Back around the turn of the century, when (downtown) Los Angeles was waaaay over here and Hollywood and the beaches were waaaay over there, one of the more popular tourist attractions was an all-day trolley trips operated by the Pacific Electric. It was called the Balloon Route and its promotional brochures boasted that passengers would see “10 beaches and 8 cities” and travel “101 miles for 100 cents in 1 day.” A trolley like the Hermosa pictured here would leave downtown Los Angeles and pass by oil fields, Echo Park, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the make its way to Venice Beach, where this hand-tinted photograph was taken before heading back. I don’t know that I’d want to tour LA dressed in a three-piece suite and a bowler hat but these people wouldn’t have thought anything of it.
It had to be very exciting for them. Most seems middle-aged and probably grew up using horses to travel around here and now could use an electric powered train!
Back around the turn of the century, when (downtown) Los Angeles was waaaay over here and Hollywood and the beaches were waaaay over there, one of the more popular tourist attractions was an all-day trolley trips operated by the Pacific Electric. It was called the Balloon Route and its promotional brochures boasted that passengers would see “10 beaches and 8 cities” and travel “101 miles for 100 cents in 1 day.” A trolley like the Hermosa pictured here would leave downtown Los Angeles and pass by oil fields, Echo Park, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the make its way to Venice Beach, where this hand-tinted photograph was taken before heading back. I don’t know that I’d want to tour LA dressed in a three-piece suite and a bowler hat but these people wouldn’t have thought anything of it.
I have a dollar. I want to take a ride.
Me too! Hold the trolley! I’m on my way!
It had to be very exciting for them. Most seems middle-aged and probably grew up using horses to travel around here and now could use an electric powered train!
I hadn’t thought about that, William. You’re right. It must have been quite the ride – especially the swaths of open country in between.