7th & Spring, Los Angeles, 1930

1930, Traffic at Seventh and Spring, Los Angeles, 1930.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.  

Schwab’s Pharmacy on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, 1951

1951, A Woman Walking to Schwab’s Pharmacy on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles (1951)

Schwab’s Pharmacy was more than just a drugstore; it was a social hotspot in 1951 where actors, writers, and producers often gathered for coffee and conversation. As a woman made her way toward its entrance, she became part of a scene steeped in Hollywood lore. Known as a place where careers could be launched, the pharmacy attracted both hopeful newcomers and established stars. The glass storefront showcased bustling counters where customers chatted over milkshakes and magazines. Schwab’s represented the blending of the mundane and the extraordinary—where picking up a prescription could lead to an unexpected industry connection.  Thank you to Historical Los Angeles USA.

1940s, Schwab's Pharmacy. 

1948, Schwab's Pharmacy on Sunset Blvd on a Friday night. It was a hangout for Hollywood Stars and up-and-comers.

60 (Pomona Freeway) Montebello, Monterey Park, & East LA, 1973

1973, One could check out a Speed Graphic 4x5" film camera from the East LA College Photography division stockroom, then put the camera to use over a weekend for a class assignment, or as a self-assignment of imagined importance equal to the effort incorporating the use of that large camera and film.  Thank you to Jim Staub for this fantastic photo.

The camera and tripod went up the side of the dump embankment off the 60 (Pomona Freeway) in either Montebello or Monterey Park jurisdiction, but what is know is the westerly direction I aimed the camera. The city of Montebello is at left of the freeway, Monterey Park and East LA on right of the freeway. The objective was to capture Los Angeles from my hometown, and this was that unusually clear day for the smog-era to carry out the photo. 1973; the LA skyline is still sparse enough to distinguish individual buildings, including LA City Hall the first of that high rise of the horizon. The tallest in the photo is Crocker Bank Tower. It has to be a weekend, and I would narrow it down to a Sunday, with that light traffic on the freeway, just 7 to 8 years old. My twin brother, John Staub had been taking photos of and from the dump once we owned cameras and he was likely with me. This picture would be that clear statement about suburban Monterey Park connected to Los Angeles by this umbilical freeway. I made one exposure and slide down the loose, angled covered city refuse and headed back home, never fully confident about that latent image in the film holder waiting to be developed.

I imagined a 50 year update with this anchor photo. The dump is different though. High security fences and their own cameras... and no longer a refuse facility. A Mayan -like human landform of compacted dirt, outgassing the disposed elements that never died and lives on. It becomes a new form, like a city never settled. Jim Staub Dec, 24, 2024. 

Four-Level Interchange, 1981

1981, Four-Level Interchange of Harbor, Pasadena, Hollywood, and San Bernardino Freeways from Up High, Looking Northwest, Los Angeles (1981).  Thank you to Historical Los Angeles.

In 1981, the four-level freeway interchange connecting the Harbor, Pasadena, Hollywood, and San Bernardino freeways was a monumental feat of engineering. Viewed from above, the multi-layered interchange resembled a sprawling concrete web, with cars and trucks weaving through its many ramps and overpasses. This interchange, one of the most complex in the world, exemplified Los Angeles' commitment to freeway connectivity and its reliance on automobile travel. As cars zipped along the ramps, this view captured the scale and scope of LA’s car-centric urban planning, a system designed to keep millions of residents on the move.

1950s, View of the Stack, the 4-Level downtown Los Angeles, CA.  Thank you to Paul Ayers. 

7th & Flower Street, 1937

1937, This view of 7th looking east from Flower Street includes pedestrians, cars, and a long vista of buildings.  The J. W. Robinson store is visible down the block at 600 West 7th Street.  Thank you to LAPL.

1947, Thank you to Martin Turnbull for this great shot of a store that I never saw.  Though I do not see the name J. W. Robinson's on the facade anywhere.

When are you coming home?

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, Sally asked, "When are you coming home?" to which I replied,

IDK. Home for me is in that Duarte house with Mom on her love seat enjoying a Milky Way then a 3 Musketeers, her coffee within reach on that end table pinched between her . . . imperial chair and love seat, combing thru the LA Times for some interesting story, comforted by the voices of her adult babies and perhaps Dad's radio playing big band tunes of the 1940s with his [bacon], egg [and cheddar] soufflé baking in the oven all before Sally would arrive to make her homemade coffeecake in a Pyrex. And if it were cold enough, the terrific smell, sight, and sound of a small fire in the living room fireplace.  Are you talking about THAT home, where I'd be seated across Mom on the sofa populating a crossword puzzle, putting it out "What's a 5-letter word for 'hurried'? to which Mom with her Catholic school education would reply 'hasty.'  Is that the home that you speak of?

Hollywood Christmas Parade, 1940s

1940s, In the 1940s, Hollywood Boulevard transformed into a glittering wonderland during Christmas, epitomizing the glamour of Los Angeles. By this time, Hollywood had firmly established itself as the epicenter of the American film industry, and the Boulevard was a hub for both locals and tourists. Christmas decorations added a festive allure to its iconic landmarks, such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. String lights crisscrossed the streets, while store windows showcased elaborate holiday displays, blending the spirit of the season with Hollywood's flair for spectacle. These decorations were not merely aesthetic but also a reflection of resilience, as World War II cast its shadow over global celebrations.  Thank you to Club Tepatlaxco Futbol.