L.A. From the Air, 1961

An aerial tour of Los Angeles, California in the early 1960s. To purchase a clean DVD of this film for personal home use or educational use contact us at [e-mail]. To license footage from this film for commercial use visit: www.travelfilmarchive.com

[@xygomorphic44]

"Go from long beach to downtown in just a few minutes" How times have changed.

[@user-ds6iy2ji7m]

+xygomorphic44 LOL

[@Bobxchen333]

the Seed of LA 's traffic problem was planted in 50's and 60's. During those day Urban planner's decided to create a city for Car. They remove public transit and build freeways. they enforce zoning rule to make the city more spread out, so each family would have to buy a car. They did not have the foresight that LA would have so much population!!!!

[@caliden3785]

like in an hour or two maybe ha ha

[@tommytruth7595]

It wasn't urban planners that did it. The mass transit companies were bought up and destroyed by a syndicate of auto manufacturers, oil companies, road builders, and tire manufacturers. THEY destroyed the mass transit there.

[@susie154]

xygomorphic44 That's for sure 😝

[@fidbau48]

I have been living in L.A county for nearly 50 years, I love California specially for the weather, beaches and the mountains. For me, the west still the best.

[@mariocisneros911]

@@fidbau48 I'll be visiting there soon . My 1st time. Been thinking about seeing it the last 15 yrs

[@bongodrummer6914]

So when you drive in LA are you on XANAX

[@teerollings6919]

@@mariocisneros911 It's not a pleasant experience driving in the city, there's moderate to heavy traffic all day and people driving like little old ladies. Scenic roads like Angeles Crest Highway or Pacific Coast Highway are full of stop-and-go traffic. ...and all of the popular tourist areas like Hollywood and Santa Monica are full of homeless people and empty abandoned businesses. Even Beverly Hills is full of empty businesses and boarded up windows. Don't expect to see what you saw in the movies.

[@StationRussification]

#ILoveLA

[@StationRussification]

Stop crying @teerollings6919

[@susie154]

I was 7 back then, living in Granda Hills. My dad was a cabinet maker for new homes being built in the valley.

[@thescribbler495]

wow. the valley must've been empty back then.

[@bradleysmall2230]

i was a year older and grew up in granada hills on a cul de sac - babbitt st near balboa and mission st

[@paulk9985]

@OneDayAfterAnother Yes, Crystalaire Circle.

[@v.e.7236]

Moved from Michigan to California in November of '69 and have never felt so blessed. We left blizzard conditions and when we woke up the first morning, all we had was the cloud cover so common to the area during the early part of the day. I thought I had gone to Heaven and walked around in a T-shirt while the locals had jackets and sweaters on. An awesome place to grow up, however, its now so over-crowded you can't get to the grocery store in less than half an hour. And everything is dirty now, w/ trash flying around in dust devils and most places looking dilapidated and in general disrepair. Very sad to see urban blight in such a once beautiful place.

[@paulk9985]

And the Olympics are coming. I was embarrassed when the 84 Olympics were in LA. I was afraid of what the world might think of So Cal. Fortunately, events were throughout the southland, not just in the core of slummy LA. So people were no t subjected to the slums of LA. And this is how I felt in 1984... much worst now. So sad.

[@vandrive5687]

You can thank your Democrats for that! Spent 14yrs of my adult life there. Once started a family & bought some dirt, the place became complicated, inhospitable, & unforgiving. Alotta great people & cultural stimulation though!

[@v.e.7236]

@@vandrive5687 I agree. Career politicians on both sides have ruined this State. Be well.

[@metalshop7492]

Thank a liberal….

[@yolamontalvan9502]

LA has become a favourite place for camping.

[@BManStan1991]

Yola Montalvan 😂😂😂😂

[@davidmoser3535]

monty come and camp

[@metalshop7492]

Thank a liberal douche bag….

[@lindaeasley4336]

People wouldn't believe what a great place California was to live up until the 1990s .

[@derekanderson7956]

@buzzclick500 I respectfully disagree, I was born in Washington State, and grew up in Southern California, it was amazing up until the Housing Market Collapse in 2008/2009. Families lost so much, homelessness increased incredibly.

[@ryanhatesgirls]

@liar fighter *boy

[@ryanhatesgirls]

@liar fighter you're gonna have to explain that to me

[@ryanhatesgirls]

@liar fighter it can be both

[@ryanhatesgirls]

@liar fighter anyone else want to chime in and tell me what this guy is saying?

[@HarryWebb46]

LA looks so futuristic even back in 1961

[@markhenley3097]

It's because most of the infrastructure was built in the 1950s and has stayed frozen in time since. The buildings have been replaced with worse ones though.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@markhenley3097 yes. Everything was trimmed, clean, and well thought through in design, people were matured when speaking about it too. They knew there city and treat it like an open story, and a genuine place. The buildings have certainly been dropped and turned into utilitarian walls as of today.

[@adrianjohnson1486]

Sigh...If only Los Angeles were still like this in 2019.

[@adrianjohnson1486]

@@robertruge2916 Coincidence.

[@ryanhatesgirls]

Totally, and then you wouldn't have to go to school with Mexicans, hire women or worry about Asians in politics. I mostly miss smoking in restaurants and getting to beat up gay people without consequences.

[@alkevinzmedia]

Agree

[@lipby]

Choked with smog, with a shitty downtown and zero cultural amenities, and segregated?

[@davegahan5154]

Adrian Johnson Agreed!

[@vedaf.5169]

As an Eastern European I've always dreamed to go... maybe live in Los Angeles. After 20 years of having this big wish I had the opportunity to spend a week for the first time in LA and I loved it, simply loved it. I would go back in a heartbeat if I could. Planing on spending a whole summer next next year.

[@JeffGR4]

This historical mini-documentary of 1961 Los Angeles is a gem, thanks a lot for this!

[@samspade3227]

I was 8 in 1961 the LA River was my bicycle highway to get around the city. Can you believe it a bunch of kids riding around all day having fun. NOT ANYMORE!!

[@danielboone72]

Grown adults can’t even walk there without getting attacked

[@cgarc131]

@@danielboone72 hey I went there still dont even start with that bullshit...tho the homeless people seem kind scary biking through LA probably still feels similar in terms of geography but not in terms of umm "climate" of people.

[@oceanhome2023]

Now full of Gangs (not white) and covered in graffiti (not white) and check out the Most Wanted Lists (not white)

[@likedayummm9303]

Ron Lawson most of the gangs (aren’t black)

[@likedayummm9303]

U.S. REPUBLIC every city in LA county lost a lot of its black gang population.

[@albertamccrary1497]

I was born in LA. I loved living in the suburbs back in the 1960's. I always wished my mom didnt transplant us to AZ. California is still in my heart and it will always be my home.

[@coinsmith]

Moved to Los Angeles area in 1959 and loved it, always felt safe and home like. Wouldn't go back these days on a bet.

[@ZnenTitan]

So where did you go instead of LA?

[@DJKiDDKlashez]

Damn, how old are you? Lol

[@twizztedfps]

What area in LA? Lol people seem to overlook that this is the birth of gangbanging and same corrupt police department .

[@davidantunez4147]

This guy is like 100 prolly

[@RoboCoonie]

We don't want you anyway.

[@james5460]

This narrator is phenomenal! He boils everything down to a kindergarten level. He's on another video from the '50s about flying from Chicago to New York, and it is like, "This is Bob. Bob is a pilot. A pilot flies a plane. Planes fly in the air." He's a riot once you realize it's the same guy. "Some people like to live in trailers." Ah, the good old days.

[@mercurialmagictrees]

James haha yeah so direct and matter of fact about everything

[@curtzimmermann8615]

James

[@abc64pan]

Cut and dry. That's how I prefer the narration. None of the, "I'm so much smarter than the audience" smart ass BS narration you have today.

[@jacyborreaux919]

It's so the whole family can watch it...this is rated for kids too!

[@brandonsterlingon6130]

He's a liar and a squill!

[@jshrenger]

I wish to add to the chorus of people saying: "thank you for posting this!". This is just AWESOME. Thank you.

[@lynnm7768]

Well, one thing improved and that's the air. I grew up in Pasadena from 1959-70. You could feel the smog settle in your lungs and it would sting your eyes and make them tear up. Smog alerts would often cancel recess at school or send us home early. Other than that the quality of life was awesome and I took it for granted

[@1990758]

Interesting I’ve been living here since 78 I never felt any smog in my lungs

[@ronm3245]

We would often be coughing with hay fever-like symptoms after recess.

[@JPVillalobos27]

@@1990758The smog was terrible in the early - mid 70’s. They started passing clean air laws and stricter emissions restrictions during the late 70’s and 80’s.

[@nicklibby3784]

There was leaded gasoline back then. Y'all were likely breathing in lead 😲😳😬

[@NickL951]

We used to have first stage smog alerts in 1979 when I was in hs. Air didn't improve until early 80s

[@m3racing]

This may be one of the best and under rated videos on you tube.

[@PomFarmer]

I bet ppl were saying how much of a shithole its turned into in 1961. How times were better in 1903.

[@Tokamak3.1415]

Yeah but when I walked to school there was a chance I could step on cow poop or an orange. Now when I walk my kids to school there's a chance I could step on human poop or a multi use heroin needle. So shithole yes, except it's human shit now.

[@wolfchrt]

@Marv N My grandfather (95 years old) says the 80s was the best decade

[@MrDunn490]

@@wolfchrt Interesting I'd like to hear his reasoning. I'm 46 years old born in 1973 native Angeleno

[@louischristopher7116]

Quite sure it will be the same situation in the year 2077. People will regard 2019 as" the good old days".

