Tag Archives: Airports Aircraft Airlines

Grand Central Air Terminal, 1310 Air Way, Glendale, California, circa 1937.

What started started as a private airport in 1919 became the Glendale Municipal Airport in 1923 and then later was rededicated as the Grand Central Air Terminal on February 22, 1929. This photo of the graceful Spanish Colonial Revival building … Continue reading

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Metropolitan Airport, Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, disguised as Casablanca Airport, July 10, 1942

It’s amazing how little it takes to fool us movie audiences. On July 10, 1942, the cast and crew working on Warner Brothers’ “Casablanca” decamped to what was then called Los Angeles Metropolitan Airport (later renamed Van Nuys Airport) to … Continue reading

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Graf Zeppelin airship at Mines Field, Los Angeles, late August 1929

In late August of 1929, the Graf Zeppelin landed at Mines Field (later LA International Airport) on the final leg of a Hearst-sponsored 20-day round-world voyage. Every other photo I’ve seen is taken far back so as to capture the … Continue reading

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Goodyear blimp at Culver City Airport, Los Angeles, circa late 1940s

When I came across this photo of the Goodyear blimp at Hughes Airport, I was struck by how little the design of the Goodyear blimp has changed over the years. This photo is circa 1940s but that blimp could be … Continue reading

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Poster for the world tour of Leo the MGM Lion, 1927/28

In 1927-28, those fizzy brains in the MGM publicity department decided to take their mascot lion on a world tour. Too bad for Leo that the plane crashed in the Arizona desert. Lucky for Leo, though, he survived. #SeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime The … Continue reading

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Cars crowd Wilshire Blvd perhaps to watch an air show at DeMille Field (Rogers Airport) at Wilshire and Crescent Ave (Fairfax Ave), Los Angeles, circa early 1920s

It looks like something big was going on at DeMille Field (later known as Rogers Airport) that covered a vast expanse of land anchored at the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Fairfax Ave, which was known back then as Crescent … Continue reading

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The Sky Room Cafe at Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, California, circa 1940s

Burbank Airport has been through more names than a Hollywood divorcee. It’s had 7 names since it opened as United Airport in 1930. This shot of the airport’s main restaurant, The Sky Room Café, was taken when the facility was … Continue reading

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The Graf Zeppelin parked at Mine’s Field, Los Angeles, August 26, 1929

Thanks to the caption at the bottom of this photo, we know exactly when it was taken: 11am on Monday August 26, 1929. The Graf Zeppelin landed in Los Angeles on the final leg of its spectacular round-world 20-day voyage. … Continue reading

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The fuselage of Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose en route to Long Beach Harbor, June 11, 1946

This sure must have been a sight to see: the transportation of the fuselage of Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose—oops, sorry Howard: the H-4 Hercules to Long Beach Harbor on June 11th, 1946. It can’t have been a fast moving convoy … Continue reading

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WWII recruits gather to hear Air Marshall Bishop speak at Grand Central Air Terminal, Glendale, California, 1942

Completed in 1930 and combining Spanish Colonial Revival with Art Deco, the Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendale became Los Angeles’ first commercial airport when American Airlines established services there. It was also used by legendary figures in aviation like … Continue reading

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