In the 1950's, West LA was like KANSAS..... (Los Angeles, Santa Monica: air quality, rich)

[BluSpark]

At least that is the view of John Densmore (drummer for the Doors) who grew up in West LA.

His is one of 50 "LA Stories" in the current Los Angeles Magazine which profiles 50 well known (or not so well known) people who grew up in LA and offer their view of the city's evolution.

Los Angeles Magazine

Steve Martin has a rich quote about leaving in 1970 in part because the smog was so horrible. He said he came back after the air got cleaned up and he says it was of the greatest gifts the govt. ever gave him.

The list of folks giving their LA Stories include:
Ray Bradbury
Randy Newman
Cheech Marin
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jodie Foster

[BRinSM]

i doubt it was like west la, there was still a thriving aerospace industry and of course santa monica and ucla. however, it was probably a lot more like west hills than anything urban that we see today.

[disgruntled la native]

I read that issue. Pretty interesting stuff and almost everyone agrees things were better back then. I don't think West LA was like Kansas, but apparently Santa Monica was a sleepy little blue collar town.

[BluSpark]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

I read that issue.

1) Pretty interesting stuff and almost everyone agrees things were better back then.

2) I don't think West LA was like Kansas, but apparently Santa Monica was a sleepy little blue collar town.

1) That is not the way I read it. People looking back on their childhoods are bound to play up the good parts. And Steve Martin was very clear about the POSITIVE change in air quailty.

2) Of course, Densmore was exaggerating for effect regarding the Westside resembling Kansas.

Agreed...it was interesting. I rarely read that magazine but this issue caught my eye.

[disgruntled la native]

Yeah, everyone says everything was better back then except the air quality. I might even take "Kansas" instead of overdevelopment and heavy traffic.

[BluSpark]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Yeah, everyone says everything was better back then except the air quality. I might even take "Kansas" instead of overdevelopment and heavy traffic.

Everybody? The only direct quote among the 50 profiles that talked about things being better or worse was the Steve Martin quote about the air quality improvements.

The rest were just fond childhood memories....not wow things were so much better back in those days.

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by BluSpark

Everybody? The only direct quote among the 50 profiles that talked about things being better or worse was the Steve Martin quote about the air quality improvements.

The rest were just fond childhood memories....not wow things were so much better back in those days.

Same thing. If things were not better back, I doubt their childhood memories would be so fond.

[londoner1]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Same thing. If things were not better back, I doubt their childhood memories would be so fond.

You're an idiot. Childhood is subjective. I'm sure 50 years from now, people will still reminisce about their childhood years 'back in the noughties'.

[BluSpark]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Same thing. If things were not better back, I doubt their childhood memories would be so fond.

Give me one quote from the article which states things were "better" back then as opposed to now.

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by londoner1

You're an idiot. Childhood is subjective. I'm sure 50 years from now, people will still reminisce about their childhood years 'back in the noughties'.

Stay in your country's forums.