Sometimes, in order to ensure what's old--or structurally and historically significant--gets to be new again, some serious preservation work has to be accomplished. And each year, to salute such efforts, the Los Angeles Conservancy, the champions of preservation, champion a handful of local projects upon which they bestow their Preservation Awards. more ›

One way to keep cool from the impending spring and summer heat is to duck inside a movie theatre and take in a show. Thanks to the L.A. Conservancy's popular "Last Remaining Seats" film series, you can slip into the dark and go back in time by checking out classic films in historic Los Angeles movie palaces. more ›

California has had underwater state parks for a while, but on January 1 of this year the state opened several new parks along the coastline. These include the La Jolla kelp forest, tide pools in Laguna and coral gardens off of Catalina. Their goal? To do a better job protecting marine life. more ›

If you've ever driven through the NoHo Arts District and noticed a curious barrel-shaped building and its run-down front and wondered what the heck it was, and, moreover, why no one was doing anything about it, wonder no more: This former restaurant is going to be restored and reopened soon. Hooray! more ›

The Los Angeles Conservancy is one of the premiere groups who work to keep Los Angeles of today infused with the architectural wonder that was Los Angeles of years gone by. Every year, they hand out awards for the work of preservationists and their projects, and have just announced the nine 2011 winners of the highly-sought honor that recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation. The awards will be presented at a luncheon on Thursday, May 12, 2011. more ›

Over a year ago, the fate of Molly's Charbroiled Burger on Vine in Hollywood seemed to be that the beloved octogenarian shack was doomed to be crumpled up and tossed in the trashcan like the paper-wrapper remains of a greasy cheeseburger lunch. more ›

Despite efforts from residents and preservation activists, last week the County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to convert the historic Golden Gate Theater in East Los Angeles into a 24-hour CVS drugstore, according to the LA Wave. more ›

Honoring the work done to preserve Los Angeles' landmarks and architectural treasures, the Los Angeles Conservancy revealed yesterday the projects and places that are recipients of their 29th annual Preservation Awards. Earning the President's Award is the resurrected Bob's Big Boy Broiler in Downey, which returned on the site of the late Johnie's Broiler thanks to the hard work of community activists, the City of Downey, and a Bob's Big Boy Franchisee who built the new restaurant using old designs. more ›

As part of their monthly series of free tours at historic venues, the L.A. Historic Theatre Foundation tomorrow heads to Inglewood to check out The Academy and Fox Inglewood, both built by architect S. Charles Lee in 1939 and 1949, respectively. more ›

Threatened with demolition in late 2008 and named as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2009, the Century Plaza Hotel was saved, it was announced today. Owners Next Century Associates had proposed a project that would end in the demolition of the hotel to make way for a mixed use project comprising hotel, residential, office, retail, public plazas, and open space, raising red flags for preservationists. more ›

Seth Tinkham is a correspondent for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and he's taken a JetBlue 30-day All-You-Can-Jet Pass and a laptop on the road--or to the skies, rather--on a tour dubbed the JetModern, aimed at spotlighting modernist design treasures in major US cities. His trip concludes next week here in Los Angeles, where he will visit buildings that exemplify the modernist style that are in need of some preservationist attention. more ›

On September 9th, the Santa Monica Pier celebrated its Centennial. Fireworks lit up the sky and thousands of people gathered to honor a landmark that seems to be synonymous not only with Santa Monica, but with Los Angeles, and our love affair with having fun at the edge of the Pacific Ocean more ›

Signage on buildings and along thoroughfares has evolved, as has the move to prohibit them in recent months. But the origin of the roof sign in Los Angeles reflects one aspect of our rich local history that runs the risk of being elbowed out by the more bully-like presence of neon-lit ads that now top buildings all over the city. more ›

CurbedLA shares this good-news bit for preservationists and fans of Fatburger, and report that the original 1952 South LA stand where the popular fast food franchise began has been purchased by the CRA and will be preserved and made a part of the new development on the property. According to family rep Frank Evanisko," The actual shack still on the property cannot be torn down but must be rehabbed and incorporated into any new development." The site is destined to be for low income housing; public records indicate "the proposed project will be a 66-unit moderate income housing condominium consisting of 61 residential condominiums and five Live/Work units at 3001-3023 S. Western Avenue." Fatburger was founded by "female African American entrepreneur Lovie Yancey." Yancey died at age 96 in February 2008. more ›

Tomorrow afternoon, the Los Angeles Conservancy will honor nine projects and one individual representative of the best achievements in preservation of last year. In its 28th year, the list offers a variety of undertakings, from the successful bid to recognize our sprawling and magnificent Griffith Park as a Historic Cultural Monument to the refurbishing of longstanding meccas of culture like the Mark Taper Forum, the revitalization of the eatery behind some much-loved sandwiches, and the re-purposing of a onetime giant of industry as a place to call home. [Full list after the jump.] more ›

2008 is the 70th anniversary of Hollywood Park, a once grand-dame in the world of horse racing that may meet the fate of the bulldozer come next year. With racing not the draw it once was, the stands are often sparsely populated, and its home city of Inglewood has their eye on a more lucrative prize. more ›

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In our weekly LAistory series we take a look at the people, places, and events in our city's amazing history. Our topics range from the long-forgotten, old familiar, or completely new to Angelenos, and hopefully our work reminds you that although our city is rich with history. Some of you may want to learn more and do your own digging...so this week we're bringing you some cool historical events that are happening that can help take you back in time. And in the meanwhile, if you have a person, place, or event you want to see covered in LAistory, use the comments to let us know! Our detectives will get on the case. more ›

For the past 25 years, local preservation group Hollywood Heritage has been in charge of maintaining Wattles Mansion, a 1907 historic home bought by the City of L.A. in 1968. The preservation group has had an arrangement with the Parks Department for running the property, but now they are being handed their 30-day notice for having "failed to properly maintain the 101-year-old landmark," according to the LA Times. more ›

As revitalization takes place throughout LA's downtown area, many are seeking to extend the developments and improvements to the Broadway area, which is home to many majestic and historic theaters, once the crown jewels of our city's movie palaces. "Among the most prized treasures of the area are Broadway's twelve historic movie palaces, which in their heyday evoked - and often surpassed - the magic of stage and screen," explains Historic Downtown LA. more ›

Joseph Cosina was shot in the heart after bar-close early Friday morning at Crash Mansion nightclub on Grand Ave. (it was an 18-and-over event). The 19-year-old Downey High School graduate was pronounced dead at the hospital and two others were wounded. The gunman remains at large.

About closing time, a fight broke out inside the club, police said. Cosina and his friends had no connection to the fight, said his father, Hector. more ›

How does the idea of hilltop vistas, the quiet charm of tree-lined streets, and a quick and easy one mile trip on public transit to Downtown grab you? Well, it certainly proved an effective lure for the fresh-off-the-train Midwesterners settling in Los Angeles who flocked to our city's first suburb in the late 1880s. A real estate boom in 1887 saw the construction of numerous majestic Victorian homes in the new neighborhood, but a... more ›

10:36 p.m., last night: Daily News publishes a story about 14628 Sylvan Street in Van Nuys -- the oldest house in Van Nuys built in 1911 by William Paul Whitsett (now you know where that street name came from). The article tells how this historic house is threatened by demolition for condos. Preservationists want to save the house. 8:23 a.m., this morning: LACityNerd posts and e-mail blasts the blogLAsphere about the article quoting City... more ›