The Hidden History of Los Angeles

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The Hidden History of Los Angeles podcast explores the lesser known aspects of L.A. history. Contrary to the commonly held belief that L.A. does not have any history, Los Angeles has a rich and colorful history. You just have to dig a little deeper to find it.

Robert Petersen


    • Jul 18, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 19m AVG DURATION
    • 89 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Hidden History of Los Angeles podcast is an incredible exploration of the fascinating and often overlooked history of the city. Host Robert Petersen does an outstanding job in researching and presenting the subjects, making it a must-listen for both residents of Los Angeles and those interested in learning more about the area. As a Pasadena native and history buff, I appreciate how well-researched and thoughtfully presented each episode is. It truly feels like an encyclopedia of amazing pieces and parts of Los Angeles.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Petersen's passion for Los Angeles and its history. His love for the city shines through in each episode, and his folksy approach is reminiscent of Huell Howser, but with a deeper understanding as a resident rather than a tourist. Petersen's dedication to honoring Los Angeles while also holding it accountable is commendable.

    The worst aspect of this podcast is that there aren't enough episodes! As someone who thoroughly enjoys learning about the history of Los Angeles, I wish there were more podcasts available. However, considering the amount of research and effort that goes into each episode, it's understandable that they can't be produced at a faster rate.

    In conclusion, The Hidden History of Los Angeles podcast is a gem for anyone interested in the rich history of the city. Petersen's passion, research, and presentation make each episode engaging, educational, and entertaining. Whether you're an Angeleno or planning to visit Los Angeles in the future, this podcast adds another dimension to exploring this complex and fascinating city.



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    Latest episodes from The Hidden History of Los Angeles

    Guy McAfee HHLA85

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 18:56


    This episode tells the story of Guy McAfee, an LAPD police officer turned crime boss turned casino mogul, who played an important role in the development of Las Vegas.

    The L.A. Archives Bazaar HHLA84

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 42:28


    This episode features an interview with Azalea Camacho, Liza Posas, Jessica Gambling, and Victoria Bernal about the Los Angeles Archives Bazaar on October 28, 2023 at the Doheny LIbrary at USC. 

    Jack Parsons HHLA83

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 25:18


    This episode tells the remarkable and strange story of Jack Parsons, one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

    Darrow's Nightmare and an Interview with Nelson Johnson HHLA82

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2023 28:06


    This episode features an interview with Nelson Johnson about his book "Darrow's Nightmare: The Forgotten Story of America's Most Famous Trial Lawyer."

    Clarence Darrow and the Bombing of the L.A. Times HHLA81

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2023 15:32


    In 1910, the famed attorney Clarence Darrow represented two brothers accused of bombing the L.A. Times building before Darrow himself was put on trial for allegedly bribing a juror. 

    Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." HHLA80

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 22:17


    Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." has become the city's unofficial anthem. But, does Randy Newman really love L.A.?

    Crooked and an Interview with Nathan Masters HHLA79

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 28:38


    This episode features an interview with Nathan Masters about his new book, "Crooked: The Roaring '20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, a Crusading Senator, and the Birth of the American Political Scandal."

    52 Things To Do In Los Angeles and an Interview with Teena Apeles HHLA78

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 23:55


    This episode features an interview with Teena Apeles about her new book, "52 Things To Do In Los Angeles." 

    L.A. in a Minute and an Interview with Evan Lovett HHLA77

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 53:50


    This episode features an interview with Evan Lovett, the creator of L.A. in a Minute. 

    L.A. Sounds: Ozomatli and an Interview with Ulises Bella HHLA76

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 37:47


    This episode is about the Grammy Award winning Los Angeles musical group Ozomatli and features an interview with Ulises Bella. 

    Charlie Parker in L.A. HHLA75

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 14:53


    This episode is about the time the legendary jazz saxophonist, Charlie Parker, spent in Los Angeles, which included epic jam sessions and recordings, but also drugs, debauchery, a stay at a mental institution, and a "naked" party.

    Bring Eyvin Hernandez Home!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 3:16


    My friend, Eyvin Hernandez, is being unlawfully detained in Venezuela. Listen to the episode to learn about Eyvin and what we can do to bring him home. Sign the online petition: https://www.change.org/p/bring-eyvin-hernandez-home. Make a donation: https://gofund.me/4117b3cb. Learn more: https://bringeyvinhome.org/. 

