Crenshaw Stanchions

ANGELS WALK® LA HOLIDAY HOLIDAY BOWL BOWL Angels Walk Crenshaw ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW Select Stanchions

1 West Angeles Church HOLIDAY BOWL 2 The Crenshaw Corridor A PLACE FOR ALL HOLIDAY AS HISTORY Opened in 1958 by a group The local affection for Holiday was so strong, 3 Holiday Bowl of Japanese restaurateurs, it remained untouched during the 1992 civil the Holiday Bowl was unrest; as fires raged on Crenshaw and else- for 40 years a culinary where, people continued to show up to bowl. 4 Community Builders and recreational nexus Despite valiant efforts to save the Bowl by city for Crenshaw’s African preservationists and community members, it American and Japanese was gutted in 2003 to make way for new devel- 5 Los Angeles Sentinel A matchbook cover advertising the Sakiba lounge. populations, and just about opments. Today, only its glass facade remains. anyone else who came 6 Crenshaw Square through. The Holiday Bowl Next door to the Holiday Bowl was multifunctional, with was another longtime Crenshaw a coffee shop, bowling business with an iconic look: the 7 Tom Bradley MINAMI/MINAMI BRIAN OF COURTESY PHOTO PICTURES Majestic Pontiac car dealership Local bowler, “Juggie,” says goodbye to the lanes where he bowled a perfect 300 game. alley, bar, and lounge that The Holiday Bowl’s last day of operation was Sunday, May 7, 2000. (originally Ken Clark Pontiac.) served up a wide range of Majestic was one of many car 8 Angelus Funeral Home food choices. At just about any hour you could get grits and udon, yakisoba and dealerships that once thrived salmon patties, donburi and short ribs, and many other items on a menu that on the boulevard in the 1950s was as lengthy and diverse as any in the city. 9 Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza MUSEUM AMERICAN NATIONAL JAPANESE THE OF COURTESY PHOTO and 1960s, a testament to the A local women’s bowling team at a 1959 tournament for the Japanese American Citizens League at the Holiday Bowl. area’s burgeoning black middle A PIONEERING LOOK PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOM & ETHEL BRADLEY CENTER, CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY STATE NORTHRIDGE class. In the 1960s, the number of Crenshaw Motors Ford at Crenshaw Boulevard and 53rd Street. 10 Crenshaw Music Scene With its angular facade, bright orange accents, and large plate-glass windows included white George Nelson bubble lamps and that looked out onto Crenshaw Boulevard, the Armet & Davis-designed fiberglass Eames chairs wrapped in orange vinyl. 11 Leimert Park Living building was a classic example of the eye-catching Googie architecture that was On the outside, the bowling alley and adjoining ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW

W 30TH ST

prevalent throughout Los Angeles in the 1950s. Another prime example coffee shop featured a futuristic roof line and CRENSHAW BLVD STANCHIONS:









 

of Googie in the area was The Wich Stand, located a few miles  a bold striped orange and white facade. The  1

 West Angeles Church



W JEFFERSON BLVD 



 1

S VICTORIA AVE S VICTORIA S BRONSON AVE AVE 9TH AVE 8TH HILLCREST DR BLVD WEST WELLINGTON RD DR SOMERSET AVE 12TH EDGEHILL DR S NORTON AVE FARMDALE AVE FARMDALE AVE CHESAPEAKE AVE POTOMAC VIRGINA RD 11 0

 T TH

 12 H

Leimert Park Village AV A

 V



away at Slauson Avenue E E

Japanese-influenced mid-century modern 

  2 The Crenshaw Corridor



 W 36TH ST 



 and Overhill Drive. W 36TH ST theme was most evident in the loungy W EXPOSITION BLVD 1 3 FARMDALE AVE FARMDALE Holiday Bowl W EXPOSITION BLVD W 36TH ST W EXPOSITION BLVD 2

The architect of Sakiba Room which had a ceiling inspired by AVE 11TH YOU ARE HERE 8TH AVE 8TH 13 AVE 10TH Vision Theatre S BRONSON AVE 9TH AVE 9TH

the Holiday Bowl RODEO RD EXPOSITION PL S VICTORIA AVE S VICTORIA WELLINGTON RD DR SOMERSET HILLCREST DR CHESAPEAKE AVE CHESAPEAKE AVE POTOMAC S MUIRFIELD RD BLVD WEST BUCKINGHAM RD BUCKINGHAM Japanese folk woodwork. VIRGINA RD

