Category Archives: Uncategorized

Welcome back! The story so far: Last time, in our introductory Part I, I pointed out that the whole “Chavez Ravine was destroyed by right-wing real estate developers who illegally evicted everyone because they hated Mexicans and violently displaced them and gave them no money for the homes they had been in for generations inContinue reading “Chavez Ravine, Pt. II: What is Chavez Ravine?”

I’m here today to write about Chavez Ravine, which is not on Bunker Hill, true, but their stories share commonalities: postwar government says “we know what’s best for you” and seizes property, removes the residents, and redevelops. There are countless instances of this in Los Angeles’ history, but in the case of Chavez Ravine, itContinue reading “The Truth About Chavez Ravine, Pt. I”

My esteemed friend and Angels Flight co-operator Will, AKA saturdaystationagent, does great work on his Instagram regarding the Flight, like his timelapse photography (with longer vids of Life in the Station House uploaded to YouTube) as well as all manner of other Flight-flavored IG nuggets, one of my favorites being this. Plus, he documents theContinue reading “Angels Flight in Cinema”

There are three books about Bunker Hill and you’re going to want to get all of them! Mostly because they make GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS! *********** MARSAK’S GUIDE TO BUNKER HILL Bunker Hill is an open-air museum of modernism, showcasing sterling examples of all the major postwar building styles, including Corporate Modern, Postmodern, and today’s contemporaryContinue reading “The Bunker Hill Book Trilogy”

Fifteen years ago, I wrote a piece for the OnBunkerHill blog about a wonderful pile of dirt, specifically, an earthen contour as it rose above a parking lot at the northwest corner of Second and Hill Streets: Alas, that particular plot of land and its pile of dirt is not long for this world. It’sContinue reading “Saying Goodbye: End of the Dirt Patch”

John Soltes, journalist extraordinaire, spoke with me recently about Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill.  He published said interview on his site Hollywood Soapbox… …an interview you may read by clicking this link: Marsak & Soltes Talk Marsak’s Guide Go read it. I’ll wait.  So now, having read the interview, you’re doubtlessly intrigued by the provocativeContinue reading “Hollywood Soapbox and I Talk “Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill””

The Los Angeles City Historical Society was recently gifted a nifty collection of vintage images, which they Tuesday last, posted online: And when that sort of thing happens, if there’s Bunker Hill involved, I’ll comment upon it, naturally (e.g. when this trove popped up on Google Arts and Culture). Let’s get into into it. Part I: TheContinue reading “CHS Posts New (Old) Photos”

There’s a wonderful new exhibit up at the Central Library—a vaster collection of Leo Politi’s original paintings from his celebrated book Bunker Hill, Los Angeles: Reminiscences of Bygone Days (Desert-Southwest Publishers, 1964). Since you’re on this site, you’re likely familiar with Politi’s work, up to and including his Bunker Hill book. Should you not have a copy,Continue reading “Leo Politi! Bunker Hill!”

There is, as you are doubtlessly aware, a Marsak-penned Bunker Hill trilogy— And while I am certain you own the best-selling, award-winning Bunker Hill, Los Angeles (makes a great Christmas gift! buy yours here!), it may just be you have neither Bunker Noir! nor Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill—or you do, but your architecture-loving cousinContinue reading “The Bunker Hill Books: a Holiday Sale-abration!”

This Sunday! Come on out to the Rare Books LA Antiquarian Book Fair in (the unbelievably gorgeous and important) Union Station! I’ll be lecturing about the Bunker Hill book and the work that went into its production, in On Archives and Archivists: Building Bunker Hill, my overly-illustrated, terribly-talky talk about spelunking libraries, chasing private collections,Continue reading “Talking Bunker Hill Archives at the Rare Book Fair!”