This photographic homage to the “City of Angels”—from the first photograph ever taken in Los Angeles to the most recent panoramic images of the sprawling metropolis—illustrates the entire spectrum of the city’s history in a sweeping visual narrative. Through the work of countless photographers, the book traces the cultural, political, industrial, and sociological history of Los Angeles, focusing on the city’s key periods of development, from the real estate boom of the 1880s to the unchecked urban sprawl of the late twentieth century. Over 500 images show the city’s transformation, thanks to artificial irrigation, from barren desert to a lush Garden of Eden.

Moving events that made headlines worldwide—including two Olympic Games, the assassination of Robert Kennedy, and the Rodney King riots—testify to the city’s many facets. In addition to Hollywood, the global capital of the entertainment industry and its stars, the book also features famous personalities, architects, artists, and musicians. This volume highlights many pop culture phenomena that originated here, such as surfing, health food trends, and hot rods, as well as notorious crimes and criminals. 

WHY WE PICKED IT
Thanks to hundreds of recently discovered images—by photographers like Julius Shulman, Garry Winogrand, William Claxton, and many others—the visual history of the city is revealed in an entirely new dimension. The photographs, gathered from important historical archives, museums, private collections, and universities, are accompanied by insightful texts from renowned California historian Kevin Starr and Los Angeles literary expert David L. Ulin.

DETAILS
• Author: David L. Ulin
• Publisher: Taschen
• Publication Date: September 15, 2009
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9783836502917
• Ships direct from distributor in 3 to 7 business days