‘30s Traffic Signal

I read your “Street Smart” article (April 3) without seeing a single reference to the traffic signal that was the only one I remember when I was growing up in Hollywood during the 1930s and ‘40s. I am referring to the signal that consisted of a rectangular box about six inches square and 24 inches long that stood on a steel post. On a slot facing the street were two metal flags that lay inside the box. Accompanied by a loud clang, the one flag reading “STOP” would appear. After a designated period another clang would sound and the “STOP” flag would disappear, having been replaced by one reading “GO.”

Although this signal had lighted glass discs in the box in red and green, it was the flags that really controlled the traffic. I have enclosed a photo (above)from that period showing one of these signals, located at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue. Somehow it all seemed to work fine back then. Maybe it was the fact that there weren’t as many cars on the roads, but then again, maybe the drivers were a lot more courteous.

DINO WILLIAMS

Hollywood