[@romeysiamese6712]

The old homies remember how sh** was solved with fists, now they kill you over stupid senseless sh**

[@lohphat]

The irony of the narration mentioning the already clogged freeways when this was the year they dismantled the Pacific Electric rail network which served the region well.

[@Jay-vo4ec]

The PE was being dismantled for decades. 1961 was when the last line was abandoned. However, you're right. It was a shame to get rid of the PE.

[@tntmaster1104]

Yeah GM screwed up the Ironic Red Car from the 1920s to 1960s. But luckily LA has Rail again since the first line was the Metro Blue line that Opened July 14th, 1990

[@lohphat]

The PE was a privately held railroad. If Huntington had bequeathed it or somehow sold it to the counties it served or formed a public utility to run it, it may have survived but as a private railway created to sell land grants, its purpose was fulfilled and was now a cost liability. Simple economics and cheap gas and cars killed the PE, GM was just there to help it along. The momentum was already there. Cheap fuel is like an economic drug -- everything is all fun and games until it isn't cheap anymore -- then it's too late to build a rail network. Infrastructure is a long game and requires vision to plan ahead. Something our society no longer values.

[@spicylou]

I got around with the Red Cars without having a car of my own for years, until GM dismantled it.

[@lohphat]

@@spicylou GM didn't. It was simple economics. GM just made it happen faster. If the PE wasn't privately held and was a public utility, they couldn't have accelerated it's demise. Cheap fuel and too many grade crossings killed the PE.

[@mrstanbmw]

I'm from DC been visiting LA since the 80's still love the place to visit, I was there about a month ago, it was 95 degrees in DC with humidity to match, the 2 days I was in LA the temps were like 74 degrees with a nice breeze. man it felt good.

[@gregh7457]

my mother was born in LA 1930 and grew up there. She talked about a guy she worked with that bought up houses that were being moved to put in the freeways. He got em really cheap and moved them to lots he bought. Rented them out and quit his job to be a full time landlord. I was born there in '61 and i remember the sky being so smoggy by '69 that it was like a permanent fog bank over the city. Good to see that the smog is much less nowdays.

[@remmymafia3889]

that's one thing beneficial now about SoCal, is the strict emission policies over the decades, has saved the air. Naturally the biggest part of these steps, was the requirements for vehicles. And now, as we segue into the era of electric/hybrid vehicles, it is even more beneficial.

[@skunkwerkz777]

@@remmymafia3889 electric vehicles are not as environmentally friendly as you might think. you dont get exhaust gases but batteries are probably even more toxic. Hybrid fuel cars will be the future. Humans will find another way to destroy CA with or without cars.

[@Josh_Fredman]

It's interesting how the "suburbs" they mention in the videos, like Van Nuys and Compton, are today basically part of the core urban agglomeration. Today the suburbs are places like Victorville and Lancaster. It's also interesting how, even in 1961, he noted that the freeways jam every day and new mass transit solutions will be needed. 60 years later, they've made some progress, but there's still a long way to go.

[@Pennychaser1]

Good days for LA is over. As current resident of CA, looking forward to moving out to Vegas!

[@805NAVE]

Pennychaser1 I’m considering it also, I live in Woodland Hills.

[@gerrythrash6563]

I hear it gets pretty hot in Vegas.

[@thaintriguing1]

I visited this past June; temperatures are scorching over there coming from a North Carolina resident.

[@redbluesome2829]

Las Vegas is alright, if you don’t mind living in a flat plains desert. It’s hard to beat the geographic beauty and diversity of California. And by “diversity” I don’t mean people and cultures!

[@tile_life6819]

Vegas? Yea that's better lol

[@ronw484]

I lived in L.A. from 80-87. Horrible to see what's happened to the city since then. The same thing applies to San Francisco.

[@Gudi102]

Totally agree

[@davidmoser3535]

i live in la 55-2024, its way bettr now

[@liveoak2175]

The traffic was so light.

[@james5460]

1961 was the absolute sweet spot for LA traffic. The freeways were mostly complete, and they were designed for that population. Now, 55 years later, the population has mushroomed - and the freeways today basically are still what you see in this video. The amazing timing of this video is that 1961 is the year the last Red Car public transit train ran - so this film marks a true turning point in LA history.

[@NoCreativeNameGirl]

5:58

[@ricardopalma3714]

What traffic? :)

[@likedayummm9303]

Less Mexicans.

[@michaelcraig9449]

Before any freeways it was totally jammed up and congested.. The freeways bought some time and space, but by the 70's all jammed up again!

[@Theory52]

It’s so cool seeing DTLA in 1961. At this time, my grandparents were living in Watts. My grandpa just came home from the Army, stationed out in Germany. In ‘61 he was in college and working. A year later, my mom was born. My grandpa was studying computers, and a few years later, 1969, he was hired at I.B.M. His office was on the 19th floor of what is now the KPMG building. Located on Bunker Hill, at one of the 2 towers of the Wells Fargo Center. From ‘69 to ‘92, DTLA was his office, until he transferred to the Bay Area. I hold the city of L.A. close to my heart. As a photographer, beat maker, and artist, it inspires me. #deeplyrootedinlosangeles

[@mottledbrain]

As a Canadian this was quite interesting in that I was able to watch it as if it was made in, say, 2015. The only things I've known of L.A. is urban sprawl, smog, recently some water problems and, for some odd reason, the city hall. I've connected that building with L.A. for decades. I'm sure Los Angeles natives would love to see their city through a foreigner's eyes in addition to their own.

