Category Archives: Downtown

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

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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.

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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 →

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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.

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Crude Oil Floods Figueroa Street!

Posted on June 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1899: Crude oil floods Figueroa Street. A city inspector discovered that workers dismantling a storage tank on a triangular lot at 1st and 2nd streets (recall that several downtown streets have been realigned since 1899) directed about 200 … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Environment, Transportation | Comments Off on Crude Oil Floods Figueroa Street!

Found on EBay — First Methodist Episcopal Church

Posted on June 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 20, 1899: The cornerstone is laid for First M.E. Church This postcard showing First M.E. Church has been listed on EBay. The church was designed by Austin and Skilling and built on the northeast corner of  6th and Hill … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Religion | Comments Off on Found on EBay — First Methodist Episcopal Church

Drunks and Small Boys in Trouble!

Posted on June 20, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in #courts, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on Drunks and Small Boys in Trouble!

Officer Rescues Girl From Streetcar Tracks!

Posted on June 20, 2009 by lmharnisch

Siegel the Hatter at 1st and Spring. June 20, 1889: Police Officer Church saves a life.

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Council Debates Cow Ordinance

Posted on June 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1889: The City Council debates measures on keeping cows and chickens in downtown Los Angeles. 

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A Kinder, Simpler Time: Your Rights

Posted on June 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1953: Irwin Edelman, Pershing Square orator, is enmeshed in the Rosenberg case. He was convicted in 1949 as a "vagrant dissolute person" in a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1953, he sought refuge in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time: Your Rights

Chinese Opium Dens of Los Angeles

Posted on June 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 16, 1889: After quite a long rant on the degenerate nature of the Chinese — the maids and cooks are corrupting the good white homes of Los Angeles by providing narcotics to young, idle society men and women — … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown | 1 Comment