Tag Archives: Los Angeles
Los Angeles Hidden Etymologies
In case you’ve wondered of the origin of some of the more familiar and famous names around Los Angeles…
The French Chateau Apartment building at 900 S. Hobart Blvd, Los Angeles, 1937
It’s nice to know that once upon a time, architects designed and developers built apartment buildings that weren’t just square boxes. Yes, square boxes are more efficient, and yes, they maximize floor space (and therefore profits) but get a load … Continue reading
The offices of Municipal Light, Water, and Power at the intersection of 59th Place and Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, 1936
The sign on the magnificent building says “MUNICIPAL LIGHT WATER POWER” so I’m assuming it’s a forerunner of what we here in LA now call the DWP (Department of Water and Power.) In 1936, when this photo was taken, it … Continue reading
A convoy of horse-drawn Tally-Ho carriages take Angeleno tourists from Los Angeles to the Altadena Junction, circa late 1890s
I don’t have a lot of information on this photo, but from what I can piece together, it appears to be from the late 1890s when the Tally-Ho carriages would take groups of locals and tourists from Los Angeles (which … Continue reading
Two cars collide at an otherwise empty intersection, somewhere in Los Angeles, 1915
The only thing I know about this photo is that it was taken somewhere in Los Angeles in 1915. But you have to laugh—these two cars had the entire intersection to themselves and they STILL managed to get into a … Continue reading
A five-globe streetlight blacked-out on top at the corner of Main and 33rd Streets, south of downtown Los Angeles, circa 1943
This photo shows us a couple of interesting things. Firstly, how gorgeous the streetlights around LA used to be. This particular model was called a Llewellyn and featured four globes surrounding a fifth, larger one. It stood at the corner … Continue reading
A Model A Ford as a Black and White taxicab somewhere on the streets of Los Angeles, 1930
I know that it’s very easy and convenient to call for an Uber on your phone and know exactly when and how it’s going to arrive. But just once I’d love to have called MAdison 1311 for a Black & … Continue reading
Looking north up La Brea Ave from around Lexington Ave, Los Angeles, 1919
In a still from a 1919 silent short called “Waiting at the Church,” we’re treated to an early view of La Brea Ave looking north from (I’m guessing) around Lexington Ave. Now a major north/south thoroughfare, back then La Brea … Continue reading
A glossary of California Place Names” from “The Romantic Road to California’s Yesterdays” published by the California Rotogravure Corp, circa 1929
In case you’ve ever wondered, as I have, where some Californian place names originated, here is a couple of pages from “The Romantic Road to California’s Yesterdays” which was a book was published by the California Rotogravure Corp in around … Continue reading
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Tagged California, California missions, Los Angeles, Santa Monica
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