in Places & People

What Los Angeles looked like in the 1930s

6.9k Views 4 Comments

Los Angeles in the 1930s was a rapidly growing metropolis, with a population that increased from just over 1 million in 1930 to almost 1.5 million by 1940. The city was undergoing significant changes during this time, as it emerged as a major center for the motion picture industry and experienced significant growth in manufacturing and oil production.

The Great Depression hit Los Angeles hard, with unemployment rates reaching as high as 30% in some areas. Many residents struggled to make ends meet, and the number of homeless people living on the streets increased significantly. Despite the economic hardships, the city’s residents remained resilient, and the decade saw the rise of several important social and cultural movements, including the labor movement and the Civil Rights Movement.

The 1930s also saw the development of many iconic Los Angeles landmarks, including the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the Hollywood Sign. The decade was also marked by several significant natural disasters, including a powerful earthquake in 1933 that caused widespread damage and loss of life.

The city’s cultural scene was also thriving in the 1930s, with the opening of the famous Hollywood Palladium and the growth of the film industry. Many of the most famous movies of all time were made during this decade, and the city became a mecca for aspiring actors and actresses. The decade also saw the rise of jazz music, with many jazz clubs opening in the city, particularly in the Central Avenue area.

These amazing historical pictures capture famous streets, roads, and everyday life of Los Angeles in the 1930s. Vote your favorites, and don’t forget to share.

#2 Girl waiting for bus on Beverly Boulevard, interesection at Van Ness, July 17, 1931

Girl waiting for bus on Beverly Boulevard, interesection at Van Ness, July 17, 1931

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#4 Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#5 Caliente Golf Park, 4th Street and Vermont Avenue, 1931

Caliente Golf Park, 4th Street and Vermont Avenue, 1931

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#7 Looking northeast on Figueroa from tunnel no. 1, 1935

Looking northeast on Figueroa from tunnel no. 1, 1935

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#8 Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#9 Crowds watching an American football match at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 1930.

Crowds watching an American football match at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 1930.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#13 Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#15 May Company Department Store golden jubilee, 8th Street and Broadway, 1931

May Company Department Store golden jubilee, 8th Street and Broadway, 1931

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#18 Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, California, with the third Los Angeles Times Building on the right, 1930

Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, California, with the third Los Angeles Times Building on the right, 1930

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#19 An exterior shot of Joan Fontaine’s house in Hollywood, signed to RKO, 1930.

An exterior shot of Joan Fontaine's house in Hollywood, signed to RKO, 1930.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#21 Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#22 Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#23 Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#24 Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

Crowds at Broadway and 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 1930

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#27 Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#28 Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#30 Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

Intersection West Temple Street and North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 1932

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#33 Looking west on Apablasa Street from Juan Street, 1933

Looking west on Apablasa Street from Juan Street, 1933

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#36 Looking east on Wilshire Boulevard at Vermont Avenue, 1934

Looking east on Wilshire Boulevard at Vermont Avenue, 1934

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#40 Looking east on Wilshire Boulevard at Berendo Street, 1936

Looking east on Wilshire Boulevard at Berendo Street, 1936

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#44 A young gentleman headed south on Grand Avenue across from the Mayflower Hotel, 1937

A young gentleman headed south on Grand Avenue across from the Mayflower Hotel, 1937

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#45 Biltmore Florists, Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 1937

Biltmore Florists, Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 1937

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#53 Union Pacific building, Hill and 6th streets, 1937

Union Pacific building, Hill and 6th streets, 1937

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#55 Walking between the Figueroa Street tunnels, 1937

Walking between the Figueroa Street tunnels, 1937

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#56 Walking between the Figueroa Street tunnels, 1937

Walking between the Figueroa Street tunnels, 1937

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#58 Looking east on W 43rd Place at Garthwaite Avenue, 1938

Looking east on W 43rd Place at Garthwaite Avenue, 1938

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#61 Looking west on Hollywood Boulevard at Cahuenga, 1938

Looking west on Hollywood Boulevard at Cahuenga, 1938

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#62 Warner Brothers Downtown, 7th and Hill Streets, 1938

Warner Brothers Downtown, 7th and Hill Streets, 1938

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#65 Looking west on Wilshire Boulevard at S Westlake Avenue, 1939

Looking west on Wilshire Boulevard at S Westlake Avenue, 1939

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#70 Hanging laundry at Olympic Trailer Court on the border of Santa Monica and West Los Angeles.

Hanging laundry at Olympic Trailer Court on the border of Santa Monica and West Los Angeles.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#71 Workers at Lockheed’s Burbank plant gathered on their lunch break.

Workers at Lockheed’s Burbank plant gathered on their lunch break.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#72 A young girl outside a market at Olympic Trailer Court.

