Rarely have I seen a photo of LA peak hour traffic look so artistic. We’re looking west along Wilshire Blvd from west of Serrano Ave. That 12-story Art Deco building on the left is called the Pellissier Building, which also housed the Warners Theatre. It had only just opened when this photo was taken in 1931. But look at the road itself: it had a center divider painted down the middle, but that was all. No lane to keep drivers in check. I guess it was “every man for himself”?
Although dwarfed by the skyscraper behind it, the Pellissier Building is still there and the Warner Bros. Theater is now known as the Wiltern. This image is from May 2024.
Martin, When I see these old old photos it makes me just want to jump into them. How I wish someone would invent a time machine. Is that tall building on the right hand side of the older photo gone? Just love these old photos.
That’s the Wilshire Professional Building, which I think which I think went up in the 1920s.
No longer there?
Yes, still there, but hidden by that modern office building.
Also just adore those Wilshire street lamps lining the blvd. Very classy.
Love these old photos of the La traffic, they seem like they made their own lane while driving the Blvd.
LOVE IT. I worked on Wilshire Blvd for a few years, and it’s the heart of LA. A beautiful area. Not much has changed as compared to the 1931 photo.
Simply amazing. Keep the vintage photos coming they are fun.
Back in the 30s people did not drive like maniacs like today. They had much more respect for one another and there was probably no need to have the separate lanes.
It does help the cars were slower and more exposed, people weren’t zoom zooming quite as hard.
Love the turquoise of this place.
Yes, we tend to forget that in this zooming day and age.