Broad St. at night.

Richmond, Virgina (1953) © Louis Patterson

On the streets of Mexico, photo by Nacho Lopez, 1953.

The 67th Street station in NYC, 1953 © Scott Hyde

Supermarket, c.1953

_{Marilyn Monroe photographed by John Vachon in Canada, 1953}

Los Angeles, 1953

Elephants from Cole Brothers Circus parade through downtown Los Angeles, 1953

Broadway at night, NYC (1953)

Chrysler Building reflection, NYC 1953

In 1953, smog gets so bad in the shadow of City Hall that pedestrians carry rags to wipe away tears. Scientists began collecting smog particles in the 1950s to analyze what was causing the haze. The primary culprit turns out to be automobiles, not factories.

Photo: City Hall, merely across the street, is dim as Marion E. Lent gropes her way to work. Credit: R.L. Oliver / Los Angeles Times

Our Vintage Times series is presented on Tumblr with photography from the Los Angeles Times archives.