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Lost LA
Documenting the Appeal of Mid-Century Modern
Much of the magic that the desert utopia of Palm Springs holds has to do with its prominent mid-century aesthetic. Author Michael Stern outlines how pioneering architect William Krisel relied on the careful eye of Los Angeles photographer Julius Shulman to create the iconic photographs we know today, while also contributing to restoring Krisel's designs for the duration. Featuring an archived interview with Julius Shulman.
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27:05
Trace the devastation of the 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse and its deadly flood.
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26:40
How Cold War vigilance and secrecy shaped Southern California culture.
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26:39
The Space Shuttle Endeavour’s journey is traced from its origins.
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26:40
Tiki culture isn’t a Polynesian import — it’s a Hollywood creation.
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26:49
Archives reveal the “forgotten plague” that shaped Southern California: tuberculosis.
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26:50
Visit Hollywood Forever, Evergreen and Forest Lawn, where L.A. reinvented the cemetery.
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26:40
The hiker-activists who led Angelenos into their hills and onto the trails.
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26:39
How Filipino Americans in Southern California are making their heritage more visible.
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26:47
Iconic fast-food chains from McDonald’s to Taco Bell were born in SoCal.
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26:37
After internment camps, Japanese Americans made L.A.'s Crenshaw neighborhood their home.
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26:04
During WWII, L.A. became a sanctuary for Europe’s accomplished artists and intellectuals.