Original Chinatown and early Olvera Street

[Oss Rae]

Recently came across this documentary about filming locations of Charlie Chaplin movies (primarily The Kid but others, too) in and around Olvera Street and the original Chinatown (where Union Station now stands). Interesting how intricately Chaplin intercut shots done in the Chaplin-Lloyd-Keaton Alley in Hollywood with shots done here, making it all look like the same neighborhood. Looks like some Keaton and Lloyd movies were also filmed in the area.

(Another Chaplin movie was filmed in front of what's now Philippe's, but that information is in John Bengston's book Silent Traces www.goodreads.com/book/show/58851.Silent_Traces . )

On a much darker note, I've also been reading about the rampant prostitution that existed in that neighborhood from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Women who expressed a desire to leave were killed. There were a few groups that helped women escape and gave them residence in shelters. Much of that history is recited in this video:

And of course, the original Chinatown was also the site of the the Chinatown Massacre of 1871.

[Oss Rae]

Here's a picture of a live prologue for Chaplin's The Kid, performed before a screening at the Belvedere theater in Pomona (circa 1921): cinematreasures.org/theaters/20588/photos/160699