Aerial view north toward San Gabriel Mountains from a position above Huntington Drive near First Avenue. Santa Anita Avenue can plainly be seen running north and south in front of six-story building in center of photo. The 210 Foothill Freeway is top band running across photo from east to west.
Aerial view looking east across Santa Anita Park taken from a position just west of Baldwin Avenue, which is seen at bottom of photo. Huntington Drive appears exactly in center of photo just east of race track. The 210 Foothill Freeway enters area in upper right portion of picture and exits at left side in upper left portion.
Aerial view toward north from a position south of Huntington Drive near intersection with Baldwin Avenue. It shows Santa Anita Fashion Park (currently known as Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Mall) developed by and on property owned by Santa Anita Consolidated. The Santa Anita Park Race Track and club house can be seen in center of photo. The straight white line about one inch above the club house roof is 210 Foothill Freeway. Chantry Flats road can be seen going up into San Gabriel Mountains in distance.
Aerial view taken over Arcadia so that it shows a large area surrounding Arcadia as well as the entire city. Clearly seen is the Santa Anita Park Race Track, and the Arcadia County Park (shown as a dark triangle in center), and the 210 Foothill Freeway crossing photo from west to east and passing north of Santa Anita Park Race Track.
Aerial view looking north across Santa Anita Park from a position over Arcadia County Park. Large infield crowd is evident and all parking areas are filled. Arcadia Methodist Hospital shows in lower left part of photo and Arcadia Police facility is seen in lower right. The 210 Foothill Freeway cuts across photo near the top.
Actor Johnny Sheffield is seen in costume for filming at the Arboretum. He is looking up and holding onto a tree limb with his left hand. Photo probably taken during filming of a Tarzan movie.
Man is riding bicycle on a path inside Rancho Santa Anita Park and Lake (later, the Arboretum), with many palm trees. Sign reads "Open to the Public Daily until 7PM, private property" and "Curves, drive slowly through park." The following information is from Sandy Snider: This is indeed, today’s Arboretum, but at the time the property was owned by a real estate syndicate named Rancho Santa Anita Inc. The enterprise was headed by the Chandler family (Harry until he died), and they bought the land from Anita Baldwin in 1936 for purposes of residential development. About 1939 they opened “the park” to visitors in hopes of encouraging land sales. About 30 acres surrounding the lake was sort of set aside as Santa Anita Park and Lake, that was roughly the area made available for movie location rentals and clearly for bicyclists, etc. 1939 is the circa date for this photograph, but it could have been anytime between 1936 and 1947 (when the land was sold to State and County for use as an Arboretum). The granite boulders lining roadways were typical Baldwin Ranch landscape features, and the pillars seen in the photo are also from Baldwin times. In the background you can see more boulders in a circular sort of shape – likely the old Baldwin Lily Pond.
Six men are seen standing in a group. L-R:Los Angeles County Supervisor John Anson Ford, Superintendent William A. Smith, Superintendent Raymond V. Darby (Chairman), F. Wesley Davies (Manager Rancho Santa Anita, Inc.), and Superintendent Leonard J. Roach. Davies is seen handing deed to 111-acre tract of historic Rancho Santa Anita to Superintendent Darby. This was to be developed into the Arboretum.
Bali House through the jungle in the north shore at lake at the Arboretum. Part of set for the filming of "A Honeymoon in Bali," starring Madelene Carrol and Fred McMurray. Originally it was to be named "Are Husbands Necessary." Directed by F.H. Griffith, June-July, 1939. Gate shows in front of photo with house in rear. Part of house on right side of photo is draped with what looks like a black cloth.
The Queen Anne Cottage is seen from across the lake, with a reflection of the cottage in the lake. Cottage was used by Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. Currently on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Original fiberboard print. Caption reads "Views of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, E. A. Bonine, Photo., Lamanda Park, Los Angeles Co., Cal."
Photo and text of an L.A. Times newspaper article titled "Historic Santa Anita Tract Deed Delivered to County," describing the transfer of deed for 111-acre tract from Rancho Santa Anita, Inc. to the Los Angeles County Supervisors. The article states that the property will be converted into an arboretum.
Airport scene taken at the Arboretum. Airplane on left and part of hangar visible on right. A number of people are standing around by the hangar. Handwritten note on back of photo states, "The plane taking off from landing field just west of Rancho Santa Anita Park in 'Safari'."