LA Goes Boom in the Roaring 10s & 20s - PART 1

The Rise of Silent Film

• Early 1910s: Silent films were gaining popularity.

• Charlie Chaplin: Skilled improvisational actor who gained fame in the silent film era.

• D.W. Griffith: A major innovator in filmmaking; created The Birth of a Nation (1915), a controversial film showcasing pro-KKK sympathies.

• Audience Craving: Audiences preferred longer, narrative-driven films.

The Growth of Aviation and Automobiles

• 1906: Cars were used in San Francisco earthquake and fire relief.

• 1910: The Los Angeles Airmeet puts Southern California on the map for aviation.

• Pre-1920s Growth: Both industries became key to SoCal's economy.

• Post-WWI: Returning pilots boost aviation, leading to airmail delivery.

• The Boeing Company: Founded 1917 by William E. Boeing.

• Lockheed Brothers: Their move to Southern California established ties to the British Royal Air Force.

• Harry Chandler: L.A. Times publisher who helped attract aviation business to Los Angeles.

• Jack Northrop: Founded his first airplane company in 1920s Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Economy in the 1910s and 1920s

• Los Angeles Growth: By 1910, it was the 17th largest city in the nation.

• Auto Industry Growth: Ford established a downtown manufacturing plant; car registrations skyrocketed between 1915 and 1930.

• Service Industries: Auto repair shops, car dealerships, and other industries sprang up to support car culture.

• Emma Summers: Successful businesswoman moved into industries supporting the automobile boom.

Organized Crime in Early Los Angeles

• "Black Hand" Gangs: Early 1900s crime groups involved in extortion of businesses.

• Matranga Family: Prominent crime family with ties to Italian American communities.

• Joseph Ardizzone: Leader of a rival "Black Hand" faction, fueling feuds.

• Vito Di Giorgio: A violent criminal figure who brought some semblance of order to the LA underworld.

Prohibition and Its Impacts

• Christian Women's Temperance Union: Advocated for a ban on alcohol.

• World War I: Grain conservation and anti-German sentiment spurred restrictions on alcohol.

• 1916: Early restrictions on alcohol sales began at the county level.

• 18th Amendment (1920): Enacted the national prohibition on alcohol.

• Organized Crime Exploits Prohibition: Syndicates took advantage of the illegal alcohol market, establishing smuggling and distribution networks.