Category Archives: Freeways

Nov. 30, 2006: Architectural Rambling

Posted on November 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

Here’s the former Calvary Presbyterian Church in South Pasadena, now the Grace Brethren church. Note: This is an encore post. Nov. 30, 2006 Los Angeles I don’t think anyone who knows both of us will ever confuse me with Nathan … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Architecture, Freeways, Hollywood, Pasadena, Photography, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nov. 24, 1907: Roving to Monrovia

Posted on November 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Nov. 24, 1907 Monrovia The Times real estate section takes a look at what was then the distant suburb of Monrovia, 22 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The writer notes the increasing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1908, 1911, Architecture, Downtown, Education, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, Real Estate | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Sept. 13, 1947: The Light Rail That Failed — Transit Plan Calls for Trains on Freeway Medians

Posted on September 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Someday an inquisitive person studying the history of transportation and urban planning will tell the world exactly what became of Los Angeles’ 1947 blueprint for dealing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Freeways, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

March 15, 1907: In Which We Begin

Posted on March 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is the beginning of the 1907 blog, which I began March 15, 2006. This followed the original cycle of the 1947project, begun by Nathan Marsak and Kim Cooper on March 13, 2005. As I began to write my … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1908, 1911, 1914, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, City Hall, Freeways, LAPD, Streetcars, Theaters | Leave a comment

Feb. 28, 1907: Edison Crew Cuts Down 300-Year-Old Oak to Keep Power Line Straight

Posted on February 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 28, 1907 Los Angeles An old and massive California live oak used to mark the division between three Spanish land grants lies in pieces on the ground because an Edison foreman … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Freeways, LAPD, San Fernando Valley, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Jan. 27, 1907: L.A. Studies Elevated Trolley Line to Ease Traffic

Posted on January 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 27, 1907 Los Angeles One thing you can say about Angelenos: We love to talk about traffic. The only thing we love more is to commission studies and draft plans to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Downtown, Freeways, Hollywood, LAPD, Streetcars | Leave a comment

Architectural Ramblings

Posted on January 6, 2018 by lmharnisch

A Trip to Oxford Avenue Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Here’s an interesting contrast: Oxford Avenue between Washington Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway and Oxford Avenue north of Washington. South of Washington, Oxford seems a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Freeways, LAPD, Streetcars | Leave a comment

L.A. Welcomes Harbor Freeway Extension With Four-Block Traffic Jam

Posted on August 8, 2013 by lmharnisch

Aug. 8, 1953: An extension of the Harbor Freeway carrying traffic into downtown Los Angeles opens — and is jammed immediately. Traffic engineers say the backup was caused by the timing of the signals at 6th Street and Figueroa. Movie … Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, African Americans, Comics, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, LAPD, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

U.S. Urged to Evacuate Japanese Immediately

Posted on January 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

Jan. 31, 1942: Members of Congress from the West Coast call on the U.S. to expedite the evacuation of “enemy aliens,” a term that includes native-born people of Japanese ancestry. Officials concede that some of them may be loyal – … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Politics, Richard Nixon, Streetcars, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

L.A.’s Traffic Nightmare Threatens Downtown’s Future! Oct. 28, 1941

Posted on October 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 28, 1941: Lee Shippey writes about Los Angeles’ congested streets (no, traffic is not a new problem – it’s a very old one that we are still trying to solve). Notice that Shippey says streetcars and automobiles do not … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Obituaries, Streetcars, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Arroyo Seco Parkway

Posted on July 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

This postcard of the new Arroyo Seco Parkway, a name that has been restored after decades of being called the Pasadena Freeway, has been listed on EBay. For more than a year, drivers have had to contend with construction of … Continue reading →

Posted in Found on EBay, Freeways, Transportation | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

CARMAGEDDON: Woman Designs 405-10 Interchange!

Posted on July 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Speaking of  CARMAGEDDON, here’s an April 6, 1964, profile by The Times’ Dorothy Townsend of freeway engineers Marilyn Reece, who designed the 405-10 interchange  and Carol Schumaker, who designed and 405-605 interchange. It may be a man’s world, but don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in 1964, Freeways | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – 1947 Thomas Bros. Guide

Posted on May 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

       A 1947 Thomas Bros. guide has been listed on EBay. These are terrific resources (the Daily Mirror HQ has a small collection of them) showing what Los Angeles looked like before freeways. The guides also include streetcar … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Found on EBay, Freeways, Transportation | Leave a comment

MTA Plans Rapid Transit Route From Century City to El Monte!!

Posted on May 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

            May 15, 1961: The Metropolitan Transit Authority announces plans for a rapid transit system from Century City to El Monte!  The proposed line, including 12 miles of subway, would extend from the downtown area … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Comics, Freeways, Transportation | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 30, 1940

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

                     Rose Queen Sally Stanton, Gov. Culbert Olson and Highway Patrol Chief E. Raymond Cato at the ribbon cutting of the Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway), Dec. 30, 1940.     … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, Transportation | Leave a comment

Bus Strike Begins!

Posted on November 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

          Nov. 16-21, 1960: Another bus strike ends after six days, with MTA mechanics winning a raise of 54 cents an hour to be given in three steps. Officials say that the raises will probably require … Continue reading →

Posted in Freeways, LAPD, Transportation | Leave a comment

Matt Weinstock, Aug. 17, 1960

Posted on August 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 17, 1960: A motorist wins a battle over a parking ticket (it wasn’t filled out properly) … and one Whittier market has such a problem with kids stealing cigarettes it doesn’t even bother to report them. CONFIDENTIAL TO … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Freeways, Matt Weinstock, Transportation | Leave a comment

The Arroyo Seco Parkway Revisited

Posted on July 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times  I did a series of posts two years ago for the 70th anniversary of the Arroyo Seco Parkway. You can find them here.

Posted in Freeways, Photography, Transportation | 1 Comment

Nixon Rejects ‘Liberal’ and ‘Conservative’ Labels

Posted on June 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 21, 1960: E.W. Darby of the Chicago Sun-Times says  Vice President Richard Nixon is "impatient with such labels" as "conservative," "liberal" or "progressive conservative." "I think it is difficult to categorize people in public life with terms like … Continue reading →

Posted in Freeways, Politics, Richard Nixon, Transportation | 2 Comments

Freeway Trench Cave-In Kills Boy, 6

Posted on May 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 23, 1960: Kelly "Randy" Holmes of 2829 Allesandro St. is killed when he is buried under four feet of dirt while playing in a trench for the Golden State Freeway near what is now the interchange with the … Continue reading →

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