[@CathyPackler]

Amazing! I was born in LA just six years previous to this! Watching this makes me want to visit LA again.

[@JMMT7022801]

I'm going to LA in a couple days to escape the cold weather in Salt Lake.

[@esvinperez7225]

zeushammerfist so much hatred in America & you're one of them

[@GeneralZapta213]

Come out and I'll show you around. Born in the California Hospital in 95, living in central LA. Give me a follow and an inbox and I'll get in touch

[@photomanwilliams4147]

Your visit to LA will leave you sick. I was born in 1951 and the city of LA today is far from our childhood days. The traffic is far worse than your imagination can ponder. Downtown will look like a third world country with people living on the streets. Vendors with carts selling their wares. Hope your Spanish is up to par. LA is the second largest city (second only to Mexico City) in the Mexican population. Everything you do from parking to shopping to just getting food from a drive-through will require dealing with people everywhere.

[@derekanderson7956]

@@photomanwilliams4147 what would you expect of an international city? I hope your Korean, Chinese, and Russian is also up to par.

[@348nm]

It will never get better. LA and California are done for..

[@fredgarvinMP]

I'm not rooting for Jerkwater, Alabama either.

[@mryusuf6086]

Lol unless a nuclear bomb goes off

[@danielboone72]

As long as liberals are in charge!

[@leadersuccess3761]

What do you mean ? Are you predicting California will be hit by a astroid?

[@bkatz1480]

And yet Cali is the most powerful economy in the union and yet somehow doomed

[@julieerin115]

It seemed that California was THE place to move to be in the '60s; now it seems to be a place to avoid.

[@currypablo]

Nevada and Texas will be like California in 30 years.

[@walden420]

@@currypablo I hope you're wrong, but I'm afraid you're probably right.

[@currypablo]

@@walden420 any place whose population grows due to economic growth will experience this.

[@adrianjohnson1486]

@@currypablo Let's hope this isn't the case!

[@derekanderson7956]

Big pond. Many fish, sometimes big fish, sometimes bad fish. Again, what do people expect from a large international city?

[@yoncalla44]

I first saw LA in 1961 - the freeway construction was going full speed ahead at this time.

[@chairmanofrussia]

and you didn't tell them that they needed more lanes?!?! I blame you for all of our traffic problems >:(

[@norton2]

chairmanofrussia You can add four additional lanes to an eight-lane freeway and it's still not gonna solve the traffic problem. It won't even alleviate traffic for long. The underlaying problem has nothing to do with the number of lanes on the freeway, but rather with the city's underdeveloped public transportation system.

[@Miljosven]

norton2 Thank you for saying it!Plus adding new lanes would create an "air call", i.e. new possibilities of expansion, leading masses to consider using their car even more.

[@JMMT7022801]

I once took a drive through LA on the Santa Monica Expressway. It's definitely starting to show its age.

[@scottmckay9535]

My friends and I played 'war' on the San Diego freeway when it was under construction.

[@matthatter2849]

My mom would have been attending Henry T. Gage Junior High in Huntington Park when this was filmed. If you look to the back of her senior yearbook from H.P. High in 1966, you'll see a section for "Non-English Speaking" for the first time. The writing was on the wall!

[@ryanhatesgirls]

What writing was that?

[@matthatter2849]

@@ryanhatesgirls Huntington Park is all Hispanic. It's been that way since the '80's.

[@rolo1955]

We arrived in Los Angeles April of 1961, 59 years ago. Los Angeles was the promised land! What happened?

[@JohnDavid-vh3rn]

democrats and illegal aliens ruin it

[@jenaroayala5731]

@@JohnDavid-vh3rn go back to Europe

[@howellwong11]

@@jenaroayala5731 I started working for Lockheed Burbank in 1955, straight out of Purdue.. A lot of engineers were hired from Europe.

[@joshuag.4873]

@@JohnDavid-vh3rn - Exactly.

[@ddoperations2768]

Liberals and illegals

[@SuperMike1955]

Great film. Very informative from a historical point of view. Good Lord, L.A . Is huge.

[@sherrydee7880]

I wish I had seen this film in my school years in the LAUSD. It would have helped me to get around when I became homeless & was forced to walk instead of driving. I no longer live there, but I will always love Los Angeles & the surrounding area. I was sad to see the free county hospital slip away from the people. But that's a sign of the times when too many people come into an area & they don't have the money to pay for their medical needs. New subscriber! Nice footage of a time gone by.

