Tag Archives: Oil
Color photo of a Chevrolet and a Ford Model A driving through the oil fields of Signal Hill, Long Beach, California, 1952
The vitality of this color photo is particularly striking, isn’t it? Although no longer around, those oil wells in the background used to dot the Signal Hill area of Long Beach for decades. It must have been a dirty, smelly, … Continue reading
Dusk (or dawn?) falls over the Union Oil Research Center at 376 S. Valencia Ave, Brea, southeast of downtown Los Angeles, 1952
Just because you’re an oil company research facility, doesn’t mean you can’t be pleasing to the eye. This 1952 photo was taken at the Union Oil Research Center, which had opened the year before at 376 S. Valencia Ave, Brea, … Continue reading
Oil Wells sprout up along Curtis St near present-day Dodgers Stadium, Los Angeles, circa 1920s
It’s amazing to me that Angelenos could drive through their neighborhood and pass forest of oil wells, and yet for years the sight I this image was routine for many people. This particular photo was taken on Curtis Street, only … Continue reading
Standard Oil gas station at the corner of Beverly Blvd and La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, circa late 1920s
I never experienced the era of gas station attendants wearing bow ties and caps, who would pump your gas and clean your windshield for you, but it sure must have been nice. This Standard Oil gas station stood at the … Continue reading
Gilmore Oil delivery truck lit up with neon for promotional purposes, Los Angeles, circa 1934
In 1934, the Los Angeles-based Gilmore Oil company decided to outfit one of the fuel delivery trucks with neon as a promotional gimmick. For some reason, they were able to enlist the head of Twentieth Century-Fox’s special effects department who … Continue reading
Edward L. Doheny mansion, 10 Chester Place, Los Angeles (undated)
When your name is Edward L. Doheny and you’re the guy who struck oil in 1892 and kicked off the Southern California oil boom, you get to buy any mansion you like. So you buy the one at 10 Chester … Continue reading
Germany races Italy in the Long Beach Marine Stadium during the Los Angeles Olympic Games, August, 1932
In this shot we’re seeing Germany race Italy in the Long Beach Marine Stadium during the Los Angeles Olympic Games in August 1932. The locals watching this race probably barely even noticed the forest of oil wells in the background, … Continue reading
Panoramic photo facing north and east toward the oil-field-filled Signal Hill area of Long Beach, California, 1922
panoI recently posted a photo of an airfield at Wilshire and Fairfax in 1922 which showed large swaths of empty land. Contrasting with that photo, this panoramic facing north and east toward the oil-field-filled Signal Hill area of Long Beach … Continue reading
Aerial shot looking east along Wilshire Blvd across the San Vicente Blvd intersection, Los Angeles, 1930
In this rather stunning aerial view, we’re looking east along Wilshire Blvd. The cross street around cutting through the middle of the image is San Vicente Blvd, which means the street running along the bottom of the photo is La … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Carthay Circle Theater, Oil, Theaters, Wilshire Blvd
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Looking west along Wilshire Blvd from around Mansfield Ave, Los Angeles, 1951 (colorized)
This isn’t a photograph but a screen grab taken from footage shot along Wilshire Blvd in 1951 that has been auto-colorized, remastered, with sound added. It’s a remarkable 10-minute visit to 1950s Los Angeles and worth your while: https://youtu.be/5fL8n_aAisQ I … Continue reading