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  • LA History
    Holiday lights past
    How LA celebrated the holidays over the years
    By  Matt Dangelantonio
    Published December 24, 2024 9:00 AM

    Share This
    A street lined with trees adorned with Christmas lights. A lit Star of David sits atop mountains in the background.
    View of Altadena's Christmas Tree Lane (Santa Rosa Avenue), with colored lights on the deodar cedars, which were planted in 1865. The trees are approximately 100 feet tall and have a spread of 40 to 50 feet.
    (
    Security Pacific National Bank Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Topline:

    L.A. is known for its eclectic holiday light displays that bring folks from all over the region to get into the spirit. So, Christmas no upon us, take a trip back in time and see the winter holidays the way they used to be across Southern California communities.

    From Santa Monica

    A street lined with garland and holiday decorations as cars pass by. A storefront reading "See's Candies" can be seen.
    Christmas lights and decorations hang on a street in Santa Monica on December 9, 1937.
    (
    Herald Examiner Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    To downtown L.A.

    Los Angeles City Hall is lit up with a cross
    While the County mall is in darkness, City Hall glows with a Christmas cross, the lights consuming 128 kilowatt hours of energy during an eight-hour display.
    (
    Joe Messinger, Herald Examiner Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Go deeper: ...to see more photos of holiday lights through the years across L.A.

    L.A. is known for its eclectic holiday light displays that bring folks from all over the region to get into the spirit. So with Christmas now upon us, take a trip back in time and see the winter holidays the way they used to be across Southern California communities.

    Santa Monica lights (1937)

    A street lined with garland and holiday decorations as cars pass by. A storefront reading "See's Candies" can be seen.
    Christmas lights and decorations hang on a street in Santa Monica on December 9, 1937.
    (
    Herald Examiner Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Christmas Parade on Broadway (1940)

    A parade proceeds down a street lined with lights, garlands, stars and other Christmas decorations. A sign reading "Los Angeles Furniture Co."
    View looking south on Broadway at the Christmas parade on 7th Street.
    (
    Herald Examiner Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Hollywood Boulevard (1948)

    Christmas trees are lit up along Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles. Visible signs include The Broadway Hollywood and Security Bank.
    Neon lights and Christmas decorations seen on Hollywood Boulevard in December 1948.
    (
    L. Mildred Harris, Los Angeles Photographers Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Candy Cane Lane, Woodland Hills (1953)

    A road with a large sign made of lights reading "Candy Cane Lane" strung between two trees on either side of the road
    At night Lubao Avenue, East Woodland Hills, is a fairyland of Christmas lights. Neighbors along three blocks each use crossed candy canes, decorated mailboxes and tinkle bells, then add what their imagination dictates.
    (
    Valley Times Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena (1960)

    A street lined with large trees adorned with lights. A lit star hangs above the road, strung between two of the trees.
    Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena is home to one of the most beautiful Christmas tree lanes in the country. Bordering Deodar cedars that measure close to 100 feet in height are decorated with hundreds of colored lights. The display stretches for a length of five blocks along Santa Rosa Avenue from Altadena Drive to Woodbury Road.
    (
    Howard Ballew, Herald Examiner Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Studio City lights (1962)

    A busy street is lined with holiday decorations and blurred with car lights. Visible signs include Sinclair Paints, Valley Lighting and Lamps, Doll House, marquee reading The Three Ks Dancing, Picture Framing, a bowling alley, Standard gas station, Chevron gas station, Riding and Play Clothes, Valley Gem Shop, a record store.
    Studio City features bells on Ventura Blvd. at Vantage Ave.
    (
    Valley Times Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Santa rides a rocket in Burbank (1962)

    A home Christmas display featuring two snowmen standing next to a figure of Santa Clause, who is riding a rocket.
    Santa rides rocket at 638 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.
    (
    George Birch, Valley Times Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Van Nuys Boulevard (1963)

    Christmas decorations stretch across a wide thoroughfare lined with cars and lit store signs.
    Garlands of lights stretch across Van Nuys Boulevard in 1963. This view is looking north from Delano Street in Van Nuys.
    (
    Bob Martin, Valley Times Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Christmas lights at the Coliseum (1964)

    Lit Christmas trees line a walkway leading up to the entrance of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
    Photograph dated January 15, 1964 shows a Christmas light display in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
    (
    Valley Times Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    L.A. Civic Center lights (1973)

    Los Angeles City Hall is lit up with a cross
    While the County mall is in darkness, City Hall glows with a Christmas cross, the lights consuming 128 kilowatt hours of energy during an eight-hour display.
    (
    Joe Messinger, Herald Examiner Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Capitol Records and Bob's Burger Bar in Hollywood

    Night view of Bob's Burger Bar, with the Capitol Records building displaying Christmas lights in the shape of a Christmas tree atop the roof in the background.
    Night view of Bob's Burger Bar, with the Capitol Records building displaying Christmas lights in the shape of a Christmas tree atop the roof in the background.
    (
    Roy Hankey, Los Angeles Photographers Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Lights along the Santa Claus Lane Parade in Hollywood

    A dimly-lit street lined with lit Christmas trees and a movie theater marquee.
    A night view taken during the annual Santa Claus Lane Parade in Hollywood, showing the line of lighted Christmas trees on the boulevard.
    (
    Security Pacific National Bank Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

    Main and PCH in Huntington Beach

    Christmas lights and decorations hang over an intersection from curved metal beams. A sign reads "Huntington Beach."
    Christmas lights and decorations hang at the corner of Main and Pacific Coast Highway (Ocean), in Huntington Beach. View is looking west. A large Christmas tree is on the left.
    (
    Security Pacific National Bank Collection
    /
    Los Angeles Public Library
    )

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