Goodyear Blimp “Mayflower II:” Los Angeles Aerial Photo Archive. 1960. Extensive archive of approximately 70 black-and-white snapshot photographs taken from the Goodyear blimp "Mayflower II" over Los Angeles during the 1960 Democratic National Convention. The group includes sweeping aerial views of downtown Los Angeles, freeway interchanges, residential grids, civic buildings, and landmarks, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and surrounding exhibition grounds. The collection also contains images of the blimp in operation, cockpit views, and the blimp’s shadow visible over the city below. Several images show infrastructure development, traffic patterns, and suburban expansion characteristic of mid-century Los Angeles.

Accompanied by contemporary newspaper clippings from the Los Angeles Herald-Express and Los Angeles Mirror referencing the blimp flights and related reportage, along with a small strip of negatives, a stamped mailing envelope, and notations identifying the photographer as a reporter (Bill Kennedy, Herald-Express, Los Angeles), suggesting these were working reference images for publication.

A cohesive and visually compelling mid-century press archive capturing Los Angeles from the air at a pivotal moment in its urban and political history.

Each approximately 3 x 4 1/2".

Light overall wear consistent with use, some handling marks, occasional annotations on versos.