Back when I was GranadaHillsDan you could look East a cross the Valley and never see the San Gabriel Mts all summer long. From where I lived looking South across The Valley you would be looking DOWN on top of the inversion layer - a grayish blue that appeared as though we were on the shore of some great inland sea. After a 10 minute bike ride to the store in July or August my lungs would fell like they wanted to burst and my eyelids would twitch uncontrollably. Now that I think of it, I guess I already had my time in hell...and I didn't even realize it.
Agreed, it is far worse now. Here's my ancient memory of LA: Most days we could see Mt. Wilson clearly. Orange groves filled the SF Valley and Eastwards to Riverside. I can recall the perfume of those orange trees for miles when we drove to Big Bear. I used to run the mile in clear air at high school. Man, I'm old!