So what do we notice? Well, in 1938, there was curb parking in both directions … and there’s one 1902 model streetcar (1938 – 1902 = 36 years) in a line of vehicles. Realize that the streetcar would be stuck if the tracks were blocked by a stalled auto or an accident.

Now look at the modern picture from Google’s street view … There’s no parking allowed at the curbs — at least at the corner, although we have parked vehicles farther down the street.

As for The Times’ series on traffic, as you might expect, Part I states the problem: Los Angeles’ streets are congested. Compared with the 1938 photo, traffic on Alvarado today doesn’t seem so bad, does it? Of course, we don’t know exactly when Google cruised the streets, although it was apparently early in the morning. You might wonder whether our grandparents managed to solve Los Angeles’ traffic problem — or at least this particular traffic problem.

And in case you are wondering about the Earle Kynette case, it’s Sunday and the court is dark.

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