From Chat GPT.
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I recall from 1970s a Los Angeles camera store called Willoughby Camera. Is there any info about it?
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You likely weren’t remembering a Los Angeles store named Willoughby Camera. Instead, Willoughby’s was a legendary New York City–based camera retailer, founded in 1898 by Charles G. Willoughby (Wikipedia). By mid‑20th century they operated as Willoughby & Peerless Camera, a major destination for photographers across the U.S. (Wikipedia).
Here’s a bit more context:
📸 Willoughby’s Camera Store (NYC)
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Founded in 1898 and by 1997 described by The New York Times as “New York City’s oldest camera store” (Facebook, Wikipedia).
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At its peak, the store was a multistory “photographic department store” offering darkroom chemicals, film, specialty gear, and repair services (Photrio.com Photography Forums).
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It competed with other iconic shops like Olden Camera, Spiratone, 47th Street Photo, Peerless Camera, Camera Barn, and Penn Camera (Photrio.com Photography Forums).
By the late 1970s, as the industry shifted, Willoughby’s diversified into electronics and computers. Over time their photo department dwindled, and the original store eventually ceased operations under its founding identity, although the name was revived by new owners later (but the old-brand glory faded) (Photo.net).
Ownership shifted over decades—from the original family to Berkey Photo (which filed bankruptcy in 1988), then to Queen Street Camera in Canada, and later other entities (Wikipedia).
🛍️ Willoughby’s vs. a Los Angeles location?
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There's no documented branch or flagship store named Willoughby Camera in Los Angeles during the 1970s.
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What existed on Highland & Willoughby Avenue in Hollywood was a Gilmore gas station built in 1935, later repurposed decades later into a Starbucks—crowds sometimes mistake it for an older camera shop sign, but it wasn't Willoughby’s (Reddit).
🗣️ Community memories
Forums like Photo.net and UglyHedgehog recall Willoughby’s as still standing into the late 20th century—but largely as a shadow of its earlier stature:
“Willoughby’s was around long after most people had assumed it had gone. … They went over to computers and electronics and their photo business shrunk almost to nothing” (Photo.net).
“Many years ago they were ok when they were Willoughby‑Peerless, but since the 70s they have been pretty sketchy.” Some mention that under later management they sold grey‑market equipment, not manufacturer‑authorized gear (Ugly Hedgehog).
✅ In summary:
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Willoughby’s Camera was a famed NYC store, not a Los Angeles one.
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It was founded in 1898, later became Willoughby & Peerless, and survived through the decades into the 1990s—but eventually closed in its original form.
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There was no Willoughby’s location in 1970s LA, though street names may have triggered the association.
If you remember a particular location or neighborhood in Los Angeles where you thought it was located (e.g. near Hollywood, downtown, or on Willoughby Avenue), I’d be glad to help investigate whether another store might fit the memory!
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I remember from that era the magazines Popular Photography, and, Modern Photography. What happened to them?
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You're exactly right—Popular Photography and Modern Photography were two of the most iconic consumer photo magazines in the U.S. from the mid-20th century. Here's what became of them:
📸 Popular Photography (1937–2017, 2021–present)
Status: Ceased print in 2017, revived as a website in 2021
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Launched: 1937
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Golden Age: From the 1950s through the 1980s, it was the most widely read photography magazine in the world, with monthly circulations over 800,000.
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Content: Reviews of film and digital cameras, darkroom tips, how-to articles, contests, and essays on the aesthetics of photography.
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Owned by: Ziff-Davis Publishing, later Bonnier Corporation.
🪦 End of Print: In March 2017, the publisher abruptly announced the end of both print and digital publication, citing the collapse of the traditional ad-driven magazine model, especially in tech sectors like photography.
🔁 Relaunch: In 2021, the brand re-emerged as an online-only publication at PopPhoto.com, focusing on digital photography tutorials, camera reviews, and tech news, under new ownership (Recurrent Ventures).
📷 Modern Photography (1930s–1989)
Status: Merged into Popular Photography in 1989
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Launched: Late 1930s or early 1940s (varies by source, but widely active by WWII)
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Known for: More in-depth technical reviews than Popular Photography, appealing to the serious hobbyist or semi-pro.
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Editorial Style: Often featured “lens torture tests,” exhaustive MTF charts, and comparisons of lab performance—almost an early version of DPReview in print form.
🧾 Merger: In 1989, Modern Photography was acquired by Primedia, the parent company of Popular Photography, and folded into it. From then on, Pop Photo absorbed many of its staff and editorial features.
🪦 Effectively ceased to exist as a separate title in 1989.
📉 Why Did They Disappear?
Several reasons:
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Digital Shift: As photography transitioned from film to digital in the 2000s, much of the audience migrated to online forums (like DPReview, Reddit, or photo.net).
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Advertising Collapse: Camera companies cut back on glossy magazine ad spending as online reviews and influencer marketing rose.
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Speed of Info: Monthly print reviews couldn’t compete with same-day YouTube unboxings or lab tests.
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Smartphones: By 2015+, the casual photo hobbyist often didn’t own a dedicated camera anymore.
🧵 Fun Note: Competition and Culture
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Many readers subscribed to both magazines. Pop Photo was seen as more accessible and lifestyle-oriented, while Modern was for gearheads and tinkerers.
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In fact, photographers would sometimes joke: "Modern tests your camera to death, Popular lets you fall in love with it."
TL;DR:
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Popular Photography: Dominant U.S. photo magazine, folded in 2017, revived online in 2021.
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Modern Photography: Ceased in 1989, merged into Popular Photography.
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Legacy: Both helped define photography culture for over 50 years but fell to digital disruption.
If you'd like, I can dig up sample cover images or iconic issues from the 1970s for nostalgia!
