Tag Archives: Lake Hollywood

Workmen work to reinforce the Mulholland Dam and Hollywood Reservoir with tons of dirt in the aftermath of the St. Francis Dam disaster, circa 1934

After the St. Francis Dam failed on March 12, 1928 near Santa Clarita, California, the authorities in charge of the Mulholland Dam became worried. The Bureau of Water Works and Supply had built both dams along similar lines, and if … Continue reading

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Dramatic black-and-white photo taken by Ted VanCleave from behind the Hollywood sign, 2015

My focus has always been vintage photos of Los Angeles, usually up to the late 1950s, sometimes into the 60s and 70s if the subject is interesting or the image is extraordinary. But yesterday I came across one of the … Continue reading

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An anonymous gent sits on the huge steps on the front of the Mulholland Dam, Lake Hollywood, 1930

This sparse photo gives us an idea of the size of the Mulholland Dam that keeps Lake Hollywood in place up in the Hollywood Hills. Without that guy sitting there, they could look like regular steps. We can no longer … Continue reading

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