Category Archives: Transportation

Champagne flight

Posted on July 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 25, 1957Las Vegas There was no room for retired jeweler Saul F. Binstock, 62, on the chartered flight to Las Vegas, so he boarded a Western Air Lines plane at Burbank. As always, he bought insurance naming his wife, … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 18, 1957 Don Bailey Jr. has no red tab on his rear license plate. He applied for it like other motorists during the renewal period but never received it. Apparently it was lost in the processing at Sacramento or … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 16, 1957 Account 727-1 in the auditor's office of the Southern Pacific is known within the company as the "Conscience Fund." It consists of money sent in by people for services rendered but unpaid for. An average of $200 … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 15, 1957 Farther and farther go the freeways, preceded by roaring monsters which sweep aside or reduce to rubble everything in their paths, then claw and shape the earth. But all is not lost. Every Tuesday, Lenard Kester takes … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 11, 1957 There was a traffic tie-up at the Harbor turnoff the other day as Inspectors Ed Walker and Bob Houghton were traveling inbound on the Hollywood Freeway. They threaded their way through it and came upon a woman … Continue reading →

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Driving Survey–Route 6

Posted on July 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

Here’s my jaunt down Route 6: Arcadia to the Auto Club on South Figueroa. Note that I had to alter the route since Figueroa is a one-way street north of Olympic. Also note that I made the trip on a … Continue reading →

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Driving survey–Route 5

Posted on July 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

I wouldn’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t try myself, so here’s Route 5 of the Auto Club’s commuting survey from 1957. It’s not an entirely fair test since I made the trip on a Saturday morning, but it … Continue reading →

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Safe driving

Posted on July 4, 2007 by lmharnisch

Happy Fourth of July from the staff of the Daily Mirror!

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The Daily Mirror commuting challenge

Posted on July 3, 2007 by lmharnisch

  July 3, 1957 Los Angeles We complain about traffic all the time. But how much worse is driving in L.A. than it was in 1957? We can find out. Best of all, you can help! You might be surprised … Continue reading →

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Sketchbook

Posted on June 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 22, 2007 Los Angeles I got on the Red Line at the 7th and Figueroa station last night to find two teenage boys with skateboards at one end of the car. They called out an odd warning for all … Continue reading →

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Ay caramba!

Posted on June 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

Update: The 1957 Chevrolet featured earlier this month in the post about decoding production numbers sold on EBay for $35,999. That is some serious change. How much? About $5,024.09 USD 1957. Let’s check in with Weird Al.

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10 Fwy

Posted on June 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

And you know what? It wasn’t even on Page 1. June 17, 1957Los Angeles Part 1 Part 2

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Weird wheels

Posted on June 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 16, 1957 Los Angeles Hi, my name is Larry, and I owned a DKW. Hi Larry! Seriously. Induced by a crazy college friend, I bought one of these things in the early 1970s for about $30 and it … Continue reading →

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Zombie Plymouth!

Posted on June 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

Tulsa, Okla., unearths the buried 1957 Plymouth. Photo by KOTV.comWatch KOTV’s video here.

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Future shock

Posted on June 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 14, 1957Los Angeles Sometimes predictions for the future are simply painful to read. The people living in 1957 were prolific in sketching out hopeful plans. Some of them were foolish (I think we can safely eliminate the atomic-powered … Continue reading →

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1957 Chevy

Posted on June 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

In February 1957, after adding 300,000 square feet, the General Motors' Van Nuys plant (note: it's really in Panorama City) began making station wagons and convertibles.  A spokesman says the plant is producing 150 cars a day in five different … Continue reading →

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Reprieve

Posted on April 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

April 28, 1957 Los Angeles A boy (and how anyone knows it was a boy is never explained) came across a stalled car on the Southern Pacific right of way near Valley Boulevard and Boca Avenue in Alhambra.  He  ran … Continue reading →

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If you build it, they will drive

Posted on April 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

As envisioned, 1957 As built, below, looking north from Slauson As used, below, looking north from Slauson, April 22, 2007 The Harbor Freeway, below, looking south from 42nd Street, 1957. Note there are no center guardrails. The Harbor Freeway, below, … Continue reading →

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In Which a Ghostly Visitor Returns

Posted on March 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

March 15, 2007Los Angeles “Well, dear boy, I suppose you thought you were through.” “Yes, I did.” “And?” “Good grief! Do you see this bridge over the Gold Line? It looks like it’s held up with hairpins and spit!” “Saliva, … Continue reading →

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Random Shots From Our 12-Bore

Posted on February 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

Feb. 11, 1907Los Angeles The Eastside gets a new Baptist Church and 2nd Street and St. Louis. Like Tom and Huck A large pond 7 feet deep at Normandie and San Marino left by the runoff of recent rainstorms proved … Continue reading →

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