Using archive photos paired with their modern equivalent, Los Angeles Then and Now charts the development of the city from the days of orange groves and melon patches and isolated Spanish mission buildings, to the staggering metropolis it is today. With a background in the movie business, Rosemary Lord interlaces the arrival of the movie business and the growth of the city she has lived in for twenty-five years.

Originally produced in 2002 the standard-sized book has been a constant-seller over the years. It was rephotographed by Karl Mondon in 2018, revised by the author with new spreads added and totally redesigned. This new edition includes match-ups exclusive to the Mini Hardback.

Sites include: Old Plaza Church, Olvera Street, Chinatown, Union Station, Los Angeles Theatre, Mayan Theatre, Angel's Flight, Los Angeles Public Library, Biltmore Hotel, Ambassador Hotel, Bullocks Wilshire, Brown Derby Restaurant, Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, Sunset and Vine, Egyptian Theatre, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Roosevelt Hotel, Schwab's Pharmacy, Beverly Hills Hotel, Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier.