Welcome to BackstoryLA, where we explore the history, mystery and often-quirky reality of life in Southern California.
I’m Michael Imlay, an editor, journalist and itinerant shutterbug fascinated with my native LA region’s history and lore. Join me for visits to historic landmarks, iconic haunts, forgotten places and other curiosities. We’ll unearth stories from the past that continue to shape our cultural identity today, “from the desert to the sea to all of Southern California,” as legendary LA news anchor Jerry Dunphy used to say.
BackstoryLA is the successor to the Dateline > City of Angels blog—my first foray into local history—that ran from 2005 to 2010. Now I’m back, sharing fresh discoveries and perspectives with a broader audience through videos, articles and social media.
To me, SoCal history is so much more than names, dates and encyclopedic facts. Yes, we’ll tackle serious, carefully researched topics, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun along the way. Expect some humor and a few wry observations here and there. Ultimately, I hope you find our excursions interesting, insightful and entertaining.
Follow BackstoryLA on YouTube, Instagram and X for new videos, stories and discoveries. And feel free to contact me with questions, comments or suggestions.
If you don’t get Backstory, you’ll never get LA!