[@TheSWolfe]

What happened to LAC/USC? I've been back to L.A. intermittently over the yrs, but haven't lived there since '92.

[@thebeerlovinglover9278]

TheSWolfe LAC/USC use to be called General Hospital or County hospital.. it's still a County hospital but owned by USC that's all. I was born there back in 1976 Lol.

[@TheSWolfe]

Thanx! I misinterpreted yr og comment. Yes, when we lived there in the '80's, we called it County. My son was almost born there - it's where I got my prenatal care - but he ended up being born at White Memorial instead. I still miss L.A.

[@michaelcorleone3751]

TheSWolfe ya we still call it county hospital or it least the family dose and my self.

[@TheSWolfe]

Saw it from the freeway a couple wknds ago, it looked a lot bigger than I remember it. Used to be the main big old bldg, w/some smaller temporary looking (like they put up for school portables) structures scattered 'round it as clinics. Seems they've added a couple additional large bldgs now, too.

[@miketuttle9319]

Always seems strange when you read comments that people used to live in a place but wouldn't go back because they are afraid. I went to LA for the first time in 2022, walked all over the place, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, the Marina district, Hollywood, it was all perfectly fine. Didn't even need a bodyguard. I'm looking forward to going back for another visit.

[@pdxrailtransit]

The crane known as Herman the German is seen in Long Beach toward the end of the film. This crane was not used for cargo, but was used by the Navy Yard.

[@tnms4]

So what happened to Herman the German...decommissioned and scrapped...when?

[@bodbn]

The crane was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer and sent to the scrap yard by some angry college students. Very sad.

[@lorenzoboyd6889]

@@tnms4 Moved to Panama circa 1995

[@MrWolfTickets]

Check out the video game LA noire if you are interested in downtown as it was in 1947. The buildings and streets are incredibly detailed and you can drive around and compare them to Google Street view today and it's pretty amazing.

[@newyorkcat]

This was around the time of Beach Boys. It was all downhill from there.

[@ryanhatesgirls]

Totally, back then you wouldn't have to go to school with Mexicans, hire women or worry about Asians in politics. I mostly miss smoking in restaurants and getting to beat up gay people without consequences.

[@teddyjones3093]

@@ryanhatesgirls go get a job loser

[@JohnDavid-vh3rn]

@@ryanhatesgirls democrats and illegal aliens run everything

[@henryhernandez3019]

At 25:43 the film shows the Aliso St natural gas storage tanks. I recall seeing those tanks for years off the 10 freeway where it becomes 101. ( They were next to Brew 102. ) Now all the natural gas for the southland is stored in Aliso Canyon.

[@muruganpadhai]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/baXSqpSpi6-cnLc

[@ronm3245]

And don't forget the Friedman Bag Co.

[@mattf49006]

that's crazy..at 13:04 my town..san pedro..i was 6 then...i can see our house..lol

[@harleypiper]

I'm here too.

[@christineanderson457]

So much better in the 1950’s/1960’s...my parents and I moved when I was 12 to SoCal in 1956 from Elmhurst/Chicago, Illinois; it was sooo beautiful then, I was in love❣️

[@1990758]

Lol it was better for some people not all

[@scorrea7556]

@@1990758 it was better for everyone

[@1990758]

@@scorrea7556 That's open to interpretation.

[@ksr2059]

This is great historical footage! Awful to read comments full of such hatred and bigotry. I guess the internet is where people become emboldened with a false sense of courage. Pitiful. A+ footage however.

[@carlosruiz7840]

KSR, I agree brother smh😥

[@SoapinTrucker]

While it is very sad that SoCal sucks in some ways these days, at least i was lucky enough to be born there, and spend most of youth there, from early 60's on! It really was a GREAT place to live and grow up!!!! I miss the Pike, and beaches, but more importantly, the people back then!!!!!!!!!!

[@christopherrubio8047]

LA in 2049 will definitely look like the blade runner 2049 movie. It’s already happening.

[@Krizzee]

Yep lol. The valley will turn into shit and everyone will be in the city.

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Exactly. I’ve been thinking that for a few years.

[@JustinLHopkins]

No it won’t. Just because LA has built a few more skyscrapers doesn’t mean it’s turning into some dystopian hellhole. NYC has twice the population and is closer to looking like Blade Runner than LA.

afraid so. unless the developers get reeled in, Ridley Scott was right. Reel the developers so they can stop bribing the politicians who are allowing this mess. LA isn't designed to be NY

[@evetsnitram8866]

Orange County looks like LA in the 70s.

[@humbertovazquez3733]

I moved to CA in 1978, still love it, great weather and many outdoor and indoor activities year round.

[@e.g.flores2819]

I was a sophomore in high school, West Covina was full of orange groves. Most cities were not connected. California went from Golden State to the Cesspool state.

[@brandonbriseno9810]

Did you go to South Hills High School?

[@anniefannycharles9951]

@chief tp you must be one of the turds floating around in the cesspool..

