A guy wire insulator very typically "broke" or separated the line so that each wire was led down to the fixture as clearly seen. This old-time method of street lighting required only one wire, as you can also see. Many series street lighting loops still remain in the LA vicinity. Modern fixture replacements utilize a light-sensitive photoelectric lighting control integral with each fixture, connected to the 120/240 volt secondaries on the pole (where available). Series loops are similar to a string of minature Christmas lights in a loop. They have a provision for keeping the rest of the loop energized when a bulb fails. They are controlled from a central point and often have a couple hundred lights in their circuit. Mercury vapor and high-pressure sodium lamps are also operated around LA in this (simple) electrical configuration.

Photo taken near the intersection of South Central Avenue and East 5th Street.