The Italians of Southern California

24 May 2008 City Employees Club of Los Angeles, Alive!

n Story and photos courtesy Dr. Gloria Ricci Lothrop

the town. As gold extending from Olvera Street or Vine Street fever declined in to the banks of the river, there were vine- intensity, some of yards cultivated by Europeans, including these adventurers Antonio Pelanconi and Giacomo Tononi. traveled southward Other Italians applied their sartorial skills in to the vaunted the emerging garment industry a few blocks “nuova Italia,” now southward; a number of them particularly the pueblo of Los from Abruzzi became distinguished, making Angeles. They them tailors by appointment to the White brought with them House during a recent administration. a unique cultural By the beginning of the 20th century, the pattern that served Italian business community reached them well as beyond the Plaza to North Broadway, The DeMateis and Bros. Winery, an early Italian-American winery near present-day Olvera Street. strangers in a new extending from Bozzani’s Bicycle Shop land. Unlike the (and later, automobiles) to Basso Motors at talian contact with Southern California’s immigrants who Bishop’s Road. Overlooking the district was INative Americans occurred during the clustered in urban centers in the east, St. Frances Cabrini’s Regina Coeli Spanish Colonial period. As early as 1702, Italian immigrants to California were dis- Orphanage, which occupied the former Jesuit missionary and explorer, Fr. Eusebio tinctly more adventurous as they undertook J.W. Robinson estate. Arrayed along the Kino, SJ, first declared that California was a far more costly journey, one whose dis- side streets and main thoroughfare were tance discouraged any hope of return. Frumento’s Vegetables, Dario’s os Angeles is one of the most cosmo- not an island. Later in the century, Italian Because of the cost of the trip, many had Delicatessen, Giacchino’s Pastries, Pocino politan cities in the world. More lan- passengers aboard foreign ships wrote L stopped for employment along the way, and Scavarda’s Sausages, Torre and guages are spoken here than anywhere home, announcing that they had discovered acquiring in addition to funds a basic Casaretto Accountants and Travel Agency, else. This month, I begin to introduce the the “new Italy.” Among these was Dr. Paolo knowledge of the language and the culture. and the offices of the Italian newspaper. histories of some ethnic groups from this Emilio Botta, a physician serving as a natu- As a result, when they arrived in Los After 1905, North Broadway was crowned area to you, my readers. This month’s his- ralist aboard a French exploratory expedi- Angeles, they were not in need of financial by the Paris Inn, featuring Bert Rovere and tory is by Dr. Gloria Ricci Lothrop, a ded- tion. His observations published in the support. Instead, they embarked upon their his singing waiters — not far from Little icated and knowledgeable historian who 1830s roused great European interest in far-ranging pursuit of land and wealth from Joe’s Restaurant and Delicatessen and the has devoted many years on focusing on a California. As a result of such reports, as San Pedro to Rancho Cucamonga to the relocated St. Peter's Church. number of aspects of local history. But she early as 1823, Giovanni Leandri became San Fernando Valley. Forty-two percent Earlier, St. Peter’s Church had been on has attained a highly singular identifica- Los Angeles’ first Italian landowner and soon purchased property. On their farm- San Fernando or Main Street. Several tion as the indefatigable Southern shopkeeper. He was followed by Fr. Blas lands, they introduced bell peppers and blocks southward, the Italian Hall occupied California history teller of the Italians of Rajo, pastor of the Plaza church near broccoli. They harvested the great schools the second floor of the Hammel Building. Southern California. And it begins right Olvera Street, and Genoese Giacomo of coastal sardines using their innovative From 1907 through the early 1930s, it now. I know you will enjoy her article as Repetto, who laid claim to a portion of nets, and then pioneered the use of olive oil served as the headquarters of the Italian much as I did. recently secularized mission lands. in the canning process. In the lands east of Mutual Benevolence Society (later the – Hynda To the north, the California gold rush was having a worldwide impact, attracting Los Angeles, Secondo Guasti and a group Garibaldina Society). It was also the site of Italian pioneers among of partners introduced the technique of dry wedding receptions, banquets and Saturday About The Author others, not only to the land farming to hundreds of acres of vine- night dances presided over by Pete Pontrelli Dr. Gloria Ricci Lothrop is Professor diggings but also to yards, which one day would be known s the and his Orchestra. This center of the Italian Emerita and formerly the W.P. Whitsett the business world’s largest winery. community also served as the official point Chair in California History at California opportunities in The great waves of immi- State University, Northridge. At Cal Poly growing San gration that swept over the Pomona, she was nominated for the Francisco. United States in the 1870s Outstanding Professor Award and has They worked and 1880s brought Italians as also been honored by the California as shop keep- far west as California. Some Historical Society. In 2002, the Italian ers, importers, settled around the Plaza, government conferred upon her the rank hotel propri- including Sacchi, the photog- of Commendatore. She has published etors, scav- rapher; Mdme. Zuccha, who extensively, having written seven books engers, fisher- reigned over her restaurant; and many other publications. men and farm- and the extended Piuma fam- In addition to teaching and research, ers of the truck ily, who owned a pharmacy. Dr. Lothrop has been active as a consult- gardens that ringed On the east side of the Plaza, ant to Time Life Books, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Antonio Pelanconi, one of L.A.’s earli- Columbia Pictures and public and private est Italian residents and vintners. television. Dr. Lothrop earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Immaculate Heart College and a Doctorate in American his- The Bozzani Bros. bike and auto repair shop. tory from the University of Southern California. www.cityemployeesclub.com May 2008 25

