Holy COW! The beginning freeway in this video. On the faar right in the very first seconds, there is supposed to be Universal Studios and the Hilton Hotel. Dang thats crazy!
its just mind boggling to see that part of the 101 now. i agree that some of the footage at the end was from the 60s not 50s. i remember some of those black freeway signs from when i was a kid. i think they started making the transition to green sometime in the 60s
The opening shots have to be at least the fall of 1956; the vehicle transporter at 0:48 is carrying new 1957 Plymouths, which would've been on the market in Sept. 1956.
The shots at 1:43, however, date from the early to middle 1960s.
@hebneh Nice sleuthing! I think you are correct on both counts, although based on the cars in the second half of the video, I think I would guess around 1962.
Correct about the 1957 Plymouths on the transporter. The newer car (blue car, under the shadow of the signs) at 1:43 is not quite in focus well enough to be sure, but it looks like a 1963 Chevrolet. Just 3 or 4 seconds later you can definitely pick out a 1960 Ford on the left and a 1959 Chevrolet on the right.
@hebneh Looks like two batches to me also as I remember one could continue on motion picture cameras then. The first part looks like 1955 as the plates were black w/yellow print. The yellow background smaller plate started in 1956-1963. Second part is definitely early 1960's as a blue 1960 Ford is in left with a white 1959 Chevy comes up in right lane. At 1:53;It looks like a blue 1963 Chevy Impala is in center lane. That might be shot from overpass on 110 Harbor in downtown LA.
This is viewing northbound traffic at the Hollywood fwy at Barham Blvd. (Cahuanga Pass). The center lanes used to be hold rail cars, which were defunct by the early 50's. Eventually it became more freeway lanes.
Hahaha Wish our freeways were still this uncrowded...lol Thank you Beach Boys for having the world come to sunny Southern Californi-a! lol
CAgirl707 15 hours ago
Holy COW! The beginning freeway in this video. On the faar right in the very first seconds, there is supposed to be Universal Studios and the Hilton Hotel. Dang thats crazy!
KryptonT25 3 days ago
Cool old Kenworth hauling hay
dgarr64 4 days ago
Everything was greener :(
GabeHudson16 1 week ago
Opening Fwy looks like the 101 just leaving the Valley, thru Cahuenga area.
powergirl901 2 weeks ago
It looks so peaceful.
jfs1988 1 month ago
I wish i can travel back in time and experience the 50's.
TacoManTuesday 1 month ago
This is great.
To see L.A. from that time in clear color like this is amazing.
This is a piece of Los Angeles history.
George Vreeland Hill
GeorgeVreelandHill 1 month ago
Did someone in your family take this? Where did you get ahold of it?
tall32guy 1 month ago
@tall32guy I transfer and restore film for friends, family, and the occasional client. This was taken by one of those people.
johnmeyer77 1 month ago 3
This is definitely some great footage that you've acquired. Thanks for sharing with us!
FreewayBrent 1 month ago
its just mind boggling to see that part of the 101 now. i agree that some of the footage at the end was from the 60s not 50s. i remember some of those black freeway signs from when i was a kid. i think they started making the transition to green sometime in the 60s
lambchopxoxo 1 month ago
makes ya wanna cry,.
futuristfood 1 month ago
This is at least two batches of film.
The opening shots have to be at least the fall of 1956; the vehicle transporter at 0:48 is carrying new 1957 Plymouths, which would've been on the market in Sept. 1956.
The shots at 1:43, however, date from the early to middle 1960s.
hebneh 1 month ago 2
@hebneh Nice sleuthing! I think you are correct on both counts, although based on the cars in the second half of the video, I think I would guess around 1962.
johnmeyer77 1 month ago
@hebneh
Correct about the 1957 Plymouths on the transporter. The newer car (blue car, under the shadow of the signs) at 1:43 is not quite in focus well enough to be sure, but it looks like a 1963 Chevrolet. Just 3 or 4 seconds later you can definitely pick out a 1960 Ford on the left and a 1959 Chevrolet on the right.
fmichaelb 3 weeks ago
@hebneh Looks like two batches to me also as I remember one could continue on motion picture cameras then. The first part looks like 1955 as the plates were black w/yellow print. The yellow background smaller plate started in 1956-1963. Second part is definitely early 1960's as a blue 1960 Ford is in left with a white 1959 Chevy comes up in right lane. At 1:53;It looks like a blue 1963 Chevy Impala is in center lane. That might be shot from overpass on 110 Harbor in downtown LA.
OSTARAEB4 2 days ago
so wheres the delorean?
sirg76 1 month ago 2
did you take the video? nice
huzaifah666 1 month ago
What amazes me about downtown is not the difference, but the sameness.
ruzz3ii 1 month ago
what are these cars doing like 30 mph? geez, nice footage
Anglynn74 1 month ago
Nice shots of US 101 and US 6 / US 66 (later CA 11, now I-110 / CA 110 , respectively)
1970ifeelalright 1 month ago
This is viewing northbound traffic at the Hollywood fwy at Barham Blvd. (Cahuanga Pass). The center lanes used to be hold rail cars, which were defunct by the early 50's. Eventually it became more freeway lanes.
romanval69 1 month ago
Nice film. Thanks for sharing!
cadrolls 2 months ago
Thank you so much for this share. New and clean. No wonder so many people came to live here.
bunnyguiness 4 months ago
A six-laner! LA hasn't seen one of those freeways in half a century.
musicvid10 4 months ago