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. 

Looking east along Hollywood Boulevard at Sycamore Avenue, 1937

1937, Looking east along Hollywood Boulevard at Sycamore Avenue, with several iconic buildings in view. From left to right: the First National Bank Building (northeast corner of Hollywood and Highland), the Roosevelt Hotel (center), and the Hollywood Professional Building (right).  Thank you to Jack Feldman.  Check out the Water & Power Museum.