#lahistory

[lahistory]

June 3, 1943: The Zoot Suit Riots escalate as mobs of sailors leave Chavez Ravine's Naval Armory in search of zoot suiters.

Developed by muralist Arturo Gonzales and East Side of the River, Maywood's Sleepy Lagoon mural honors the Zoot Suit culture in Los Angeles. The mural pays tribute to all those affected by what happened at Sleepy Lagoon in 1942 and the violence that erupted the following year.

[bygonely]

Rare Historical Photos of The Los Angeles flood of 1938

[itgetsbetter]

The REAL LGBTQ+ history month message:

Meet June Lagmay, LA’s first Asian-American and LGBTQ+ City Clerk who served her community in various positions for years. She’s here to remind us to learn and remember our LGBTQ+ history, and that our community is like its own Queer Nation spanning back centuries - we’re all connected through time. 💜🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

For LGBTQ+ History Month, we asked some elders from our community what inspires them about today’s queer youth, and what advice they would give. Thanks to the Outwords Archive for partnering with us on this series and connecting us with these amazing voices!

[laconservancy]

The West L.A. Civic Center and L.A.’s Historic Preservation Problem

Think you know what’s up with the proposed redevelopment of the West L.A. Civic Center? The November 9th, 2021 West L.A. Commons community meeting shed some light and details on the project but few on preservation, much like the project itself.

Here’s the scoop:

Built between 1957-1965 to meet growing demand for government services, the West L.A. Civic Center is significant for its Modernist architecture and role in expanded government services following WWII. More recently, it’s become hallowed ground for L.A.’s skateboarding scene, attracting skaters worldwide with its stairs and ledges. In January 2021, the County and City selected Abode Communities and AvalonBay Communities to redevelop the site.

As currently planned, the 1960 Courthouse, 1961 branch City Hall, 1962 Community Center (Senior Center), and 1965 Amphitheatre are to be demolished.

(Only the 1956 library will stay--for now--and is not a part of this project scope.)

This means an eligible historic district marking an important part of West L.A.’s growth will be erased.

Two facades of the branch City Hall were planned to be kept (which is not preservation) yet that is now being reconsidered, citing soil conditions. The same goes for the now-doomed Googie style Amphitheatre, despite being marked for preservation in the proposal that was selected by the City and County.

As a public-private venture between the City, County and the developer (AvalonBay and Abode Communities), preservation was supposed to be a priority, at least it was in the official Request for Proposals (RFP) process, stated as one of ten key aspects to be addressed.

So … what is happening here?

Preservation through adaptive reuse is readily achievable in this project, and can complement the proposed new mixed income housing. New buildings of the same footprint are to replace the branch City Hall and Courthouse. The existing Amphitheatre can be repurposed and kept.

It is easier to demolish everything and build subterranean parking over the entire site than build around the historic buildings. Yet easy does not equal better. Until someone in leadership steps forward and presses for an alternative that successfully marries the old with the new, this development team will continue to seek the easy way out. As a familiar pattern that keeps repeating itself across this city, L.A. can do and deserves better.

Please join the L.A. Conservancy in pressing City Councilmember Mike Bonin and County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl for another alternative! Email them at: [email protected] and [email protected]. Be sure to cc [email protected] so that we can track!

[janemakesthings]

[riversidearchives]

Got your popcorn?

125 years ago today, Vitascope’s first theatrical exhibit took place in New York City. In April 1902, Tally’s Electric Theatre opened in Los Angeles, California.  Home of Hollywood, Los Angeles is no stranger to movie-making or theatres.  The image we’re sharing with you today of a movie theatre at the Connell Naval Club on the Submarine Base, Los Angeles, while taken in 1922, is eerily similar to today’s images of empty theaters.  Hang in there, LA.  We can’t wait to see you at the movies! 

Item: [Movie theatre at the Connell Naval Club on the Submarine Base, Los Angeles. File Unit: 61 Photographs [submarine base]. Series: Central Subject Files, 1924 - 1958. Record Group 181: Records of Naval Districts and Shore Establishments, 1784 - 2000. (National Archives Identifier 295430). 

[lameekly]

The iconic Bradbury Building. Perfect for lovers of architecture, movie history and the smell of Subway bread. #dtla #bradburybuilding #lahistory #losangeles (at Bradbury Building) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7q-HBPBfex/?igshid=163txs05xtjkq

[lacmtalibrary]

Night shot of Hollywood Blvd early 1950's. #pe #pacificelectric #mcl #metrocoachlines #lahistory #hollywood #hollywoodwalkoffame #metrolibrary #metroarchive #publictransit #transit #redcars #b&w #blackandwhite #nightphotography (at Hollywood Walk of Fame) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn6ludCgZbO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l6icodmssis3