Welcome to our Historical Presentations. We invite you to see streaming videos of these fantastic events from historians and authors. Our past presentations will now be available for streaming if you were not able to attend or would prefer to view later.
An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles Video Presentation.
Originally authored over fifty years ago by renowned architectural historians Robert Winter—described by Los Angeles Magazine as both the “spiritual godfather” and “father” of L.A. architecture—and the late, great David Gebhard, this seminal vade mecum of Los Angeles architecture explores every rich potency of the often relentless, but sometimes—as captured here—relenting L.A. city scape. $45 for an autographed copy of the book which will be delivered by Angel City Press directly to you so you can follow along at home. Click here to purchase.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Join Robert Inman as he takes us on a virtual tour of Los Angeles.
Original Presentation January 13, 2021 at 7:00pm
Adrian, American Designer, Hollywood Original Presentation
In 1933, “Fortune” magazine suggested to the American fashion industry that they could benefit from the showmanship demonstrated by the Hollywood designers in order to compete with the French couturiers. The Hollywood designer “Fortune” most praised was Adrian of M-G-M. It was a logical choice as Adrian’s design for Joan Crawford in the 1932 film “Letty Lynton” dominated the fashion industry for the next two years. Join us for Adrian, American Designer, Hollywood Original by Richard Matukonis-Adkins. Click here to view.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Purchase book or additional books separately
Original Presentation: Wednesday, September 22nd. 7:00 PM
Better Luck Next Time Presentation
August 25th, 7:00 PM. Do you want to read something funny? Let’s say, a novel set at a divorce ranch in Reno in the 1930s? A book with memorably eccentric characters, sparkling dialogue, a satisfying plot twist, and some romance and sex? A feel-good literary comedy/western? Here it is, then, the book you’ve been looking for: Julia Claiborne Johnson’s Better Luck Next Time.”— author of Dear Committee Members and The Shakespeare Requirement. Click here to view.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
The eagerly anticipated second novel from the bestselling author of Be Frank with Me, a charming story of endings, new beginnings, and the complexities and complications of friendship and love, set in late 1930s Reno.
Original Presentation: August 25th, 7:00 PM
Bunker Hill Los Angeles: Essence of Sunshine and Noir Presentation
by Nathan Marsak
In Bunker Hill Los Angeles: Essence of Sunshine and Noir, historian Nathan Marsak tells the story of the Hill, from the district’s inception in the mid-19th century to its present day. Once home to wealthy Angelenos living in LA’s “first suburb,” then the epicenter of the city’s shifting demographics and the shadow and vice of an urban underbelly, Bunker Hill survived its attempted erasure and burgeoned as a hub of arts, politics, business, and tourism.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Join Nathan Marsak as he guides us through L.A.'s first suburb filled with shadows and sunshine.
Original Presentation February 17th at 7:00pm
Clubhouse Turn: The Twilight of Hollywood Park Race Track Presentation
by Michelle Asselin
On December 22, 2013, the world-famous Hollywood Park Race Track closed its doors forever. In 2014, demolition began on the landmark race track, effectively erasing seventy-five years of history, while at the same time making space for an entire new neighborhood to suddenly arise in the middle of the metropolis. Photographer Michele Asselin spent every day at Hollywood Park in the last two weeks before it closed, photographing the buildings, the employees, and the patrons of the track. Clubhouse Turn: The Twilight of Hollywood Park Race Track is the product of her efforts, and the story of two cultures colliding in the middle of a rapidly evolving city.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Join Michelle Asselin as she takes us through this historic race track and Los Angeles Landmark.
Original Presentation: March 17, 2021
Ghosts of Greystone - Beverly Hills Presentation
With Clete Keith
Clete Keith never had thoughts of writing a book, let alone one on the paranormal. He was not someone totally convinced of the existence of ghosts or spiritual hauntings, until he started working at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. After twenty-two years working at the mansion, he woke up one night with the idea of writing a book about the stories he has heard as well as his own experiences. Ghosts of Greystone – Beverly Hills is a landmark exposé of eyewitness accounts detailing supernatural activity associated with this extraordinary location.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Original Presentation: October 27th, 7:00 PM
History and Virtual Home Tour of 330 N. June Street
Featuring an interview and guided tour through this historic property by President Richard Battaglia and home owner Joseph Guidera followed by question and answer period with Mr. Guidera.
