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"Hazy Afternoon"
by Douglas Ettridge
Noted British aviation artist Douglas Ettridge depicts an American Airlines DC-2 taking off from Grand Central Air Terminal, Glendale CA., 1935. The view is looking East on Sonora Ave. The vintage car in the foreground is an Auburn, built by the Auburn Automobile Company in Auburn, Indiana.
History owes a lot to TWA, for the production airliner delivered by Douglas to that airline -- the DC-2, which began operations in July 1934. At that time it was the best passenger aircraft in the world, and other operators soon began queuing up to place orders and the DC-2 seemed set for a long production run. It was soon eclipsed by the improved design -- the DC-3.
Douglas DC-2
Grand Central Airport was developed from the Glendale Airport which was built in 1923. Grand Central was the first official terminal for the Los Angeles area. It was built in in 1928 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The zig-zag modern tower distinguishes this airport, which was a flying school, a public air terminal, and the site of historic events in the history of aviation. Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart were among the famous people using the terminal. It appeared as backdrop in numerous Hollywood films.
1935 - Auburn Boattail SpeedsterThe 1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster with a straight-eight was a bargain at $2,245 when new. Gordon Buehrig at Auburn was charged with the assignment to make the already attractive, sleek 1935 line even more exciting. The Auburn Boattail Speedster was the result, and was credited by the late Dave Holls as being, "The most flamboyant U.S. car design." Although Ab Jenkins set more than 70 new speed records with those Auburns, the buying public did not visit the showrooms with enough buying enthusiasm to save the company.
2002 Wings Publishing
