Identifier	post_00094
Title	Chinatown, Los Angeles
Creator	unknown
Date Published	circa 1960
Subject (Topic)	Chinese Restaurants--California--Los Angeles; Decoration and ornament, Architectural--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	Lithochrome Press
Language	eng
Description	Just inside West Gate looking east on Gin Ling Way across Central Plaza toward Li-Po restaurant; General Lee's Man Jen Low restaurant is just beyond the tall tree on left; east of that is Forbidden Palace restaurant; benches; trees; potted plants in doorways; people strolling; sign in front right corner reads:"Open Dining Room Upstairs"
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 Leeâ€™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:"Chinatown, Los Angeles, with its gay restaurants and oriental shops. Viewed on Tanner Gray Line Tour No. 9."
Publisher's Identifier	Series number: 230T
Source	Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection