This film was studio background footage shot to be seen from the rear window of a stationary mock up car supposedly driving with actors in the front seat. The film records the road scenes on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills from Canon Drive past Robertson Boulevard.The last part of the film records the street scenes on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard, following the same route as previous. (Via BevHillsHistlSociety).
In memoriam of Elmar Ploner (1922 – 2010), who would have been 90 years old today.
On Top of The World, the Alps, 1940s. Photo: Gilbert Ploner. Courtesy of Monika Ploner. Click to enlarge.
Scott Harrison, who says he has worked at the Los Angeles Times for 48 years and started as a paper boy, found this image:
Click to enlarge.
The photo was taken by L.A. Times photographer William Snyder on Nov. 24, 1934. It was published the next day, accompanying an article about the first day of a strike by the Amalgameted Assn. of Street and Electric Railway Employees against the Los Angeles Railway Corp.
The article notes: This photograph taken at Seventh street and Broadway yesterday morning shows what little effect the strike on the Los Angeles Rail way street-car lines had on business activities in the retail shopping district. Normal trolley car operations are apparent. (Los Angeles Times, Nov. 25, 1934).
I am not a video gamer. No, no, no! Not at all! But to my great surprise there is now a computer game I could see myself getting excited about: L.A. Noire. Its simulation of 1940s Los Angeles is simply stunning and mindboggling.
This is not an invented landscape! This is a representation of the authentic streets, buildings, landmarks and vehicles which really existed at the time, and the players navigate on a true map of the city. Here is a simulated police chase through downtown Los Angeles, circa 1947:
I never thought I’d say this, but this has gone on my “must try” list. Not that I’d really want to “solve a crime” or actually play the game — I’d be content with cruising around vintage Los Angeles for hours and hours.
As so often, I wish I had a time machine!
Christmas shopping in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles, 1941. (Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection, Order # 00068526). Click to enlarge.
Atomic trains! Space patrol cars! Robots, space tanks and of course — the “Luna Hovercraft”! I love this stuff. See Life Magazine’s gallery: