The first major economic boom in the Los Angeles area was the result of oil. Oil wells dot the landscape in the western part of the L.A. basin (tapping, I assume, the same geologic formation as is seen in the La Brea Tar Pits). As I mentioned previously, the discovery of oil under Signal Hill back in 1921 furnished the impetus for its incorporation as a city a few years later. This pumpjack was notable for being right next to a broadcast tower, but half an hour to the north in the Baldwin Hills area, two other stations, KDLD (103.1A Santa Monica) and KJLH (102.3A Compton) are also located in or next to oil fields. (This makes it difficult to get to those towers; I never did find a view of KJLH.)
Copyright 2008, Garrett Wollman. All rights reserved. Photograph taken 2008-11-10.