    A Place at the Nayarit and an Interview with Natalia Molina HHLA74

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 42:13


    This episode features an interview with Natalia Molina about her new book, "A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community." 

    history community los angeles nayarit natalia molina mexican restaurant nourished nayarit how
    L.A. Names: Pico Boulevard HHLA73

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 12:41


    This episode explores the origin of the name Pico Boulevard.

    Freewaytopia and an Interview with Paul Haddad HHLA72

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 40:37


    This episode features an interview with Paul Haddad regarding his book, "Freewaytopia: How Freeways Shaped Los Angeles."

    Crossover Episode with the L.A. Meekly Podcast HHLA71

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 44:53


    In this special crossover episode, I interview, and get interviewed by, Daniel Zafran and Greg Gonzalez from the L.A. Meekly podcast. 

    Palm Trees HHLA70

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2021 26:13


    In this episode, guest host Leah Treidler tells the story behind the city's iconic palm trees.

    Preserving Los Angeles and an Interview with Ken Bernstein HHLA69

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 25:44


    This episode features an interview with Ken Bernstein about his book, "Preserving Los Angeles: How Historic Places Can Transform America's Cities."

    Owen Brown HHLA68

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2021 11:25


    This episode tells the story behind a grave site in Altadena. 

    Kathy Fiscus and an Interview with William Deverell HHLA67

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2021 23:29


    This episode features an interview with historian William Deverell regarding his latest book, "Kathy Fiscus: A Tragedy That Transfixed The Nation."

    Dootsie Williams HHLA66

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 53:13


    Dootsie Williams was a trailblazing black music executive and entrepreneur who left an impact on the music industry and his community. 

    Spiritual L.A. and an Interview with Catherine Auman HHLA65

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 21:01


    This episode features an interview with Catherine Auman about her book "Guide to Spiritual L.A.: The Irreverent, the Awake, and the True."

    Chicana Artivistas and an Interview with Martha Gonzalez HHLA64

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 57:03


    This episode features an interview with Martha Gonzalez, lead singer of the L.A. band Quetzal, about her book "Chicana Artivistas: Music, Community, and Transborder Tactics in East Los Angeles." 

    We Heart L.A. Parks and an Interview with Andrea Richards and Teena Apeles HHLA63

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 37:16


    This episode features an interview with Andrea Richards and Teena Apeles about their book "We Heart L.A. Parks," a coloring and activity book for all ages.  

    Abandoned Los Angeles and an Interview with Jason Horton HHLA62

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 20:40


    This episode features an interview with Jason Horton about his book "Abandoned and Historic Los Angeles: Neon and Beyond."

    Bunker Hill and an Interview with Nathan Marsak HHLA61

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 42:20


    This episode features an interview with historian Nathan Marsak regarding his new book "Bunker Hill Los Angeles."

    Big Santa Anita Canyon and an Interview with Maggie Moran HHLA60

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 43:05


    With a short trip into the mountains near Los Angeles, in Big Santa Anita Canyon, you can step back in time to the Great Hiking Era of the early 20th century. This episode also features an interview with Maggie Moran, owner of Adams Pack Station, regarding the current situation in the canyon after the Bobcat Fire.

    L.A. Names: Rodeo Drive HHLA59

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 16:32


    This episode explores the history behind one of L.A.'s most famous streets, Rodeo Drive. 

    Becoming Los Angeles and an Interview with D.J. Waldie HHLA58

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 28:54


    This episode features an interview with D.J. Waldie about his new book "Becoming Los Angeles: Myth, Memory, and a Sense of Place. 

    Malcolm X in L.A. HHLA57

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 14:51


    This episode explores the time Malcolm X spent in Los Angeles, which included a high speed car chase on the freeway, an assassination attempt, and an L.A.P.D. shooting. 

    L.A. Names: Wilshire Boulevard HHLA56

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2020 7:45


    This episode explores the origin of the name Wilshire Boulevard. 

    history los angeles names wilshire boulevard
    Set the Night on Fire and an Interview with Jon Wiener HHLA55

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2020 29:22


    This episode features an interview with Jon Wiener regarding his new book, Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties, which he co-authored with Mike Davis. The book provides a comprehensive history of the civil rights movement in Los Angeles during the 1960s. 

