone Blvd, then CA 10, later CA 42, at Lakewood Blvd CA 19 in Downey.  The view is looking east on Firestone Blvd, DOH D7.  Thank you to Arturo Salazar.  

Maine Avenue looking north from Ramona Blvd. in Baldwin Park, 1965

1965, Maine Avenue looking north from Ramona Blvd. in Baldwin Park.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.

LA County Fair, 1922, 1929, 1934, 1935, 1948,

Thank you to Forgotten Los Angeles.

There are only two days left to attend this year’s Los Angeles County Fair, and I have certainly been having fun digging back through its 102-year history.

Started in a Pomona beet field in October 1922, the Fair drew 50,000 visitors in its first year, with people coming from all over to see the agricultural and livestock exhibitions, and to enjoy daily chariot races and a wing-walking exhibition.

Since then, the fair has been held 95 times, bringing in more than 90 million visitors, and it has been significantly expanded, with its Fairplex now covering 543 acres, more than twelve times its original size.

No fairs were held between 1942 and 1947 due to the war, or in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid.

Photos:

• 1-5. Five great shots from the 1948 Fair, which was themed “A Century of Progress” celebrating California’s centennial anniversary. These images come from the Cal Poly Pomona Library and were pulled by Victoria Bernal for her great PBS Socal piece posted in 2022.

• 6. A very large pig, photographed in 1929.

• 7. A Frasher postcard for Rodoco Bulldog Kennels, taken at the LA County Fair in 1934

• 8-9. Two from the 1935 Fair, the first of which shows fairgoers outside of a Circus Sideshow, and the second showing people outside of a daredevil motorcycle exhibition.

Sources: 1-5. Cal Poly Pomona; 6,8-9. UCLA; 7. Pomona Library

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