[@andrewehunt68]

Magnificent short film, with breathtaking aerial views. Thank you for posting! The wonderful narrator sounds to me like Gene Wilder.

[@larkatmic]

It was an amazing place back then. Van Nuys/Panorama city is a ghetto now. Maybe some day it will be gentrified into something nice again. Thats happened a lot over the years. L.A. had good paying jobs then. The smog was awful, but the sunshine made up for it, plus the affordable houses were nicely built, and public schools were top rated. And driving was a breeze. We were a modest lot then. Now everything is over the top. This is when L.A.s middle class reigned, up until the late 1980s. There are advantages today, cleaner air, diversity in culture, way more choices in schools, things to do, and transportation other that car travel, and the weather still can't be beat. But, I do miss driving, when it was fun to do so. Now, just too many people and traffic :( Maybe the self driving cars will eventually solve the traffic problems. Lets hope. Through all the changes, I still love living here. :)

[@19flipped1]

Wishful thinking. It's over with...

[@themoviedealers]

You glossed over a BIG point there about the smog being so improved compared to then. That's Liberalism and "big government" at work, giving you air that you can actually breathe. But I guess that's no big deal.

[@bladerunner556]

The Movie Dealers Part of the improved air quality is due to manufacturing moving away or shuttering. It wasn't all due to regulations.

[@newstart49]

As long as welfare for the bums exists, there will never be a nice LA again.

[@aintplayinggames7086]

The movie dealers, big government gave you guys 3 million people in LA that are not supposed to be in the country. If they left, that would mean a lot more free space which would bring cheaper rent and less smog, but I guess that`s no big deal.

[@neilkushner2706]

a growing and evolving landscape, to this day, thanks for the video

[@R-BURQUENO]

ALL I CAN SAY IS........"NOT ANYMORE"!!!!!

[@metalshop7492]

Thank a douche bag liberal

[@likeSK8]

it was good while it lasted - I am truly grateful to have grown up in So Cal. it was an AMAZING place to be a kid in the 1980s

[@susie154]

I was 7 then, living in Granada Hills California.

[@Tomes23]

Did you go to Frost?

[@matthewrudolph3514]

@@Tomes23 Frost was built in 71.

[@IdealUser]

Too bad they took all the agriculture away.

[@mayena]

@Boe Dillard It was rapid population and urbanisation that absored most of the agricultural areas.

[@howellwong11]

Yes, Disneyland was built on orange groves. Knott's Berry Farm was really a berry farm. Even when Disneyland was operating, the corner of Harbor and Katella still had a strawberry farm.

[@tobyblake851]

We moved to LA in '55 and I was too young to think of urban growth - I probably assumed it had always been there and it was really nice. Lived a walk from Redondo Beach, surfed LA beaches 50s and 60s. Late 60s brought over population and urban problems and by the late 70s we were gone; no more LA. Now 2016 the only way I would enter LA is with Godzilla as body guard. But i haven't seen him lately. I fear the big one and following Tsunami; LA has Tsunami zones now, just like Orange County and San Diego. The sea water surrounding the LA basin has nearly gone to jelly it's so polluted. LA was once beautiful and prosperous, now it is a viral urban pathology.

[@rodolphschmirnoff2853]

ur like 85?

[@elguey570]

...and you will know us by the Trail of Dead how has it gone to shit if it has the 7th biggest economy? Do you have to mention it was authored by a Jew because you don’t like Jews or what’s up? You old asses need to understand that changes always happen. Main reason why you guys are probably complaining on KZbin is cause your life was probably miserable because you made it miserable.

[@zoltannd]

Toby Blake yes Godzilla is a friendly lizard who sometimes swims over from japan to oversee the porn movie business in the San Fernando valley. Unfortunately the internet and dvds ruined the porn business. He had to leave and swim back to Fukushima japan. Much safer than watts and Compton.

[@ryanhatesgirls]

Totally, back then you wouldn't have to go to school with Mexicans, hire women or worry about Asians in politics. I mostly miss smoking in restaurants and getting to beat up gay people without consequences.

[@willlove2244]

ryanhatesgirls now you do that and will beat accordingly.

[@jsp5717]

The shots of the LA River are priceless!!!!

[@chiparoo222]

VERY interesting; Thanks

[@Kyle-if4yj]

My Dad worked for RCA factory electronic in Van Nuys near Bud Weiser since 56. He also lived In Down Town and worked as a postal man before us kids were born. The oldest my sister in 1961 in the bay area of Redondo Beach. Industry intertainment weather. I remember smogg alert daily. I didn't know my cousins some born in the late 50s were part of echo lake silver lake area. Good to see true heart of Los Angeles

[@Qce-i6d]

They were already building into the mountains back then? woah

[@ronaldzent4845]

Los Angeles has more cars than anywhere in the world, man, and that was almost 60 years ago!, I was 8., Lived in and mainly grew up in the Pico-Robertson Area.

[@tammanyfields3583]

Wow it was so different then.

[@tommytruth7595]

As in a lot better.

