Dragon Road sign in China City, 1939

1939, Dragon Road sign in China City. Christine Sterling, the civic leader who created Olvera Street, created a similar project for the Chinese American community. China City covered the entire city block from Spring on the west to Main on the east and from Macy (now César Chávez) on the south to Ord on the north, with gates on Main Street, Spring Street, and Ord. By 1935, the development had the atmosphere of a Chinese village or small town, with booths and stalls along narrow winding streets. Unfortunately, due to two major fires over a ten-year period, China City came to an end by the early 1950s. (Herman J Schultheis Collection) https://buff.ly/3C0aN90.  

https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_City_Views%20(1925%20+)_8_of_8.html

Pacific Electric meets the Santa Fe on Colorado Blvd & Fair Oaks, Pasadena, CA 1950

1950, Pacific Electric meets the Santa Fe on Colorado Blvd [Route 66] in downtown Pasadena.  Thank you to Robert Di Dio.

Funeral Bagpipes

Amazing Grace,

Going Home, 

Taps on Bagpipes.

 

I was asking around--Charlen, Dan, and Patrick--about the bagpipe sings played at John's funeral in 2018.  Pat replied, 

Hello . . . Mike!

So lovely to hear from you. I'm currently in London. The piper did not play Taps. He played "Ave Maria," "Danny Boy," and "the Fields of Athenry."

Broadway and 1st, 1956

this is not the greatest picture, but the caption was helpful to mark the shift in the 1950s beatnik, rock'n'roll, Ozzie and Harriet era to the 1960s, a heavier state and federal government period in the lives of citizens.  

1956, View looking south on Broadway from 1st Street showing the businesses and buildings along the west side of the street. These buildings would soon be demolished to make way for a State building. Buildings seen include the Mason Theater (at center-left) and the Hough Block building with its fire escape ladder down the front and Rowan ad on the side (at center). The building to the left (SE corner) would be demolished in the early 1970s to make way for a 6-story modern addition to the LA Times Building.  Thank you to the Water & Power Museum.

Hollywood & Highland, 1950

1937, Highland Avenue looking north on Highland Avenue near Sunset Blvd.  Hollywood High School can be seen at far left, and in the center distance are the Hollywood United Methodist Church and the Hollywood First National Bank Building.  Thank you to the Water & Power Museum.  

This is my favorite shot of that intersection. 

1950, View looking north from the southeast corner of Hollywood and Highland with the Hollywood First Methodist Church visible in the distance.  Note the semaphore traffic signal and the sign on the light post.  Thank you to Jack Feldman. 

And this would be my second favorite.

1960, Looking north on Highland toward the Hollywood First Methodist Church.  Thank you to Jack Feldman. 

Sears Building, Boyle Heights, CA, 1927

Mom used to work here.  She said that she operated a comptometer machine.  Kind of cool and interesting.  This was a decent video.

1927, Construction of the Sears store on Soto Street and 9th Street (later Olympic Blvd.), Boyle Heights, May 4, 1927.

In December 1926, Sears, Roebuck, and Company of Chicago announced that it would build a 9-story, height-limit building on East 9th Street (later renamed Olympic Boulevard) at Soto in Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles.  The building intended to serve as a mail order distribution center for the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast states, was constructed by Scofield Engineering Company.  Architectural work was handled by George Nimmens Company.  Thank you to the Water & Power Museum.  

9th, Main, and Spring Streets converge, downtown Los Angeles, 1948

1948, The intersection where 9th, Main and Spring Streets converge, downtown Los Angeles (1948)

By 1948, downtown Los Angeles had become a commercial powerhouse, with the intersection of 9th, Main, and Spring Streets at its heart. This intersection connected vital economic arteries, surrounded by banks, department stores, and office buildings. Traffic was dense, with post-war cars cramming the streets, and the sidewalks were equally crowded with shoppers and workers. The buildings around this intersection reflected a range of architectural styles, from Beaux-Arts to more streamlined modern structures. The energy of this area exemplifies the fast-paced growth of Los Angeles in the late 1940s, driven by economic prosperity and population expansion.  Thank you to Historical Los Angeles, USA.