4 Community Builders 9T

RODEO LN A H

V was Helen Liu E

RODEO PL AVE CHERRYWOOD

5 AVE LosOLMSTED Angeles Sentinel W 14 Leimert Plaza Park Fong, who also Ken Clark Pontiac, which later became Majestic Pontiac. The original ESTS 3 I D

neon Indian head element was preserved and integrated in to the AV E 6 COLISEUM ST designed Pann’s shopping center’s sign. COLISEUM ST COLISEUM ST Crenshaw Square 4 CRENSHAW BLVD

CHERRYWOOD AVE CHERRYWOOD OLMSTED AVE OLMSTED AVE WELLAND S BRONSON AVE S NORTON AVE GRAYBURN AVE EDGEHILL DR BLVD DEGNAN AVE WESTSIDE

I 5 R

W I

E 7

L V

Helen Liu Fong, designer of the E

W Tom Bradley D

I S

E on La Cienega R

D L

L N

I COLISEUM PL V

A N

15 G R S

T D

Gateway to the Hills A

dealerships on the boulevardN peaked N

E 6

Holiday Bowl, was a Chinese

R R

D S

A I

O R

S A

HILLCREST DR HILLCREST W 39TH ST

Boulevard and Johnie’s A A 8

V Angelus Funeral Home American architect, known for L E

at eight; two of the longest-runningD PALMYRA RD 8 mid-century Googie architecture R 7 W 39TH ST

on Wilshire and Fairfax. KING JR BLVD

B U

PALMWOOD DR AVE MARLTON 9 Baldwin Hills style in her buildings. C

were O’Connor Lincoln-Mercury, K

PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY HIRSHOWITZ G W MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD H Crenshaw Plaza A

Fong was known for her M

MUIRFIELD RD S RD MUIRFIELD R

and Crenshaw Motors Ford. The D

WEST BLVD WEST C

WESTSIDE AVE WESTSIDE H

S E

B R OLMSTED AVE OLMSTED MCCLUNG DR

WELLAND AVE WELLAND

R R HUBERT AVE

O Y

ABOURNE RD ABOURNE W attention to interior detail, AVE MARLTON N 10

S O Crenshaw Music Scene

O O

N D

A A BUCKINGHAM RD BUCKINGHAM V 9 V E former closed in 1990 and Crenshaw E The Wich Stand was designed by Armet & Davis

which at the Holiday Bowl DR SOMERSET W MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD 11 Leimert Park Living 9TH AVE

and embodied their renowned style. Motors Ford, the last dealership on AVE 8TH MARLTON AVE MARLTON

W 41ST ST AVE 11TH AUDOBON S A MIDDLE SANTO TOMAS DR N 12 the boulevard, shuttered in 2007. T SCHOOL Leimert Park Village A L O R C

K O

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN MINAMI/MINAMI BRIAN OF COURTESY PHOTO PICTURES L S A S A T N OC D L K

D I ER A STOCKER ST R S PL D TOCK

R AVE 11TH S S S BLVD DEGNAN S S AVE 10TH EDGE ER ST

C NORT Majestic Pontiac, like its neighbor the B

C R

STOCKER ST L ON 13 U HILL Vision Theatre

O SON AVE SON

G N

D A

R R 10 VE

AVE D D O N REE Holiday Bowl, was long ago replaced; C F E L IP E D R 14 Leimert Plaza Park BLVD T W 43RD S V IC S however, a single remnant remains ANGELES VISTA BLVD T W 43RD ST 11 T O RIA S LIEMER

AVE WAITE AVE 8TH AVE

C H AVE 10TH R T AVE 9TH 0 D R 12 AS AVE 11TH 15GAR OM PALMERO BLVD E Gateway to the Hills T DON N S H HOMELAND DR A of its former self: the classic neon W 14 13 W 43RD PL NORTHLAND DR HOMEWAY DR B LV W 43RD PL D For more information about Angels 15 W VERNON AVE Pontiac Indian head at the top of the Walk LA and to access a guidebook to

