Here we have a circa 1917 view of one of L.A.’s most complicated intersections, where Main, Spring, and 9th Streets converge in downtown Los Angeles. I don’t know how these people managed to negotiate this 5-way intersection without traffic lights, but apparently they figured it out. It’s also probably why there is an elevated police traffic box – that’s the booth in the center of the photo. But what did he do when he got up there? Yell at reckless drivers?
Here’s that same intersection in December 2020. It looks a lot calmer, doesn’t it?
The police box was an attempt by the city Fathers to say”Look, we’re doing something about this horrible problem”.
I’d like to know what this is. Early version of Jumbovision? https://i.imgur.com/flAmOFX.png
It looks like they’ve painted the side of a building to resemble a movie screen.
I believe that the tower was placed there for the purpose of regulating the rail movements. Perhaps a light was activated by a man inside to advise train conductors of the right of way assignment.
Based on photos that I have seen, some of the Downtown intersections at this time were regulated by a rectangular sign attached to overhead lines with the word STOP.
In October 1920 the first Acme signals would be installed along Broadway between 3rd and 7th Streets. By 1924 32 of the Downtown intersections would have these new Acme signals.
Thanks for that info, John. When you speak of Acme signs, I assume you mean the semaphore signs?
The triangle-shaped building at the place where Spring and Main converge housed a restaurant for many years. (It might still be there, but I’m not sure.) When our office was moved from City Hall to Fourth and Spring while City Hall underwent earthquake retrofitting and general rehabilitation in the late Nineties, my boss and I would occasionally eat at this restaurant’s rooftop dining area. It was always fascinating to watch the traffic, both automotive and pedestrian, from this second floor perch. I can’t imagine what the addition of trolleys would have done to the traffic flow!
I think the restaurant was called Angelique’s which served French-style lunches.
Yes! That’s it!