Category Archives: Downtown

Broadway Traffic, 1930

Posted on April 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

December 1930: Broadway and 3rd Street. The Los Angeles County Transportation Authority Library and Archive is a wonderful source of old photos. Here's one of Broadway at 3rd Street taken in December 1930. The Times Building in the center-right portion  … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Photography, Transportation | Comments Off on Broadway Traffic, 1930

City Hall Is a Firetrap

Posted on April 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The 1889 City Hall on Broadway just north of what is now the Victor Clothing Building. Notice that there are no fire escapes. April 9, 1910: A fire that broke out in the janitor’s basement office could have quickly … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Environment | Comments Off on City Hall Is a Firetrap

The Times’ Changing Nameplate

Posted on April 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The Times’ nameplate before the 1910 bombing, with The Times Building at right.  The revised nameplate of 1913 shows the building on fire. The 1913 nameplate also shows the new building on the site of the old one at … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Downtown, Food and Drink | 2 Comments

Artist’s Notebook: Outside the Edison

Posted on April 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Outside the Edison,” by Marion Eisenmann. I thought it would be fun to write about the crowds that have revived downtown nightlife in the last few years, so late one Friday, Marion Eisenmann and I strolled up 2nd Street from … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Marion Eisenmann, Nightclubs, Nuestro Pueblo | 1 Comment

Chauffeur Is Speed Crazy

Posted on April 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 2, 1910: "The motorcycle men are after me and they will never get me," he cried. "I'm going to give them a race for their money this time. If they get me they will send me to jail."

Posted in Downtown, LAPD, Transportation | 1 Comment

L.A. Moment

Posted on March 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 25, 1944: Glenn Miller’s plane disappears. I was coming back from lunch at Koo-Koo-Roo on Grand Avenue this afternoon and while waiting for the light, I heard Glenn Miller’s “American Patrol” floating out a window of one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Music | 1 Comment

Dodgers Giving Up on Stadium for ’61 Season

Posted on March 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 20, 1960: The Dodgers were giving up hope they would open the 1961 season in their new Chavez Ravine stadium. Walter O'Malley complained to The Times' sports editor, Paul Zimmerman, about the "little delays" that kept construction from … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dodgers, Downtown | 1 Comment

Artist’s Notebook: Drawing Salon

Posted on March 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “Everything and Everybody,” by Marion Eisenmann. Marion Eisenmann sends two sketches from one of the recent “Late Nite Drawing Salons,” which are held Monday nights at the E3rd Steakhouse & Lounge. We thought the salon would offer some interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Marion Eisenmann | Comments Off on Artist’s Notebook: Drawing Salon

No Street Parking in Downtown L.A.

Posted on March 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 11, 1920: What Los Angeles is coming to without street parking in downtown, by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale. The ban was adopted to ease the seemingly ageless problem of traffic. 

Posted in Downtown, Transportation | Comments Off on No Street Parking in Downtown L.A.

Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on March 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

Oct. 7, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit 942 Yale St. (Google maps’ street view shows the lion is long gone). The original run of “Nuestro Pueblo” concluded last year. I’m going back and picking up the ones I … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo | 1 Comment

Artist’s Notebook: Sign Spinning

Posted on March 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

 “Flying Ads,” by Marion Eisenmann. You find these young men (and they always seem to be young men) with their handheld signs all over Los Angeles, advertising pizza, condos or some other business.  I saw one fellow put on an … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Marion Eisenmann | Comments Off on Artist’s Notebook: Sign Spinning

Found on EBay: Pershing Square Cannon

Posted on March 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  You may recall a post I did last year on Pershing Square’s missing cannon, which vanished after being moved to Travel Town in Griffith Park. Here’s a 1905 postcard showing the cannon, which has been listed on EBay. Bidding … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Parks and Recreation, Photography | 1 Comment

Everyone Can Find Prostitutes Except the LAPD

Posted on March 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 3, 1910: Everybody in Los Angeles can find the city’s brothels – except the police, The Times says. Especially that place at 316 1/2 S. Spring St. There’s more on the jump, plus the crazy “Pawnshop Wife” … … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD | 1 Comment

Fiery Train Wreck Kills 17

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

The San Francisco Santa Fe Chief smashes into an oil tank truck and trailer 12 miles west of Bakersfield. March 2, 1960: Gov. Pat Brown gives up hope that the California Legislature will abolish the death penalty …  and Elvis … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Fiery Train Wreck Kills 17

Times Advocates Importing Chinese Workers for Menial Jobs

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “It Happens in the Best-Regulated Families,” by Clare Briggs.   March 2, 1920: People – especially women – are drawn by a live model who stands perfectly still in a display window at Harris & Frank’s shop on Spring … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Downtown, Immigration | Comments Off on Times Advocates Importing Chinese Workers for Menial Jobs

Higgins Building to Add Two Floors

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 1, 1910:  Thomas Higgins is adding two floors to his building at 2nd and Main streets. A century later, downtown hipsters will thank him! On the jump, police make a terrible blunder in putting officers in Chinatown back … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on Higgins Building to Add Two Floors

Downtown Parking Ban to Ease Traffic

Posted on February 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

  To ease congested streets, Los Angeles will ban street parking from Figueroa to Los Angeles streets and 1st to 9th streets. Notice that Spring hasn’t been straightened out yet, another attempt to relieve traffic.    L.O. Keown  and his … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Education, Freeways, Transportation | 1 Comment

Officer’s Shot Saves Partner’s Life

Posted on February 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 26, 1960: Gov. Pat Brown will answer questions about granting a reprieve to Caryl Chessman … and on skid row, Officer V.P. Farmer shoots an ex-convict who is holding a gun to the head of Officer Ernest Searles … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Caryl Chessman, Downtown, LAPD, Television | Comments Off on Officer’s Shot Saves Partner’s Life

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 25, 1960

Posted on February 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  On Man's Ingratitude to Man, With 20% Off     Sammy is 46 years old, a newsboy, a coffee-addicted graduate of Judge Clifton's drunk court, and — by his own admission — nobody's angel.     For 30 of his years … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Downtown, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 25, 1960

Does L.A. Want the Lakers?

Posted on February 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Feb. 23, 1960: Minneapolis Lakers owner Bob Short was ahead of his time. Reading comments made by Short to a group of basketball writers, one could assume he owned a team in 2010 rather than 1960. After all, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | 2 Comments