A young girl outside a market at Olympic Trailer Court.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#74 A man on an unidentified street in Burbank. In the distance is a Lockheed plant.

A man on an unidentified street in Burbank. In the distance is a Lockheed plant.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#75 Residents at Olympic Trailer Court. A booming defense industry fueled fierce demand for temporary housing.

Residents at Olympic Trailer Court. A booming defense industry fueled fierce demand for temporary housing.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#76 The Court Flight railway took passengers up and down a steep incline in downtown Los Angeles.

The Court Flight railway took passengers up and down a steep incline in downtown Los Angeles.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#77 Douglas Aircraft Company workers on their lunch break in Santa Monica.

Douglas Aircraft Company workers on their lunch break in Santa Monica.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#78 A woman wiped off the counter of a lunch stand near an aircraft plant in the Los Angeles area.

A woman wiped off the counter of a lunch stand near an aircraft plant in the Los Angeles area.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#79 Shoppers on Lindbrook Drive in Westwood Village, home to a Sears and Ralphs supermarket.

Shoppers on Lindbrook Drive in Westwood Village, home to a Sears and Ralphs supermarket.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#80 A newsstand offered snacks, comic books, and even Lockheed uniforms in Burbank.

A newsstand offered snacks, comic books, and even Lockheed uniforms in Burbank.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#81 An oil field covered with derricks in an unidentified area of Los Angeles.

An oil field covered with derricks in an unidentified area of Los Angeles.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#82 Employees of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in Burbank leave the plant at the end of their shifts.

Employees of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in Burbank leave the plant at the end of their shifts.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#83 A father talks to his two young sons at Olympic Trailer Court.

A father talks to his two young sons at Olympic Trailer Court.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#84 A young man walked by a hot dog stand on Washington Boulevard.

A young man walked by a hot dog stand on Washington Boulevard.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#85 A Los Angeles Railway bus traveled through Los Angeles.

A Los Angeles Railway bus traveled through Los Angeles.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#86 People gathered for a bowling tournament at Burbank Bowl.

People gathered for a bowling tournament at Burbank Bowl.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#88 Lockheed workers in Burbank lined up to buy lunch.

Lockheed workers in Burbank lined up to buy lunch.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#89 Employees of the Douglas Aircraft plant, located at Santa Monica Airport, awaited a ride to work.

Employees of the Douglas Aircraft plant, located at Santa Monica Airport, awaited a ride to work.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#90 An ice cream vendor looked for customers near the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Santa Monica.

An ice cream vendor looked for customers near the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Santa Monica.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#91 The palm-lined South Kenmore Avenue in Los Angeles.

The palm-lined South Kenmore Avenue in Los Angeles.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#93 Wilshire Boulevard at Catalina, with the Mona Lisa Restaurant at the left, the Immanuel Presbyterian Church across the street, and Bullock’s Wilshire Department Store tower can be seen further west on Wilshire, Los Angeles, 1938.

Wilshire Boulevard at Catalina, with the Mona Lisa Restaurant at the left, the Immanuel Presbyterian Church across the street, and Bullock's Wilshire Department Store tower can be seen further west on Wilshire, Los Angeles, 1938.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#94 View of unfinished CBS Columbia Square KNX Art Deco style building, looking northwest from Gower Street, Los Angeles, 1938

View of unfinished CBS Columbia Square KNX Art Deco style building, looking northwest from Gower Street, Los Angeles, 1938

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#95 Howard Hughes’ world-circling plane pictured from an American Airlines plane as it flew over Los Angeles, 1983

Howard Hughes' world-circling plane pictured from an American Airlines plane as it flew over Los Angeles, 1983

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#96 Laurence Olivier as he arrived this morning on the Normandie, en route to Hollywood where he will play opposite Merle Oberon in “Wuthering Heights” – 1939.

Laurence Olivier as he arrived this morning on the Normandie, en route to Hollywood where he will play opposite Merle Oberon in "Wuthering Heights" - 1939.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#97 Looking east on Wilshire Blvd at Hoover St with Simon’s Drive-In in the lower right and the Arcady Hotel a couple of blocks up on the left, Los Angeles, 1939.

Looking east on Wilshire Blvd at Hoover St with Simon's Drive-In in the lower right and the Arcady Hotel a couple of blocks up on the left, Los Angeles, 1939.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#98 Eatery serving ‘Grill-Burgers’ and other dishes that is shaped like a ‘Chili Bowl’, 1939.

Eatery serving 'Grill-Burgers' and other dishes that is shaped like a 'Chili Bowl', 1939.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#99 The Twin Barrels drive-in restaurant near Los Angeles, 1939.

The Twin Barrels drive-in restaurant near Los Angeles, 1939.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#100 The exterior of the ‘Cafe Trocadero’, a nightclub on Sunset Strip, a stretch of Sunset Boulevard, in West Hollywood, 1937.

