Striking Workers picket in front of Pabst Brewing Co. plant at 1920 North Main Street, 1954

1954, A lone picket parades across the entrance of the Pabst Brewing Co. plant at 1920 North Main street as workers went on a strike in wage dispute. More than 1100 men were idled when picket lines were set up around this brewery and another in Van Nuys by AFL International Union of Operating Engineers. The brewery, located at 1920-2026 N. Main Street, was designed by architect John C. Austin and built between 1898 and 1908. The facility was originally occupied by the Los Angeles Brewing Co., then by Eastside Brewery, and lastly Pabst Brewing Company. (Herald Examiner Collection).  Thank you to LAPL.  

John's Birthday

Dad loved to do little extras for people's birthdays.  Pretty great to have examples of his work even at this late a date.  This was probably 1985.

101, Ventura

 It's funny how much I think of my dad as drive 101 from Ventura to Monterey under the sun and occasional canopy of eucalyptus and cedars.  He used to take me, Tom, and Joe to Solvang for a pancake breakfast (I often got pigs in a blanket), air hockey they had in the motel Rec Room, and he'd always make a stop at Santa Inez Mission.  One year I bought a triptych and a tiny plaque of St. Michael driving Satan into Hell.  He loved stopping at Catholic churches in every new city he'd visit. I drove him to Monterey in 1985, three years before he passed, and he loved it and I loved the exclusive hours with him.  A great memory from that trip was him unscrewing the cup of a thermos and pouring me a cup of hot coffee that infused the car as I'm driving my green 1980 VW bug on the 101 at 5am outside of Thousand Oaks.

215 N. Hill Street, Burt Lancaster's Home in the 1949 movie, Criss Cross

1953, Panoramic view of the city west of downtown Los Angeles on a clear day (1953).  Thank you to Los Angeles History.

Panoramic shot, the city of Los Angeles is visible stretching west from downtown, bathed in sunlight on a clear day. The view captures the expansive nature of Los Angeles, where the skyline begins to emerge against the backdrop of the surrounding hills and valleys. During this time, the city was rapidly developing, with residential and commercial areas expanding beyond the city center. The clarity of the skies and the bustling streets highlight the optimism and promise of the post-war era. This image offers a rare opportunity to see Los Angeles before the density of the modern metropolis fully took shape.

Jim Dawson points out, 

The single two-story house halfway up the photo, toward the left side, was 215 N. Hill Street, just above the northern termini of the Hill Street tunnels. It was Burt Lancaster's house in the 1949 film noir, Criss Cross. Here's a close-up shot:

Flying Wing planes at the Northrop plant in Hawthorne, 1949.

1949, Flying Wing planes at the Northrop plant in Hawthorne, 1949.  Thank you to Lynn Thompson. 

MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, 1957

7th & Hope Streets, Los Angeles, 1933

1933, 7th and Hope Streets, Los Angeles (1933).  Thank you to Historical Los Angeles USA.

In 1933, the intersection of 7th and Hope Streets offered a glimpse into a bustling downtown Los Angeles. Streetcars and automobiles competed for space while pedestrians filled the sidewalks, heading into offices, shops, and cafes. This corner was part of a growing financial and retail hub, where Art Deco architecture rose alongside older brick buildings. The Great Depression was still gripping the nation, but the city’s rhythm carried on with resilience. Downtown LA in the early '30s was a mix of commerce, ambition, and changing times.

1940, Union Oil Building, 7th and Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA.  Thank you to Getty Images.