Comments on: “Autopia” Downtown Los Angeles, 1957

By: Marisa

Marisa — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:16:31 +0000

Is the lower level in the picture where the 101 breaks off from the 110 heading north?
That is such a scary scenario that I don’t usually have a second to look up!

By: warren chow

warren chow — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:58:36 +0000

Hi Charles
My name is Warren Chow and I am from Vancouver,B.C., Canada. I have been interested in the L.A.’s freeway since I was a little boy
back in the 1960′s. Last year after I attended a convention in San Diego, I drove to L.A. to spend three days driving and taking pictures of the freeways. My kids have seen the pictures I have taken, and I try to show them pictures of the past to compare all the changes from then to now. Do you have more pictures of the ‘Stack’, Harbour Freeway, US101, I5, I10 form the past fifty years? Keep up the great work and I plan to come down to go on one of your tours soon.
Regards Warren Chow
Vancouver,B.C.,Canada

By: Scott Mercer

Scott Mercer — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:05:45 +0000

The Four Level in the Media:

It clicked in my mind a while back that the Four Level appeared in an episode of the Flintstones, some story where they were stuck in traffic for hours, just driving around in circles on these elevated ramps. Somehow it set in my mind that this was supposed to be the Four Level specifically, not just some generic freeway exchange.

Also, check out the film noir “Without Warning” from 1952. It has lots o’ footage of the Four Level just as it was built, and not yet open to traffic. Amazing vistas there. Also there’s some footage of the film’s serial killer prowling down Main Street. He also lives in a ramshackle house in Elysian Park, pre-Dodger statdium, directly overlooking the Pasadena Freeway. Some great location shooting in this movie. Too bad it’s all black and white, but this DVD (released 2006) is worth rental or purchase if you can find it.

By: Kevin's mom

Kevin's mom — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 04:25:21 +0000

What memories! The summer of 1959 when I was in drivers ed, I drove through that very spot on my FIRST time driving on any freeway. Scared me spitless.

Can you imagine accompaning a novice freeway driver through that interchange today? At anytime night or day? Surely Mr. Swanson, my instructor, had nerves of steel.

Anyway from the stack I had to get onto the Pasadena freeway. I thought that it was a glamorous and oh-so So-Cal kind of road. I couldn’t believe that just a couple of years before that I was a young girl living in the Oklahoma panhandle and my dad would allow me to drive the family pickup truck (1950 Chevy of the standard green color) across the pasture in granny gear while he tossed hay for the cows out of the truck bed. (Don’t ever slam on the brakes of a truck when a man is standing in the back of your truck with a pitch fork…it is much better to just hit the bull!!!!)

And now here I was feeling oh-so Hollywood on the Pasadena freeway in a brand spankin’ new 1959 Ford sedan. Nothing could have been finer unless of course, it had been a convertible and all of those kids I knew back in the panhandle could have been standing by the side of the road as I swooshed by, waving my best Rose Bowl beauty queen wave.

Thanks for the menory, Charles.

By: Glenn Laughner

Glenn Laughner — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:16:58 +0000

i still love those 5-25mph off ramps of the Pasadena freeway? Crazy!!!

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:50:55 +0000

Hello, Charles…

I was born on Hope Street in downtown L.A. in 1951, so perhaps I could be a poster boy for this era. I very much appreciate your appreciation for downtown Los Angeles then and now. — from a native Angeleno

By: Marti

Marti — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 18:26:05 +0000

what is that red thing? Is it a real trailer being pulled by the yellow truck? or was some entity promoting mass transit over “the stack”? doesn’t like the occupants are real….

Charlie, when are you returning to Dallas for another show????

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 06:13:17 +0000

The CHP doesn’t appreciate it when your car breaks down in the fastlane of the Northbound 101 on the 4-level at 7PM on a Saturday.

By: Charles Phoenix

Charles Phoenix — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 06:04:44 +0000

Early postcards and promotional photos of the “stack” actually show people relaxing and having a picnic on the lawn just feet from the cars speeding by. I’d like to try that now!

By: jeannie weller cooper

jeannie weller cooper — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 17:53:10 +0000

I guess Steve said it best- You do rock, Charles Phoenix (or Phenix, as we spell it here in the Fl Panhandle.)
I grew up literally on the ‘Expressways’ in Atlanta, sleeping in the backseat of the Bug while my 14 yr old cousin drove her mother to work in the morning, partying with friends driving round and round 285 most of a night the summer before college. My question is, when are YOU going on a road trip, Charles Phoenix? Eyedrum in ATL (Hill St Exit off of 75/85N) would be a great venue for your slide show!