Olympic and Broadway, Los Angeles, 1954

1954, Olympic and Broadway, Los Angeles (1954)

The intersection of Olympic and Broadway in 1954 was a bustling part of downtown Los Angeles, lined with shops, businesses, and heavy foot traffic. This area served as a key commercial district, capturing the post-war economic boom that fueled the city’s growth. As cars and pedestrians filled the streets, Olympic and Broadway became a lively and diverse intersection where residents and tourists alike experienced the vibrant energy of 1950s Los Angeles.  Thank you to Historic Los Angeles. 

The Metropolitan/Paramount Theatre, 6th and Hill, 1957

1957, The Metropolitan/Paramount Theatre, 6th and Hill -- All dressed up with furs in wintertime L.A. Only 5 cents for Pershing Square parking! It's a 1957 photo by Chris Shaw. This shot + one more by Chris just got added to our page of Met/Paramount street views: https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/.../metropolitan...

We're looking at a secondary entrance (and smaller marquee) on the Hill St. side of the theatre. They had the January release "Top Secret Affair" with Susan Hayward and Kirk Douglas. The co-feature was "Duel at Apache Wells" starring Anna Maria Alberghetti and Ben Cooper. Thanks to Chris Shaw's son Robert for sharing this shot as well as the photo below as part of a post on the South Bay/Los Angeles Days of Old California group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hagins/posts/8735097013214139.

President Harry Truman campaigning for re-election at LA’s Gilmore Stadium on Sept. 23, 1948.

1948, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall, President Truman, who was FDR's VP and then became president upon FDR's death.  

from Wikipedia, 

Truman was elected vice president in the 1944 presidential election and became president upon Roosevelt's death in April 1945. Only then was he told about the ongoing Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb. Truman authorized the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Truman's administration engaged in an internationalist foreign policy by working closely with Britain. Truman staunchly denounced isolationism. He energized the New Deal coalition during the 1948 presidential election, despite a divided Democratic Party, and won a surprise victory against Republican Party nominee Thomas E. Dewey that secured his own presidential term.

Truman presided over the onset of the Cold War in 1947. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift and Marshall Plan in 1948.

President Harry Truman campaigning for re-election at LA’s Gilmore Stadium on Sept. 23, 1948.

In this set, you’ll see a number of famous faces like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, as well as Screen Actors Guild president Ronald Reagan (back when he was still pro-union), but there are also a number of faces that look extremely familiar that I can’t quite place, so if you recognize someone shout them out in the comments. I particularly want to know about the black female journalists in Slide 4 (neither looks to be Alice Allison Dunnigan, who was traveling with Truman’s campaign at the time as the first black journalist to do so).

In Slides 2-12, we’re seeing Truman’s arrival at Union Station at that day, coming in at 5pm from Oakland after spending a couple days campaigning in Salt Lake City, Reno, and San Francisco. Love the glimpse of the gasometers in Slide 6 and the 7-Up sign in Slides 10-11. In Slide 9, Truman is holding up a new book called “California Jubilee” by Ed Ainsworth, celebrating the state’s centennial anniversary.

After that, we head to Gilmore Stadium, located at Beverly & Farifax, where Television City stands today. The audience was estimated to be about 16,000, so using the crowd-size inflation metric established by a certain current candidate, that’s like 100,000 people. In addition to Bogart, Bacall, and Reagan here, we also have big band musician Manny Harmon in slides 17-19, and in Slide 30, I love seeing that sea of desk lights set up for the press corps covering the event.

Keep in mind that California was a swing state at this time, and that Truman was not expected to win this election. But, he put in the work bringing his message to the American people, making every rally count because he knew that every vote mattered. In the end, he managed to win the state by less than half a point, and won re-election by less than 25,000 votes.

