Pessimistic Optimists Protest Southern California Smog--Members of the suburban Highland Park Optimist Club wear gas masks at their luncheon meeting yesterday, expressing their displeasure over Southern California’s eight straight day of severe smog. Sign in background reads: “Why wait till 1955? We might not even be alive.” It referred to reports the smog problem will be solved in 1955. Gov. Goodwin Knight said in Sacramento he will fly down today to see what he can do about the problem. Meanwhile Southern Californians went on rubbing their eyes.

Associated Press · [ca. October 1954]

[Information from item housing] Gas Masks