Tag Archives: Downtown Los Angeles
A man sitting in a Pope-Waverley electric automobile on Spring St (looking north from 8th), downtown Los Angeles, circa 1902
Yesterday’s photo of Spring St was taken in 1902, and coincidentally, those photo is also of Spring St in 1902, only this north-facing view is from 8th Street. The guy in the foreground is sitting in a Pope-Waverley electric automobile. … Continue reading
Looking north from 3rd Street up a busy and bustling Spring Street, downtown Los Angeles, 1902
I look at a photo like this – we’re facing north up Spring St from 3rd Street in downtown Los Angeles – and all I can think of is how noisy it must have been. In this 1902 photo we … Continue reading
A crowd gathers at the opening of an F & W Grand-Silver five-and-dime store at 537 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, 1931
Before I came across this photo, I’d never heard of the F & W Grand-Silver stores, but the people in this crowd who have gathered to watch the grand opening in 1931 sure had. The overall look of it reminds … Continue reading
Children’s show in progress in the Roof Garden Theatre on the roof of the May Co department store, 801 S. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles, 1931
I don’t have a lot of information about this photo other than it was taken in 1931. With all those mothers sitting in the audience, it looks like some sort of children’s show going on a makeshift stage. The sign … Continue reading
Looking across Pershing Square toward the Biltmore Hotel, downtown Los Angeles (undated)
A couple of days ago I posted a photo or a rather forlorn-looking Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles in 1968 after the city had dug it up and added a 5-level parking garage. For those of you who don’t … Continue reading
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Tagged Biltmore Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles, Hotels, Pershing Square
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Color photo of Pershing Square, downtown Los Angeles, 1968
Since its creation in 1866, Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles has had many names and taken many forms. In the early 1950s, the whole thing was dug up so that a 5-level underground parking structure could be built. This … Continue reading
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Tagged Biltmore Hotel, Color photo, Downtown Los Angeles, Pershing Square
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Looking south down Broadway from 4th St, downtown Los Angeles, 1931
I always enjoy coming across photos like this one where nothing in particular is happening. Just another day looking south down Broadway from 4th St in downtown Los Angeles in 1931. Photos like this remind us how lively downtown LA … Continue reading
View looking across downtown Los Angeles when the glow from a Nevada atom bomb test reaches California on June 4, 1953
When I first saw this photo, my “Oh, what a lovely dawn!” reaction turned to a horrified “Oh my God!” when I read the description. The glow behind downtown Los Angeles is from an atom bomb test conducted on June … Continue reading
Sid Grauman stands beside Charlie Chaplin as he plays the organ at Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre, 307 S. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles, 1920
I don’t know if Charlie Chaplin could actually play a keyboard, but here he is at the organ of the Million Dollar Theatre. Standing next to him is Sid Grauman. These days we most closely associate him with his Grauman’s … Continue reading
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Tagged Downtown Los Angeles, Million Dollar Theater, Movie Stars, Theaters
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Looking north up Spring St toward 3rd St, downtown Los Angeles, 1907
In this atmospheric shot, we’re looking north up Spring St toward 3rd St in downtown Los Angeles. The year was 1907, when the streets of LA were still being shared by horses with carriage and those new-fangled horseless carriages. This … Continue reading