Category Archives: Transportation

Found on EBay: Aviation Meet in L.A.

Posted on July 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

A group of color lantern slides showing early aviation has been listed on EBay. The vendor says these slides were issued by the Southern Pacific. One of them shows a Los Angeles meet and another shows flier Eugene Ely in … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Transportation | Comments Off on Found on EBay: Aviation Meet in L.A.

An American Fourth of July

Posted on July 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    July 5, 1910: The Scottish American community of Los Angeles celebrates the Fourth of July with the Highland Fling and the caber toss. And there’s nobody on talk radio to tell them to go back “home” if they … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, Transportation | Comments Off on An American Fourth of July

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, June 27, 1960

Posted on June 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 27, 1960: Paul Coates has the day off. Notice that engineer Irvan F. Mendenhall has proposed a 75-mile system of electric cars with rubber tires running on elevated concrete tracks. On the jump, The Times’ coverage of the … Continue reading →

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Navy Subs Pay Port Call in Los Angeles

Posted on June 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1910: The Navy submarines Pike and Grampus pay a port call in Los Angeles. The Times says about 1,000 men, women and children visited the Pike and explains the challenges women had in navigating the small space in … Continue reading →

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Woman Learns to Drive in 30 Minutes!

Posted on June 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Typeface fans, this is for you.   Vilma Stech, who learned to drive a Peerless in 30 minutes, is one of the "fair chauffeuses" in Los Angeles, The Times says. There are at least 150 women in Los Angeles who … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, 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

Landslide Closes Hill Street Tunnel

Posted on June 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

  A landslide closes the Hill Street tunnel, which was demolished when the “nose” of Bunker Hill was removed in June 1955.  June 13, 1910: Police find that the athletic burglar who was caught the other day has refined tastes … Continue reading →

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Panama Canal Nearing Completion

Posted on June 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 12, 1910: Work continues on the Panama Canal, an example of American ingenuity, where the slogan is “1915 or Bust.” Also on the jump, a Times editorial against picketing by strikers.  The Times’ staunch opposition to picketing will … Continue reading →

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Introducing the Sabra!

Posted on June 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 7, 1960: A car made in Israel? Are you serious? The dealer says the fiberglass-bodied car with a 36-horsepower Ford engine will do 65 mph. Over a cliff, maybe. ps. According to the Wikipedia entry (I know, I … Continue reading →

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LAPD Sets Up Speed Trap on Grand Avenue

Posted on June 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 7, 1910: The 20% grade of Grand Avenue is a popular place for car salesmen to show customers the speed of their vehicles. In fact, Grand is such a perfect test track that the Police Department has set … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD, Transportation | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, June 6, 1960

Posted on June 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

   The miracle auto of tomorrow! No driver! No traffic! No accidents! June 6, 1960: A fellow named Don gets a phone call from a woman selling cemetery plots and asks some tough questions.  DEAR WAITRESS: There are no 'disgraceful' … Continue reading →

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5 Killed in Test Flight of Strange, Giant Plane

Posted on June 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 6, 1948: If this plane (a YB-49) looks familiar, it should. Among the five dead crewmen is Capt. Glen Edwards.

Posted in Transportation | 1 Comment

Pomona Boys Die in Crash of Stolen Plane

Posted on June 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 3, 1960: James A. McDonald, 14, and his 12-year-old brother, Thomas, of Pomona took their dog and ran away from home, determined to steal a plane – destination unknown. Several months before, someone had caught them hot-wiring a … Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries, Transportation | 2 Comments

Man Who Hated Cops Dies in High-Speed Chase

Posted on June 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 1, 1960: Robert Clarke, 21, is dead and all we really know about him is that he hated cops. He terrorized a Montebello police officer a few days before crashing into a tree during a high-speed chase with … Continue reading →

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Memorial Day, 1910

Posted on May 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 31, 1910 : “They were fewer and failing in strength but mighty in spirit. About 150 veterans gathered to pass in an annual review before the generations which have come into existence since the soldiers were mustered out … Continue reading →

Posted in Cemeteries, Transportation | Comments Off on Memorial Day, 1910

Stubborn Handcuffs Keep Prisoners Out of Jail

Posted on May 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Look! It’s Julian Eltinge! May 30, 1910: “Babe” McCain, the bouncer at Turner Hall, brings two prisoners to the police station, but they can’t be booked until McCain removes the handcuffs – which proves to be a problem. And … Continue reading →

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U.S. Launches Spy Satellite

Posted on May 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

    May 25, 1960: The U.S. successfully launches a Midas satellite after a previous attempt failed. The Times editorialized that the satellites would make spy planes such as the U-2 obsolete. Which is why the Midas satellites became space … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, San Fernando Valley, Science, Transportation | Comments Off on U.S. Launches Spy Satellite

The Road to Dodger Stadium

Posted on May 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 24, 1960: The next time you're in a traffic jam heading to Dodger Stadium, consider the public servants who debated the tract map submitted by the Dodgers for their Chavez Ravine stadium. "People attending such events have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Transportation | Comments Off on The Road to Dodger Stadium

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 →

Posted in Freeways, LAPD, Transportation | Comments Off on Freeway Trench Cave-In Kills Boy, 6

20 Held in Chinatown Gambling Raids

Posted on May 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Notice all the car dealers around 10th (Olympic) and Olive streets.    Olympic and Olive via Google maps’ street view. May 20, 1910: Sgt. Charles E. “Charlie” Sebastian, the future police chief and mayor of Los Angeles, leads another raid … Continue reading →

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