A prime Hancock Park 1927 Mediterranean Revival Architectural Masterpiece has been fully renovated, restored, decorated and enhanced into its present pristine condition by the legendary design firm of Ron Wilson Interiors and its owner, Joseph Guidera as his personal residence. This distinctive estate has all the hallmarks of a truly unique and special property: built in the 1920s for a direct descendant of Los Angeles oldest original Spanish land grant holding families, designed for large-scale entertaining and yet with many smaller intimate personal spaces in a grand period revival style by noted architects, constructed by a local well know builder of most prestigious luxury homes of the era, and now restored to all of its former glory.
For his new home, Patrick Watson would enlist the services of the Sweden-born master builder C.J. Nordquist who had a well-deserved reputation for building some of the grandest homes and public buildings in Los Angeles.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Original Presentation: Wednesday May 26th at 7:00 PM
Inside Hancock Park Video Presentation
by Jane Gilman
Larchmont Chronicle pioneer and historical society co-founder, Jane Gilman has written a book about what she knows best, Hancock Park. She puts Hancock Park into the palm of your hand with ease and grace. This is a sweet book that would be a great gift for anyone. Each book will be purchased from Chevalier’s Bookstore will autographed by Jane, herself. Click here to purchase the book as well to follow along at home.
Join Jane Gilman as she takes us on a stroll through the Los Angeles' gem, Hancock Park.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Original Presentation December 16, 2020 @ 7:00 pm
Master Architects of Southern California 1920-1940: Paul R. Williams by Marc Appleton, Stephen Gee, and Bret Parsons
Presentation
Paul Revere Williams’s inspirational story has fascinated historians for the simple fact that his journey was so improbable. The orphan son of an African American fruit-and-vegetable merchant, he was repeatedly told he had no chance of ever realizing his childhood dream of becoming an architect. And yet, he ignored the naysayers to reach the pinnacle of his chosen profession, while overcoming widespread discrimination throughout early- to mid-twentieth century America. The odds against him succeeding were enormous.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Original Presentation: April 21, 2021, 7pm.
Preserving Los Angeles: How Historic Places Can Transform America’s Cities
by Ken Bernstein
Ken Bernstein, the City Planner for the City of Los Angeles and a national advocate for historic preservation shares how Los Angeles has led the nation in historic preservation and shares how other cities can do the same.
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Los Angeles has an image as the “City of the Future”―a city always at the cutting edge of change―but also as a “throwaway metropolis” that cares little about its history or architectural legacy. Yet the reality is quite different. Over the past decade, the City of Los Angeles has developed one of the most successful historic preservation programs in the nation, culminating with the completion of the nation’s most ambitious citywide survey of historic resources.
Original Presentation: July 7, 2021, 7pm.
Saving Radio City Music Hall - A Dancer's True Story
by Rosemary Novellino-Mearns
In Saving Radio City Music Hall, published by TurningPointPress, Rosemary Novellino-Mearns reveals how Radio City Music Hall, Art Deco masterpiece and New York City’s premiere tourist attraction for generations, was saved from demolition. After years of struggling with intense, sometimes painful memories, “Rosie” tells the honest, fact-filled, emotionally charged, and often humorous story of how she organized the gargantuan effort to save Radio City Music Hall in the Spring of 1978. Against all odds, and in only four months, she succeeded. Readers will be shocked by the “no good deed goes unpunished” climax of the story in which Rosie reveals her reward for spearheading the movement to save “The Showplace of the Nation.”
And if you like what you see please feel free to make a donation to the Historical Society.
Original Presentation: November 10, 2021, 7pm.