[@adrianjohnson1486]

Back then people were more civic-minded. Today nobody cares about anything. Truly sad.

[@Cyrus992]

@@adrianjohnson1486 diversity and the media

[@blsi4037]

I still live in those suburbs shown. My family has had the same house since 1957 when my grandparents paid $16,000 and no down payment (my grandpa was a veteran).

[@tpt213]

Now its worh half a mil. Or more

[@hazonku]

@@tpt213 Half a mill is probably low balling it.

[@harrybriscoe7948]

You can get a house in my part of Florida now cheaper than $16,000

[@samiam619]

Harry Briscoe Except Florida will soon have too much sea water in the streets. Your Governor still deny climate change?

[@joshs6500]

Another beneficiary of 1978's Prop 13. It's time to overturn it and have people like you pay the same property tax rates as your neighbors.

[@s.f9111]

I love the year 1961❤️& 63

[@dgeez2044]

Right now ive been driving everywhere going new places. I love my beautiful l.a. it just sucks it has so many ppl who dont care and trash it

[@whiteclifffl]

They’re called Mexicans.

[@cindysmith765]

GAVIN HAS DESTROYED THE MIDDLE CLASS. KICK HIM OUT !

[@gingerelvira6587]

Humm? I thought it was the mexicans taking OVER

[@firstlas9647]

The best view of LA is thru a rear view mirror. Born and raised, left 16 years ago for Idaho. I thank God daily for my wise decision. LA used to be the city that God built. Beaches, mountains, amazing climate, world class food/entertainment. I pray it bounces back from the cancers that run the place.

[@metalshop7492]

Liberals destroy everything they touch…fact

[@Romanmiguel.]

The people from that time would be ashamed of the present people.

[@remmymafia3889]

in the opening looking at the dark area behind and left of the iconic City Hall, this is Bunker Hill, which along with many other specific 'hills' in this downtown area, were eliminated later.

[@paulinemcconville5741]

Really interesting thank you.

[@NeyooxetuseiDreamer]

WOW look how clean the air is!! He said 25 million people would live there in 50 years, well its been 60 years now and there are 3 million people in Los Angeles.

[@muruganpadhai]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/baXSqpSpi6-cnLc

[@goombabear]

This was filmed in the era of Beverly Hillbillies. I remember some of the location shots.

[@BillVol]

Meaning?

[@stevescheel6753]

The L.A. area WAS a good place to grow up and live (mostly Arcadia/Sierra Madre) when I was there. An hour from the mountains/beaches and a little more to the desert. Now it's a swamp. Left 10 years ago and never looked back. Still keep in touch with friends but that's about it. And I sure miss my base ball. GO DODGERS!

[@Flamingfirebuff]

Awesome video!

[@wilbertrobles1123]

Super cool to explore yesteryear LA! Thanks for the post.

[@neilmoryson]

11:06 "...some like to live in trailers" LOL!

[@thrummer1953]

Cardboard boxes are an economical choice for many.

[@SooziinCa]

+thrummer1953 California ain't called "The Golden State" for nothin"!

[@SooziinCa]

+Pat Morac Classy.

[@19flipped1]

Some like to live on the curb or the stinkin' street !

[@nicks.carter574]

Some LIKE to live with mommy and daddy!

[@rosaspanjol673]

Amazing view!..city hall was the tallest building!

[@bboomer1948]

When living in LA County was bearable.

[@sredson]

and when breathing all those leaded gasoline fumes was also a reality.

[@1990758]

It’s still Is

[@lettyguerra371]

This video is heartbreaking!

[@roachaximus5899]

Many dont realize this was already the beginning of the downfall of LA, shifting to car culture and destroying the streetcar that connected LA OC and the IE

[@ivanleterror9158]

GM talked them out of the Red Car and into buses. Now they're headed the other direction.

[@roachaximus5899]

@@ivanleterror9158 Its too late now tho, most of the red car right of way is built on now.

[@ivanleterror9158]

Yeah, especially the route east of Griffith Park out near Eagle Rock and the Hipearian bridge. But amazingly they now have a subway and that Orange Route through the Valley into Hollywood etc.

[@roachaximus5899]

@@ivanleterror9158 the one that went to san bernardino near rialto ave is now all a bike trail as well, and well most of it is all bike trails now

[@ivanleterror9158]

Here in Portland the bike (and I ride one) has become the new God. It's ridiculous. Google Earth Bertha and Beaverton Hillsdale Highway and see where traffic has to stop for bikes instead of bikes waiting safely by the side of the road for cars, trucks, and buses.

[@ceejay1364]

Nothing like a sunset in LA.

[@j.martinez9723]

I LOVE MY BEAUTIFUL CITY , BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF ANGELS.

[@bluelivesmatter3600]

City of Angels ? LMAO ! Gangs, graffiti , homeless, Liberals, Illegals. Very nice.

[@barbarasweet9224]

Thank you for info on my home city

[@renemejia1181]

I Love L.A.!!!

