From the first known photograph taken in Los Angeles to his most recent impressive images, this photographic tribute to the City of Angels offers a fascinating journey through its cultural, political, industrial, and sociological history. It traces the city's development from the real estate boom of the 1880s, through the early days of Hollywood and the urbanization of the last two decades, up to the present day. With over 500 images, L.A. is depicted as emerging from a desert wasteland to become a sprawling, palm-filled metropolis. Events that have shaped global news—including two Olympic Games, the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, and the Rodney King riots—reveal a city of many dimensions. The world's entertainment capital, Hollywood, along with its famous residents, notable figures, architects, artists, and musicians, are prominently featured. The city's cultural movements, music, surfing, health food trends, gangs, and rapid transit are included, as well as its notorious crimes and criminals. This book captures Los Angeles in all its glory and grittiness, through hundreds of newly discovered images, including those by Julius Shulman, Garry Winogrand, William Claxton, and many other outstanding photographers, sourced from significant historical archives, museums, private collectors, and universities. These images provide context and resonance through essays by distinguished California historian Kevin Starr and Los Angeles literature expert David L. Ulin.
