Tag Archives: Streetcars

Red Car streetcar heading south on Highland Ave outside the Hollywood Bowl, circa early 1950s

This circa early 1950s photo shows what a vivid splash of color the Pacific Electric Red Cars added to the Los Angeles cityscape. This one was heading south at the top end of Highland Ave outside the Hollywood Bowl. The … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

2nd St looking west from Spring St, downtown Los Angeles, circa late 1800s

There’s a lot of life going on in this pre-horseless-carriage photo taken in the late 1800s of downtown Los Angeles. Specifically, we’re looking west along 2nd Street from Spring St, only a couple of blocks south of where Union Station … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Santa Monica Air Line, a Pacific Electric streetcar that shuttled people between downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica, circa 1909

This natty group of Angelenos was photographed beside a Pacific Electric streetcar on what was known as the Santa Monica Air Line, which was took people from the Pacific Electric Building at Sixth and Main Streets in downtown Los Angeles, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Trackless Trolley runs along an unpaved Laurel Canyon Blvd, Los Angeles, circa early 1900s

Laurel Canyon Blvd is one of the main (twisting, turning) roads that connect Los Angeles with the San Fernando Valley. These days it’s nearly always busy, but back in the early 1900s when this photo was taken, Angelenos’ main method … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Passengers board the “Balloon Route” tourist streetcar at Hermosa Beach, California, 1906

The Los Angeles Pacific Company’s “Balloon Route” was a streetcar ride that started in downtown Los Angeles and took passengers on a scenic trip around L.A. It was marketed as being for tourists, but in reality was an extended advertisement … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Looking north up Spring St to the Second St corner toward the Hotel Hollenbeck, downtown Los Angeles, circa late 1800s

In this circa late 1800s photo, we’re looking north up a busy Spring St to the Second St corner. That building near the center of the photo with the turrets was the Hotel Hollenbeck, which was one of L.A.’s better-known … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Looking south at Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave as a Red Car heads north toward Cahuenga Pass and the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, circa 1950

The photographer who took this shot in around 1950 was standing at the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave with the Hollywood Hotel behind him. That Red Car was heading north into the Cahuenga Pass en route to the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A super-packed street car at Eleventh and Flower Streets, downtown Los Angeles, 1919

If you take a closer look at the street car in this 1919 photo, you’ll see that it is so jam-packed with passengers that two guys have climbed onto the roof. I’m not sure how they got up there or … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

A snow-covered Pacific Electric streetcar stops at Lake Ave and Mariposa St, Altadena, California, mid January 1932

It hasn’t snowed in the Los Angeles area very often – on average once every 10 years. Two inches of snow fell in 1932, which is when I’m guessing this photo of a snow-covered Pacific Electric streetcar was taken. From … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

A Pacific Electric Red Car train stops on the new Pico Blvd viaduct, Los Angeles, November 2, 1927

From 1927 to 1963, a long viaduct bridge stood where Pico Blvd meets San Vicente Blvd. This photo, taken on November 2, 1927, gives us an idea of what traffic was like back then (very light compared to today!) City … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments