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. Dick Meagher is shown luring Mary, a little Sun bear, back to her cage through two miles of Griffith Park by holding candy in front of her. The bears were freed from their cages when the New Year's flood swept through the park. Two of the bears have been captured, but others are being hunted.
Floods--California, Southern Bears--California--Los Angeles Parks--California--Los Angeles Flood damage--California--Los Angeles Griffith Park (Los Angeles, Calif.) Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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