Category Archives: Downtown

LA turns 157, September 5, 1938

Posted on September 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Capt. Eugene Plummer is featured in a story about Plummer Park in West Hollywood. According to the caption, the revolver he’s holding belonged to Joaquin Murietta. At left, Mayor Frank Shaw and actor Leo Carrillo help celebrate Los Angeles’ 157th … Continue reading →

Posted in #games, @news, broadcasting, City Hall, Current Affairs, Downtown, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Sports | Comments Off on LA turns 157, September 5, 1938

LA history–Little Tokyo

Posted on September 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, as published in The Times, Sept. 2, 1938, and below, via Google maps’ street view.

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LAPD officers accused of beating, August 24, 1938

Posted on August 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, another editorial in The Times’ well-worn tradition of asking: "What’s all the fuss I hear about … recalling the corrupt mayor … a federal anti-lynching law … opening up America to the refugees of Europe? We don’t need to … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Robberies, Stage | Comments Off on LAPD officers accused of beating, August 24, 1938

Los Angeles history: Bunker Hill

Posted on August 22, 2008 by lmharnisch
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Former mayor may enter recall race, Cubs win over Pirates, August 22, 1938

Posted on August 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, more proof, as if any were needed, that bad traffic is nothing new in Los Angeles. Note the traffic island in the center of the drawing, which is where people waited to board a streetcar. Voila! A 70-year-old attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, City Hall, Downtown, Freeways, Front Pages, Politics, Sports | Comments Off on Former mayor may enter recall race, Cubs win over Pirates, August 22, 1938

Fugitive couple attack LAPD officer, August 17, 1958

Posted on August 17, 2008 by lmharnisch

Fugitive couple from Milwaukee beat LAPD detective.
Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD | 2 Comments

History mystery–photo detective

Posted on August 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

  I was going through The Times’ photos of Spring Street and became rather irked that someone labeled this image in grease pencil. This is the intersection of Main, Temple and Spring before Spring was realigned.    Then I noticed … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Transportation | 7 Comments

Thieves take memorial plaque, Nuestro Pueblo, August 8, 1938

Posted on August 8, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Some things apparently do not change. Today, people steal copper wiring and manhole covers and sell them for scrap metal. In the 1930s, bronze plaques were apparently at risk.   The Fremont Gate to Elysian Park, 1549 N. Broadway, … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Street revisited

Posted on August 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times This picture shows the later stages in the realignment of Spring Street. Demolition workers have sheared off the fronts of several buildings.   One of the most recognizable downtown landmarks–the Hall of Records … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Spring Street revisited

Posted on August 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Moss Photographer, 315 W. Pico St. WE stmore 2301, Los Angeles, Cal. Unfortunately, The Times’ Spring Street photo file has nothing that shows the transition at 1st Street in the critical period of the 1900s to the 1920s. Suddenly, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 31, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the Nadeau Hotel (sometimes called the Hotel Nadeau) at Spring and 1st streets (now the site of The Times Building), in an undated drawing. An early ad for a business in the Nadeau, 1889. Photograph by the Los Angeles … Continue reading →

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July 30, 1938: Sex Crimes Clinic Opens

Posted on July 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

he search is on for a candidate to face Mayor Frank Shaw in the recall election. The Times story mentions Councilman Stephen W. Cunningham, but more important, it says that Judge Fletcher Bowron and Supervisor John Anson Ford “have indicated … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Freeways, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

  C.C. Pierce & Co. Photographers, Los Angeles, Cal., U.S.A. An undated photograph of the Phillips Block, 1887-1912.   After looking at the old photos of Spring Street over the last few days, I wanted to learn more about the … Continue reading →

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Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on July 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Below, Ducommun and Garey streets, the general area where this picture was drawn, via Google maps’ street view.   

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Lovers’ death pact at downtown hotel

Posted on July 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

  The Hotel Ramona on Spring Street.   I stumbled across this story while researching something else and it’s too good not to post. From The Times, Dec, 28, 1891. Email me

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Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

  C.C. Pierce & Co. Photographers, Los Angeles, Cal. U.S.A. This picture was taken from Spring and 2nd streets about 1895, and shows the reverse angle of Spring and 1st, which we looked at yesterday.   One of the most … Continue reading →

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Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

  C. C. Pierce Photographer, 1572 W. Pico, Los Angeles This photograph of Spring Street, looking south from Temple, is slightly later than the one in the previous entry and was taken about 1896.    Notice that our single-track, horse-drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in 1872, 1887, 1889, Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Freeways, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Los Angeles Times file photo When this photo was taken, about 1883, Spring Street took an oblique angle at 1st. We're looking north, possibly from the Nadeau Hotel at what is now the site of The Times Building. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1883, Architecture, Downtown, Freeways, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Discovering’ Chavez Ravine

Posted on July 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

By Keith ThursbyTimes staff writer The Times published a tidbit about the Hollywood Stars and their owner, Bob Cobb, that made me go looking deeper for more details. Jeane Hoffman reported that Cobb "discovered" Chavez Ravine as a potential home … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Politics, Sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Street revisited

Posted on July 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Munsey Studios, winter 1900 Here’s another detail from the photo I wrote about yesterday. These people are on the sidewalk just to the left of the fellow sitting in the wagon. Here’s a closer look at the people … Continue reading →

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