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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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