How to Find Old Los Angeles: A Travel Guide

by Kim Cooper

An expanded and revised version of our guide
How To Find Old LA, delving far deeper into the City Of Angels' best preserved treasures.

The guide's entries are all open to visitors. There
are bars, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and cinemas, each of which retains the classic character of another era while being a vital part of the
21st-century city.

The guide is divided into a booklet with annotated listings and photographs, and a separate pull-out map. This is an essential guide for anyone with an interest in 20th century architecture and pop culture, or a yearning to visit a more glamorous Los Angeles.

104 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2017

About the author

Kim Cooper is the creator of 1947project, the crime-a-day time travel blog that spawned Esotouric's popular crime bus tours, including Pasadena Confidential, the Real Black Dahlia and Weird West Adams. Her collaborative L.A. history blogs include  On Bunker Hill  and In SRO Land. With husband Richard Schave, Kim curates the Salons of LAVA - The Los Angeles Visionaries Association. When the third generation Angeleno isn't combing old newspapers for forgotten scandals, she is a passionate advocate for historic preservation of signage, vernacular architecture and writer's homes. Kim was for many years the editrix of  Scram,  a journal of unpopular culture. Her books include Fall in Love For Life, Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth, Lost in the Grooves and an oral history of the cult band Neutral Milk Hotel. Her debut literary map is The Raymond Chandler Map of Los Angeles: A Guide to the Usual and Unusual, illustrated by Paul Rogers. The Kept Girl is her first novel.

Reviews

[Jay Hinman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really entertaining guide to LA's diners, donut shops, weirdo architecture and other oddities. The book actually makes me a little jealous that I haven't spent enough of my 50+ years on the planet exploring greater LA the way the author has; I certainly could take several weeks off, drive down there, and not get to experience a third of what's detailed in this book. The book's almost a better fit for the LA local, who actually might be able to check the box on the 100+ places listed here. Great photos as well.

[David Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix of better- and lesser-known spots, organized by area and with handy capsule descriptions. A slim book that can be tucked in a coat pocket. Many of the listings were unknown to me. As I read I kept a running list of places I'd like to check out!

[Deanna Detchemendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for travellers who want to do a deeper dive into L.A. rather than just hitting the usual suspects.