The Best of LA in 2024: Anniversaries

Los Angeles is celebrating numerous anniversaries in 2024, including a beloved farmers market, landmark eateries, an extraordinary museum and a world-class sports and entertainment venue.

For more of the Best of LA in 2024, check out our Ultimate Guide.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary on July 14, The Original Farmers Market has welcomed generations of visitors and locals alike to "Meet Me at 3rd & Fairfax." One of LA's most popular attractions, the landmark open-air marketplace has hosted everyone from President Eisenhower to The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.

Stroll the market and explore more than 100 produce stands, specialty foods and retail shops. Many of these merchants have been family-owned and operated at The Original Farmers Market for decades. Hungry? There's a global range of food options, from the famous pancakes at Du-Par's or Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts to start the day; to The Gumbo Pot, Pampas Grill, Singapore's Banana Leaf, Trejo's Tacos, and Monsieur Marcel Bistro for a Parisian-style cafe experience.

"Food historians like Gustavo Arellano and Bill Esparza will tell you Cielito Lindo is where America's obsession with tacos all started. But if you truly want to understand the history that began on Olvera Street in 1934, you’re going to have to bite into the crunchy, spicy goodness that is taquitos con salsa de aguacate. These crispy fried rolled up tacos – an Americanized version of a Zacatecas family recipe – drenched in the green avocado salsa are best eaten standing on the brick-lined plaza and staring off into the birthplace of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles. Because these taquitos aren’t just tacos, they’re a time machine." ~ Erick Gallindo, L.A. TACO

In 1949, LA native Norm Roybark opened his eponymous diner near the famed corner of Sunset and Vine in Hollywood. One of the first 24-hour restaurants in Southern California, NORMS became a neighborhood favorite by delivering on its promise of “great food, great service, and great value.”

Soak up some LA history while you’re noshing on late-night eats at the landmark NORMS on La Cienega Boulevard, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument that you can visit 24/7. Opened in 1957, the longest-operating NORMS is a Mid-Century LA treasure. A significant Googie building designed by Armet & Davis with interior features by trailblazing architect Helen Fong, the restaurant was immortalized in Ed Ruscha’s 1964 painting Norm’s, La Cienega, On Fire.

In 1984, Los Angeles became the only U.S. city to host two Summer Olympic Games, and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum became the first stadium to host the Games twice. For the 1984 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum was the primary venue for track & field, and the site of the opening and closing ceremonies. Carl Lewis entered the history books by matching Jesse Owens' 1936 Berlin achievements, winning gold medals in the same four events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.

Despite initial criticism for depending heavily on existing facilities and corporate sponsors, the '84 Games produced a healthy profit of $223 million (USD) and became the model for future Games.

Oscar-winning film composer John Williams was commissioned by the organizing committee to create a fanfare to be used during the Games - the "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" is now synonymous with the Olympics.

As the main stadium of the '84 Games, the Coliseum is featured throughout 16 Days of Glory, the 1985 documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bud Greenspan. Other LA venues in the film include UCLA's Pauley Pavilion (gymnastics) and the Uytengsu Aquatics Center (then known as McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium) at USC.

Along with SoFi Stadium, the Coliseum will co-host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

Prince owned the Summer of 1984. Released on June 25, Purple Rain by Prince and The Revolution is the GRAMMY- and Oscar-winning soundtrack album to the hit film, which opened on July 27. With the movie's release, Prince pulled off a rare trifecta: Purple Rain topped the box office its opening weekend; the album knocked Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA off the top of the Billboard 200; and "When Doves Cry" was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went on to sell more than 25 million copies worldwide. In 2019, Purple Rain was added by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Los Angeles has plenty of purple power, from the historic studio where Purple Rain was recorded, to film and music video locations, to the venue that Prince took over for an epic 21-night run. Read on for some of the best places in LA to celebrate Prince's purple reign.

