Tag Archives: WWII
A streetcar stops at in front of the State Theatre at Broadway and 7th Street, downtown Los Angeles, 1942
Here’s a slice of Los Angeles life from in 1942: A streetcar stops in front of the State Theatre at Broadway and 7th Street in downtown L.A. The only protection those streetcar riders have from the traffic is that raised … Continue reading
Carmen Miranda gives an impromptu concert on V-J Day to celebrate the end of WWII at the corner of Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood, August 14, 1945
When I first saw this photo, I couldn’t understand why Carmen Miranda would be dancing on a car in front of the Melody Lane restaurant on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Vine. And why did it look as though … Continue reading
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Tagged Hollywood, Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood Blvd, Movie Stars, Restaurants, WWII
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A captured Japanese midget submarine paraded around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during a USC v. UCLA football game, Los Angeles, December 12, 1942
On December 12, 1942, the football teams for Los Angeles’s two major colleges—USC and UCLA—faced off for a game at the Coliseum, south of downtown. Before the game, a captured Japanese midget submarine was paraded around the grounds to what … Continue reading
Opening of Warner Brothers’ “Hollywood Canteen” at the Warner Bros Theatre, 6433 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, December 20, 1944
The roaring success of the real-life Hollywood Canteen on Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood led to Warner Bros. making a film about it. The fact that Warner Bros. stars, Bette Davis and John Garfield, probably had something to do with that. … Continue reading
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Tagged Hollywood Canteen, Movie Stars, Theaters, Warner Bros., WWII
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Volunteers paint the exterior of the Hollywood Canteen before the grand opening, 1451 Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, September, 1942
A big part of the WWII home front war effort in Los Angeles was the opening of the Hollywood Canteen at 1451 Cahuenga Blvd. Bette Davis and John Garfield came up with the idea, but it took months of work … Continue reading
“Food For Victory / Victory Garden” billboard with Arthur Murray dance studio, 5828 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, 1942
This photo is a sign of the times – billboard with not a commercial product to hawk, but a community message to broadcast. “Let’s All Raise Food For Victory / Watch This Model Victory Garden Grow” was designed to encourage … Continue reading
Female inspectors check the center wings of C-47 transport planes at the Douglas Aircraft Co, Long Beach, California, October 1942
While recently researching women entering the workforce during World War II, I found this marvelous photo of female inspectors checking the center wings of C-47 transport planes. It was taken at the Douglas Aircraft Co, at 3855 Lakewood Boulevard in … Continue reading
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Tagged Airports Aircraft Airlines, California, Color photo, Long Beach, WWII
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Servicemen line up outside of the Hollywood Canteen at 1451 Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, 1942
After organizing a post-premiere fundraiser at Ciro’s that resulted in $6,500 seed money, Bette Davis and John Garfield’s project, the Hollywood Canteen, opened at 1451 Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood on October 3, 1942. Servicemen were welcomed with refreshments, world-class entertainment, … Continue reading
A line of searchlights originating at the Hollywood Bowl comb the sky over Hollywood during WWII
When I saw the top photo of searchlights combing the sky over Hollywood during WWII, I figured it was unlikely that they’d have 24 searchlights all going at once and so what I was seeing was more likely a side … Continue reading
Nighttime view from L.A. City Hall observation deck looking north toward Chavez Ravine, downtown Los Angeles, 1943
This nighttime view was taken looking north from the observation deck of L.A. City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Those two streets are Main and Spring toward Chavez Ravine where Dodger Stadium would be built in the late 1950s. This … Continue reading
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Tagged Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Hall, Night photo, WWII
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