Nuestro Pueblo

Above, our artist's view of Bee Rock and below, Bee Rock courtesy of Google Earth.

Below, suicide at Bee Rock, April 10, 1944.

Pasadena Freeway

A map from 1912 shows the plans for the Arroyo Seco Parkway. Note the Silver Lake Parkway, which was not built. The Arroyo Seco Parkway was actually proposed even earlier, as part of Charles Mulford Robinson's "City Beautiful" project of 1906-7. (He also advocated realigning Spring Street and putting City Hall there ... and he proposed planting jacarandas along the city's streets).

Los Angeles Times file photo This photograph of the Arroyo Seco Road, dated 1921, shows a pleasant country lane between Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Construction on the river channel next to the Pasadena Freeway, July 1, 1935.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Construction is nearly finished, Oct. 17, 1940.

Los Angeles Times file photo Rose Queen Sally Stanton, Gov. Culbert Olson and Highway Patrol Chief E. Raymond Cato at the ribbon cutting of the Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway), Dec. 30, 1940. This is in the general location east of Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena where the sinkhole opened July 16, 2008.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times And in a matter of months (Feb. 4, 1941) after the opening, the southbound Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway) is backed up at the Figueroa Tunnels. If you ever wondered what a 67-year-old traffic jam looks like, this is your answer.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Emergency turnouts are added to the Pasadena Freeway in 1950 to ease congestion and prevent accidents.

Photograph by Gil Cooper / Los Angeles Times Workers install center dividers on the Pasadena Freeway, June 15, 1961. If you have ever seen the beating that these guardrails take from accidents, you can imagine what it was like when there was nothing but perhaps a little landscaping to keep cars from plunging into oncoming traffic. Email me

July 17, 1938

Jack Benny gives a party for his daughter Joan and invites some little friends: Jack Haley Jr., Gary and Dennis Crosby, Dion Fay (son of Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Fay), Melinda Markey (daughter of Joan Bennett and Gene Markey), Al Jolson Jr. and Freddie Astaire Jr. Email me

July 17, 1908

Don't get the idea these hats were cheap; wait till you see the actual prices: $219.87 and $186.89, marked down to $86.85 USD 2007. Below, Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan gets more inches of copy but Republican candidate William Howard Taft gets the bigger headlines. Note: Although Taft was nominated at the GOP convention, he will make his official acceptance speech July 28. Email me

President visits L.A.

 

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times President Roosevelt at Broadway and 7th Street, July 16, 1938.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Protesters along the parade route.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times A crowd greets the president, who arrives in his personal railroad car. Photograph by the Los Angeles Times A detail from the image above.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times President Roosevelt delivers a speech, ignoring Los Angeles Mayor Frank Shaw, left. The president began his address without being introduced by the mayor, The Times said.

Email me

Mystery picture

This one's a bit different. Who's the artist? Update: If you are a faithful Daily Mirror reader, you will recall posts about this artist....

Joan Rivers? Interesting guess. Alas, no. Vincent Price? I'm afraid not. Red Skelton? Sorry, no. Henry Major? I'm afraid not. Zsa Zsa Gabor? Alas, no. Phyllis Diller? Interesting guess, but no. Tony Curtis? Interesting, but no. John Wayne Gacy? Ick! NO!!!! Tony Bennett? Sorry, no. Elizabeth Taylor? Alas, no. Karil Rogers Graham? A fascinating guess! (But no). Al Hirschfeld? Um, probably not. Email me

Setback for stadium

July 15, 1958 By Keith Thursby Times staff writer Los Angeles and the Dodgers lost a round in court in their efforts to build a baseball stadium in Chavez Ravine. Superior Court Judge Arnold Praeger ruled that the contract between the city and the Dodgers was invalid. The deal had been struck when the team moved to Los Angeles, then voters narrowly approved it in a June 1958 election. Two local taxpayers then filed lawsuits trying to stop the deal. The Times' main story led with a couple of painful sports metaphors, reporting that Judge Praeger "struck out the Dodgers' Chavez Ravine deal," which according to the paper was "a 32-page doubleheader decision." The paper was a strong proponent of the ballpark and there were often clues in stories if you weren't sure where the paper stood. Deep in the main story on Praeger's ruling was this passage: "As for the voters who decided last June 3 that they were in favor of the Chavez Ravine recreational park--that doesn't count!" Interesting how the project was described. In a story about city officials' reactions, Councilman John Holland was referred to as "perhaps the bitterest foe"  of the stadium plans. The ruling seemed certain to be appealed, but Holland instead hoped "that plans may be speedily revived to have the major league baseball stadium constructed near the Coliseum in or adjacent to Exposition Park." Dodger owner Walter O'Malley remained confident that the ballpark would be built in Chavez Ravine. "We came to California in the first place because we felt it was a fine country and because we wanted to build a new modern stadium," O'Malley said in a story by The Times' Al Wolf. "Chavez fits in perfectly with that plan--and we are not abandoning the program." keith.thursby@latimes.com

July 15, 1938

From The Times' editorial page, July 16, 1938. Note the Bible passage.

e can add this to The Times' editorials against a federal anti-lynching law (not necessary) and offering refuge to people fleeing Nazi persecution (they would just go on welfare and take jobs away from Americans): What's all the fuss with a recall election? One thing that's evident about The Times' editorial pages in this era is that they were staunchly in favor of the status quo. Meanwhile, we seem to be in favor of a ballot initiative on working women that I don't entirely understand. Looks like some digging is in order.   At left, petitions are filed seeking to recall Mayor Frank Shaw. He says his opponents are a "disgruntled, discredited, hypocritical handful of politicians, racketeers and misguided zealots...." Los Angeles? Why it's the "white spot" of the nation! And we'd be willing to host the 1940 summer Olympics after Tokio was forced to withdraw because of the war between Japan and China.  Also ... Katharine Hepburn and Howard Hughes? Let me say that again: Katharine Hepburn and Howard Hughes? Email me Note to Jaded: It's not such a bargain. Adjusted for inflation, $13.33 is $190.61 USD 2007.

Nuestro Pueblo

 

Prospect and Myra avenues ...  No, I couldn't make this up. I really couldn't.

View Larger Map

July 15, 1908

View Larger Map

ere's an update on the story of Joseph H.N. Longy, who was arrested on charges of sending threatening letters to local businessmen. The Times gives an elaborate description of his "oil gun" and a primitive hand grenade that was found in his room. At left, Frank Leroyxez is badly injured during a Bastille Day celebration when his parachute becomes snarled after he jumps from a gas balloon at Chutes Park. Leroyxez landed on a building at 16th Street and Main (at left, the intersection), and was rescued by firefighters.  In November, Leroyxez will be part of a balloon race with hopes of setting a distance record. Also ... Chinatown gamblers target police officers for blockading their businesses ... Painters are trapped in a stockade being built to house the homeless ... Wilmington deals a setback to plans for laying streetcar tracks ... And the South Main Street and South Side improvement associations oppose bonds for improved roads. Email me