    Discovering Griffith Park and an Interview with Casey Schreiner HHLA54

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 27:19


    This episode features an interview with Casey Schreiner regarding his new book "Discovering Griffith Park: A Local's Guide."

    L.A. Sounds: Carol Kaye HHLA53

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2020 16:30


    Carol Kaye is a Los Angeles musician you have definitely heard, but likely haven't heard of. 

    The City Beneath and an Interview with Susan Phillips HHLA52

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 39:39


    This episode features an interview with Susan Phillips about her book The City Beneath: A Century of Los Angeles Graffiti.

    Disney and an Interview with Chris Nichols HHLA51

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2020 35:58


    This episode examines Disney history in Los Angeles and features an interview with Chris Nichols about his book Walt Disney's Disneyland. 

    Guy Clark's L.A. Freeway HHLA50

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2019 15:56


    What can a country song about driving on Los Angeles freeways tell us about our city? This episode examines Guy Clark's song L.A. Freeway and the city's connection to country music. 

    The Autograph Book of L.A. and an Interview with Josh Kun HHLA49

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2019 30:44


    The episode features an interview with Josh Kun about his latest book, The Autograph Book of L.A.

    Sponsored: Introducing Detective Trapp

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 8:51


    Anaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She's the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience – and deepest griefs -- as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman's body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana. Trapp embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes “a little piece of her soul.” Listen now at Wondery.fm/TrappHidden

    Lost LA and an Interview with Nathan Masters HHLA48

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2019 25:58


    The fourth season of KCET's Emmy winning documentary series Lost LA premieres October 15 so I sat down with the show's host, writer and L.A. historian Nathan Masters, to talk about the show and upcoming season.

    Mills Place HHLA47

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2019 10:46


    On Mills Place in Old Town Pasadena there is a historical plaque which doesn't tell the whole story. 

    history mills petersen old town pasadena
    Sponsored: Introducing Man in the Window

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2019 14:29


    From the partnership that brought you Dirty John, comes Man in the Window. Pulitzer prize winning reporter Paige St. John investigates The Golden State Killer, and traces his path of devastation through the eyes of his victims. Listen now at wondery.fm/hiddenhistory

    Lesser-Known L.A. Movies and an Interview with Phoef Sutton and Mark Jordan Legan HHLA46

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2019 50:52


    This episode explores the lesser-known Los Angeles movies and features an interview with Phoef Sutton and Mark Jordan Legan of the podcast Film Freaks Forever. 

    history movies los angeles lesser petersen phoef sutton mark jordan legan film freaks forever
    Freeway Soundwalls HHLA45

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2019 11:21


    There are thousands of miles of freeway soundwalls across the United States, but their origin can be traced to Los Angeles.

    L.A. Sounds: Eric Dolphy HHLA44

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2019 15:44


    Eric Dolphy was a multi-instrumentalist jazz virtuoso who played with the likes of John Coltrane and Charles Mingus. And he grew up in Los Angeles. 

    Dear Los Angeles: An Interview with David Kipen HHLA43

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2019 29:00


    An interview with David Kipen about his book Dear Los Angeles: The City in Diaries and Letters, 1542 to 2018.

    3 Laws that Shaped the Downtown Skyline HHLA42

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2018 19:00


    This episode tells the story of three laws that shaped the downtown Los Angeles skyline. 

    Q&A L.A.: Why are there so many Craftsman houses in Pasadena? HHLA41

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2018 11:11


    This episode looks into why there are so many Craftsman houses in Pasadena and features an interview with Brian Baker from Pasadena Heritage about their upcoming Craftsman Weekend event.

    L.A. Sounds: John Cage HHLA40

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2018 14:04


    John Cage was one of the most influential and notorious avant garde music composers of the 20th Century. And he grew up in Los Angeles. 

    Introducing "L.A. Sounds"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2018 7:46


    This episode introduces a new segment of the podcast called, "L.A. Sounds," which will feature lesser known figures from the city's musical history. 

    The Mirage Factory: An Interview with Gary Krist HHLA38

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2018 14:33


    The episode features an interview with Gary Krist about his new book The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles. 

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