Much of Los Angeles's past is lost to history, but through the region's archives, we can uncover the inspiring dreams and bitter realities that built the modern-day metropolis.
The host explores some of the oldest tiki bars in Southern California, discovering the Hollywood origins of Don the Beachcomber and learning how postwar American pop culture appropriated the rich traditions of the South Pacific.
Archives reveal the "forgotten plague” that shaped Southern California: tuberculosis. California’s fresh air and sunshine drew "consumptives" to local sanatoriums, but the life of a TB patient held stark realities.
Visit Forest Lawn, Evergreen and Hollywood Forever to see how L.A. reinvented the cemetery. The host visits the gravesites of the rich and famous and learns how racial segregation once divided the dead.
Meet the hikers who led Angelenos onto their local trails, including early wellness guru Paul Bragg. The host explores the origins of Los Angeles hiking, from the Indigenous people who first walked the land to activists like WalkGood LA’s Etienne Maurice, who blaze new paths over familiar terrain.
Filipino Americans work to make their heritage more visible in Los Angeles. The host explores the yo-yo's surprising origin story, tours Historic Filipinotown in a Jeepney, and tastes classic Filipino street foods.
From McDonald’s to Taco Bell, many of the world’s most iconic fast-food chains were born in SoCal. Car culture and the restaurant industry collided in the LA region, forever shaping the way Americans dine and drive.
Much of Los Angeles's past is lost to history, but through the region's archives, we can uncover the inspiring dreams and bitter realities that built the modern-day metropolis.
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