Double-decker buses are something I associate with London rather than Los Angeles, but in the earlier part of the 20th century, double-deckers with an open-air top deck were quite a common sight around LA. I don’t know what was going on in this circa 1920s photo of businessmen in their suits and ties and hats and overcoats, but someone thought it worth taking a photo of. Maybe they were going to the Los Angeles Motor Bus Company’s Christmas party and decided it was best if someone else did the driving—even if it was Prohibition!
Double-decker bus number 610 from the Los Angeles Motor Bus Company, circa 1920s
More likely, ESPECIALLY because it was Prohibition!
Manhattan also had double deckers, as seen in the 1937 Jean Arthur movie, Easy Living, in which an angry Edward Arnold tosses his wife’s mink coat off their penthouse balcony, whereupon it floats down and lands on shopgirl Jean Arthur, sitting atop a double-deck bus. Classic screwball comedy ensues.
I’ve seen that one…it is good!