Title supplied by cataloger. Rolland Joseph 'Speedy' Curtis was born in Louisiana in 1922. After serving three years in the Marines during World War II, he and his wife, Gloria, relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 1946. Curtis served four years with the Los Angeles Police Department, but resigned from the force in order to pursue both a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from USC. He later became involved in city politics, as an associate of Sam Yorty, and later a field deputy to City Council members Billy Mills and Tom Bradley. He was briefly director of the Model Cities program in 1973. Rolland J. Curtis died in his home in 1979, the victim of a homicide. An affordable housing complex on Exposition Blvd. near Vermont Ave. was named in his honor in 1981, along with a nearby street and park. Image shows an autobody shop at the corner of Western Avenue and 36th Place. The name of the bodyshop could possibly be Coles Body Shop, based on the large sign partially visible behind the traffic light pole at the corner of the street. Several cars in various stages of repair are scattered throughout the premises, and two people can be seen walking in the opposite direction along the right of the photo. Photograph circa 1965.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Automobiles--Bodies--Maintenance and repair Automobiles--Maintenance and repair Automobiles Billboards Signs and signboards Traffic signs and signals Streets Pedestrians Los Angeles (Calif.)
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