[@md5matt]

Looks significantly cleaner almost too clean its crazy to see i cant even imagine the city looking anything like this

[@fernandocarballoful]

very good film !!!

[@downtourth]

It's suffocating, and I was in Orange County. Now we're in the Great Cascades between two lakes next to the Mighty Cowlitz River. Good luck in the jungle

[@xIsabellaNightmarex]

Jesus fucken christ, all I wanted to see was old fashion LA. I didn't expect all the racists in the comments.

[@EileenBachemin]

Wow is it packed full of people!!!!

[@shmookins]

6:00 So LA streets were crowded in the 60's too? huh.

[@bm.3759]

Shadow Heart imagine 50 years from now...

[@Stranger-ui8vg]

California is and will always be the most populated state, also people are saying that California is ending/dying or California is losing there population, well they’re wrong... California isn’t dying, it’s just that it’s too overly populated and a lot of traffic, people are starting to dislike it, but the thing that they don’t understand is that they like everything else in California, and a lot of these people don’t understand or get that...

[@alvarofavela2918]

Wow so green and clean...man, things have really changed in 55 years! Now it's dirty and brown!

[@GangStarr4life96]

Alvaro Favela literally

[@SouthCalifas619]

...and you will know us by the Trail of Dead of course heres the comment i was looking for, everything wrong with LA is blamed on us, well you will never rid this country of us, we are here to stay and will fight back if you try to kick us out from where we have always been from the start

[@jorgeybarra3894]

SouthCalifas619 Nuestra Reyna de Los Angeles was part of Mexico till 1847.

[@arturo2792]

Back when america was great and everyone knew their place. Now we have blacks and hispanics shooting each other

[@Sarah_Gravydog316]

Thats what happens when the Republicans choose profit > people...

[@FreshRose-z3s]

I'm moving here from Cleveland. So LA looks like Paris.

[@muruganpadhai]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/baXSqpSpi6-cnLc

[@norwegianblue2017]

The early 60s was the golden age of modern America. Wish I could have lived back then, especially in Los Angeles. Now LA sucks with all the traffic, illegal aliens, and incompetent/corrupt government. I still enjoy living in San Diego, but the cost of living is insane compared to even 20 years ago. The middle class is dying.

[@adrianjohnson1486]

And it's going to get a lot worse. You can count on it.

[@ryanhatesgirls]

Totally, and back then you wouldn't have to go to school with Mexicans, hire women or worry about Asians in politics. I mostly miss smoking in restaurants and getting to beat up gay people without consequences.

[@mamathecockatiel3659]

@@ryanhatesgirls you actually bet them up lol

[@jamesm654]

Wow. So nice and clean then. Expensive to live in CA because this is where everybody wants to live.

[@1990758]

Clean lol it depends where you were living at a ghetto will always be a Ghetto

[@sandiegotrojandawg]

Having been born in Los Angeles in the late '40's and grown up there nearly all my life, I've seen incredible changes. Even in 1961, the freeways we had were pretty wide open and driving was easygoing. The movie and television industries, along with the aerospace industry, helped fuel the growth like nothing else. Today, Hollywood's dead and the aerospace industry is virtually non-existent. The homeless situation has made Los Angeles look like a 3rd-world city. As a result, disease like typhoid fever (a medieval times disease) has become rampant (don't believe it? just google/bing it and you'll see). No one there speaks English anymore. California's liberal-Russian like policies have destroyed L.A. and the state. We finally left Los Angeles -- and the state of California -- two years ago just after my 70th birthday, and, although I miss how it was once a very nice place to live, we have no regrets in leaving.

[@ZnenTitan]

So I'm thinking based on your "handle" you moved to the San Diego area?

[@ryanhatesgirls]

And remember when you didn't have to go to school with Mexicans, hire women or worry about Asians in politics. I mostly miss smoking in restaurants and getting to beat up gay people without consequences.

[@sandiegotrojandawg]

@@ryanhatesgirls You couldn't be more wrong in what you said, and you must be a very evil person.

[@sandiegotrojandawg]

@@ZnenTitan We've left San Diego, too (an old handle). In fact, we're out of California now.

[@sandiegotrojandawg]

@@ryanhatesgirls You're a sick piece, a typical progressive whose most trying chore is to alphabetize a bag of M&M's. I'm sure you've tried many times. What a SNOWFLAKE you are.

[@ronm3245]

Two things I thought were interesting: 1) They didn't show Dodger Stadium under construction, but you get a brief shot of the Coliseum laid out for baseball. 2) The hypothetical "completed" freeway system shows the Long Beach Freeway going to Pasadena. When's _that_ gonna happen!?

[@MVrockersPS3]

They never mentioned the weather being great.

[@DerGlaetze]

The pinnacle of the times at that timeframe.

[@LiquorMaster]

Back when Compton was considered the suburbs and not the inner city.

[@dannylimitless2302]

It’s so cool seeing South Gate in a film from 1961 at 7:56