The corner of 7th St & Broadway in downtown Los Angeles was not only LA’s busiest intersection, but also it seems its most photographed section, if my anecdotal experience is anything to go by. But here is an angle I haven’t seen before. Taken in June 1919, it shows a streetcar negotiating the intersection at what I assume is a very slow speed because it looks like a female passenger is climbing aboard. In the background we can see how many of the downtown stores had awnings out front to protect shoppers from the weather. But most of all, I like that streetlight in the foreground. Including the large center globe, it appears to have seven lights, which must have been helpful come nightfall. (Source: Metro Library and Archive)
Life in those days seem so much more calmer than the go go go life in today’s world. I will bet the normal speed people drove those cars was about 25 miles per hour. I wish that were the case today.
The awning business was thriving.
Los Angeles had a notable history of using 7-globe streetlights, particularly on Broadway from 1905 to 1919. These Llewellyn electroliers, with their unique cast-iron poles and seven globes, were a prominent feature of the city’s early ornamental street lighting system
First ornamental street lighting system was installed on Broadway Street. The system consisted of 135 seven-globe, cast-iron poles. Similar style five-globe “cluster” lights were installed throughout Downtown LA, Hollywood Boulevard, Sherman Way in the Valley, and even in the Reseda business area within a few years.
Los Angeles had a DC-powered electrical system for about 40 years, from its early electrification in the late 1890s until the late 1930s. During this period, several private companies provided electricity to the city, including Los Angeles Edison Electric, which was the first to use DC power underground.
Streetcars in Los Angeles operated on 600 volts of DC power. I worked for the Dept of Water and Power in the late 70’s and was told by an old timer that grew up in Los Angeles that when he was a kid, the streetlights would dim as a streetcar drove by. I am thinking the 7 globe lights were powered by the streetcar DC power of 600 volts and 7 globes were used and wired in series to allow for seven, 100 volt bulbs to be used. Just a guess.
Thanks so much for all that extra info, Bob!
The 7-globe Llewellyn street lights were found only on Broadway. All of the other Llewellyn lights had a maximum of 5 lamps. The models used along current day Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way were a mix of 3-globe and 5-globe street lights.
Only on Broadway? Oh, wow, I didn’t know that, so thanks for sharing that fun fact with us.
Thanks, Martin! Love these oldies. Yes, I’ve also heard how street lights would dim when the street cars went by. They were also very limited in their trejectory. A streetcar could only go so many places. Then came busses!
Busses everywhere in LA!!!! And if you had the dough, you could take a taxi.
In 1919, there were still a few folks using horses and wagons. Amazing. That all said, if you sold shoes back then, you probably made a comfortable living, because most folks walked from place to place. People were more independent in those days.