OLA BLVD W MT VERNON DR URE AVE 11TH AVE 10TH AVE 9TH AVE 8TH PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A accompany this, and other historical © OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS walks, please visit angelswalkla.org. An architectural rendering of the Holiday Bowl restaurant, c. 1956. towering shopping center sign. W MT VERNON DR W 46TH ST

BACKGROUND PHOTO: MEN’S BOWLING TEAM AT THE HOLIDAY BOWL, PHOTO COURTESY OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM AMERICAN NATIONAL JAPANESE OF THE COURTESY PHOTO HOLIDAY BOWL, THE AT BOWLING TEAM MEN’S BACKGROUND PHOTO:

BRYNH L

YMPI

S V S

FAIRWAY BLVD DR AD UR

I ST ST

TO AVE

RIA RIA AVE W 48TH ST W 48TH ST

KNOLL CREST AVE

Special thanks to: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti City Council of the City of Los Angeles Councilmember Herb Wesson Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson Supported by: For more information about Angels Walk LA City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Street Services and to download a guidebook to accompany Los Angeles Department of Transportation this, and other historical walks, please visit Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) www.angelswalkla.org. Top photo: Men’s bowling team at the Holiday Bowl. photo: Men’s Top coffee shop and diner interior. Holiday Bowl’s Bottom photo: The

© 2018 ANGELS WALK LA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PERMISSION TO REPRINT OR REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL MUST BE GRANTED IN WRITING BY ANGELS WALK LA, INC. ANGELS WALK LA IS A RESGISTERED TRADEMARK. MINAMI/MINAMI OF BRIAN COURTESY PHOTO TOP PICTURES BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Holiday Bowl facade and sign. photo: The Top Holiday Bowl pin staging area. Bottom photo: The TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM AMERICAN NATIONAL JAPANESE OF THE COURTESY PHOTO TOP BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ©2018 Angels Walk LA Angels Walk ©2018 ® ANGELS WALK LA BALDWIN HILLS BALDWIN HILLS

CRENSHAW CRENSHAW PARKANGELS WALK HIGHLAND Angels Walk Crenshaw PLAZA PLAZA ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW Select Stanchions

1 West Angeles Church BALDWIN HILLS CRENSHAW PLAZA 2 The Crenshaw Corridor A SHOPPING REVOLUTION Though Magic Johnson’s vision didn’t turn out the way he’d hoped, he certainly made his mark: the Pan African Film Festival, the largest African American The two-block-long Baldwin film festival showcasing filmmakers in the U.S. and the African diaspora, Hills Crenshaw Plaza, more 3 Holiday Bowl came “home” to the mall in 1999 popularly known as the after starting out at the Sunset Crenshaw Mall, is the retail Laemmle in West Hollywood. 4 Community Builders heart of the Crenshaw area. Through all the changes, the It’s been that ever since it first mall continues to endure as the opened its doors in 1947 as the 5 Los Angeles Sentinel focal point of Crenshaw and a Broadway-Crenshaw Center, an major gathering place. Touches outdoor regional shopping mall of the original Art Deco design 6 Crenshaw Square that was the first major retail

PHOTO COURTESY OF J. PAUL GETTY GETTY TRUST. RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LOS ANGELES (2004.R.10) have remained, including the hub in greater Los Angeles, and In 1948, the Von der Ahe brothers, of Von’s markets, opened their most ambitious store curved corner facade of the (over 58,000 square feet) at the Broadway-Crenshaw Center. Thanks to the introduction the first of its kind in the nation. 7 Tom Bradley of pre-packaged perishables, the store offered self-service produce, meat, and deli old May Company and the Originally built as two separate departments, making it one of the first true supermarkets as we know them today. spire atop the old Broadway shopping centers straddling tower. For thirteen years, the 8 Angelus Funeral Home the Baldwin Hills and Crenshaw Manor districts, they were eventually classed former Broadway building was as a single entity. The north end of the site was anchored by a May Company, ANGELES PUBLIC LOS OF LIBRARY COURTESY PHOTO An aerial view of the Broadway-Crenshaw Center, showing The Broadway, May Company, and Von’s supermarket, c. 1952. home to the nation’s only three- known as “May’s Crenshaw” that was designed

