OUR LA STORIES
In honor of City Of LA's Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration, we present you OUR LA STORIES; a photo exhibit that pulls photographs from the VC Archives to show the multicultural histories of Los Angeles and understand that our collective memories contribute to the city’s successes of today.
The photo exhibit is on view now, through the end of September 2024, at the Far East Lounge (353 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Photographs from the Exhibit
Castelar Classmates A group of elementary school classmates call it a day at Castelar Elementary School in the heart of Los Angeles Chinatown. Founded in 1882, Castelar has served as a pillar of the Los Angeles Chinese American community for nearly 140 years. Photographed by Eddie Wong Date: 1972 Location: Castelar Elementary School, Los Angeles Chinatown George T. Ishizuka and Harukichi Nakamura Asian American Movement Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Yellow Pearls Perform for The People The folk singing combo Yellow Pearls (Joanne Miyamoto and Chris IIjima) peform for an enthusiastic audience at the Third World Community Storefront, a progressive arts place-making venue along Jefferson Blvd in Los Angeles’ Crenshaw District. Photographed by Alan Ohashi Date: 1972-03-12 Location: Third World Community Storefront, Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles Crenshaw District George T. Ishizuka and Harukichi Nakamura Asian American Movement Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Making a Difference School-age youths work with a staffer at the Third World Community Storefront to perfect a group project. Photographed by Alan Ohashi Date: 1972-02-18 Location: Third World Community Storefront, Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles Crenshaw District George T. Ishizuka and Harukichi Nakamura Asian American Movement Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Asian Americans for Peace: Mike Murase Ichiro (Mike) Murase serves as a march monitor during an “Asian Americans for Peace” march and rally through the streets of Los Angeles Little Tokyo. The event was one of the first actions by Asian Americans against the Vietnam War. Photographed by Robert A. Nakamura Date: 1970-01-17 Location: East First Street, Los Angeles Little Tokyo George T. Ishizuka and Harukichi Nakamura Asian American Movement Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Team Spirit A basketball team displays their unity before a scheduled game at Alpine Recreation Center in the heart of Los Angeles Chinatown. Photographed by Visual Communications Date: 1972 Location: Alpine Recreation Center, Los Angeles, Chinatown Chinese American Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Mago’s Famous Hamburger A server at the counter of Mago’s Famous Hamburger stands ready to take orders from Saturday night party-goers. Photographed by Visual Communications Date: Circa 1970s Location: Mago’s Famous Hamburger, Los Angeles, California Collection: George T. Ishizuka and Harukichi Nakamura Asian American Movement Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Start of a New Day A shopkeeper hoses down the front entryway to his shop as another day dawns along Los Angeles Little Tokyo’s Weller Street. The street would be demolished as a result of community redevelopment in the mid-1970s and replaced with a pedestrian walkway, Weller Court. Photographed by Visual Communications Date: Circa 1970s Location: Weller Street, Los Angeles Little Tokyo Chinese American Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Olympic Market A grocery store owner attends to her after-school clientele at the Olympic Market in the heart of Los Angeles Koreatown. Photographed by Visual Communications Date: 1972-05-01 Location: Olympic Market, Los Angeles Koreatown Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Los Angeles Koreatown Parade A traditional drumming corps rev up a sea of thousands of spectators at an annual Koreatown parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of Koreans in America. Photographed by Visual Communications Date: 1976-09 Location: Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles Koreatown Korean American Contemporary Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
HITO HATA Stars Take Nisei Week Japanese American acting luminaries Noriyuki (Pat) Morita, Saachiko, and Yuki Shimoda take part in the Nisei Week Grand Parade to promote Visual Communications’ full-length feature film, HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER. Photographed by Ed Ikuta Location: E. First Street, Central Avenue, Los Angeles Little Tokyo Hito Hata Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Not a Model Minority UCLA undergrad Aileen Almeria expresses displeasure in response to sociology professor Don Nakanishi being denied tenure at UCLA. Students organized a rally to urge the UCLA sociology faculty to reconsider their decision. Nakanishi’s fight to win tenure concluded in 1989 when he was finally awarded tenure; shortly after, he was named director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. Photographed by Abraham Ferrer Date: 1988-05-25 Location: UCLA, Westwood, Los Angeles, California Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Documenting the Ongoing Asian Amerian Movement During a regional planning meeting of the statewide Asian Pacific Student Union (APSU), Visual Communications staffers Dean Hayasaka, Linda Mabalot, and Supachai Surongsain interview an APSU student activist. The interview was for a documentary on Asian Pacific American activism in the years following the 1978 Bakke Decision. Photographed by Abraham Ferrer Date: 1988-01-30 Location: Cal State LA, Los Angeles, California Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Hell No! We Won’t Go! Members of the Little Tokyo People’s Rights Organization are seen picketing in front of one of the soon-to-be-demolished storefronts on Weller Street. From left: Joanne Sakai, Alan Kondo, Lucien Kubota, Dean Toji, Evelyn Yoshimura, Bruce Iwasaki, Qris Yamashita, Duane Kubo, and Mike Murase. Photographed by Visual Communications Date: 1977 Location: Weller Street, Los Angeles Little Tokyo George T. Ishizuka and Harukichi Nakamura Asian American Movement Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Relaxing at FACLA A couple of Filipino seniors take a smoke break while enjoying a midweek get-together at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) hot lunch program for seniors. Photographed by Duane Kubo Date: 1972-03-15 Location: Filipino American Community of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Royal Morales Assembles SIPA Ball Royal Morales (Center) demonstrating assembly of a SIPA ball, shaped from long strands of rattan palms, to two guests. Photographed by Abraham Ferrer Date: 1993-06-21 Location: Los Angeles City College, East Hollywood, Los Angeles Pilipino American (Contemporary) Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Samoan American Community: The Little Ones Get Involved Samoan American tamaiti laiti (little children) engage in a traditional chant at a large luau and celebration. Many Samoan Americans settled in Los Angeles’ South Bay region, becoming a vital part of Los Angeles. Photographed by Alan Ohashi Date: 1972-05-27 Location: Carson High School, Carson, California Samoan American Community Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Thai Youth at Wat Thai Temple A group of Thai youngsters take lessons during a Saturday class in Buddhist studies at the Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood, California — a key gathering place of worship, culture, and social activity for the Los Angeles Thai community. Photographed by Supachai Surongsain Date: 1991-02-11 Location: Wat Thai Temple, North Hollywood, California Thai American Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
The Friends of Visual Communications Visual Communications staffer John Esaki (far left) and home video production instructor Takashi Fujii (near left) welcome a donor and his family to check out video equipment. The Friends of Visual Communications was VC’s first-ever membership initiative, and helped support VC through lean times during the early-to-mid 1980s. Photographed by Kaz Takeuchi Date: 1985-06-10 Location: Visual Communications, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, Los Angeles Little Tokyo Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture Jerome Academia and Rosie Lee Hooks pose together at the Second Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture held at Festival at Los Angeles City College. Photographed by Abraham Ferrer Date: 1993-06-21 Location: Los Angeles City College, East Hollywood, Los Angeles Pilipino American (Contemporary) Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Day of the Lotus Festival Group of young women pose together at the Day of the Lotus Festival in Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA Photographed by Kaz Takeuchi Date: 1998-07-01 Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles Asian American Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
Omai Fa’atasi Staff and Volunteers A quartet of Samoan American staff members and volunteers from the Samoan American youth development group Omai Fa’atasi take a break outside their headquarters. Photographed by Alan Ohashi Date: 1978 Location: Carson, California Samoan American Community Collection Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive
