Tag Archives: WWII
Revealing: ALL THE GIN JOINTS – a novel of World War II Hollywood
During the past couple of years since I finished writing my Hollywood’s Garden of Allah series, I have written a couple of biographical novels: specifically Chasing Salomé about actress Alla Nazimova, and The Heart of the Lion about MGM producer, … Continue reading
A Japanese submarine captured at Pearl Harbor is shown to the public out front of CBS Columbia Square studios, 6121 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, 1943
This must have been a sight to see: a Japanese submarine captured at Pearl Harbor. I don’t know why it was set up out front of CBS Columbia Square studios at 6121 Sunset Blvd in Hollywood in 1943, but I … Continue reading
A dozen Angelenos crowd into a car celebrating V-J Day at Olive and 6th Streets, downtown Los Angeles
August 14, 1945 was a big day around the world, but especially in Southern California, which had been the U.S.’s main gateway to the Pacific theater during WWII. This photo was taken that day—known as V-J Day (Victory over Japan, … Continue reading
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Tagged Airports Aircraft Airlines, Downtown Los Angeles, WWII
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Nighttime view looking east toward Union Station from the top of Los Angeles City Hall, downtown L.A., 1943
Sitting on the Pacific coast, Los Angeles was subject to blackouts and dimouts during WWII, so the city wasn’t lit up nearly as much as it had been before Pearl Harbor. But if you stood on the observation deck atop … Continue reading
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Tagged Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Hall, Night photo, WWII
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Women at work on the assembly line at Douglas Aircraft plant, Long Beach, California, 1942
This photo was taken at the Douglas Aircraft plant on 3855 Lakewood Blvd in Long Beach in 1942 after it had been converted to a war factory. What we’re seeing here is women checking long rows of Plexiglas noses destined … Continue reading
Looking north up Hill Street toward the Warner Theater at 7th Street, downtown Los Angeles, 1942
This slice-of-life photo gives us a glimpse of downtown Los Angeles early in WWII. We’re looking north up Hill Street to the 7th Street intersection where 2000-seat Warner Bros. Downtown Theatre stood. (It’s still there but is a jewelry store … Continue reading
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Tagged Downtown Los Angeles, Streetcars, Theaters, Warner Bros., WWII
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Looking west along Wilshire Blvd from Lafayette Park toward the Town House Hotel and Bullocks Wilshire, circa early 1940s
The photographer who took this shot was standing at Lafayette Park on Wilshire Blvd as it curves gently to the left and heads west toward the Pacific. On the right we have the Town House Hotel and on the left … Continue reading
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Tagged Bullocks Wilshire, Hotels, Stores and Shopping, Town House Hotel, Wilshire Blvd, WWII
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Looking west from Los Angeles City Hall toward Bunker Hill during war time dim out, downtown Los Angeles, 1943
This rather stunning nighttime view was taken during WWII dim outs in 1943. That building in the foreground was the Hall of Records, which gathered together most LA county offices under one roof and lasted until 1973. (The land on … Continue reading
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Tagged Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Hall, Night photo, WWII
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Mom Lehr’s Hollywood Guild & Canteen, 1284 N. Crescent Heights Blvd Los Angeles, circa 1942
This modest little sign belies a much-needed service provided to servicemen passing through Los Angeles en route to the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Anne Lehr, the wife of the vice president of United Artists, saw that servicemen didn’t have anywhere … Continue reading
Biltmore Hotel, from the corner of 5th and Olive Streets, downtown Los Angeles, 1943
This grand building is the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The photographer was standing on the corner of 5th and Olive in 1943, when the world was fighting WWII. This was a time when Los Angeles was flooded with … Continue reading
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Tagged Downtown Los Angeles, Hotels, Los Angeles, Pershing Square, Restaurants, WWII
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