A $50,000 Derby day at the Santa Anita racetrack on February 22, 1937. The crowd in attendance was estimated at 45,000 spectators. Twenty-three horses raced that day, beating out the Kentucky Derby's record of twenty-two starting horses at that time. The $50,000 purse was won by the horse Fairy Hill.
A man surveys the newspapers available for reading at an open-air public library in Pershing Square, downtown Los Angeles. The Pershing Square outdoor library was opened in December of 1936, and was staffed by W.P.A. workers. Visitors to the library could choose to borrow a book by simply leaving their name. The library was quite popular, circulating 24,000 books in its first six months of operation, and spawning other outdoor libraries in Los Angeles.
Most likely related to the yearly mud battle between first and second year students and the first time female students took part. Students unknown. LAJC is now known as Los Angeles City College located near Vermont and Santa Monica Blvd.
The children of William F. Gettle, millionaire and kidnapping victim, posing on tricycles for a photograph after their father's safe return. Circa May 15, 1934.William F. Gettle, Beverly Hills millionaire, was kidnapped from the grounds of his Arcadia ranch home during a housewarming party on the eve of May 9th. The kidnapping attracted a great deal of attention in the community, with Mrs. Gettle even addressing the kidnappers through the pages of the Los Angeles Times. The kidnappers demanded a $60,000 ransom for the return of Gettle, which Mrs. Gettle agreed to pay. However, before the ransom was paid, two detectives of the LAPD, Chester Burris and H.P. Gearhardt, broke the case after installing a dictaphone in the home of a bank robbery suspect. Information from the dictaphone led them to a La Crescenta home where Gettle was held. He was returned, unharmed, to his family on the eve of May 14th.
