A hundred years ago, Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) was going through big changes. The 1920s were an exciting time for the city, as it was growing fast, becoming more modern, and starting to look like the city we know today. Let's take a closer look at what life was like in DTLA during this period.

A Growing City
By the 1920s, Los Angeles was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The population grew rapidly, from around 100,000 people in 1900 to nearly a million by the mid-1920s. Downtown was at the center of this growth. Tall buildings and busy department stores appeared, giving the city a more modern look.

Shops like Bullock’s and The May Company were popular with shoppers, and important buildings like the Los Angeles Central Library were being built, showing the city’s ambition to be a cultural hub.

(View of 6th Street looking west from Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, ca.1920)

Transportation Changes
In the 1920s, getting around Los Angeles was changing. Many people still used the Pacific Electric Railway, known as the "Red Car," to travel between Downtown and the surrounding areas. But cars were becoming more common. This led to traffic problems and the need for parking lots, as more Angelenos bought cars.

Roads were expanded, and it became clear that cars were going to be a big part of life in Los Angeles from then on.

(Panoramic view of Los Angeles, looking north from a building on the corner of Hill Street from 6th Street, 1913)

Hollywood and Entertainment
Although Hollywood was just beginning to make a name for itself, the film industry was growing fast in the 1920s. Downtown Los Angeles had some of the earliest movie theaters, where people watched silent films starring famous actors like Charlie Chaplin.

At night, Downtown was full of life. People enjoyed jazz clubs, shows, and secret bars called speakeasies, which were popular because alcohol was illegal during Prohibition. It was the "Roaring Twenties," and the nightlife reflected the excitement of the times.

New Buildings
The architecture of Downtown Los Angeles was changing in the 1920s. Beautiful Art Deco and Beaux-Arts buildings were popping up, many of which still stand today. For example, the Los Angeles City Hall, completed in 1928, became the tallest building in the city at that time.

The Bradbury Building, built in 1893, was already a standout with its unique design, but by the 1920s, it was even more well-known. Many of the city’s buildings from this era remain as important landmarks today.

(May Department Store — corner of 8th and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles)

Social and Cultural Changes
In the 1920s, social life in Downtown Los Angeles was changing along with the rest of the country. It was the age of the "flapper," where young women wore shorter skirts, bobbed their hair, and embraced new ideas about freedom and independence.

But not everyone shared equally in this excitement. Immigrant communities, such as Mexicans, Chinese, and Japanese, often faced discrimination and were pushed to the edges of society, living in neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Plaza area.

Economic Ups and Downs
The 1920s brought economic success for many people, especially in Downtown’s financial district, where banks and real estate businesses were booming. However, not everyone benefited equally. Many working-class people earned low wages working in factories or service jobs. By the end of the 1920s, the Great Depression would hit, showing just how uneven the city’s prosperity was.

(View of Olive Street looking north from 6th Street with Pershing Square and 5th Street in view) 

Conclusion: A City on the Move
Downtown Los Angeles in the 1920s was full of energy and growth. The city was expanding quickly, and new technologies like the car were changing how people lived. The entertainment industry was booming, and Downtown was becoming a major hub for shopping, culture, and nightlife.

At the same time, there were challenges, as not everyone shared in the city’s success. Racial discrimination and economic inequality were major issues. Still, the 1920s laid the groundwork for Los Angeles to become the sprawling metropolis it is today. The buildings, streets, and spirit of that time can still be seen in Downtown LA.