Photo: USC Digital Archives/LA Examiner

The USC Digital Archives is a wonderful place to see, in the collection of vintage photos, the old, unchanging pathologies of life in the San Fernando Valley. There are pictures of car accidents, fires, and suspects in custody. Just like today, spectators smile at the injured, dead and disabled.

In these photos, gang members await interrogation by the LAPD. They sit on the steps of the Valley Municipal Building on Sylvan Avenue in Van Nuys, across from the fire station. Notice the t-shirt of the young man, and the demure attire of the parents.

Both the address and telephone number of the suspects was published in the paper.

Supplementary material reads: “James Brezina, 14658 Vincennes Street, Van Nuys, EMpire 2-1635. To: LA Examiner, Los Angeles. Date: 08-14. Caption: Members of Jack’s Gang, San Fernando, await interrogation by Juvenile officers, Valley. Arrested last night with numerous weapons in possession”.
4 images. Juvenile gang, 14 August 1951. Juvenile gang members of so-called “Jack’s Gang” interrogated by officers.