Author Archives: Nathan Marsak

Available on Amazon (click here) and eBay (click here), or with even greater savings direct from the publisher, see below for details! September is upon is; it is thus time to venture forth from summer hibernation into the newly-cool atmosphere and go touring. My advice? Grab your copy of Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill andContinue reading “MARSAK’S GUIDE September SALE!”

Time to check in on the bunk!  Now, bunk is not a word you hear often—bunk being short for bunkum. Bunkum means foolish claptrap and lemme tellya, our silly world of Los Angeles is all-fire replete with that. Plus, you know, bunk, Bunker Hill, it all ties together.  Lately I’ve taken to task the bunk-riddenContinue reading “Checking In on the Bunk”

We all love great painters, especially those who depicted Los Angeles, right? And, subset of subset, specifically those who gravitated to Bunker Hill, capturing its picturesque charm. Some favorites: the enchanting Leo Politi and his watercolors of Bunker Hill (there are libraries and schools and public squares named after the man, not to mention thisContinue reading “Kay Martin: Lost Painter of Bunker Hill”

Today we talk about Pershing Square. Perhaps it’s not Bunker Hill proper—bordering the Hill’s southern edge—but I consider it an essential part of the Hill story. It is, after all, where so many of the Hill’s elderly residents spent their days (for example, go to 11:11 in the great 1956 documentary about Bunker Hill toContinue reading “Renaming Pershing Square”

After a couple of solid weeks out in Chavez Ravine, let’s get back to Bunker Hill. And do you know what was on Bunker Hill? Fire Stations! There were two engine companies on Bunker Hill, and images of neither made the book Bunker Hill, Los Angeles (though there is a passing mention of the HopeContinue reading “The Fire Stations of Bunker Hill”

The story so far: we introduced our subject in Part I by detailing how Chavez Ravine’s Master Narrative, from which came the Reparations Bill, is equal parts unsupportable claims and outlandish disinformation. Part II made sure you knew Chavez Ravine’s history. Part III provided a snapshot of life in Palo Verde, La Loma and BishopContinue reading “Chavez Ravine, Pt. VII: What Have We Learned”

The story so far: we introduced our subject in Part I by detailing how Chavez Ravine’s Master Narrative, from which came the Reparations Bill, is equal parts unsupportable claims and outlandish disinformation. Part II made sure you knew Chavez Ravine’s history. Part III provided a snapshot of life in Palo Verde, La Loma and BishopContinue reading “Chavez Ravine, Pt. VI: The Arechiga Family”

Our story so far: we introduced our subject in Part I by detailing how Chavez Ravine’s popular mainstream narrative is aggressively counterfactual. Part II answered the question of “what is this Chavez Ravine?” Part III gave a rough sketch of what life was like in Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop during the postwar era,Continue reading “Chavez Ravine, Pt. V: Here Come the Dodgers”

The story so far: In Part I, we outlined how the habitual narrative—including most everything that made it into the Reparations Bill—is a mixture of urban legend, conspiracy theory, manipulated facts, confirmation bias, and outright nonsense. In Part II, we examined the area’s genesis and growth into the 1940s. In Part III, we looked atContinue reading “Chavez Ravine, Pt. IV: The Rise and Fall of Elysian Park Heights”

The story so far: In our introductory Part I, we saw how, when it comes to that fabled place called Chavez Ravine, what you likely believe is untrue, your having been fed the disinformation-heavy Regime Narrative. In Part II, you were given an outline as to the area’s location, genesis, and evolution. Today: a quickContinue reading “Chavez Ravine, Pt. III: Calm Before the Storm”