Unseen LA: Oil derricks in disguise

In this episode of Unseen LA, we take a look at how the oil industry shaped LA's growth into an urban metropolis. Surprised to hear that? That's because the oil industry learned to keep their oil derricks hidden from sight. LA city planners couldn't let the city's image of orange groves and palm-lined beaches be ruined by unsightly oil rigs. So they covered oil derricks with false office buildings, flower towers, temples and more. Jonathan Shifflett spoke with Jonathan Dentler, a Ph.D. candidate in USC's history department, to learn how and when this practice first came about.