Aerial photo of St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Auto Club Headquarters at the intersection of Adams Blvd and Figueroa St, Los Angeles, May 3, 1933

Posted on March 28, 2024 by

Aerial photo of St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Auto Club Headquarters at the intersection of Adams Blvd and Figueroa St, Los Angeles, May 3, 1933 at 10.30 am (small)Click on the image for a larger version.

This aerial photo gives us a taste of what it was like to fly over Los Angeles in 1933 (on May 3rd at 10:30 am, to be precise.) We’re looking down at the intersection of Adams Blvd and Figueroa St south of downtown LA near the USC campus. The church is St. Vincent de Paul, and across the street is the headquarters of the Auto Club. For 1933, I’m surprised this area is as filled in as it is, with lots and lots of trees. I do wonder what that long white building on the right is. I’m guessing it’s an oversized greenhouse, and perhaps connected to the nearby Doheny mansion, owned by oil baron Edward L. Doheny.

The church and the Auto Club HQ are both still there. But as we can see from this September 2022 satellite image, the 110 Freeway now cuts through this neighborhood.

 

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9 responses to “Aerial photo of St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Auto Club Headquarters at the intersection of Adams Blvd and Figueroa St, Los Angeles, May 3, 1933”

  1. Bill Wolfe says:
    March 28, 2024 at 9:08 am

    When I was still working, I’d take Adams all the way to the Westside once or twice a year when there was a major traffic delay on the Santa Monica Freeway. I always enjoyed driving through this intersection because it gave me a chance to see these two remarkable buildings. I find it in keeping with our city’s personality that the Auto Club building is, if anything, more majestic than the cathedral.

    Reply
  2. Paula says:
    March 28, 2024 at 10:04 am

    I got a flat tire right at the interchange there where there was no easy way off the freeway. I ended up at this intersection. This was waaaaaay before cell phones, and there was a bank of pay phones at a gas station across from the church. I called the auto club, and when I told the guy on the phone my location, he laughed and said look across the street. That’s when I noticed it was the auto club building!

    Reply
  3. Jim Lewis says:
    March 28, 2024 at 2:38 pm

    You are correct. Those were greenhouses on E. L. Doheny’s property in Chester Place.

    Reply

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