-

Photos by Peter Stackpole for LIFE Magazine

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBXAMbCTNAK/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Helms Bakery, Culver City, CA

Helms Bakery, Culver City, CA

Crowd gathers outside Sturgis Radio Store to listen to the 1929 World Series [Philadelphia A's vs. Chicago Cubs]

1929, Outside the Sturgis Radio Store at 5308 Wilshire Boulevard, near the southwest corner of Wilshire and La Brea, a crowd gathers to listen to a live broadcast of the World Series. Enthralled by the game, many follow along with newspapers in hand. The 1929 Series features the Philadelphia A’s facing off against the Chicago Cubs.  Thank you to Jack Feldman.

Sorrento's Liquor, 2012

Sorrento's Liquor Store at Bunker Hill and Sunset Blvd., since renamed Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.  Dad used to stop here on the way home with us kids on weekends after he'd spend half a Saturday filing paperwork at work, and he'd buy us whatever soda and Corn Nuts or Snickers we wanted.  Dad was thoughtful and generous.  And this liquor store was located near the intersection of Grand and Sunset.  Donovan's Texaco station was a block farther west.  And the Pasadena Freeway onramp was just one block farther north.  Photo taken on August 3, 2012.  Yes, you can see the new development of condos on the south side of the Boulevard.  Thanks to Chris Grossman.

Dodger Stadium, 1962-

1973, I wrote, "'73? I wonder who they were playing that day, who was pitching, who occupied RF, and if anyone had a hitting streak that was on the line." Thank you to Classic Hollywood/Los Angeles/SFV.  

Dario Witer replied, "Mike, this picture was taken in 1966 during the 1966 World Series between the Dodgers and the Orioles."  Adding that, "Taken and published in the Los Angeles Times back in October of 1966 when the Dodgers and the Orioles faced each other in the 1966 World Series."

Feeding pigeons at 9th and Figueroa, 1978

1978, Feeding pigeons on the corner of 9th and Figueroa. (William Reagh Collection).  https://buff.ly/3NaTfcG.  Thank you to LAPL.

The Sixth Street Bridge, 1989

1989, The Sixth Street Bridge, crossing the Los Angeles River, is the longest city-owned bridge in LA.   (Mike Mullen - Herald Examiner Collection)  https://buff.ly/3A3eE4B.  Thank you to LAPL.

Home Savings Bank, 8th and Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1950s

[undated] 8th and Broadway, Home Savings Bank building.  (Albert L. Bresnik - Herald Examiner Collection) https://buff.ly/3YowSXF.  Thank you to LAPL.

Vintage cars pass by in a parade in Watts, CA, 1968

1968, Spectators watch as vintage cars pass by in a parade in Watts.  Sign on car reads: "Angel City Chapter Model A Ford Club of America, Antique Classic Veteran Vintage and Special Interest Cars." (Herald-Examiner Collection) https://buff.ly/3BVJxIO.

Lamanda Park in Pasadena, 1926

1926, Baseball fans at Lamanda Park in Pasadena get the updated score for Game 6 of the World Series between the Yankees and the Saint Louis Cardinals.  October 9, 1926.  Thanks to Rick Watts. 

Drive-in liquor store, Los Angeles, 1949

1949, Drive-in liquor store somewhere in Los Angeles.  Thank you to Jason Horton @ Lost Angeles.   

1949, Customers buying bread and snacks at a drive-thru market and liquor store, Los Angeles, CA, 1949.  Thank you to Valerie Berk. 

1949, Customers shopping at a drive-in grocery and liquor store, Los Angeles, CA.  Unfortunately, the name of the store is missing.  Thank you to Getty Images.

Virginia Dare Winery in Cucamonga

The Virginia Dare Winery in Cucamonga about a century ago. Main building on right still stands as a repurposed building.  Thank you to Kevin Fleming.

