Identifier	post_00080
Title	Los Angeles Chinatown
Creator	unknown
Date Published	circa 1960
Subject (Topic)	Chinese Restaurants--California--Los Angeles; Decoration and ornament, Architectural--California--Los Angeles; Gift shops--California--Los Angeles;
Subject (Place)	Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.);
Type	image
Form/Genre	postcards
Physical Description	1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Institution	Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University
Country of Creation	US
Copyright Status	public domain
Copyright Statement	http://library.lmu.edu/collections/digitallibraryprogram/copyrightandreproductionpolicy/
Publisher	Mitlock & Sons
Place of Publication	North Hollywood, Calif.
Language	eng
Description	Looking east on Gin Ling Way; illuminated signs for shops and restaurants; trees; potted plants in doorways; signs reading:"Fons, General Lee's Jan Jen Low; Chinese Jade; Chop Suey; Li Po" benches; in background there's a bus parked on the street outside West Gate.
Historical Background	The original Los Angeles Chinatown began in the late 1800s as a small settlement on Calle De Los Negros, between El Pueblo Plaza and Old Arcadia Street, and expanded east across Alameda Street. Suffering from absentee landlords and a lack of municipal services and code enforcement, the area was in decline when the city forced residents out and demolished it to make way for the new Union Station Terminal. Two new Chinatowns were created: China City, a tourist attraction, complete with rickshaw rides, brainchild of Christine Sterling, founder of Olvera Street; and New Chinatown, a business and residential neighborhood created and funded by the Chinese community under the leadership of Peter Soo Hoo. Both opened to great fanfare in 1938. Man Jen Low, House of 10,000 Treasures, renamed General Lee's in 1940, is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, dating to 1860, and was originally in Old Chinatown. It was a popular spot for celebrities, including Judy Garland and Spencer Tracy. It closed in 1987.
Additional Printed Matter	On back:"Colorful night street scene where the atmosphere and flavor of the Far East is recreated."
Publisher's Identifier	Publisher's serial number: P57727
Additional Notes	Printed using the Plastichrome process by Colourpicture, Boston, Mass.
Contributors	Distributed by Mitock & Sons, North Holllywood, California
Source	Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection