Category Archives: Environment

A Fallen Woman’s Death Ride

Posted on August 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 23, 1889: I always enjoy looking at old maps of Los Angeles. This one shows a proposed sewer system. Much of the lettering is upside-down, but flipping the map 180 degrees makes it  even more confusing. Many of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, health, Suicide | 1 Comment

Voters Approve Bonds to Buy Water Company

Posted on August 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 17, 1899: Above, an ad opposes issuing $2 million in bonds to buy the water company. Notice that Hoover Street, indicated by a dotted line, was the western boundary of Los Angeles. Aug. 24, 1889: Voters overwhelmingly approve bonds … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Environment, Politics | Comments Off on Voters Approve Bonds to Buy Water Company

President Backs U.S. Coal Over Foreign Oil; KTLA Cuts Commercials

Posted on August 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 1, 1979: Gas rationing … the energy crisis … and SALT II. "I would rather burn a ton of Kentucky coal than see our nation become dependent by buying another barrel of OPEC oil," President Carter says. Don Galloway … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Environment, Television | Comments Off on President Backs U.S. Coal Over Foreign Oil; KTLA Cuts Commercials

Health Inspectors Check Land Irrigated With Sewage

Posted on July 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

    July 28, 1899: What happens when a city uses sewage for irrigation? People get sick.

Posted in Environment, health | 2 Comments

Los Angeles Debates a Sewer System to the Ocean

Posted on July 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 28, 1889: Civic leaders argue over what to do with Los Angeles' sewage. Many oppose letting it flow into Santa Monica Bay at Ballona because it would pollute the beaches and because building a system would be expensive. Some … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Environment, Politics | 1 Comment

GM May Recall 60,000 Cars; Angels Miss Their Scoreboard

Posted on July 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 18, 1979: The meltdown of the U.S. auto industry foretold — GM may recall 60,000 X-Cars (that was the Chevy Citation, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega and Pontiac Phoenix). And what's in the news? Illegal immigrants on Page 1 and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, Front Pages, Politics, Sports, Transportation | Comments Off on GM May Recall 60,000 Cars; Angels Miss Their Scoreboard

President Carter to Address Energy Crisis; Nolan Ryan Misses No-Hitter

Posted on July 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 14, 1979: The Carter administration's energy crisis… gasoline shortages … Los Angeles County deputies are ordered back to work after a two-day sickout … and Gov. Brown trims the budget by vetoing raises for state employees. In his final … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Environment, Front Pages, Politics, Sports, Transportation, travel | Comments Off on President Carter to Address Energy Crisis; Nolan Ryan Misses No-Hitter

Santa Susana Meltdown

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Reactor opens, July 16, 1957, in the Daily Mirror. Times reporter Louis Sahagun takes a look at the July 14, 1959, meltdown at the Santa Susana Field Lab: On the morning of July 14, 1959, Sodium Reactor Experiment trainee John … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Science | Comments Off on Santa Susana Meltdown

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

Ocean Park Development

Posted on July 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 1, 1899: Ocean Park is under development. The same general area as seen from Google Earth. Pier Avenue is on the left side of the image.

Posted in Architecture, Environment | Comments Off on Ocean Park Development

Matt Weinstock, June 23, 1959

Posted on June 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Hazel, I Said No! You Can't Have a New Dress!" Numbers Game A lady named Julia has been confronted with a major dilemma — to move or not to move. Normal accretion being what it is, her apartment has become … Continue reading →

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Dog Attacks Actress — Koufax Sets Record

Posted on June 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1959: "Hello, Young Lady." Elaine Stewart said she was watching TV at the home of tenant Floyd Appel when his dog bit her on the lip. In 1963, she was awarded $4,500 in damages. At left, Irene Dunne … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Comics, Dodgers, Environment, Film, health, Hollywood, Obituaries, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports, Television | Comments Off on Dog Attacks Actress — Koufax Sets Record

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!

‘Three Little Pigs’ Has Racial Meaning, Official Says!

Posted on June 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Did You Hear What I Said, June?" Southern California's aerospace industry! When I saw this headline, I thought it was a joke. It's not. Iraq drops a polite note to the American Embassy saying no thanks to U.S. aid because … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Environment, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Nightclubs, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

Random Shot: Your Car

Posted on June 1, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Environment, Transportation | Comments Off on Random Shot: Your Car

Ex-Con Held in Kidnapping, Maury Wills Joins Dodgers

Posted on June 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

  "Just the Usual — Just Shopping."     Roscoe Cook ties world record. Fashion note: Even in 1959, some men still wore boaters. And not just at Shakey's. Darla Hood has grown up! Please note: Traffic, mass transportation and … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Environment, Fashion, health, LAPD, Transportation | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Smog Eyes

Posted on May 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

May 19, 1961 

Posted in Environment, health | 1 Comment

Troops Mobilize in War Games, May 16, 1939

Posted on May 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Below, how Los Angeles cleaned up in 1939.

Posted in Environment | 1 Comment

May 9, 1959: Family Evicted From Chavez Ravine

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 →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Environment | Comments Off on May 9, 1959: Family Evicted From Chavez Ravine

Churchill Visits Ike, Dodgers Beat Braves, May 5, 1959

Posted on May 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Above, efforts fail to heal a rift between President Eisenhower and former President Truman, who declined an invitation to the White House to dine with former British  Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Assemblyman William B. Rumford (D- Berkeley) calls upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Dodgers, Downtown, Environment, Freeways, Front Pages, Politics | Comments Off on Churchill Visits Ike, Dodgers Beat Braves, May 5, 1959