LA River under the Figueroa Street Bridge, 1948

1948, Photo shows water flowing in the Los Angeles River.  The Figueroa Street Bridge can be seen in the background over the river.  Herald-Examiner Collection.  Thank you to LAPL.

9th Street Bridge [aka, Olympic Blvd Bridge] spans over the Los Angeles River, 1930

1930, The 9th Street Bridge spans over the Los Angeles River and multiple railroad tracks in this view. The Chamberlain Company Inc., located at 2550 E. Ninth Street is visible on the left, and manufacturing buildings can be seen throughout the background. The 1,422-foot bridge was built in 1925. (Herald-Examiner Collection)  https://buff.ly/4f8DgrL. Thank you to LAPL.

View west from the Bonaventure Hotel, 5th and Figueroa, 1987

1987, LA, CA, DtLA.  View west from the Bonaventure Hotel overlooking downtown Los Angeles. Fifth and Figueroa Streets in the foreground.  Thank you to Mel-v VC.

Grand Opening of the General Motors Plant, Van Nuys, 1948

1948, The General Motors plant at Van Nuys during the grand opening on February 19-21, 1948 although it started production in December 1947.

This plant built 6.3 million cars during its lifespan including Chevrolet Advance Design trucks. Later it would produce several different models including Chevrolet full-size (Caprice, Impala, etc.), Chevrolet Corvair, Chevrolet Greenbrier, Chevrolet Chevelle, Chevrolet Nova/Buick Apollo/Oldsmobile Omega/Pontiac Ventura, and Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird. It also produced the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Buick Skylark. The plant was closed in 1992 when Camaro/Firebird production moved to Sainte-Thérèse Assembly in Quebec.  Thank you to Valley Relics Museum. 

1st & Hill Street, LA, 1976

1958, Looking North Along Hill Street, from South of 1st Street, Los Angeles (1958)

By 1958, Hill Street had become one of downtown Los Angeles' key arteries, with government buildings, theaters, and office towers lining the street. Cars and buses filled the multi-lane roadway, while pedestrians moved steadily along the sidewalks. The city’s reliance on automobile transportation was on full display, with bus stops and crosswalks playing an essential role in daily commutes. The classic post-war cars navigating Hill Street symbolized LA’s mid-century expansion, as the city grew into one of the most car-centric urban centers in the world.  Thank you to Historical Los Angeles USA.  Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2024.

1976, Looking southwest from the new Hall of Records, shows LA County Courthouse at right, and high-end buildings on Bunker Hill.  Thank you to Mel-v VC.

The year that Dad retired from the County.  Dad used to do his morning exercises at work up that walkway to the right of that station wagon.  He'd do push-ups and stretching.  

Cahuenga Pass during rush hour, heading into the city from the San Fernando Valley, 1948

1949, Barham Bridge over Cahuenga Pass, looking southeast, with a stairway leading down to the Pacific Red Car tracks in the center median. 

1948, View of Cahuenga Pass during rush hour, showing a line of cars bumper to bumper heading into the city from the San Fernando Valley, with Pacific Red Car tracks on the left.  Thank you to Jack Feldman and to the Water & Power Museum. 

Pigeon Hole Garage, Los Angeles, 1955

1955, Pigeon Hole Garage.  Thanks to Classic Hollywood.  

1953, A man stands next to the car elevator that lifts automobiles to the desired floor and parks them in "pigeon hole" stalls at the Pigeon Hole Garage located at 644 S. Flower (at Wilshire). Photo dated: November 7, 1953. From TESSA, LAPL Digital Library.

1953, City Councilman, Ed Roybal (arrow) speaks during the dedication for the Pigeon Hole Parking Garage (background) located at 644 S. Flower Street, at the intersection with Wilshire Blvd. The new type of garage was built by Standard Stations, Inc.  A hydraulic lift picks up a car and carries it to a parking space. Dated November 5, 1953.