Greater LA
Short skirts, Beatlemania and $14 billion upgrades: the history and future of LAX
There was a time when LAX wasn’t the unwieldy beast that it’s become. We hear about those days from 93-year-old Ethel Pattison, the airport’s oldest continuously working employee.
By Steve Chiotakis • • 24m ListenThere was a time when LAX wasn’t the unwieldy beast that it’s become. We hear about those days from 93-year-old Ethel Pattison, the airport’s oldest continuously working employee. Today, LAX is one of the world’s busiest airports and billions of dollars are going into making it bigger, but will it be better and easier to get to?
In this episode
3 storiesThe early days of LAX: 'Your nails had to be polished to the same color as your lipstick'
“If you raised your arms up to go into the overhead bin, your whole dress is coming up,” former flight attendant Carolyn Wood told Greater LA, reflecting on what it was like to work in the early days of LAX. “We had nicknames for the uniforms.
Read the story12 minWhat to expect at the future LAX
There’s a $14 billion renovation going on right now at LAX, and the city is adding a whole new expansion plan on top of that with an eye towards the 2028 Olympics.
Read the story5 minWhat’s the best way to get to LAX?
Getting to LAX, from anywhere in the region, can be a big hassle, and for years there’s been criticism of public transport options. The Metro train stops short, but the transit agency says that’s about to change.
Read the story7 min