9 Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza story Walmart; however, the COLLECTIONS PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMES SPECIAL LA UCLA LIBRARY THE OF ARCHIVES, COURTESY PHOTO by Albert C. Martin and dedicated in October URBAN RENAISSANCE retail titan closed its Crenshaw Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles founder Samella Lewis, and director of 1947. The other section of the center was Mary Jane Hewitt, during the construction of the museum, c. 1984. 10 In stepped Earvin “Magic” Johnson. The former Lakers location in 2016. Crenshaw Music Scene initially anchored by The Broadway and a luminary, also a member of West Angeles Church, Von’s supermarket. Smaller specialty stores formed Johnson Development Co. in the 1990s with A CULTURAL TOUCHSTONE included Silverwood’s and Desmond’s. In 1988, ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW 11 Leimert Park Living the idea of lending his star power—and personal Over the years, Baldwin Hills W 30TH ST

the plaza was mostly torn down and enclosed CRENSHAW BLVD STANCHIONS: 

fortune—to reviving black urban neighborhoods 

 

Crenshaw Plaza has evolved into 

 

by mall developer Alexander Hagen. Then,  

 1

 West Angeles Church

like Crenshaw. When he opened the Magic Johnson  W JEFFERSON BLVD  a center of black community and 

 1

 T TH

 12 H

Leimert Park Village AV A

with the 1992 civil unrest, coupled with the  V



E E



Theatres multiplex, a partnership with Sony, on the  Deliveries to Von’s and other stores in the shopping center were  2 The Crenshaw Corridor



culture. In addition to the Pan  W 36TH ST 

 recession, hopes that the plaza would become  made through a vast underground loading dock, c. 1950. W 36TH ST grounds of the mall in 1995, it was hailed as a milestone W EXPOSITION BLVD 1 The Lakers’ Magic Johnson opened 3

African Film Festival, it now features AVE FARMDALE W EXPOSITION BLVD Holiday Bowl 2 W 36TH ST the economic engine it had once been W EXPOSITION BLVD his state-of-the-art Magic Johnson Theatres AVE 11TH 8TH AVE 8TH 13 for cinema-starved Crenshaw and an encouraging sign AVE 10TH Vision Theatre S BRONSON AVE

the annual Leimert Park Village AVE 9TH were derailed. in the Crenshaw Plaza in 1995. 4 Community Builders PHOTO COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY RODEO RD EXPOSITION PL S VICTORIA AVE S VICTORIA WELLINGTON RD DR SOMERSET HILLCREST DR CHESAPEAKE AVE CHESAPEAKE AVE POTOMAC S MUIRFIELD RD BLVD WEST BUCKINGHAM RD BUCKINGHAM

for black development in general. Magic then sought a Book Fair. Through the years, it has VIRGINA RD 9T

RODEO LN 5 A H

V Los E Angeles Sentinel

much bigger prize: rights to redevelop Santa Barbara Plaza. The 23-acre shop- RODEO PL AVE CHERRYWOOD OLMSTED AVE OLMSTED

featured popular Louisiana Creole W 14 Leimert Plaza Park ESTS

3 I 6 D CrenshawE Square

ping center directly across the street from the Crenshaw Mall, built in the AV restaurants such as Gagnier’s, E COLISEUM ST COLISEUM ST COLISEUM ST

1950s, had fallen into decline and needed an Alexander Hagen of its own. 4 7 CRENSHAW BLVD Tom Bradley

CHERRYWOOD AVE CHERRYWOOD OLMSTED AVE OLMSTED AVE WELLAND S BRONSON AVE S NORTON AVE GRAYBURN AVE EDGEHILL DR BLVD DEGNAN AVE WESTSIDE

