FLASHBACK – Streetcar Conducting 101, circa 1914
Most of the footage in this Pacific Electric instructional video was shot in then-barren Culver City, El Monte and Glendale. It’s so amazing to realize just how many things have changed in one hundred years. It also cracks me up when the “discourteous conductor” yells that he’s not a mind reader. 
16 Responses to “FLASHBACK – Streetcar Conducting 101, circa 1914”
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Amazing footage. Nice find. I love the history of the area. I wish more would survive. Thanks for posting this.
So glad you enjoyed it, Kim! Thanks for commenting… not enough people do! :)
Just “found” the Hidden Los Angeles website/page on Facebook. Incredible! And also … Look at all those TREES! This is kind of magnificent.
Thanks so much for the footage. Sure lots of changes since my cousin worked on the Red Line.
CHARMING! I love this!
Thanks, great post. We love Hidden Los Angeles!!!
OMG–the train totally ran over that man at the end. haha! very interesting watch! thanks!
I love old street cars and railroads, and what a treat it was to view this. Thank you so much for posting.
I love seeing these, my grandparents moved to Pasadena in 1944 and always told me about all the orange groves. I would contest your use of the word “barren” for these areas however, I don’t know about the Venice area, but I do know that the San Gabriel Valley was filled with citrus farms!
Very interesting! I live in Huntington Beach and we just celebrated our centennial in 2009. There was a local art exhibit last year which included a display on the Red Cars that once ran all the way to the coast. They had an excellent video from the old Ralph Story show on KCBS. Not sure if it’s available on Youtube, but would be a good addition to Hidden Los Angeles. Keep up the good work!
To any of you Californians who are big on local history, may I suggest one of my favorite books, if you’re not already hip to it, “Two Years Before the Mast” by Richard Henry Dana, written in the late 20′s. I’m from New Orleans but since my father was a west coaster and a seaman, i read it and would one day like to tour the California coast and see where he was and how much it’s changed. Enjoy!
Fascinating! What is the rack or basket on the front of some of the cars?
I used to live on the hill that the Glendale line had run on. Today, there is a dent in the side of the hill where the rails used to be. Where the trestle bridge goes across is a fact known only to the locals. Seeing that on this film was a treat. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi there, the Militant Angeleno writes about the Pacific Electric Red Cars every so often. He’s been writing about them even before this blog started showing up.
There’s a place in the Inland Empire where you can ride them! Go read the Militant’s blog (and watch his vlog) here:
http://militantangeleno.blogspot.com/2008/03/gettin-vloggy-with-it-militant-rides.html
Stay Militant!
MA
I wrote an article for my college paper about them back in the 80s… my mom used to really love riding them so I’ve always been fascinated by them too.
Still haven’t ridden the one in San Pedro, but we did a post on it back in November.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Love the footage of the old Fletcher Drive Bridge. We grew up in those hills….