Framework

Capturing the world through photography, video and multimedia

Nov. 11, 1918: Workers from Boos Brothers cafeterias ride through Los Angeles waving flags and singing war songs after Germany's surrender ended World War 1. This photo was published in The Times in 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1943 with stories about Armistice Day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

Nov. 11, 1918: Los Angeles newspapers were a hot item when word of Germany's surrender was announced. The Los Angeles Times printed more than 150,000 copies that day. This photo was published in the Nov. 12, 1918, Los Angeles Times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

Nov. 11, 1918: At 5th and Broadway, traffic moved at a crawl as thousands jammed streets following news of Germany's surrender ending World War 1. This photo was published in the Nov. 12, 1918, Los Angeles Times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1918: Postal workers march during an impromptu parade following Germany's surrender in World War 1. This photo was published in the Nov. 12, 1918, Los Angeles Times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1922: Armistice Day parade in Los Angeles.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: George Watson / Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1937: A contingent of the Mail Carriers Legion Post turn onto Spring Street from 1st Street in front of the Los Angeles Times building. This photo was published in the Nov. 12, 1937, L.A. Times.

Nov. 11, 1935: Veterans of the Spanish American War march in the Los Angeles Armistice Day parade. This photo was published in The Times on Nov. 12, 1935.

Nov. 11, 1937: A detachment of sailors from the fleet in San Pedro pass a reviewing stand in downtown Los Angeles. The photo was published in the Nov. 12, 1937, Los Angeles Times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Anglees Times

Nov. 11, 1937: Legion color bearers turn north from 1st Street onto Spring Street during an Armistice Day parade in downtown Los Angeles. This photo was published in the Nov. 12, 1937, Los Angeles Times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1938: Musicians' Post Band of American Legion marches in Armistice Day procession on Spring Street. The State Building is on the right. The Los Angeles Times building is in the background. This photo was published in the Nov. 12, 1938, L.A. Times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1938: Trucks from the 160th Infrantry, California National Guard, cruise down Broadway during the annual Armistice Day parade in downtown Los Angeles. This photo was not published.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1941: New Army units, service organizations and State Guard units march down Broadway at 7th Street during an annual Armistice Day parade one month before Pearl Harbor. This photo was Page One main art on the Nov. 12, 1941, Los Angeles Times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Humphreys / Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1942: Throng of marchers and spectators gather at Victory House in Pershing Square. Due to World War II, factories continued working and the traditional large parade was broken up into four smaller parades for each branch of the military. All four parades ended at Victory House. This photo was published in The Times on Nov. 12, 1942.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: George Watson / Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1943: The Monterey Park Girls' Drum and Bugle Corps march in the fourth parade held in Los Angeles on Armistice Day. The large annual parade was split into four smaller parades -- one for each branch of the military. The group is near the intersection of Olive and 5th streets. This photo was published in The Times on Nov. 12, 1943.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: John Malmin / Los Angeles Times

Nov. 11, 1952: Brothers Scott, 4, and Billy Morris, 2, hold their flags and stand at attention as Marines from El Toro pass in an Armistice Day parade in Long Beach. The boys' father was in Korea. In 1954 Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times

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Armistice Day [updated]

On Nov. 11, 1918, a special edition of the Los Angeles Times proclaimed on Page One:

PEACE

World War Ends as Germany Signs Armistice!

[Extraordinary Service Bulletins by the Associated Press.]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, (Monday)—The world war will end this morning at 6 o’Clock, Washington time, 11 o’clock Paris time. The armistice was signed by the German representatives at midnight. This announcement was made by the State Department at 2:50 o’Clock this morning.

The announcement was made verbally by an official of the State Department in this form: “The armistice has been signed. It was signed at 4 o’Clock a.m. Paris time and hostilities will cease at 11 o’Clock this morning, Paris time.”….

Before the Internet, television or radio, the main form of communication was newspapers. The Los Angeles Times on Nov. 12, 1918, reported:

One hundred and fifty thousand copies of The Times containing the greatest piece of news ever printed – that of the end of the war – were sold yesterday morning as fast as the great Times presses could throw them off. People literally fought for them. Repeatedly the plates were returned to the presses and more copies printed to supply the never-ceasing demand. Extra editions at intervals kept the public informed on the swift movement of events.

The city of Los Angeles came to a halt. Businesses closed as people took to the streets in celebration.

One year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day a holiday, and it was celebrated every year. In 1954, to honor veterans of all wars, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day.

The first four photos in the above photo gallery are from the Nov. 11, 1918, Los Angeles celebrations. The rest are my favorite images from the annual Armistice Day parades through 1952.

Photo: Front page of the special Nov. 11, 1918, Los Angeles Times. Credit: Proquest.

[This post updated Nov. 9, 2012, with two additional photos.]

8 Comments

  1. November 11, 2011, 8:15 am

    LINK

    [...] Armistice Day (framework.latimes.com) [...]

    By: Our Veterans Day 11/11/11 | Sandia Tea Party

  2. November 11, 2011, 8:46 am

    LINK

    [...] Armistice Day (framework.latimes.com) GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_bg", "ffffff"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_border", "666666"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_text", "333333"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_link", "105CB6"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_url", "8DAB3B"); GA_googleAddAttr("LangId", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "politics"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "current-events"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "education"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "events"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "global-perspectives"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "on-this-day-in-history"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "armistice-day"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "day-veteran"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "federal-holidays-in-the-united-states"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "woodrow-wilson"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "world-war"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "world-war-i"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "world-war-ii"); GA_googleFillSlot("wpcom_sharethrough"); TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. [...]

    By: 11.11.11 – Veterans Day « Maps101 Blog

  3. November 11, 2011, 10:04 am

    LINK

    "Before the Internet, television or radio, the main form of communication was newspapers."

    No kidding, really? I have so much to learn. Thank you, LA Times!

    By: JAD55

  4. November 11, 2011, 12:42 pm

    LINK

    I thank you for posting this information[ Historical information], and I thank each and every veteran past and present for keeping the U.S.A. protected, safe and FREE!!! God bless you all, Love from a grateful American!!!

    By: M.S.Whiteman

  5. November 11, 2011, 2:55 pm

    LINK

    Stunning pics. This section is by far the best in the L.A. Times, great walk down memory lane…keep it up!

    By: gaucho420@yahoo.com

  6. November 9, 2012, 6:46 pm

    LINK

    Armistice means the end of hostilities not surrender. Your writing repeats the error of history that lead to the second world war. Punitive measures levied against Germany in the Treaty of Versailles lead to the animosity felt by Germans after the war toward France and Great Britain and America.

    By: Henry Geissler

  7. November 12, 2012, 4:42 am

    LINK

    I think this is 7th & Broadway.

    By: kevikkeevinkn

  8. November 13, 2012, 12:30 pm

    LINK

    This issue of LA Times sold for 3 cents. I wonder what it's worth today??!

    By: Richard in MT

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