BackstoryLA

Editor, writer and itinerant shutterbug obsessed with my native SoCal’s quirky history and lore.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

Generally considered the first “motel,” the historic Mo-Tel Inn along El Camino Real can now be yours…”if the price is right.” https://t.co/LTLujUVhg8

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@vintagegazette A classic. The TV show was excellent and extremely popular, but the original movie far exceeds it.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@QuirkyRides Fun, fun, fun—til someone rearends you.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@TheDoctorRegen It’s a wonder more Spanish galleons weren’t lost at sea.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@j0nnysalami @lovelandliberty @CowboyGospeler Definitely an under-appreciated aspect of the region’s history

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

One of my favorite missions. As @CowboyGospeler points out, the River of Life motif is common to mission doors—the simple carvings were actually rich symbols of baptism, eternal life and a New Eden.

[Cowboy Gospeler @CowboyGospeler]

Mission La Purísima Concepción in Lompoc, Santa Barbara County. You can see the River of Life woodwork on the wooden doors, found on California missions.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@j0nnysalami @lovelandliberty @CowboyGospeler I’ve been to a couple Chumash petroglyph sites—extremely interesting. Several researchers have suggested certain sites show a unique understanding of astronomy, possibly due to their experience navigating to and from the Channel Islands and up and down the SoCal coast.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@JustineBateman @ChrisKindaReads A long book to get through, but well worth the time spent.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

I don’t know why, but this is the only large Californian bridge that always gives me the creeps to drive over.

[Freeways of Los Angeles @FreewaysLA]

Undated - Vincent Thomas Bridge (CA-47) in San Pedro.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@zayyatheblessed Rev. 5:9-10

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@tanpukunokami Not so common in Southern California (because, earthquakes). My first time seeing a “real” basement used as a recreation room was visiting friends in Kansas.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@pamelagreyson I’d entirely forgotten about Akron, and now I’m suddenly remembering Zodys too.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…?

[New York Post @nypost]

Rumors LAX's infamous 'Jetpack Man' has returned after private jet pilot's astonishing audio https://t.co/tWPwxfEtpK

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@MuseZack P-22 is fondly remembered…

[Zack Stentz @MuseZack]

Los Angeles is the only place in the history of the Earth where a mountain lion has killed and eaten a koala. https://t.co/NnRGW5ZhVk

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

Reports are that most participants showed up after seeing the gathering billed on social media as a photo event. Some bad actors began doing burnouts in the channel, and LAPD’s street racing unit responded. The channel is posted no trespassing. (Don’t know if the photoshoot was permitted or not, though.)

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

Reports are that most participants showed up after seeing the gathering billed on social media as a photo event. Some bad actors began doing burnouts in the channel, and LAPD’s street racing unit responded. The channel is posted no trespassing. (Don’t know if the photoshoot was permitted or not, though.)

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@LAPDCentral “Soon” is such a vague and relative term.

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

You’ll find both her and the LA Archdiocesan archives at Mission San Fernando…

[Catholic West 🇻🇦 @_CatholicWest]

Who is Our Lady of the Archives and can I do a devotion to her

[BackstoryLA @meimlay]

@militantangleno @Portos It would be delicious irony.