Weekend viewing: Bunker Hill, 1956 *

Five years before Kent MacKenzie made The Exiles, about Native Americans in Downtown Los Angeles, he made a 17-minute student film at USC showing everyday life in the Bunker Hill neighborhood in 1956. If you like mid-century L.A. history, this is a must-see. The film centers on pensioners living out their years dreading that the city was going to demolish their neighborhood to create a new downtown, which is exactly what happened. Included is nice footage of Angels Flight in its original location beside the 3rd Street tunnel, Grand Central Market, the Angels Flight Pharmacy and the view of City Hall and Downtown from the hill. This version has just been posted to Vimeo. [ * Deleted Aug. 3...here's the item.]

Do I need any more of an excuse to revisit Millard Sheets' interpretation of Bunker Hill? No I do not. Go here. There's also this followup from the folks at Black Clock.