Category Archives: Transportation

Portrait of the City

Jan. 1, 1920: “Long ribbons of automobiles of all sorts and conditions enter the business sections and disappear in the neighborhood parking stations and garages. The banks open their doors, the stores become filled with employees and customers. Activity everywhere. … Continue reading

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Los Angeles County Plans Nation’s Finest Highway System

  Jan. 1, 1910: The Autoist’s Paradise. On Jan. 1, The Times published its annual Midwinter Edition. One of the articles featured plans for an extensive new system of highways that would benefit ranchers shipping goods to market,    motor vehicles … Continue reading

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Rose Parade Photos

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a float entered by Pasadena High School. Ezra Meeker and his wagon, pulled by a team of oxen, appear in the Rose Parade. An electric car in the Rose Parade. The Times' Harry Carr writes a … Continue reading

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On the Brink of the 1960s

Hedda Hopper tapes a “Ben-Hur” segment with Stephen Boyd, Francis X. Bushman and Ramon Novarro, but not Charlton Heston. Los Angeles officials struggle once more to deal with congested streets. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: Traffic … Continue reading

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A Poem for the New Year

  Isn’t this a great drawing? I suppose in 1919 smokestacks meant progress and not pollution.   Enumerators prepare to take the 1920 census and have a few questions. Is a lone man or woman without any known relatives a … Continue reading

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Husband Shoots Wife, Two Others, on Streetcar

 “That Guiltiest Feeling,” by Clare Briggs. Dec. 29, 1919: Former Army Capt. Raymond C. Potter gets on a streetcar and shoots his wife because she’s riding with another man. One of his shots goes wild and hits her companion, then … Continue reading

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Airplanes Arrive for Aviation Meet

  Dec. 29, 1909: Preparations continue for Aviation Week and the railroads are reporting unusually heavy ticket sales to people coming to Los Angeles for the event.  In addition to the airplanes and balloons, the meet will feature a carnival … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 28, 1959

The Pigeon Problem           A woman on the telephone a few days ago asked excitedly, “What should I do about these crazy pigeons?  They’ve moved into our neighborhood (3rd and La Cienega) and they’re all over the place.  One of … Continue reading

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An Actress and Her Dog

  "Five iron manhole caps, each weighing more than 100 pounds, shot into the air last night when "burn-out gas" in the sewer between Spring Street and the northeast corner of 1st and Main streets blew them higher than the … Continue reading

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Angeles Ship Launched

  “Wonder What a Man Window-Shopping Things About?” by Clare Briggs. Dec. 27, 1919: The Angeles, an 8,800-ton cargo ship, is launched at the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. 

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Fliers Spend Christmas Overhauling Planes for Aviation Week

Frances Nordstrom stars in “The Girl of the Golden West” at the Burbank.     View Larger Map 7th and Los Angeles Streets, via Google maps’ street view. Dec. 26, 1909: Fliers work on their airplanes on Christmas at the official … Continue reading

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Random Shot – Amelia Earhart, 1936

 Los Angeles Times file photo I recently went through The Times’ photographs from Amelia Earhart’s 1937 flight; the one on which she disappeared. I think this is one of my favorites. She’s posing with the airplane as it’s being built … Continue reading

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Officials Seek Location for Aviation Meet

     Dec. 21, 1909: The racetrack at Santa Anita is eliminated as a place for the aviation meet because there are too many trees. “The site which appears to meet with most favor is on the Pacific Electric and … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 19, 1959

  On Eucalyptus Trees     On a distinct hill, eucalyptus trees are things of beauty, particularly to roving artists, who depict them standing as graceful sentinels against the sky.  Up close as in your backyard, phooey!  In a strong wind … Continue reading

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Preparations for Aviation Week

  Navajo blankets from 1909. I’ll bet some were beauties.   Dec. 14, 1909: "One man, writing from a Nevada town, says he will have a flying machine ready with 36 propellers while several expect to fly from Southern California cities … Continue reading

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Three Accused of Fraud in Newspaper Contest

  Dec. 13, 1909: Los Angeles police detain three people accused of swindling the Ogden, Utah, Evening Standard in a publicity campaign. Ogden Mayor William Glassman, a part-owner of the  paper, says the suspects conspired to take a $300 prize … Continue reading

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Texas a Gateway for Drugs From Mexico, Officials Say

Walter W. Williams, 117, the last living Civil War veteran, is in critical condition.   “Dear Jesus, I am writing to you instead of Santa because you are what Christmas is. I would like to say before we all forget … Continue reading

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Rain Floods Downtown Streets

  A young woman gets carried across a flooded street at Jefferson and Grand.   Dec. 10, 1909: “There are few sights funnier than a large crowd on the streets during a heavy downpour. Such was the case yesterday. During … Continue reading

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President’s Pilot Worries About Trip to Afghanistan

“Remember, leave your blood at the Red Cross, not on the highway,” says Capt. Dan Mathews of "Highway Patrol." Air pollution is linked to lung ailments. “Take a Giant Step” opens. And I’ve added to my Netflix queue. Dec. 9, … Continue reading

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Mules for Sale

  Dec. 9, 1909: Mules are for sale at 1782 E. Main Street, autos at 747-749 S. Spring. Los Angeles traffic in this era consisted of streetcars, horse-drawn vehicles, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. It was an interesting time. My … Continue reading

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