Old Los Angeles and Pasadena in Vintage Postcards

By C. Milton Hinshilwood and Elena Irish Zimmerman

Covering the history and geography of Los Angeles and Pasadena between 1900 and 1950, the collection of over 200 vintage postcards compiled in this new volume offers a unique glimpse into turn-of-the-century southern California. As communication by postcards became popular in the late 19th century, those who received them were offered a rare view of the "right here, right now" aspect that only postcard photography could offer. From the earliest images of the Angels' Flight in Los Angeles, to the Tournament of Roses parades gliding down Colorado Street, the authors celebrate the history of these two beautiful cities through the personal medium of vintage postcards.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Feb 15, 2001
• ISBN: 9781439628003

Book preview

2000

INTRODUCTION

This book is based on a collection of vintage postcards of Los Angeles and Pasadena published between 1900 and 1950, collected and owned by C. Milton Hinshilwood. Having lived for over 35 years in Los Angeles and Pasadena, he has long been aware of the history and geography of these two cities in many personal ways, and shares them here by this means of unique presentation.

There are thousands of pictures devoted to the history of this area; they can be found in books, archives, and private collections. We should not, however, discount the importance of the postcard in conveying the accuracy of an historical event, location, or person. The communication of a postcard is not only thrifty and immediate, but the picture conveys instant history. It says, Here’s where I am now; isn’t this an interesting picture? People have been sending postcards since the 1890s, and the views have always shown how it was at the time the card was sent.

The postcard became enormously popular during 1900–1910. Millions upon millions were mailed, and commercial photographers began making pictures of many topics other than geographical views to entice the public. Collectors can find picture postcards of any topic imaginable: the cities of the world, famous people such as Shakespeare or Einstein, airplanes, fashions, Christmas (and all other) greetings, dogs, schools, artists, and royalty—the variety is seemingly endless. They embrace historical as well as contemporary subjects. Los Angeles and Pasadena at the beginning of the 20th century is a very specialized collection, but there are hundreds of postcard pictures of that time and place to be found. The cards collected here document not only the emergence and progression of the scenes represented, but also the prevailing attitudes toward the time in which they were sent. A message, however short, adds valuable human interest, and a postmark always validates the accuracy of the time.

The images presented in this book are categorized into groups: streets, buildings, residences, parks, schools, churches, and a few others, for easy reference. Beyond the general span of 1900–1950, however, no precise chronology has been attempted. Although postcards of a city collected with an eye to history become an important panorama of that city’s development, they also picture diverse places and people and offer implicit comment on the social, ethical, and aesthetic values of the decades seen. They illustrate business conditions and people’s attitudes toward religion, amusements, art, fashion, and humor.

Los Angeles is BIG—it covers an area of 454 square miles, the largest land area of any city in the world. Its population rivals that of New York City. It has the highest ratio of cars to people in the United States, more furniture than Grand Rapids, and more oil well machinery than any other city except Houston. There are many more more than comparisons to make, but they reach beyond our scope here. Los Angeles has the movie business, aircraft manufacturing, a magnificent harbor, and a number of adjacent and individually notable cities such as Beverly Hills, Burbank, Santa Monica, Glendale, and Pasadena. This book will touch upon none of these except Pasadena, which lies just northeast of the downtown area pictured on these Los Angeles postcards.

Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by the Spanish governor of California, Felipe de Neve. Only 44 people lived in the original village. Through the years Los Angeles grew, through its Mexican domination, American annexation (1847), the Gold Rush, the arrival of the railroads (1876), the discovery of oil (1892), and the influx of 500,000 new inhabitants between 1900–1920. Many thousands have come since then, enamored of the tropical elements and opportunities for a good life.

The old part of Los Angeles is at the heart of it, at the historic monument and the Plaza, bounded by Spring and Alameda Streets. Here is the nucleus from which today’s big city has spread in all directions. This area is the focus of this book.

Old Pasadena is reflected here with postcards showing evidences of the wealth that came to this city in the 1880s and the annual Tournament of Roses festivities that have made the city famous since the 1890s. After the real estate boom of 1886, the coming of the railroads ensured an influx of wealthy residents who built mansions for themselves or spent winters in hotels like the Green or the Huntington, to enjoy the clear air, the citrus groves, and the glorious mountain views. Pasadena now has a legacy of opulent homes, lush gardens, and outstanding scientific and cultural resources in its libraries and museums.

The authors hope that the reader will enjoy these glimpses of old Los Angeles and Pasadena as much as we have enjoyed assembling them.

LOS ANGELES

One

DOWNTOWN STREETS AND BUILDINGS

LOS ANGELES LOOKING SOUTH FROM COURT HOUSE. A fine, inclusive view here of Los Angeles looking down Broadway shows several important aspects of the city about 1905. The courthouse (not seen) was located at Broadway and Temple. The tower at left center belonged to the City Hall, rising noticeably above the flat-topped buildings which were required at the time. The area at upper right was Bunker Hill, a community of choice residences, mostly Gothic mansions with full corner bay windows and spindle turrets. In time the mansions became shabby and were turned into apartment houses. Finally they were razed to make way for new developments. (Published by Detroit Photographic Co.)

CENTRAL SQUARE AND THE APARTMENT HOUSE DISTRICT. Central Square, here almost hidden by the trees, was later renamed Pershing Square. In the foreground we see the First Methodist Church spire and the Auditorium at extreme right. Across the square we see the pointed roof of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which was torn down in the 1920s to make room for the Biltmore Hotel. (Published by Western Pub. & Novelty Co., Los Angeles.)

LOS ANGELES, BUSINESS DISTRICT. Looking north to the mountains, this view shows Main Street from south of Fifth. At the far left, a new building is being