Unseen Ansel Adams-Los Angeles 1940

In 1940 Los Angeles had a population of 1.5 million. The cost of gas was 10 cents and a new car was $700. The U.S. began rearming for World War II and the prestigious Ansel Adams was commissioned by Fortune Magazine to photograph a series of images for an article covering the aviation industry in the Los Angeles area. For the project, Adams took over 200 black & white photographs showing everyday life, businesses, street scenes and a variety of other subjects. But when the article, City of the Angels, appeared in the March 1941 issue, only a few of the images were included.

In the early 1960s Adams rediscovered the photographs among papers at his home in Carmel and donated them to the Los Angeles Public Library. He wrote in a letter: "The weather was bad over a rather long period and none of the pictures were very good... I would imagine that they represent about $100.00 minimum value... At any event, I do not want them back." But as many critics will agree, sometimes an artist is not always the best judge of their own work.

Ansel Adams (1902-1984) created some of the most influential photographs ever made; he was one of the 20th century's leading exponents of environmental values. It seems that every third family in America has an Adams' poster on the wall, images that were difficult to make but easy to love. His images portray a romanticized and unspoiled Western American landscape, but Ansel Adams Los Angeles is a whole other body of work that is rarely discussed, let alone seen.

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[modernpanther]

A time when the city was White, built for Whites, and not ashamed of a single thing.

[DetroitLove4U]

Los Angeles used to be a very all around city. Nowadays it's more of a cohesive ebb of illegal aliens and colored folks running many parts of it down to a whimsical and foul environment. I find that Los Angeles has become what many older cities have become. Detroit is no different as well perhaps worse in other categories. But to I Los Angeles is the centerfold for a city of violence, gangs, poverty, and corruption.

[LACITYFIRE68]

This video is both interesting and eye opening for me. Im a fireman for this city and have worked in the downtown, east and west LA , and it makes me a little sad to see how clean the city once was. The time of my fathers generation. When men wore suits and hats on a daily basis, no panhandlers, no trash in the streets. Its interesting to see how the city has grown. What is gone and what is still there.

[Dan San Dimas]

I saw the show when it first opened and can't waqit to get back there again. Will spend another two hours checking out the exhibit. While nearly all of the photos are excellent (Adams slumming is still way better than most photographers at their best), the ones that really got me were the candid trailer court shots, the L.A. street scenes, and the photo of the stylish old Ralph's Market. An illuminating look at the gritty backside of 1940's Los Angeles, untarnished by the glitz of Hollywood.

[scottnmarty]

Beautifully done slideshow -- and I love the music! How great to see these wonderful pieces I've never seen before -- will definitely plan to come see them in person at drkrm. Thanks for sharing this!