The exterior of the 'Cafe Trocadero', a nightclub on Sunset Strip, a stretch of Sunset Boulevard, in West Hollywood, 1937.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#101 Screen Actors Guild marching in Labor Day Parade. Forty thousand union men and women marched through the streets of Los Angeles to demonstrate their rising strength. None but AFL unions were represented.

Screen Actors Guild marching in Labor Day Parade. Forty thousand union men and women marched through the streets of Los Angeles to demonstrate their rising strength. None but AFL unions were represented.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#103 Black and white photograph of staff posed in Earl’s Light House Restaurant

Black and white photograph of staff posed in Earl's Light House Restaurant

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#104 Howard Hughes, motion picture producer, was at the controls when his Mystery Plane had its first real test flight in Los Angeles, 1935

Howard Hughes, motion picture producer, was at the controls when his Mystery Plane had its first real test flight in Los Angeles, 1935

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#106 Polo-school team of the Mabelle Scott Rancho School in Santa Monica, 1937.

Polo-school team of the Mabelle Scott Rancho School in Santa Monica, 1937.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#107 A night view down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, 1937.

A night view down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, 1937.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#108 At this junction of two suburban roads, District Attorney Buron Fitts narrowly escaped death when ambushers fired shots that wounded him in the arm, 1936

At this junction of two suburban roads, District Attorney Buron Fitts narrowly escaped death when ambushers fired shots that wounded him in the arm, 1936

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#109 High angle view of the Santa Claus Lane Parade on an illuminated Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 1934

High angle view of the Santa Claus Lane Parade on an illuminated Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 1934

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#110 Pause in a Hollywood studio. Extras and actors of the Hollywood Beauty Chorus in the movie ‘Footlight Parade’ shot from above, 1934.

Pause in a Hollywood studio. Extras and actors of the Hollywood Beauty Chorus in the movie 'Footlight Parade' shot from above, 1934.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#112 Jazz band playing in the swimming pool at the Santa Monica Hotel. There are girls eating and dancing as well – June 19, 1933.

Jazz band playing in the swimming pool at the Santa Monica Hotel. There are girls eating and dancing as well - June 19, 1933.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#113 A group of boys made diving helmets from sections of hot water heaters, boilers and other easily secured “junk”. Los Angeles. USA – June 23, 1933.

A group of boys made diving helmets from sections of hot water heaters, boilers and other easily secured "junk". Los Angeles. USA - June 23, 1933.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#114 Loud speakers protrude from the Hollywood Tower at the Century of Progress International Exposition (1934).

Loud speakers protrude from the Hollywood Tower at the Century of Progress International Exposition (1934).

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#115 Actors in costume and horses during Amazon staging.

Actors in costume and horses during Amazon staging.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#116 A record breaking stack of tires is used as advertisement at Hollywood, California. To attract attention to a large stock of used tires two salesmen put a lifelike dummy sitting on the top. 2044

A record breaking stack of tires is used as advertisement at Hollywood, California. To attract attention to a large stock of used tires two salesmen put a lifelike dummy sitting on the top. 2044

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#117 Sylvia Sidney (1910 – 1999) the American film and television actress on the beach in front of her Malibu home where she spends her time when she is not working

Sylvia Sidney (1910 - 1999) the American film and television actress on the beach in front of her Malibu home where she spends her time when she is not working

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#118 A procession passes Los Angeles’ new $10,000,000 City Hall at the opening ceremony for the building which is surmounted by the Lindbergh Beacon 500 feet above street level – December 4, 1930.

A procession passes Los Angeles' new $10,000,000 City Hall at the opening ceremony for the building which is surmounted by the Lindbergh Beacon 500 feet above street level - December 4, 1930.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#119 Aerial view of Warner Brothers Studios – undated.

Aerial view of Warner Brothers Studios - undated.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#120 Sixth Street, looking west from Main street, Los Angeles, California, early to mid 20th century

Sixth Street, looking west from Main street, Los Angeles, California, early to mid 20th century

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#121 A view, looking north from Seventh Street, of crowds on Broadway, Los Angeles, California, 1930.

A view, looking north from Seventh Street, of crowds on Broadway, Los Angeles, California, 1930.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#122 A suburban boulevard in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles, California, 1930.

A suburban boulevard in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles, California, 1930.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#123 A bunch of people in front of Charlie Chaplin’s studio in the heart of Hollywood

A bunch of people in front of Charlie Chaplin's studio in the heart of Hollywood

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#124 View of Hollywood Boulevard. Hollywood. Los Angeles. California, 1930

View of Hollywood Boulevard. Hollywood. Los Angeles. California, 1930

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#125 Two young Americans, who had just won a model aircraft contest in Los Angeles, 1930s

Two young Americans, who had just won a model aircraft contest in Los Angeles, 1930s

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#126 A view over Hollywood Boulevard and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (bottom, left), Hollywood, California.

