Vintage Photos of Los Angeles

As if most images of L.A. weren't weird enough, now there's a whole new crop of pictures that shed light on a gritty Los Angeles -- in glorious black and white. They're rare, archival snapshots of a (mostly) mid-century L.A., documenting an era, landscape, and zeitgeist that no longer exist.

In Focus: Los Angeles, 1945-1980 is the last Pacific Standard Time exhibition to open at the Getty Center. It's part of the museum's ongoing series that highlights photographs from the Getty's permanent collection. The show features both famous and never-before-seen photos by notable artists, from Man Ray and Jo Ann Callis to Edmund Teske, Robert Heinecken, and Garry Winogrand. According to the Getty, "Images are loosely grouped around the themes of experimentation, street photography, architectural depictions, and the film and entertainment industries." If you're in L.A., check out In Focus: Los Angeles, 1945-1980 before it fades out May 6, and see more on Pop Curious.

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Comments

[derrickhoyle]

03:31 PM on 01/10/2012

Broadway is still one of the most interesting streets to drive down in LA.

[King Nine]

11:11 PM on 01/08/2012

better to watch Starsky and Hutch reruns

[WhoIsNoOne]

06:24 PM on 01/07/2012

Love the guy with the busted nose. I broke my nose about 10 yrs ago and
had to wear one of those plasters for a week or so. You just have to play
it cool like that guy (though around here, everyone thinks you had work done)

[bubbels50]

09:58 PM on 01/06/2012

I was born in LA in 1961...we left in 1964 for Minnesota, where my mom grew up...Thanks Mom and Dad!!! Beautiful State, way too many people!!!

[Aitch5]

06:45 PM on 01/06/2012

How do you get there using Public transpo?

[DannyDiamond]

02:29 PM on 01/06/2012

Pretty much nothings changed but only gotten worse and more crowded. What a decline they have us in. Frog in the pot.

[deven61]

11:11 AM on 01/06/2012

Ah...memories of 1964 and LAX...does anyone remember Bill Burrud's tv show that always started at LAX?

[Brian Frobisher]

12:42 PM on 01/06/2012

"Now let's go "topside" with Bill Burrud!"

[deven61]

01:22 PM on 01/06/2012

Yeah....good old Bill Burrud...RIP.

[RhiannonRings]

10:56 AM on 01/06/2012

Interesting to see L.A. in 1964, the year I was born. I'm still here! On this planet and in L.A.

[stupid humans]

10:27 AM on 01/06/2012

so basically nothing has changed..the difference is it's all crumbling away........

[Cyrus Trance]

04:39 PM on 01/08/2012

Nothing has changed, you are kidding right?

[stupid humans]

05:18 PM on 01/08/2012

nope. no wait...theres more potholes.........

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

11:44 PM on 01/05/2012

Love that '53 Buick going by Winogrand.

[AuntieLoieAZ]

09:51 PM on 01/05/2012

Grew up in L.A. in the 1950's and 60's. Didn't really get how sleazy it was. These pics are from the REAL Los Angeles, not what you see on "Selling L.A. on HGTV.

[sibyl9]

08:38 PM on 01/05/2012

Did I miss the "gritty" part?

[robin briano]

08:20 PM on 01/05/2012

Only 8 pix?!

[Tanja M. Laden]

11:25 PM on 01/05/2012

You can see more pictures from the series here: http://popcurious.com/vintage-photos-of-los-angeles

[JScott]

10:24 AM on 01/06/2012

Hmm wonder which housing tract that was in Diamond Bar musta been circa 1980's-still allowed wood shake roofs but had to have underground utilities, and still had brick fireplaces, not the factory component ones.

[kdepara]

08:01 PM on 01/05/2012

You've gotta love Lakewood... the west coast version of Levittown! Hey, that's my house!

[williamg]

09:50 PM on 01/05/2012

Funny and true.

[Coasterr]

07:08 PM on 01/05/2012

Wow that's lakewood!
What a dump its so much nicer now.

[stupid humans]

10:28 AM on 01/06/2012

really?

[MrPragmatic]

10:27 PM on 01/10/2012

Nicer? You are joking, right? That whole area reminds me of suburbs in Indiana or Iowa.