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Lost LA
Sci-Fi Origins: Saving Star Trek, Fan Zines, Cosplay and Counterculture
Season 8
Episode 2
Boldly go into the heart of science fiction storytelling and discover its deep roots in Los Angeles. From UC Riverside’s vast sci-fi collection to author Octavia Butler’s Pasadena, host Nathan Masters explores how Southern California became a launchpad for stories that imagine new worlds—and reflect our own hopes and fears.
"Lost LA" is supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs.
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27:42
From a barn to a bowl to a tower, the early history of Hollywood.
29:00
Hidden in plain sight, neon, mosaics and stained-glass shaped Los Angeles’ backdrop.
27:04
Exploring two fruit trees that transformed Southern California.
28:08
Nathan visits Surfridge, the Tehachapi Loop and the largest collection of Thomas Guides.
26:29
From wildflowers to jacarandas, explore the plants that paint California in vibrant hues.
26:40
Discover how the True Crime genre was shaped by its deep historic legacy in Los Angeles.
27:10
Auto racing's LA roots, from dry lake beds to movie ranches, left tread marks across the region.
27:05
Trace the devastation of the 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse and its deadly flood.
26:40
Tiki culture isn’t a Polynesian import — it’s a Hollywood creation.