Category Archives: Transportation

Nov. 4, 1907: Final Crash Finishes Off Ford Runabout, but Driver Survives to Race Again

Posted on November 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Nov. 4, 1907 Los Angeles About a year ago, Eugene Rowe’s little runabout was smashed by a trolley. After some repairs, it won a trophy, but a month later, it was wrecked … Continue reading →

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Nov. 2, 1907: Beautification Campaign Would Make a Garden Spot of the L.A. River

Posted on November 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Nov. 2, 1907 Los Angeles As part of a new city beautification campaign, Boyle Heights residents have suggested turning the Los Angeles River into a garden spot. The plan calls for “a … Continue reading →

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Oct. 31, 1907: Streetcar Crash at Spring and 2nd Kills 1, Injures 7

Posted on October 31, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 31, 1907 Los Angeles John J. Mooney, 23, a Southern Pacific machinist who recently arrived from Butte, Mont., was aboard the West 2nd Street car on his way to be initiated … Continue reading →

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October 1947: New DC-6 Catches Fire in Midair, Crashes 30 Seconds Short of Landing Field

Posted on October 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. America’s first postwar airliner, the DC-6, was given a royal debut in a ceremony March 28, 1947, at Douglas’ Santa Monica plant attended by 15,000 people, … Continue reading →

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October 1947: Toyoda of Japan Sells First Postwar Sedan for $5,000

Posted on October 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. 1957—Toyota Motors announces plans to enter the U.S. market with a four-seat “midget car” ($1,000-$1,200) and a six-seat Toyopet Crown De Luxe ($2,200). The Land Cruiser … Continue reading →

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October 17, 1907: All-White USC Football Team Starts Race Riot Over Tackle by Black Player From Whittier

Posted on October 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 17, 1907 Los Angeles Mr. Woolin, left tackle of the USC team, took great exception to be tackled by one of the black players on the Whittier State team (one of … Continue reading →

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Sept. 28, 1907: L.A. Motorcycle Club Backs Ban on Loud Pipes

Posted on September 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 28, 1907 Los Angeles Members of the Los Angeles Motorcycle Club have written to officials in support of a measure banning loud exhaust pipes on motorcycles. “The motorcycle club says that … Continue reading →

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Sept. 24, 1947: Young Men Say ‘I Love You’ With a Buick Hood Ornament

Posted on September 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. And how do the young men of Los Angeles indicate their interest in a young woman? Do they court her with roses or candy or mash … Continue reading →

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Sept. 19, 1947: L.A. OKs Right Turn on Red Light!

Posted on September 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Adopted across the country and lampooned by Woody Allen, Los Angeles’ right turn on a red light was born in obscurity. Although the city used traffic … Continue reading →

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Sept. 14, 1947: How Many HR Violations Can You Spot in One Ad?

Posted on September 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

Sept. 14, 1947: Let’s see. White couples or single women wanted. Age limit 55 years. No, we don’t do this anymore.

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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

Sept. 13, 1907: Girl’s Foot Amputated After Being Crushed by Streetcar

Posted on September 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 13, 1907 Los Angeles The family was too poor to take a streetcar, so Concepcion Parra, 60, and her sister Mrs. J.L. Ghiotto began walking the 12 miles to El Monte … Continue reading →

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Sept. 11, 1947: Driver of Beer Wagon Gets Revenge on Streetcars

Posted on September 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. “Big Bill,” driver for Maier & Zobelein, blockaded a procession of cars on Spring Street yesterday afternoon because he was insulted and angry. He had driven … Continue reading →

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Sept. 5, 1947: L.A. Turns 166, Becomes Third-Largest City in America

Posted on September 5, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Los Angeles mounted a festive reenactment of its founding, with people taking the roles of padres, soldiers and settlers. On the gaily decorated steps of City … Continue reading →

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Aug. 23, 1907: Motoring to Yale, L.A. Student Averages 29 Miles Per Day

Posted on August 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. William Renwick, recent graduate of Pomona College, was to attend Yale in the fall, and rather than more mundane modes of travel decided to head East by auto in what he hoped … Continue reading →

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Aug. 10, 1947: North Broadway Tunnel, Doomed Downtown Landmark

Posted on August 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Building contractor Robert Beryle regarded the 762-foot Broadway tunnel, excavated in 1901 through Fort Moore Hill, as his masterpiece. Another crew was building the 1,045-foot 3rd … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Kiwanis Refuses to Give Lottery Winner a New Cadillac Because He’s Black

Posted on August 1, 2018 by lmharnisch

This is a story that involves a $1 lottery ticket, a new Cadillac and an incredible amount of stupidity by members of an ostensibly charitable organization who were determined to uphold racist attitudes. And it really happened. The story, as … Continue reading →

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July 30: 1907: Runaway Horse Races Down Broadway, Plows Into Hotel Lobby

Posted on July 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 30, 1907 Los Angeles A horse and buggy had been hitched outside Jevne’s grocery store at 6th Street and Broadway when a furniture van hit the buggy, frightening the horse. As … Continue reading →

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July 28, 1907: L.A. Seeks to Clear Books of Old Laws on Bear Baiting, Quail Hunting by Streetcar Conductors

Posted on July 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 28, 1907 Los Angeles City officials, hampered by a bramble bush of old and unenforced laws, have appointed deputy prosecutor Eddie to prune back outdated and unnecessary regulations from the early … Continue reading →

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July 25, 1907: Fire Burns Foothill Bridge, Main Route From Monrovia to L.A.

Posted on July 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 25, 1907 Arcadia, Calif. Despite the efforts of 75 volunteer firefighters, a blaze rapidly consumed a 150-foot wooden bridge on Foothill Boulevard over the Santa Anita between Arcadia and Monrovia.

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