I’d love to know the reason behind someone building the largest mailbox in the world. Especially in 1917 Los Angeles, when there really weren’t very many people around, as we can see by the vast stretches of open land in the background. The most likely explanation is that it really wasn’t a mail box at all but a publicity gimmick for a new development South Los Angeles, which is directly south of downtown L.A. I have to wonder, though, if any numbskull actually bothered to climb those stairs to post his letter…and if it actually got delivered.
Advertisement from the Los Angeles Evening Herald, August 24, 1916:
It was all part of the “Land of Dreams” L.A. promotion phenomenon, where anything you can imagine could come to life. You can see more of such in the picture book “Paradise Promoted” by Tom Zimmerman. Another great picture book is “The Story of Hollywood” by Gregory Paul Williams. Both great addenda to your awesome site, Martin!
I’d love to know the reason behind someone building the largest mailbox in the world. Especially in 1917 Los Angeles, when there really weren’t very many people around, as we can see by the vast stretches of open land in the background. The most likely explanation is that it really wasn’t a mail box at all but a publicity gimmick for a new development South Los Angeles, which is directly south of downtown L.A. I have to wonder, though, if any numbskull actually bothered to climb those stairs to post his letter…and if it actually got delivered.
It was all part of the “Land of Dreams” L.A. promotion phenomenon, where anything you can imagine could come to life. You can see more of such in the picture book “Paradise Promoted” by Tom Zimmerman. Another great picture book is “The Story of Hollywood” by Gregory Paul Williams. Both great addenda to your awesome site, Martin!
I do have the latter one – and it’s gorgeous – but I do need to seek out the Zimmerman book. Thanks for the heads up, Rich!