by Hynda Rudd, City Archivist (Retired), ComesAlive! and Club Member Tales From the City Archives

reminded Italian- Americans that according to Benito Mussolini, although that had emigrat- ed, they remained Italian to the sixth generation. To reinforce this point, the staff presented trave- logues, organized trips with the Italian Touring Club, and hosted the Italian team participating in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. A banquet in the Italian Hall, circa 1919. Italian language classes A popular footrace, organized by the Italian Hall, 1917. were offered at the site as well as a chain of satellite of departure for foot races schools overseen by Dr. Angela Spadea. to Lincoln Park and hotly With the attack on Pearl Harbor on contested bicycle competi- December 7, 1941, the Department of Justice tions to Montebello and moved with dispatch to apprehend all resi- even Chino. dents noted on a poorly-conceived “A-List,” On summer weekends, which included many high-level academics, the focus shifted to radio broadcasters, travel agents, writers and Montebello Stadium, once journalists. After being held at Terminal Island part of the Repetto ranch. without legal representation, they were dis- After a picnic repast on patched under heavy security for the duration lawns lined with cypresses, to Fort Missoula, Mon. Others located in some men would launch Military District One encompassing the Pacific Slope, especially residents of San an afternoon card game of The Italian Hall today, near Olvera Street. briscola, while others Pedro, were relocated to other districts. For the majority of Italian “enemy aliens,” would play bocce or com- Thanks to the intervention of the newly pete in hurling heavy the wartime restrictions included a curfew, federal regulation of travel, and the surrender formed Federated Italo-Americans of rounds of Parmesan Southern California, the Patrons of Italian cheese in Il Tiro. On near- of all potential war materials, including flash- lights and short-wave components in radios. Culture, and most prominently, the Scalabrini by lawns, children compet- Fathers — who seized the initiative in estab- ed in sack races, balancing The constraints continued until October 12, 1942, when Attorney General Anthony Biddle lishing Casa Italiana, a focal point of the St. Peter’s Italian Catholic Church in present- acts and more. Not far Italian-American community, rebuilding St. day Chinatown. declared that Italians were enemies no more. away, the midway was Peter’s Church and constructing Villa The local Italian newspaper, L’Italo Americano, lined with booths offering Scalabriniu Retirement Home — a new peri- bore the jubilant headline: “Siamo nemici non games of skill and chance, as well as the od of growth was launched. piu!” (We are enemies no more.) opportunity to acquire the autograph from A final phase of the local Italian communi- In postwar years, newcomers filled the some notable Italian athlete. Soon Pontrelli ty’s immigration history was launched as Italy breech in the local Italian colony which was would strike up the band in the spacious enjoyed new economic prosperity starting in shadowed by both partisan suspicion and open-air pavilion, where couples circled the the 1960s and a cadre of prosperous business resentment of the few who continued to speak floor performing brisk two-steps or well- people, including representatives of interna- the “enemy’s language.” Italian Americans remembered dances from home. tional businesses headquartered in Italy, con- joined in the inexorable movement to the Other activities were sponsored by the stituted a new wave. They, along with govern- West Coast. They were joined by a new type numerous organizations established in the ment employees, members of the filmmaking, of immigrant, the Italian war bride. Both 1920s. Although the United States had fashion, and food purveying industries, have groups vainly struggled to find the cultural imposed a severe immigration quota in 1924, established a distinct enclave within the City matrix of the Italian-American community of the community of Los Angeles Italians had and are as unfamiliar with the community’s Southern California. To the effects of diffu- doubled from the turn of the century and pro- historical past, as longtime residents are sion and assimilation had been added hostili- vided ready membership for the Elenora Duse unaware of the wealth of experience the newly ties between region and class, and most of all, literary society, the Dante Aleghieri Society, the arrived can make available to them. Dante Post of the American Legion and the a deep hostility between factions who had Italian Woman’s Club. favored the allies or the Axis. After 1922, memories of home were further kindled by an expanded consular corps that hosted members of the Italian colony of Southern California at receptions, teas, plays and even fencing competitions at the headquarters of the Ex Combattenti (Italian War Veterans) at their hillside facility on Lilac Terrace near Sunset Boulevard. In a variety of ways, the young, aristocratic vice-consuls

An early Los Angeles Italian- American wedding.