Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Original photograph has tears and creases. 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.; Loew's State opened in 1921 offering film and vaudeville acts. Designed by Charles Weeks and William Day, the 12-story building is said to be the largest brick-clad structure in Los Angeles. The exterior has an elaborate "silver platter" chased ornamentation above the ground floor. In 1998, the space was leased to the Universal Church. As of 2008, the State was being operated as a Spanish-language church. First photograph caption dated August 15, 1945 reads "Riotous celebration spread through downtown Los Angeles as soon as the announcement of Japan's surrender came. Here, at Seventh and Broadway, thousands have poured out into the streets and cars are unable to break through the walls of rejoicing humanity. Emotions kept pent up through nearly four years of war were released as Angelenos cheered and wept in their happiness." The huge crowd, shown from overhead is gathered on the sidewalks and in the streets, blocking several automobiles and streetcars. In the background is the Loew's State movie theater at 703 S. Broadway. Signs on the theater read "Open all night, Loew's State,"and "Now open all night." The marquee for the theater is showing "A riotous lesson in love! 'Junior Miss' Peggy Ann Garner, 'The gay senorita.'" Next to the theater is the Hamilton Diamond Co. A traffic signal on the lower right reads "Go."; Second photograph caption dated August 14, 1946 reads "One year ago today...Angelenos celebrated in wild demonstration on V-J Day. Downtown streets were crowded with milling thousands; but today's observance of the victory anniversary was quiet and restrained."; Third photograph caption dated August 14, 1947 reads "Crowds thronged L.A. streets when Japs surrendered. Thousands of Angelenos thronged through the streets in happy celebration of the Jap surrender two years ago today. Sidewalks were jam-packed and the crowd overflowed into the streets, tying up auto and street car traffic for blocks. This scene is at Seventh and Broadway. In contrast to the original V-J Day festivities, today's observance was a quiet one."
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Loew's State Theatre (Los Angeles, Calif.) Hamilton Diamond Co. (Los Angeles, Calif.) World War, 1939-1945 V-J Day, 1945 Pedestrians--California--Los Angeles Crowds--California--Los Angeles Electric railroads--Cars--California--Los Angeles Street-railroad tracks--California--Los Angeles Street-railroads--California--Los Angeles Street-railroads--Wires and wiring Motion picture theaters--California--Los Angeles Marquees--California--Los Angeles Automobiles--California--Los Angeles Signs and signboards--California--Los Angeles Traffic signs and signals--California--Los Angeles Lampposts--California--Los Angeles Streets--California--Los Angeles Sidewalks--California--Los Angeles Central business districts--California--Los Angeles Commercial buildings--California--Los Angeles Storefronts--California--Los Angeles Stores & shops--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Broadway (Los Angeles, Calif.) Seventh Street (Los Angeles, Calif.) Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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