Category Archives: Downtown

Executive Predicts Downtown Renaissance

Posted on June 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 2, 1959: "The trek back from the suburbs has begun. Families will be returning to the cities in increasing numbers during the coming years, 'lured by the city's glamour, downtown business developments, new housing.' The turn for the downtown … Continue reading →

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Woman Flees Life of Forced Prostitution

Posted on June 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 1, 1899

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Specialists in Men’s Problems

Posted on May 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

May 29, 1899: What to do about men's "loss of vital force." 

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Monorail Planned for Downtown Los Angeles!

Posted on May 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

"She Was Gone … Real Gone!" Voters reject higher taxes. View this page Beatnik robbers tell victim to "play it cool." Woof, Daddy-o. Above, another mass-transit plan that never got off the drawing board. All right, you kids, no more … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, health, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Politics, Religion, Robberies, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Nuestro Pueblo: L.A.’s Fountains

Posted on May 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Declared a slum in 1939, the old Central Station on 1st Street between Broadway and Hill wasn't demolished until August 1955, below. The Central Station figured in the Carl Warr bombing case of 1912 and William  Hickman's kidnapping and murder … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay — Chinatown, 1908

Posted on May 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

This postcard of a Chinese family, postmarked Los Angeles 1908, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $4.99.

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Highway Patrol Rounds Up Missing Legislators, May 21, 1939

Posted on May 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Teach me to dance, Dragon Lady." View this page At left, my kind of story. The Assembly sends the Highway Patrol to track down legislators who skipped their session on the last day they got paid. Among the missing is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Downtown L.A., 1908

Posted on May 20, 2009 by lmharnisch

  This postcard showing Broadway as seen from around 4th Street has been listed on EBay. The building in the distance with the pointed roof is the old City Hall, now a vacant lot next to the Hosfield/Victor Clothing Building. … Continue reading →

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Flocks of Sheep Near City Hall, May 20, 1939

Posted on May 20, 2009 by lmharnisch
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Woman Attacks Officer in Court, May 18, 1939

Posted on May 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

I'm conducting an experiment today. Some readers have complained that the page is slow to load. About three weeks ago, we went to Typepad's new, "improved" editor, which changed the way "the platform" handles images. A full newspaper page weighs … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Transportation | 6 Comments

The Era of Fear and Prophesies of Doom, May 17, 1959

Posted on May 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Gaaah! What were they thinking? No wonder these were on sale! This Sunday paper is an alarming time capsule with fear and anxiety on every page, plus a little sex here and there. At left, "What We Must Know About … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, books, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Religion, Richard Nixon, Transportation | Comments Off on The Era of Fear and Prophesies of Doom, May 17, 1959

Found on EBay — Jerry’s Joynt

Posted on May 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

This flier from Jerry's Joynt, a long-vanished restaurant in old Chinatown, has been listed on EBay. The postcards showing the bar are somewhat common, but I've never seen this item before. Bidding starts at $2.

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Found on EBay — Union Station

Posted on May 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

This postcard of the new Union Station has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at 99 cents.

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Top Comedian Goes Crazy in San Francisco! May 14, 1959

Posted on May 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Winters later used his hospitalization in some of his routines. The Arechiga family, featured in the news because members were forcibly removed from two homes in Chavez Ravine, own 11 homes, The Times says. Mayor Norris Poulson angrily says: "The … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock — May 12, 1959

Posted on May 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Moment of Decision A man who lives on Wetherly Drive phones for a cab and when it arrived the driver helped load his suitcases aboard. In so doing the cabby, recently out of a hospital, strained himself and suffered an … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Columnists, Downtown, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Chavez Ravine Revisited

Posted on May 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by George R. Fry Jr. / Los Angeles Times May 8, 1959: Councilman Edward R. Roybal meets with the Arechiga family at Curtis Street and Malvina Avenue, where they camped out in their fight against being evicted from Chavez … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Freeways, Politics | 6 Comments

Bradley Leads Yorty, Pro Sports in Orange County, May 9, 1969

Posted on May 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Creative financing by L.A. Unified: Balance the budget and avoid cutbacks by overestimating the amount of money it will receive from the state. Hipshot Percussion sends a bad hombre to meet his maker in Stan Lynde's "Rick O'Shay." It's fun … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Education, Front Pages, Politics, Richard Nixon | 2 Comments

Family Evicted From Chavez Ravine, May 9, 1959

Posted on May 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Times' coverage of the Chavez Ravine evictions isn't easy reading and clearly not the paper at its best. The construction of Dodger Stadium was something the paper campaigned for and those who opposed the plan were either ignored or … Continue reading →

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Game Honors Roy Campanella, May 8, 1959

Posted on May 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo May 7, 1959: Between the fifth and six innings of the benefit game for Roy Campanella, the lights at the Coliseum were extinguished and spectators struck matches and lit cigarette lighters as a tribute to … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 2 Comments

Memories of Union Station

Posted on May 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Dec. 12, 1939: Waiting area, Union Station. Union Station has always been one of my favorite L.A. spots. The old place reminds me of family. My dad and grandfather spent their careers with the Santa Fe … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Transportation, travel | 1 Comment