Category Archives: Transportation

Man, 78, Dies After Passing Driver’s Test on Third Try

Posted on August 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 4, 1959: Anthony Blandino, 78, had failed his driver's test twice. He passed the third time, but collapsed and died after parking his car in front of the DMV office.  

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Death of a Stagecoach Driver

Posted on August 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 4, 1889: Racked with pain from rheumatism, former stagecoach driver Sam Washburn takes an overdose of morphine.  

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Found on EBay — Quiet Birdmen

Posted on July 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2009. This Quiet Birdmen belt buckle has been listed on EBay.

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Bicycles on Sale!

Posted on July 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 30, 1899: A bicycle on sale for $35 ($894.21 USD 2008).

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Motorcar

Posted on July 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 25, 1947: The Tucker.

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City Sets New Speed Limits on Bicycles

Posted on July 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 25, 1899: "It shall be unlawful for any person to ride any bicycle, tricycle, velocipede or other riding machine or vehicle upon any public sidewalk within the corporate limits of this city or to ride any such vehicle within … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD, Transportation | 1 Comment

Passengers Hurt in Streetcar Crash

Posted on July 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1899: Two streetcars collide on a single track and the crews argue over who is to blame. Most of the injuries are relatively minor. There were no broken bones, The Times says, but people were bruised and cut … Continue reading →

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Train Derails After Hitting Cow

Posted on July 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 19, 1889: What happens when a train hits a cow … and a faithless husband was once a dancing master in Pasadena. 

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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

Apollo’s Unseen Titan

Posted on July 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

       July 17, 1969: Apollo Speeds on Its Incredible Quest. COLUMN ONE Apollo's Unseen Titan Without Gene Kranz to guide him, Neil Armstrong might never have landed on the moon. The obscure but fiery flight director made the crisis … Continue reading →

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Man Dies of Tetanus

Posted on July 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 16, 1889: A man dies of tetanus and railroad employees are suspected of raping two passengers.

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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

Streetcar Official Arrested for Speeding

Posted on July 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 14, 1889: A streetcar company official is arrested for speeding. He says he was late to work and driving briskly but not dangerously fast.

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Republicans Break Ranks to Pass Budget; Disco Demolition Turns Violent

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Legislature approves a budget after a few Republicans break ranks to end a stalemate. The Times takes a long look at the crash of American Airlines Flight 191, bound for Los Angeles, on takeoff from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, … Continue reading →

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Cross-Country Trip Begins!

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Emily Anderson begins her re-creation of Alice Ramsey's 1909 cross-country trip this morning. Follow her progress on her website. Or on Twitter.  Update: Emily Anderson has started — in the pouring rain. The 1909 Maxwell gets a police escort out … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation, travel | Comments Off on Cross-Country Trip Begins!

Streetcar Runs Over Horse

Posted on July 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 7, 1889: One of the horses pulling a streetcar is put to death after the animal falls and is run over by the car, breaking a leg. 

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Found on EBay — Shriners Convention

Posted on July 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

I'm always interested in items from the 1907 Shriners convention (right) in Los Angeles. Here's an interesting companion: A commemorative license plate from the 1959 convention. Bidding starts at $5 .

Posted in Animals, art and artists, Transportation | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Shriners Convention

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 →

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Street Sweeping — Cut to Save Money — Resumes

Posted on June 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 30, 1899: The city will resume sweeping streets after a two-month suspension to cut expenses.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept: Your Job

Posted on June 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 28, 1981: Lockheed is hiring.

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