August 14, 1945 was a big day around the world, but especially in Southern California, which had been the U.S.’s main gateway to the Pacific theater during WWII. This photo was taken that day—known as V-J Day (Victory over Japan, marking the end of hostilities)—and here we see about a dozen Angelenos, giddy with joy, packed into (and onto) a Plymouth at the intersection of Olive and 6th Streets in downtown Los Angeles, where Western Airlines had their office. As we can see from the trash on the street, much celebrating was done that day. And I bet there were many hangovers suffered on the morning of the 15th.

That building behind them with the Western Airlines office is still there. This image is from May 2019.