A view over Hollywood Boulevard and Grauman's Chinese Theatre (bottom, left), Hollywood, California.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#127 The mock Tudor house of American actor Warner Baxter at Bel Air, Los Angeles, 1930s.

The mock Tudor house of American actor Warner Baxter at Bel Air, Los Angeles, 1930s.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#128 An exterior view of the home of Ramon Novarro, the Metro Goldwyn Mayer star, designed by Ramon Novarro himself, situated in the hills overlooking Los Angeles, 1930.

An exterior view of the home of Ramon Novarro, the Metro Goldwyn Mayer star, designed by Ramon Novarro himself, situated in the hills overlooking Los Angeles, 1930.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#129 Exterior view of a woman entering the hat-shaped Brown Derby restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard, opposite the Ambassador Hotel in Hollywood, California, 1930

Exterior view of a woman entering the hat-shaped Brown Derby restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard, opposite the Ambassador Hotel in Hollywood, California, 1930

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#130 Audience members queue in line to enter the CBS Radio program, Man About Hollywood, which broadcasts from CBS KNX studios at Columbia Square, 1939.

Audience members queue in line to enter the CBS Radio program, Man About Hollywood, which broadcasts from CBS KNX studios at Columbia Square, 1939.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#131 Exterior view of the Los Angeles Examiner Building, situated at the southwest corner of Broadway and 11th Streets in Los Angeles, 1939.

Exterior view of the Los Angeles Examiner Building, situated at the southwest corner of Broadway and 11th Streets in Los Angeles, 1939.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#132 Exterior view of the CBS Columbia Square KNX Art Deco style building on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California, 1938.

Exterior view of the CBS Columbia Square KNX Art Deco style building on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California, 1938.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#133 View of unfinished CBS Columbia Square KNX Art Deco style building, looking northwest from Gower Street, Los Angeles, 1938.

View of unfinished CBS Columbia Square KNX Art Deco style building, looking northwest from Gower Street, Los Angeles, 1938.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#134 A view of actor George Brent House in the Toluca Lake area in Los Angeles, 1935.

A view of actor George Brent House in the Toluca Lake area in Los Angeles, 1935.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#135 Joe Crocker poses in a race car at the speedway with a group of spectators milling about in the background, 1935.

Joe Crocker poses in a race car at the speedway with a group of spectators milling about in the background, 1935.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#136 High angle view of the Santa Claus Lane Parade on an illuminated Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 1934.

High angle view of the Santa Claus Lane Parade on an illuminated Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 1934.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#137 Aerial view of the Westwood campus of the University of California, with the Royce Hall building (top, centre), Kerckhoff Hall (bottom, right) in the Westwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 1934.

Aerial view of the Westwood campus of the University of California, with the Royce Hall building (top, centre), Kerckhoff Hall (bottom, right) in the Westwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 1934.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#138 Crowds at the West Coast premiere of Eddie Cantor’s The Kid from Spain at the Warner Brothers’ Western Theater, on the corner of Wilshire and Western in Los Angeles, 1930s.

Crowds at the West Coast premiere of Eddie Cantor's The Kid from Spain at the Warner Brothers' Western Theater, on the corner of Wilshire and Western in Los Angeles, 1930s.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#139 Exterior of Tux Tavern, a small building with a Tux Tavern sign on top, wood siding and a ladder leading against it, 1930s.

Exterior of Tux Tavern, a small building with a Tux Tavern sign on top, wood siding and a ladder leading against it, 1930s.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#140 Premiere Of ‘Hell’s Angels’ At Grauman’s

Premiere Of 'Hell's Angels' At Grauman's

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#141 High angle view looking north on Broadway from 11th Street, with the Western Costume Building on the left, with a Texaco sign beyond that, 1930

High angle view looking north on Broadway from 11th Street, with the Western Costume Building on the left, with a Texaco sign beyond that, 1930

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#145 Three men relaxed on a bench overlooking South Hill Street in Los Angeles.

Three men relaxed on a bench overlooking South Hill Street in Los Angeles.

-1 Points
Upvote Downvote
Avatar of Aung Budhh

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 Comments

  2. Some truly fascinating, wonderful photos here, but one sticks out to me – Number 58.

    There’s nothing entirely special about it, I’m just flabbergasted about how that neighborhood, which I’m in at that exact moment, can have 2’+ of standing water.

    I was complaining just last week about how terrible the drainage is in my neighborhood. I guess it’s gotten better over the years.

    0
    Reply