Opened on June 11, 1994, the Petersen Automotive Museum spans 100,000 square feet of exhibits, 25 galleries, and over 300 vehicles in its collection. The Petersen has welcomed more than 1 million visitors since reopening in December 2015 after a $90-million renovation. Located beneath the museum, The Vault houses some of the finest sports cars, collector cars, Hollywood movie cars, race cars and motorcycles ever shown to the public.

Now known as Crypto.com Arena, STAPLES Center opened on Oct. 17, 1999 with a concert by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. The arena is the home of the NBA's Lakers, the NHL's Kings and the WNBA's Sparks. Since its opening, the Lakers have won six championships; the Kings have won two Stanley Cups; and the Sparks have won three championships.

Two all-time NBA moments have taken place at Crypto.com Arena: Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point performance; and in February 2023 LeBron James broke former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record with his 38,388th point - a fadeaway jumper in front of the home crowd.

Crypto.com Arena has hosted 20 GRAMMY Awards - more than any other venue - and hosted the 2024 ceremony on February 4 with Trevor Noah emceeing for the fourth time.

A slew of movies that were filmed and/or set in LA are celebrating their anniversaries in 2024, including two classic film noirs and several favorites from the summer of ‘84.

"Double Indemnity" 80th Anniversary - Widely regarded as the movie that set the standard for film noir, Double Indemnity was directed by Billy Wilder and co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler. Fred MacMurray stars as insurance salesman Walter Neff and Barbara Stanwyck is Phyllis Dietrichson, the femme fatale who wishes her husband were dead. Edward G. Robinson is the claims adjuster who suspects foul play in Mr. Dietrichson's death.

"Chinatown" 50th Anniversary - Even if you haven't seen this neo-noir masterpiece, you already know one of the most famous lines in movie history: "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Everyone involved with Chinatown was at the top of their game - director Roman Polanski, stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, Oscar-winning writer Robert Towne, and composer Jerry Goldsmith.

40TH ANNIVERSARIES

• "Beverly Hills Cop" - The biggest box office hit of 1984, Beverly Hills Cop catapulted Eddie Murphy to superstardom. As Axel Foley, Murphy dominates the screen with his trademark subversive humor and endless charisma. A sequel, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is scheduled for a mid-year release on Netflix.
• "Ghostbusters" - "Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!" The second-highest grossing film of 1984 stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson; with Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis in supporting roles. LA filming locations include The Biltmore, site of the ballroom battle with Slimer; and Fire Station No. 23, the "actual" interior of the team's HQ.
• "The Karate Kid" - The biggest sleeper hit of 1984, The Karate Kid stars Ralph Macchio in the title role of Daniel LaRusso; Elisabeth Shue, in her film debut; William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence; and Pat Morita, in an Oscar-nominated performance as Mr. Miyagi. The climactic All Valley Karate Tournament ("Sweep the leg!") was filmed at Cal State Northridge. The Karate Kid spawned three sequels, a 2010 remake (with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith), and the wildly popular Cobra Kai series on Netflix. The film is even credited with popularizing karate in the U.S.
• "Repo Man" - Alex Cox's cult classic is a mashup of sci-fi, punk rock musical, and a wicked satire of the Reagan administration and consumerism. Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton are perfectly cast as an apprentice repo man and his mentor, respectively. The killer soundtrack boasts a title track by Iggy Pop and songs by The Plugz, Black Flag, the Circle Jerks and Suicidal Tendencies.

30TH ANNIVERSARIES

"Pulp Fiction" - From its nonlinear narrative, to the punchy dialogue mixed with flashes of violence, to the too-cool soundtrack, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction has had a profound influence on a new generation of filmmakers and beyond. As Entertainment Weekly said, it's hard to name a moment from the movie that isn't iconic: "Ezekiel 25:17," "Royale with Cheese," the Jack Rabbit Slims twist contest, and many more.

"Speed" - Pop quiz, hotshot: did you know Speed won two Academy Awards? Keanu Reeves stars as an LAPD SWAT officer and Sandra Bullock is a passenger on a bus rigged to explode by a mad bomber, played with gusto by Dennis Hopper. The top-notch action sequences include a freeway jump with a real bus (not CGI), a tense rescue at LAX and a fight on the Metro Red Line.