Angels Flight is the most famous funicular in downtown Los Angeles but it wasn’t the only one. There was also Court Flight, which ferried passengers up the steep incline of Bunker Hill between Temple and First Streets. Also unlike Angel’s Flight, passengers were only charged for the ride up. This photo was taken in 1940, long before the leveling of Bunker Hill and removal of all those old Victorian mansions. In fact, three years later Court Flight burned down under somewhat mysterious circumstances. That large building in the background is the old Los Angeles Hall of Records building. It lasted until 1973.
The old Los Angeles Hall of Records building (1911-1973)
Growing up in LA I never thought they’d tear down the Hall of Records.
Not sure if you’ve seen this but it’s rather special, inexplicably so.
Driving around 1940s LA:
Thanks for posting this, Gordon. It’s a fascinating look at how different and far more varied downtown Los Angeles was back then.
Found a here and now version side by side. There’s my next 7 minutes taken care of.
I lived in this neighborhood when this was filmed on Grand Avenue. I lived just a block west on South Bunker Hill Avenue.