Motion Pictures Los Angeles in the 1950's

[Chrisbcritter]

Check out a documentary called Los Angeles Plays Itself on YouTube - the filmmakers dug through hundreds of movies shot in L.A. to find footage of how the town used to look. Here's Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SNc41zyLJ0

As for me, I grew up in the Chicago suburbs but was always in love with California from what I saw in TV and movies; of course product placement skewed my views a bit (I used to think everyone in L.A. drove Mopars because there were so many on TV!). Took me until '81 to actually get here, though.

[JohnEvans]

I was born in Nebraska in 44 ,moved to Phoenix in 50 for my health. Bunch of my Dad's relatives move to LA area in the later 50s,was some thought of us moving there also. But these clips just reinforces my thoughts that I was born at least 30 years to late and more like 50.

[50Fraud]

This video matches my teen years exactly. I was 14 when it was made in '54. Too young to drive, I'd hitch a ride with my older buddy and we'd go to Hollywood Blvd. There was a used bookstore where I found bunches of early issues of HRM (big format) for 10c or 15c a copy. Still have most of them.

[flamingokid]

Originally Posted by Mazooma1

uh....wow, that's very similar to what I posted earlier...
If you were born in 1973, you wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about.
Lions was shut down in 1972 one year before you were born.
Irwindale closed in 1977 and never re-opened.
I really question why you would mock my original post.
Really....pretty disrespectful.
In fact, really disrespectful.

I think I'd file that under "WTF was he thinking".

[Bearhawke]

Lucky 'dogs' who were born/raised in SoCal while I was stuck growing up in that sh*thole called Wash DC. 1978 I said adios to DC and moved to Calif then wound up here in Arizona.

Please; cherish those memories.

[autobilly]

Originally Posted by Mazooma1:
"If you weren't into cars, you would be soon enough. There was no escaping the car culture of the Los Angeles area in the 1950's and 60's...."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv5Nl...eature=related

[d2_willys]

Originally Posted by Ryan

I often wonder how different I'd be as a person if I grew up in the 1950's rather than the 1980's. It's impossible to say, of course, but given the same set of parents I don't know that there would be much change. While I imagine the public culture i...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

Ah, those were the good times! I grew up in Long Beach, CA and remember Los Angeles during the 50's. The shot of the 4 level interchange transistion roads showing the "Arroyo Seco freeway 66" was interesting, as that freeway later became the Pasadena freeway. The shot of the tunnel is also interesting, as this shot is actually a shot of Angels Flight cable car (tram)(above the tunnel). Good video, keep them coming!

[NONAME]

Originally Posted by waldo53

That is neat.

I didn't see Grauman's Chinese Theatre in this video.

My Dad worked at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel arcross the street from Graumans Chinese theater got us all tickets for the premier of "Rebel Without A Cause" James Dean's wrecked Porsche was in the lobby that night. that was painful to see
My dad is the one holding the bag

[NONAME]

Originally Posted by d2_willys

Ah, those were the good times! I grew up in Long Beach, CA and remember Los Angeles during the 50's. The shot of the 4 level interchange transistion roads showing the "Arroyo Seco freeway 66" was interesting, as that freeway later became the Pasadena freeway. The shot of the tunnel is also interesting, as this shot is actually a shot of Angels Flight cable car (tram)(above the tunnel). Good video, keep them coming!

that Pasadena freeway was the first in America built in 1939. we lived in Azusa in 1951. my brother and two friends (all 13 year olds) rode their 1 speed bicycles to Santa Monica (check a map for the distance) the only way they knew was on the freeway. someone reported kids on bikes riding thru the tunnels on the freeway. 9:00 pm they were almost to south pasadena when they got busted. things were simple back then. we didn't have a phone to call, we did have a TV the only one in the neighborhood.

[NONAME]

Originally Posted by 1stGrumpy

That video takes me back to my youth. I was born in Monterey Park in 1948 and my folks moved east to Azusa/Baldwin Park/Covina area shortly there after. As I have said before, it was a great time and place to be a teen and like others here, I could be found at Pomona and Fontana drag strips, at Newport and Huntington Beaches and of course In N Out.
One of my uncles worked at that Ford plant, in the video, during the 50's and 60's. I left Southern California in the mid to late 60's and never looked back. Too much hassle for a guy that owned lowriders and rode a Harley but that's another story...

I was born in 42. moved to Azusa (Valleydale) in 1949 folks bought a new track house on a 1/4 acre for $2500. then moved to Pasadena in 1955. Mom worked at Gwinns Restraunt for 21 years. started as a CarHop in the drive in part. a real hot spot for cruising till Bob's Big Boy built their east Pasadena store. We lived on Oak st. about 2 blocks from IN-N-OUT

[Old Man Taylor]

Originally Posted by squirrel

neat stuff

That is definitely cool! I was cruising those streets in 1958. The car I had wasn't dependable enough to take it that far in 1957. At that time I lived in Granada Hills, in the San Fernando Valley. In the movie they went by A. E. England Pontiac twice. It was at 6161 Hollywood Blvd. I bought my '64 GTO there in early 1964. I was born in Santa Monica in 1940. Moved to "the Valley" in 1949, where I lived until late 1964. My job required me to move to the South Bay area until 1970 when I moved to my current house in Escondido (north San Diego County).

Here's a link to a small story about my car that I just became aware of.

http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/vi...e-of-a-64-gto/

[55Ponchochief]

What an awsome video,the cars the people total americana.I wish we could go back to those days. Dont forget buy it - build it - DRIVE THE S@$# OUT OF IT!!!! Thanks for posting it.

[1stGrumpy]

I just received some pictures of SoCal, back in the day, and thought that I would dig up this post and share them. Some have been posted before and some have not (I hope). Anyway, this is where I grew up... Enjoy!

[1stGrumpy]

some more...

[1stGrumpy]

still more...

[1stGrumpy]

almost done...

[Atwater Mike]

I was born in '42, Santa Clara. In '58, my best bud and I were driving down to L.A. every 2 weeks, just to 'hang' and cruise in the channeled '30 'A' Coupe, 21 stud '37 flathead, '39 box...We'd just fill up, check the water/oil, and take off. (400+ miles, no sweat...we'd stop off in Paso Robles, I had friends there)

We'd make all the shops, Chet Herbert's, Ak Miller's, Isky's old shop, and many others.
Say, anybody know the whereabouts of Temple McFlathead??? Lost him around '72...

[teejay99]

As a kid growing up 3000 miles EAST of California , L.A. was our "mecca". Late 50's , early 60's . we teenage geniuses would shoot the shit in the cafeteria and the topic would always be hot cars and L.A. , hot chicks and L.A. ...you get the picture .
Detroit was just across the river and had a lot of our interest up until the riot in the late 60's . With the 'Nam war going on there were lots of available babes looking for fun " over in Canada " ...AND Canadian beer . To be sure there were lots of hot cars in Motown , and there was Detroit Dragway nearby but it just wasn't L.A. , atleast in our minds . L.A. had Kooky and Barris and Beach Boys ( musta played "409" a million times ) , Mamas and Papas ( California dreamin' ) and , and , and .

I never got out there until '98 when the Ford Dealer I worked at bought 3 Saleen Mustangs from Steve saleen and I went along for the ride to check them out .

T

[1stGrumpy]

teejay99... I have said it before but I'll say it again. " Southern California had to be the best place to grow up, at least in the '50s and early '60s".

[teejay99]

Yeah , Grump , I agree . They seemed to have it all ....cars, music ,warm weather , girls , fresh ideas ....and MONEY .

T