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Chinatown at Night, Los Angeles, California

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LML_MS-042-002610001

Chinatown at Night, Los Angeles, California

Physical description: 1 postcard : Color ; 14 x 9 cm.
Collection Location: Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
Description: Illuminated East Gate, on Broadway, opening to shops and restaurants; neon sign reads:"Gateway New Chinatown"
Note: 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. Chinatown is framed by two gates, or pailou. East Gate, or the Broadway Gate, was designed by You Chung Hong. A poem composed by Chinese Consul, Honorable T.K. Chang, and placed by Attorney Hong as a tribute to his own and all mothers adorns the gate, which is thus also known as the Gate of Maternal Virtues.
Transcription: On back:"From this plaza, a narrow winding lane winds through a maze of quaint shops where one can purchase rare Oriental oddities, silks, jewelry and clothing."
Language: eng
Publisher: Sherman Oaks, Calif: Mitock & Sons
Type: Postcards
Digital Identifier: LML_MS-042-002610001
Object Identifier: LML_MS-042-00261
Geographic Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Subject: Chinese Restaurants--California--Los Angeles; Decoration and ornament, Architectural--California--Los Angeles;
Creator: Mills, David; Distributed by Mitock & Sons, Sherman Oaks, California
Title: Chinatown at Night, Los Angeles, California
Date Range: circa 1960
Source: Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University
Rights: https://library.lmu.edu/archivesandspecialcollections/copyrightandreproductionpolicy/

IIIF manifest: https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/lmudigitalcollections/iiif/69e1745b-b1c9-41e0-80e9-e218bc611880/manifest

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