Category Archives: Downtown

Artist’s Notebook: City Hall

Posted on July 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles City Hall, July 3, 2009 Since I began posting Nuestro Pueblo last year, I've wanted to feature contemporary artwork of historic Los Angeles in the spirit of what Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens did in 1938-39. Not long … Continue reading →

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

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on July 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 5, 1921: "Beau Revel" is playing at Grauman's Million Dollar Theater, with the Columbia Park Boys, plus Grauman's symphony orchestra and Henry Murtagh at the Wurlitzer. "The Woman God Changed" is at Grauman's Rialto, Broadway near 8th Street, … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Nixon Dedicates Sports Arena

Posted on July 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1959: Vice President Richard Nixon waves during the dedication of the Sports Arena. It has been a long time since anyone referred to the Los Angeles Sports Arena as a "marvel of modern design." But that was the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960 Democratic Convention, City Hall, Current Affairs, Downtown, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off on Nixon Dedicates Sports Arena

Fireworks Touch Off Numerous Blazes

Posted on July 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 5, 1889: Firecrackers and rockets touch off numerous blazes around the city … a man is arrested for swearing at a driver who collided with his wagon. 

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on July 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 4, 1918: D.W. Griffith's "Hearts of the World" is playing at Clune's Auditorium 5th and Olive. At the Kinema, Grand Avenue at 7th Street, Mary Pickford stars in "How Could You, Jean," directed by William Desmond Taylor. At … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Stage | 1 Comment

Fourth of July Concert in the Park.

Posted on July 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 4, 1899: The Third Regiment Band will give a Fourth of July Concert at Central Park (now Pershing Square). The program includes the "Los Angeles Times March and Two-Step" by conductor J.B. Reynolds. 

Posted in Downtown, Music | Comments Off on Fourth of July Concert in the Park.

Downtown L.A. Is Red, White and Blue

Posted on July 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 4, 1889: The cable cars and the engine house are decorated for the Fourth of July … and two neighboring ranchers settle their differences at the blacksmith shop.

Posted in Animals, Downtown, Homicide | Comments Off on Downtown L.A. Is Red, White and Blue

Legislature Fails to Pass Budget; Mota Leads Dodgers

Posted on July 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1969: The Sacramento debating society recesses without passing a budget. Why is crime down? Police credit the Neighborhood Watch program. Photograph by Steve Dykes / Los Angeles Times Feb. 13, 1992: Dodgers batting instructor Matty Mota, left, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

A Parade and Fireworks for the Fourth of July

Posted on July 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 2, 1889: Los Angeles plans its Fourth of July parade. Grand display of fireworks at 8 o'clock!

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L.A. Prepares for Olympic-Size Traffic Nightmare

Posted on July 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1984: Will subways work in Los Angeles? "But others say Metro Rail will not be heavily used by poor people because it will not take them where they want to go–to jobs scattered throughout the Los Angeles area," … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Environment, Freeways, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Transportation | Comments Off on L.A. Prepares for Olympic-Size Traffic Nightmare

Griffith Park Hermit Is War Veteran; Dodger Case May Go to Supreme Court

Posted on July 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1959: Coming soon, "Porgy and Bess" and "Anatomy of a Murder" David Williams became the first African American federal judge west of the Mississippi. At left, African American Judge David Williams is overruled in dismissing cases against blacks. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown | 1 Comment

New High Street Wants Prostitutes

Posted on July 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1889: Property owners circulate a petition urging the City Council to put all the prostitutes New High Street. View Larger Map

Posted in Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on New High Street Wants Prostitutes

Found on EBay — J.W. Robinson’s

Posted on June 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Here's a bit of early Los Angeles opulence: The restroom at J.W. Robinson's, complete with a well. Purely decorative, I'm sure. Bidding starts at $7.99.

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Fashion | 1 Comment

Street Sweeping — Cut to Save Money — Resumes

Posted on June 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 30, 1899: The city will resume sweeping streets after a two-month suspension to cut expenses.

Posted in Downtown, health, Transportation | Comments Off on Street Sweeping — Cut to Save Money — Resumes

Woman, Baby Hurt in Bike Crash

Posted on June 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  June 27, 1899: The Times published many stories about fires that were started by gasoline stoves. Given the primitive nature of firefighting at the time, the results were often tragic.   June 27, 1899: A woman with her baby … Continue reading →

Posted in 1899, Downtown, LAPD | 1 Comment

Man Builds Model of 1881 Los Angeles

Posted on June 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 8, 1931: For its 50th anniversary, The Times re-creates Los Angeles as it was in 1881. Above, Robert H. Sexton Jr. displays an elaborate model of the city in 1881, measuring about 8 feet by 5 feet. The model … Continue reading →

Posted in 1881, Architecture, Downtown | 1 Comment

Police Raid Colored Republican Club

Posted on June 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 15, 1887: Effie Smith, a prostitute on Los Angeles Street, burns to death. She took a dose of morphine and lapsed into unconsciousness after lighting a cigarette. I found this item while trying to determine the location of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Food and Drink, LAPD, Politics | Comments Off on Police Raid Colored Republican Club

Found on EBay — Burbank Theater

Posted on June 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

This postcard of the Burbank Theater, 548 S. Main St., has been listed on EBay. The theater was built in 1893 and torn down in 1974.  Bidding starts at $8.

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Music, Stage | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Burbank Theater

Downtown Street Used as Racetrack!

Posted on June 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 24, 1889: No more racing on Grand Avenue!

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Nuestro Pueblo: Central Jail

Posted on June 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1939: I think this is my favorite "Nuestro Pueblo" so far. The dialogue could come right out of some 1930s movie. Interestingly enough, the text was completely rewritten for the book.

Posted in Downtown, LAPD, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Nuestro Pueblo: Central Jail