The Pacific Electric Red Cars get most of the attention in vintage photos of the streets of LA in the first half of the 20th century. But the LA Railway’s Yellow Cars also did their bit moving Angelenos around the ever-growing city. This one was heading along Broadway from around 7th St in downtown Los Angeles in 1956. I am glad to see a passenger safety zone raised up off the road. (Most zones I see were just painted lines.) In the background we can see blade signs for Kress (five-and-dime), the Los Angeles movie theater, Richman Brothers clothing, Desmond’s department store, and Bond, which was a middle-level, men’s clothing chain whose flagship store was at 640 S. Broadway.
Yorkman L. said: “The streetcar is southbound on Broadway, approaching 7th St. The only raised concrete loading islands in the LARY and LATL system were those in the 4 compass directions at 7th & Broadway.’
This is roughly how that view looked in June 2024, where we can still see the blade sign for the Los Angeles Theatre.
I get a little confused about the red cars and yellow cars. Looking at old LA directories, in 1904 my Grandpa was at LA RY, Los Angeles Railway Yellow cars. He there though 1912. Then in 1913 he is at pacific L & P corporation. 1914 LA Gas and Electric. Is that the Red Cars? My Mom always said he worked for the Red Cars.
The Yellow Cars were run by LA Railway (aka LARY) and the Red Cars were run by Pacific Electric. I sounds to me like Grandpa worked for both.
Thanks Martin, I was thinking they may have merged at that time.
In a way, I guess you could say that. Both services were owned by Huntington. Yellow cars were essentially inner-urban while the Red Car line were inter-urban.
Thanks, Martin. I think there’s an LA Yellow Car on display at the Traveltown Museum in Burbank. I was there a few years ago. They have a ton of vintage trains, also used in movies. Great place for train and trolley buffs.
Yes, the KRESS sign is familiar. No relation to KRESGE stores, though.
Kresge later became KMART in the 60s, probably patterned after Kress.
By the way, the Kress logo is famous and a collectors item, much in the same category as OWL DRUGS. Gone are the days. The gigantic empty Kmart store still stands there in Burbank, prime real estate, but no new tenant.