Chalee Blues, and the Creole Chef. M

I 5 R

W I

L V E

I S

E R

D L

L N

I COLISEUM PL V

A N

15 G R

Magic envisioned an upscale center that would attract shoppers from the S

T D

Gateway to the Hills A

E 6 8

Further, the Museum of AfricanT R R

V Angelus Funeral Home

D S

A I

O R

S A

HILLCREST DR HILLCREST W 39TH ST

A A

V L E

I Hills who were used to driving west or south for quality goods and nice A

D PALMYRA RD 8 American Art is located on theR third 7 9 Baldwin Hills W 39TH ST

KING JR BLVD

B U

restaurants. It was a vision PALMWOOD DR AVE MARLTON Crenshaw Plaza

C K

floor of Macy’s, and in 2010, the I

G W MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD H YOU ARE HERE A

MUIRFIELD RD S RD MUIRFIELD R

that resonated with just about Debbie Allen Dance Academy moved D

WEST BLVD WEST C

WESTSIDE AVE WESTSIDE H

S E

B R OLMSTED AVE OLMSTED MCCLUNG DR

WELLAND AVE WELLAND

R R HUBERT AVE

O Y

ABOURNE RD ABOURNE W MARLTON AVE MARLTON N 10

S O Crenshaw Music Scene

O O

N D

everyone in Crenshaw, but A BUCKINGHAM RD BUCKINGHAM V 9 V E from Culver City onto the mall E PHOTO COURTESY OF J. PAUL GETTY GETTY TRUST. RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LOS ANGELES (2004.R.10) the political and complicated DR SOMERSET W MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD 11 Leimert Park Living 9TH AVE

grounds. Inside the mall, which was AVE 8TH MARLTON AVE MARLTON

W 41ST ST AVE 11TH AUDOBON S financial demands of the A MIDDLE SANTO TOMAS DR N 12 T SCHOOL Leimert Park Village A extensively renovated in the 2010s, L O R C

K O L S A S A T N OC D L K

D I ER A STOCKER ST R S PL project proved insurmount- D TOCK

R AVE 11TH S S S BLVD DEGNAN S S AVE 10TH EDGE ER ST

NORT B

C R

the bridge joining the two parts of L STOCKER ST ON 13 U HILL Vision Theatre

O SON AVE SON

G N

D A

R R 10 VE

AVE D able for Johnson Development D O N REE F C E the mall across Martin Luther King L IP E D R 14 Leimert Plaza Park BLVD T W 43RD Co. In 2010, after fifteen years S V IC S ANGELES VISTA BLVD T W 43RD ST 11 T Jr. Boulevard hosts various events, O RIA S LIEMER

AVE WAITE AVE 8TH AVE

C H AVE 10TH R T AVE 9TH 0 D R 12 AS AVE 11TH 15GAR OM PALMERO BLVD E Gateway to the Hills T DON N S at the mall, Johnson quietly H HOMELAND DR A W including jazz concerts, receptions, 14 13 W 43RD PL NORTHLAND DR HOMEWAY DR B LV W 43RD PL D For more information about Angels sold his share of the theaters. 15 W VERNON AVE community forums, and a weekly Walk LA and to access a guidebook to OLA BLVD W MT VERNON DR

E AVE 11TH AVE 10TH AVE 9TH AVE 8TH AUR accompany this, and other historical © OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LA TIMES PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES, UCLA LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMES SPECIAL LA UCLA LIBRARY THE OF ARCHIVES, COURTESY PHOTO walks, please visit angelswalkla.org. farmer’s market. W MT VERNON DR W 46TH ST

BACKGROUND PHOTO: AERIAL VIEW OF THE MALL LOOKING WEST, C. 1954, COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ON BEHALF OF USC LIBRARIES COLLECTIONS USC OF CALIFORNIA, SPECIAL ON BEHALF UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN OF THE COURTESY 1954, C. LOOKING MALL OF THE VIEW WEST, AERIAL BACKGROUND PHOTO: O

Women shopping in May Co. store’s cosmetic department, c. 1970. BRYNH L

YMPI

S V S

FAIRWAY BLVD DR AD UR

I ST ST

The Broadway department store at Broadway-Crenshaw Center, c. 1947. C

TO AVE

RIA RIA AVE W 48TH ST W 48TH ST

KNOLL CREST AVE

Special thanks to: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti City Council of the City of Los Angeles Councilmember Herb Wesson Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson Supported by: For more information about Angels Walk LA City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Street Services and to download a guidebook to accompany Los Angeles Department of Transportation this, and other historical walks, please visit Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) www.angelswalkla.org. TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF J. PAUL GETTY GETTY TRUST. RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LOS ANGELES (2004.R.10) ANGELES PUBLIC LOS OF LIBRARY COURTESY PHOTO BOTTOM Top photo: Women’s clothing section at The Broadway, c. 1947. clothing section at The photo: Women’s Top c. 1988. Bottom photo: Construction on the updated and expanded Plaza,

© 2018 ANGELS WALK LA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PERMISSION TO REPRINT OR REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL MUST BE GRANTED IN WRITING BY ANGELS WALK LA, INC. ANGELS WALK LA IS A RESGISTERED TRADEMARK. LIBRARIES COLLECTIONS OF USC CALIFORNIA, SPECIAL ON BEHALF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OF OF THE COURTESY PHOTO TOP BOTTOM PPHOTO COURTESY OF J. PAUL GETTY GETTY TRUST. RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LOS ANGELES (2004.R.10) photo: Aerial view of the mall looking west toward a sparsely populated Baldwin Hills, c. 1954. Top Broadway department store, c. 1947. Bottom photo: The ©2018 Angels Walk LA Angels Walk ©2018 ANGELS WALK® LA LEIMERT LEIMERT PARK PARK Angels Walk Crenshaw ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW VILLAGE VILLAGE ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW Select Stanchions

1 West Angeles Church LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE 2 The Crenshaw Corridor FROM MAIN STREET THE VILLAGE EVOLVES TO STREET LIFE The area is in transition once again as it adapts 3 Holiday Bowl When Walter H. Leimert to the accessibility created by the presence of developed the planned the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line. Despite the changes, Leimert Park locals are committed 4 community of Leimert Park Community Builders in 1927, he could hardly have to retaining its authenticity and the legacy it imagined that its cozy commercial has established as a distinctive cultural hub in 5 Los Angeles Sentinel center—bordered by 43rd Street, the city of Los Angeles. Degnan and adjoining 43rd Place, Degnan Boulevard, Leimert Plaza Park have been the place for many important events throughout the years, 6 and Leimert Boulevard—would Crenshaw Square ANGELES PUBLIC LOS OF LIBRARY COURTESY PHOTO become one of the most culturally including long- The original shopping district on Degnan Boulevard and 43rd provided a variety standing festivals of goods and services to the residents of Leimert Park. vibrant spots in Los Angeles. 7 Tom Bradley like the Kwanzaa The area started out as a typical main street, offering goods and services such PHOTO COURTESY OF AK TONEY Heritage Festival as shoe repair, furniture, dry goods, and dentistry. In the late 1960s, Degnan Richard Fulton outside of 5th Street Dick’s. and the African Art 8 Angelus Funeral Home Boulevard started emerging as a mecca of black art and commerce, as white & Music Festival. The Leimert Park Artwalk, which flight accelerated and Leimert transitioned into a center of black economic and took its cue from successful downtown art walks,

9 Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza creative exploration. In 1967, artist and impresario Alonzo Davis, along with his ARCHIVE BROCKMAN GALLERY THE OF COURTESY PHOTO has also become a regular neighborhood event. brother Dale, opened Brockman Gallery at 4334 Degnan. Determined to create Opening night at the Brockman Gallery, 1967. In November of 2007 Degnan earned its own space and visibility for black artists shunned by the mainstream art world, the ART AND COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER ANGELES PUBLIC LOS OF LIBRARY COURTESY PHOTO 10 Crenshaw Music Scene Davis brothers promoted the careers of renowned artists like sculptor Elizabeth walk of fame: just south of 43rd Street, the Participants in the 1988 annual Kwanzaa Parade. Catlett and painter Romare Bearden. Thanks to Brockman, momentum grew Despite the fires of civil unrest that burned sidewalk on the west side of the for a black arts scene through the 1970s and 1980s, decades in which Degnan in 1992, the scene on and around Degnan block was embedded with thirty-two ANGELS WALK CRENSHAW 11 Leimert Park Living flourished, as more arts advocates and African-motif plaques memorializing W 30TH ST

