By 1900, the population of Los Angeles had grown to more than 102,000, putting pressure on the city’s water supply. The completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, under the supervision of William Mulholland, ensured the continued growth of the city. Because of clauses in the city’s charter that prevented the City of Los Angeles from selling or providing water from the aqueduct to any area outside its borders, many adjacent cities and communities felt compelled to join Los Angeles.
In 1910, Hollywood merged into Los Angeles, with 10 movie companies already operating in the city at the time.
By 1921, more than 80 percent of the world’s film industry was concentrated in L.A. The money generated by the industry kept the city insulated from much of the economic loss suffered by the rest of the country during the Great Depression.
By 1930, the population surpassed one million. In 1932, the city hosted the Summer Olympics. These amazing vintage photos captured street scenes of Los Angeles from between the 1900s and 1930s.
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| Florence Hotel, Los Angeles, circa 1900s |
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| Hotel Grey, Los Angeles, circa 1900s |
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| Mason Opera House (built 1903 and demolished in 1956), Los Angeles, circa 1900s |
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| Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1900s |
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| Hill Street Tunnel, Los Angeles, circa 1910s |
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| Lankershim Hotel, Broadway and Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1910s |
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| Main Street, Los Angeles, circa 1910s |
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| Occidental Hotel, 430 Hill Street, Los Angeles, circa 1910s |
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| Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1910s |
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| Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1910s |
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| The Van Nuys Building located at 7th and Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1910s |
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| 400 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| 800 South Broadway, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| California Reserve Building, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| Hamburger People Store at Eighth Street and Broadway, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| Hayward Hotel, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| Hill Street and Twelfth Street, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| Hill Street, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| J. W. Robinson Department Store, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| Main Street, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| Spring Street and Seventh Street, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| Spring Street and Sixth Street, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| The Alexandria Hotel located at 501 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1920s |
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| 123 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Amestoy Building, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Broadway Department Store, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Hill Street and Fourth Street, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Hill Street and Second Street, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Hill Street, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Hill Street, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Hotel Moore Cliff, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| James Oviatt Building, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Los Angeles Theatre, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| South Broadway, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |
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| Spring Street, Los Angeles, circa 1930s |