A political and social history of Los Angeles, using old stills and news footage, contemporary footage, and commentary. Bert Corona is our guide for East Los Angeles, Buck Henry for Hollywood, David Hockney for the art scene, Elaine Young for Beverly Hills, Buddy Collette and Gene Norman for Central Avenue and music, Margaret Crawford and Joan Didion for the San Fernando Valley, James Ellroy for noir L.A., Frank Wilkinson on land use and L.A.'s poor, and, throughout, the observations of Mike Davis, L.A.'s pre-eminent social historian.