Photograph was edited for publication purposes. The Victory House was a temporary Art Deco structure in Pershing Square. Initially called Defense House, it was an entertainment area created for rallies and selling war bonds and tax stamps. Events occurred almost daily often with celebrity appearances. In February 1942, its name was changed to Victory House.; On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima and on August 9, 1945 on the city of Nagasaki. These actions shocked the country and prompted Emperor Hirohito to order the Supreme Council for the Direction of the War to accept the terms the Allies had set down in the Potsdam Declaration for ending the war. On August 14, 1945, it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally. Both August 14 and 15 have been known as "V-J Day" or "Victory over Japan Day." The term has also been used for September 2, 1945, when Japan formally surrendered aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay. Photograph caption dated August 11, 1945 reads "The world today awaited anxiously the end of the war as Allied powers sent a counterproposal to Japan's offer to surrender. Above is a scene in Los Angeles' Pershing Square, at Victory House, as Angelenos gathered to hear the latest developments." A banner next to the building reads "Entrance, Model railroad exhibit." A group of men is gathered outside of the building and trees are in the background.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Victory House (Los Angeles, Calif.) World War, 1939-1945 Banners--California--Los Angeles Trees--California--Los Angeles Sidewalks--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Railroads--Models--California--Los Angeles--Exhibitions Parks--California--Los Angeles Pershing Square (Los Angeles, Calif.) Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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