Boulevard continued to attract more artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations CRENSHAW BLVD STANCHIONS:



 

business owners began recognizing Leimert jazz musicians, artists, and others 



 

including Museum in Black, Africa by the Yard fabric store, Bak Tu Jua  

 1

 West Angeles Church



W JEFFERSON BLVD  Park Village as a locus of black art and who contributed to the cultural 

 1

 T TH

 12 H

Leimert Park Village AV A

(later Sika), Kongo Square (later Zambezi), and the jazz performance  V



E E



  2 The Crenshaw Corridor culture. The World Stage was founded in 1989 renaissance of Leimert Park and to 

 W 36TH ST 

 space World Stage. Actress Marla Gibbs took over  W 36TH ST W EXPOSITION BLVD 1 by legendary jazz drummer Billy Higgins and the cultural life of black Los Angeles. 3 FARMDALE AVE FARMDALE W EXPOSITION BLVD Holiday Bowl 2 W 36TH ST the Leimert Theatre, christening it the Vision W EXPOSITION BLVD 11TH AVE 11TH 8TH AVE 8TH 13 AVE 10TH Vision Theatre poet Kamau Daaood, and it quickly became Honorees include Richard Fulton, S BRONSON AVE Theatre. Next door she opened Crossroads 4 Community AVE 9TH Builders RODEO RD EXPOSITION PL S VICTORIA AVE S VICTORIA WELLINGTON RD DR SOMERSET HILLCREST DR CHESAPEAKE AVE CHESAPEAKE AVE POTOMAC S MUIRFIELD RD BLVD WEST BUCKINGHAM RD BUCKINGHAM

known for world-class jazz performances and Horace Tapscott, Alma Hightower, VIRGINA RD 9T

Academy, a theater school for youth. Around A H

RODEO LN 5

V Los E Angeles Sentinel

RODEO PL AVE CHERRYWOOD

writing workshops in a tiny, gallery-sized space. Dexter Gordon, Marla Gibbs, Cecil AVE OLMSTED W 14 Leimert Plaza Park the corner from the Vision, Video 3333 (later ESTS

3 I 6 D CrenshawE Square

In the 1990s, Degnan added the Dance Collective Ferguson, and others. The pathway E COLISEUM ST Kaos Network) offered instruction in the COLISEUM ST COLISEUM ST 4 7 CRENSHAW BLVD Tom Bradley CHERRYWOOD AVE CHERRYWOOD OLMSTED AVE OLMSTED AVE WELLAND S BRONSON AVE S NORTON AVE GRAYBURN AVE EDGEHILL DR BLVD DEGNAN AVE WESTSIDE

dance studio, Eso Won Books, and 5th Street Dick’s is called the Sankofa Passage, which S

Brothers Alonzo and Dale Davis M

I 5 R

W I

L V

art of media technology, while the artist and E

I S

E R

D L

L N

founded the Brockman Gallery in 1967 L

I COLISEUM PL V

A N

15 G R S

T D

Gateway to the Hills A

jazz coffeehouse. Many of the businesses had stories, refers to a phoenix-like bird of N

E 6 8

R R

V Angelus Funeral Home

D S

A I

to provide exposure to both emerging O

O R

illustrator Ramsess worked on Degnan out R

S A

HILLCREST DR HILLCREST W 39TH ST

A A

V L E

and established black artists. but 5th Street Ghanaian mythology that looksD 8 PALMYRA RD R 7 PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BROCKMAN GALLERY ARCHIVE 9 Baldwin Hills

of a studio that also served as W 39TH ST KING JR BLVD

B U

PALMWOOD DR AVE MARLTON Crenshaw Plaza C

Dick’s was backward over its shoulder while K

G W MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD

his home. A

MUIRFIELD RD S RD MUIRFIELD R

especially remarkable. Owner Richard in flight—a symbol of embracing D 10 Crenshaw Music Scene

WEST BLVD WEST C

WESTSIDE AVE WESTSIDE H

S E

B R OLMSTED AVE OLMSTED MCCLUNG DR

WELLAND AVE WELLAND

R R HUBERT AVE

O Y

ABOURNE RD ABOURNE W

MARLTON AVE MARLTON N S O

O O

N D

A A BUCKINGHAM RD BUCKINGHAM V 9 V E Fulton was once a homeless addict the past while simultaneously E 11 Leimert Park Living

