Nuestro Pueblo

Aug. 29, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit the home of the late Times columnist Harry Carr, showing his view of Griffith Park. Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m going back and picking up the entries that I missed the first time

Artist’s Notebook: Gustavo Dudamel

Gustavo Dudamel, by Marion Eisenmann, Nov. 12, 2009.

Marion Eisenmann and I have been looking at Los Angeles landmarks as a modern version of Nuestro Pueblo, but we realized that the debut of Gustavo Dudamel as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic is also part of local history.  Marion was fortunate in being able to attend a rehearsal and she sends her impressions of Dudamel. She says: His personality, playfulness and passion speak in this study.

Nuestro Pueblo

Aug. 19, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens find a windmill on a farm at Garfield Avenue just north of Gage Street. Below, the area today, via Google maps’ street view.  It’s interesting to note that Seewerker refers to Mayor Fred Eaton’s role in the aqueduct because he’s usually overshadowed by William Mulholland. View Larger Map Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m going back and picking up the entries that I missed the first time.

Nuestro Pueblo – Chavez Ravine

Aug. 24, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens find evidence of an old brickyard in Chavez Ravine and touch on the Chinese Massacre.  Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m going back and picking up the entries that I missed the first time.

Orchestras Ban Women Musicians

Nov. 2, 1919: Orchestra managers want to ban women musicians because an ensemble consisting entirely of men in tuxedos is more pleasing to the eye, The Times says. No, I'm not kidding. Nov. 16, 1919: Alma Whitaker writes about the attempted ban on women musicians.

Nov. 16, 1919: The Ridge Route opens and the Times publishes a terrific illustration by artist Charles Owens – nearly 20 years before he worked on “Nuestro Pueblo” … And the Auto Club writes a proposed law to make Hill Street, Broadway, Spring Street, Main one-way and to ban delivery trucks from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in designated congested areas such as downtown.

Nuestro Pueblo

Aug. 12, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit a produce stand on Atlantic Boulevard run by a man “who looked as though he had seven kids and lumbago.” At least we learn that Owens did the driving and picked the sites. Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m going back and picking up the entries that I missed the first time.

Nuestro Pueblo

Aug. 5, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens feature the Bethlehem Baths at Vignes and Ducommun, which closed in 1926. Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m going back and picking up the entries that I missed the first time

Nuestro Pueblo

Aug. 1, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit Griffith Park and discover an old lime kiln left from mission days. Note: I posted most of the Nuestro Pueblo features when I was going through 1938-39, but I’m picking up the ones I missed.

Nuestro Pueblo, Pasadena

July 27, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit Pasadena for Nuestro Pueblo. Here’s a map of Japanese-owned businesses in Pasadena before World War II.  Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m going back and picking up the entries that I missed the first time.

Artist's Notebook: 'Chocolate Factory'

“Chocolate Factory,” Marion Eisenmann, March 28, 2009

Marion Eisenmann writes of this week’s sketch: "When I  first came here, I didn't know what kind of factory this is, the Gold  Line is traveling through it close to the 110 Freeway. It is a rusty building with a lot of pipes and iron construction, visually interesting. I called it the chocolate factory, until I found out what it really was." As Marion discovered, this is the old Glenarm Power Plant, located between the Pasadena Freeway and Fair Oaks in Pasadena. The old storage tanks have been cleared from the property, which is being prepared for the expansion of the Art Center College of Design, across the street on Raymond Avenue. Note: In case you just tuned in, Marion and I are visiting local landmarks in a project inspired by what Charles Owens and Joe Seewerker did in Nuestro Pueblo. Check back next week for another page from Marion's notebook. By the way, Daily Mirror readers have asked about buying copies of Marion's artwork. Naturally, this is gratifying because I think Marion's work is terrific, and one of my great pleasures is sharing it with readers every week. We have decided that the project is a journey about discovering Los Angeles rather than creating things to sell. Marion is busy with other projects and says she isn't set up to mass-produce prints but would entertain inquiries about specific pieces. For further information, contact Marion directly.