Chronicles of Old Los Angeles : Exploring the Devilish History of the City of the Angels

There's more to Los Angeles than lights, camera, action; discover the city yourself with these guided walking tours of LA's historic neighborhoods, illustrated with color photographs and period maps. From the city's early days marked by robber barons and oil wells to the invention of the movie camera, "Chronicles of Old Los Angeles" explains how the Wild West became the Left Coast, how Alta California became the 31st state, and how ethnic waves built Los Angeles--from Native Americans to Spaniards, Latinos, Chinese, Japanese, and all the characters that crowded into California during the Gold Rush. There's more to Los Angeles than lights, camera, action! From the city's early, devilish days populated by missionaries, robber barons, oil wells and orange groves, Chronicles of Old Los Angeles explains how the Wild West became the Left Coast. Learn how Alta California became the 31st state, and how ethnic waves built Los Angeles—from Native Americans to Spaniards, Latinos and Asians, followed by gangsters, surfers, architects and the Hollywood pioneers who brought fame to the City of the Angels. Then, discover the city yourself with six guided walking/driving tours of LA's historic neighborhoods, profusely illustrated with color photographs and period maps. Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Dedication; Sites; Chapter 1. Bay of Smokes the Birth of Los Angeles 1781; Chapter 2. Fandangos in the Pueblo Wealthy Mexicans and the Siege of Los Angeles 1786-1848; Chapter 3. Culture Clash the Racial Tensions of Statehood 1850s-1860s; Chapter 4. The Massacre Chinese Tong War Ends as a Historic Tragedy 1871; Chapter 5. Huntington's Boom the Iron Horse Pokes Its Head through San Fernando Tunnel 1876; Chapter 6. Doheny, Canfield, and the Oil Queen of California 1890s; Chapter 7. Take a Ride on the Red Cars La Sprawls with an Electric Railway 1901-1961 James Roman is the author of Chronicles of Old Las Vegas and Chronicles of Old New York and served as editorial contributor to New York Living magazine for six years. He contributes regularly to publications that document emerging technology, and he appeared on the HBO television series Six Feet Under . He lives in Los Angeles