Los Angeles after World War II: The Birth of a Modern City

About this course:

The aftermath of World War II led to a population explosion in Los Angeles. Housing developments sprang up, freeways were built, and rampant traffic congestion eventually led to frequent smog alerts. In this course, we examine the dark side of this tumultuous time—the still-unsolved Black Dahlia murder case and the Cold War fears that forced the Hollywood Ten movie producers, directors and screenwriters to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee as suspected communists. We also look at the bright side of the mid-to-late 1940s—the rise of television entertainment and the flourishing movie industry that produced classics like The Third Man (1949), and Sunset Boulevard (1950), which forever emblazoned the allure and dangers of Hollywood. This course uses the Hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom.This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.