Wildfires above the Crescenta Valley in November 1933 and subsequent heavy rain in December 1933 produced the perfect conditions for a massive flood. Just after midnight on January 1, 1934, millions of tons of mud and debris traveled from the mountains down to the Verdugo Wash, killing many people and destroying about 400 homes in the communities of La Can~ada, La Crescenta, Montrose and Tujunga. Woody Guthrie's song, "Los Angeles New Year's Flood," commemorates the natural disaster. Kaiser, a big black bear, is shown in his mud-covered cage after he was coaxed back by a workman who smeared honey on a long stick and held it before the bear until he was caged. The bears were freed from their cages when floods swept through Griffith Park.
Floods--California, Southern Flood damage--California--Los Angeles Bears--California--Los Angeles Zoos--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Mud--California--Los Angeles Parks--California--Los Angeles Griffith Park (Los Angeles, Calif.) Group portraits Portrait photographs Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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