20 photos of LA in the 1950s

Charles Phelps Cushing/Classicstock // Getty Images The post-WWII boom of the 1950s affected almost every corner of the country, from northern Michigan to Southern California. But few places were changed by the economic and cultural shifts as much as Los Angeles. The city grew by 500,000 people, most of whom were drawn to the metropolis for its year-round moderate climate, plethora of thriving industries, and suburban feel. While LA had been growing steadily since the 19th century, it wasn’t yet the jam-packed city we know it to be today. Its various neighborhoods were more separated than they are now, connected by highways and interstates but surrounded by undeveloped land and forests. Residents had all the perks of a major city–a boisterous downtown, a vibrant nightlife scene, plenty of employment options, a culturally and racially diverse population–with the added benefits of smaller communities and plenty of space to build the single-family homes that had become a staple of the American dream. It’s hard to describe exactly what life was like in LA during the decade, or how it felt like both a major city and a small town, so Giggster scoured historical archives to compile a collection of photos that exemplify what life was like in Los Angeles during the 1950s. From shots of daily life to major events like the Academy Awards, these pictures are sure to make you feel a sense of nostalgia, even if you’ve never been to LA or weren’t alive in the mid-20th century. City Hall American Stock/ClassicStock // Getty Images LA’s City Hall can be seen in the distance of this aerial shot. For decades after it was completed–until the late ’50s–a city ordinance prohibited the construction of any buildings taller than 150 feet, making City Hall far and away LA’s biggest building at the time. Grauman’s Chinese Theater Bettmann // Getty Images Opened in 1927, Grauman’s Chinese Theater has likely hosted more film premieres and celebrities than any other theater in LA. In 1950, its financier and namesake, Sid Grauman, died of a heart attack. Today, it’s known as the TCL Chinese Theatre and still hosts red carpet movie premieres. Olvera Street Orville Logan Snider/Frederic Lewis/Hulton Archive // Getty Images Often referred to as “the birthplace of Los Angeles,” Olvera Street is LA’s oldest street. In the 1930s, the block-long avenue was reinvented as an outdoor mall, complete with vendors selling all sorts of Mexican and Mexican-American items as an homage to some of the area’s earliest settlers. A historic heatwave Bettmann // Getty Images In 1955, LA experienced one of its worst heat waves in recorded history–for eight consecutive days in late August and early September, temperatures reached highs well over 100 degrees. Desperate for some relief, Angelenos flocked to the beaches, including the Santa Monica beach (pictured above) where the archives record some 300,000 people took a dip in the Pacific. Miracle Mile Archive Photos // Getty Images In the 1950s, Miracle Mile, a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard that is home to some of the city’s best shopping and most interesting museums, was one of the most visited parts of the city. The Beverly Hilton Hulton Archive // Getty Images Located on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, the Beverly Hilton opened its doors in 1955. Since 1961, the glamorous hotel has hosted the Golden Globes ceremony in its grand ballroom. A touristy detour