:previous:

air raid sirens

wilshire and western 1952

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...501-013~3?v=hr
Source: USC Digital Archive

burbank public service building 1956

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...044-001~1?v=hr
Source: USC Digital Archive

van nuys city hall 1951

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...133-006~1?v=hr
Source: USC Digital Archive

federal building 1954

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics47/00058226.jpg
Source: LAPL

july 4th 1951

Children plug their ears in anticipation of an air raid siren going off. "Ooooo! is the way the Hubik children -- Julius, 6; Suerita, 10, and Margie, 7 -- voiced their reaction today to the wailing of Los Angeles' air raid sirens and ringing of church bells at noon as glorious Fourth of July was celebrated in observance of 175th anniversary of signing of the Declaration of Independence. The blast also served as a country-wide test for the air raid sirens". "Braced for warning of biggest A-bomb test in desert. Young and old alike in Los Angeles are poised for 'It could happen here day' as historic A-bomb nears target; sirens will sound 10 minutes before drop".

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072021.jpg
Source: LAPL

:previous:

These last pictures remind me Fallout.

Talking about videogames, anyone here playing L.A. noire ?

There have been several 'atomic' glow photos posted earlier in the thread.
Here are two photographs I don't remember seeing before.



below: The bright flash of a Nevada test reaches Los Angeles, circa 1955.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/385...5ftmoorehi.jpg
uscdl




below: Atomic blast in the early hours of May 5, 1955. Notice the two mysteriously parked cars in the foreground.
My guess is that the car on the right belongs to the photographer.

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/5...omicblasti.jpg
uscdl


below: I googled and found out this test was named Apple-II, May 5, 1955.


http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/2...pleiiacopy.jpg
ats/a_bw

Here is the May 5, 1955 Apple_II test in living color!

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/5...55appleiia.jpg
ats/a_c



Unbelievably these tests were a tourist attraction in Las Vegas. The test site was a mere 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

below: A 1951 postcard showing a mushroom cloud.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6...ictest1951.jpg
theneoclassiccoctillian.blogspot.com


Anyone else feel the urge to watch 'Kiss Me Deadly' again?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/...da6c92f7_z.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/...da6c92f7_z.jpg

More Uncle Bert Rovere (Paris Inn and Lucca and the Hurricane in Frisco). This guy did everything! He was Florence Chadwick's coach for her failed attempt to cross the channel to LA. As you know, Bert came in second place in the famous Wrigley's swim back in 1927. Millions watched on tv her failed attempt. She eventually did it a few months later and was the darling of the LA sports world for a while.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/...efdb028d_z.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/...efdb028d_z.jpg

Apparently not everyone was enamored with her attempt. Pretty funny.


And thanks out there in LA Noirish world for finding stuff on My great Uncle Bert and his Paris Inn and Lucca.

Very interesting account of Ms. Chapwick's swim Ninja55.

Do you have any photographs of your Uncle Bert participating in the Wrigley's swim back in 1927?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/...ff89b9af_z.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/...ff89b9af_z.jpg

The back of the photo says "Jan '28 Catalina Swim Race". As far as I can gather, he only raced in it twice. That's Uncle Bert, fourth from left.

^^^Thanks Ninja55...those photos are great.


______________

Here is a strange Cold War story about fake atomic bombs being planted throughout the Los Angeles area.
I can't remember where I initially found these images but they look like something you might find on latimesblog.com

Disappointingly, I only have fragments of the story, but it's quite interesting nonetheless.

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/4...ockbombed1.jpg
lamirror


http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4...ensuitcase.jpg
lamirror


http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/322...aplamirror.jpg
lamirror


http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8516/...ntingofabo.jpg
lamirror


http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/3...mirror1954.jpg
lamirror

I'll repost this extraordinary photo of City Hall during a 1951 atomic test.

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/5...lescityhal.jpg
Associated press wirephoto


below: How the photo appeared in print form.

http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/9...lescityh19.jpg
latimes