Dive deep into the heartbreaking yet resilient history of Chavez Ravine with 'Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story' 🌆🎥 In 1949, photographer Don Normark captured the vibrant life of a close-knit Mexican American village that overlooked downtown Los Angeles. Little did he know, he was documenting the last images of a place about to vanish. Join us on April 15th at 6:00 p.m. at the Whittier Central Library Community Room for this Reel Club documentary presentation, featuring an introduction by director Jordan Mechner.
 
Discover how, in the early 1950s, the city forcibly evicted 300 families from Chavez Ravine, tearing down homes, schools, and the church to make way for a promised low-income public housing project. However, in a shocking turn of events, the land was sold to Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, who built Dodger Stadium instead. The former residents, promised first pick of the new housing, received no reimbursement for their destroyed property.
 
Filmmaker Jordan Mechner delves into this heartbreaking history, interviewing former residents and officials involved in the community's destruction. Narrated by Cheech Marin and scored by Ry Cooder and Lalo Guerrero, 'Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story' combines contemporary interviews with archival footage and Normark’s haunting black-and-white photographs to reclaim and celebrate a beloved community of the past. Don't miss this insightful journey into the complexities of greed, political hypocrisy, and the unintended consequences of good intentions. 📽️✨  Central Library, 7344 Washington Ave.  562-567-9900 . Free tickets available at both libraries.

For more information call  Central Library (562) 567-9900