The 70s had some great movies and great music. I can't imagine any white band producing a song like The Pusherman, 1972, though maybe the producers and distributors actually were white. When I hear this song, I think what a great cultural service it is to all young men to warn them of drug pushers in your neighborhood and midst. Growing up, I had a good friend who was on something, and he told me to never try it. I didn't need to be told. Drugs scared me.

1967, Many songs explore the theme of LSD, including "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles, 1967, on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

1966, "Alice D. Millionaire" by The Grateful Dead, 1966.

"Girl on LSD" by Tom Petty,

1967, "White Rabbit," Jefferson Airplane, 1967. Although mushrooms are mentioned in this song, I don't think this song glorifies a drug-addled experience. To the contrary, the end of the song, the final lyrics read, "Feed your head / Feed your head," which sounds to me like extremely solid advice for kids growing up in the crazy times of 1960s.

1971, "Sweet Leaf," Black Sabbath. Doesn't take a terrific imagination to figure out what this song is about. But I suppose it appealed to a lot of former conservative teenagers who were looking to be part of the counter revolution.

1972, The Needle and the Damage Done, Neil Young. About heroin.

Cocaine, Eric Clapton

Los Angeles County, Post-War Boom, 1946-1962

1953, Hollywood Freeway over the Four-Level Interchange, or "The Stack". Courtesy of the California Dept. of Transportation.  Thank you to Los Angeles County Post-War Boom, 1946-1962.  

Gunfire. Commandos. Hostages. All components of a January 4th Siege on City Hall, staged by the War Department in 1944.

Shots of Chinatown come in at the 1:24 mark.

California Internment of Japanese began in 1942 and ended in 1944, 

On December 18, 1944, the Supreme Court handed down two decisions on the legality of the incarceration under Executive Order 9066. Korematsu v. United States, a 6–3 decision upholding a Nisei's conviction for violating the military exclusion order, stated that, in general, the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast was constitutional. However, Ex parte Endo unanimously declared on that same day that loyal citizens of the United States, regardless of cultural descent, could not be detained without cause.^[227][228] In effect, the two rulings held that, while the eviction of American citizens in the name of military necessity was legal, the subsequent incarceration was not—thus paving the way for their release.

1944, Hostage situation at the City Hall.  

Mazzy Star, "Fade Into You", 1993

Sunset Boulevard at N. Hill Place, 1925

1925, Sunset Boulevard at Hill Place. A building advertising Coca-Cola at front and side, stands on top of a hill. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection)  Thank you to LAPL.  

View of the Pontoon Bridge between Terminal Island and San Pedro, 1958

1958, View of the Pontoon Bridge between Terminal Island and San Pedro.  It was built in 1943 and was supposed to be temporary.  It lasted nearly 25 years.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.  

San Gabriel Riverbed, Duarte, 2022