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ON BEHALF OF USC LIBRARIES COLLECTIONS OF USC CALIFORNIA, SPECIAL ON BEHALF OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY THE OF COURTESY PHOTO DR SOMERSET W MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD 9TH AVE

living on Skid Row who told himself going forward into the future. It is AVE 8TH MARLTON AVE MARLTON

W 41ST ST AVE 11TH 12 Leimert Park Village AUDOBON S A MIDDLE SANTO TOMAS DR N that if he ever got on his feet, he would a concept that Leimert Park Village, T SCHOOLYOU ARE HERE A L O R C

K O L S A S A T N OC D L K

D I ER A STOCKER ST R S PL D TOCK

R AVE 11TH S S S BLVD DEGNAN S S AVE 10TH EDGE ER ST

C NORT fulfill his dream of opening a late-night with its penchant for tradition but B

C R

STOCKER ST L ON 13 U HILL Vision Theatre

O SON AVE SON

G N

D A

R R 10 VE

AVE D D O REE N C jazz joint that served coffee. 5th Street also its openness to change, has F E L IP E D R 14 Leimert Plaza Park BLVD T W 43RD S V IC S Dick’s was that promise made good. ANGELES VISTA BLVD always tried to make real. T W 43RD ST 11 T O RIA S LIEMER

AVE WAITE AVE 8TH AVE

C H AVE 10TH R T AVE 9TH 0 D R 12 AS AVE 11TH 15GAR OM PALMERO BLVD E Gateway to the Hills T DON N S H HOMELAND DR A W 14 13 W 43RD PL NORTHLAND DR HOMEWAY DR B LV W 43RD PL D For more information about Angels PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES (COLLECTION 1429). UCLA LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS SPECIAL UCLA LIBRARY ANGELES 1429). TIMES PHOTOGRAPHIC LOS THE OF (COLLECTION ARCHIVES COURTESY PHOTO 15 W VERNON AVE Walk LA and to access a guidebook to

OLA BLVD W MT VERNON DR

E AVE 11TH AVE 10TH AVE 9TH AVE 8TH The Thriftimart in Leimert Park Village at the Brian Breye, owner of Museum in Black, holds a historical sign depicting AUR accompany this, and other historical © OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS walks, please visit angelswalkla.org. corner of Degnan and 43rd Street, c. 1939. segregated seating laws, c. 1984. W MT VERNON DR W 46TH ST

BACKGROUND PHOTO: THE COMMERCIAL STRIP ON DEGNAN BOULEVARD, C. 1938, COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC OF LOS LIBRARY COURTESY 1938, DEGNAN ON COMMERCIAL C. BOULEVARD, THE BACKGROUND STRIP PHOTO:

BRYNH L

YMPI

S V S

FAIRWAY BLVD DR AD UR

I ST ST

TO AVE

RIA RIA AVE W 48TH ST W 48TH ST

KNOLL CREST AVE

Special thanks to: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti City Council of the City of Los Angeles Councilmember Herb Wesson Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson Supported by: For more information about Angels Walk LA City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Street Services and to download a guidebook to accompany Los Angeles Department of Transportation this, and other historical walks, please visit Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) www.angelswalkla.org. TOP & BOTTOM PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC OF LOS LIBRARY COURTESY PHOTOS BOTTOM & TOP Top photo: The commercial strip on Degnan Boulevard, c. 1938. photo: The Top c. 1938. Thriftimart, Park’s Bottom photo: A grocer at work outside of Leimert

© 2018 ANGELS WALK LA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PERMISSION TO REPRINT OR REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL MUST BE GRANTED IN WRITING BY ANGELS WALK LA, INC. ANGELS WALK LA IS A RESGISTERED TRADEMARK. TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF URIE WALTER BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF LANE + LANE original Degnan location. photo: Interior of Eso Won Books’ Top Bottom photo: Leimert Park Village Plaza People St Adinkra medallions. ©2018 Angels Walk LA Angels Walk ©2018