50 Years in Los Angeles

A blog series for the Los Angeles Kings about the history of LA since 1968, focused on anything but hockey. As a native Angeleno, I relished the opportunity to look at the part of LA history I’d rarely looked at—the late 20th century—and was so delighted by what I’d found.

The history of the 1984 Olympics murals along the Los Angeles freeways, and how it ties into the larger history of mural-making in the city.

A Gallery Amidst Gridlock

Historical Preservation in LOS ANGELES

The 1986 fire in the Central Library, its restoration, & the birth of the historical preservation movement in the city.

The, Like, Rise of the
Valley Girl

The Valley and its eponymous Girls. Mall culture, Frank Zappa, teen girls at the forefront of culture, and of course, the quotative like.

A Gallery Amidst Gridlock

How our views of LA have changed over the years—literally. Ed Ruscha’s art, smog, and how LA looks unlike any other major metropolis.

The building of the “Fabulous Forum”

The building of the Forum in Inglewood, its architectural inspiration, and the first generation of the LA Kings.

The Creation of ARPANET & the Birth of the Internet

How the internet—at least, one version of it—was born in our backyard at UCLA.