1979 When Chinatown Was Punk - pt 1

Looking south down Broadway
from Chinatown towards downtown L.A.



East Gate to New Chinatown
951 N. Broadway, L.A.
(The Gate of Maternal Virtues)

2008 photo: tlc

The 5 tiered Golden Pagoda

2008 photo: tlc

1979 L.A. - Unbelievably, the best place to hear live, local punk music was in - Chinatown.

In the '70's - some of Chinatown's oldest restaurants become new punk music venues. Such as...

• • The Rice Bowl restaurant becomes Madame Wong's
  • Joy Yuen Low restaurant would become the Hong Kong Cafe

  
  

Historical notes on the New Chinatown
The new Chinatown in downtown L.A. was built in 1938 - after the old Chinatown was torn down to make way for the new Union Station.

L.A.'s Union Station (train station)

When it opened in 1938, the new Chinatown consisted of many notable Chinese restaurants, shops, an herbal store, a grocery store, a bean cake factory, a Chinese deli, bakery and offices - that were all moved from Los Angeles' Old Chinatown, not quite a mile away.

Location of L.A.'s New Chinatown

The Enchanting charms of Old China in Los Angeles
For over three decades New Chinatown was a successful tourist draw - with plenty of top notch restaurants and souvenir shops. In fact, the Central Plaza was one of the first pedestrian malls in America.

The Rice Bowl restaurant

One of the original restaurants was called the Rice Bowl. The Rice Bowl - located on the upper floor - it was the Palace in the Sky. In the day- it was home to the only Asian cabaret in town and featured live music and dancing. Later, in the 1970's, this establishment would become Madame Wong’s restaurant.

Early photo of the Rice Bowl restaurant in Chinatown, which later later would become Madame Wong's

LMU/LA digital collections

Front door to the Rice Bowl which later became Madame Wong's

1938

L.A. Times Ad c. 1945

Joy Yuen Low restaurant

Nearby the Rice Bowl was the Joy Yuen Low restaurant, located at 425 Gin Ling Way. It would later become the Hong Kong Cafe.

Early photo of the Joy Yuen Low restaurant


Early photo of Central Plaza with Joy Yuen Low restaurant
and Chinaware and Gin Ling Way Gifts

LMU/LA digital collections

Site today
Left to right: former sites of: the Forbidden Palace restaurant,
GinLing Gifts, Chinaware and
the Hong Kong Cafe (red building)

2008 photo: tlc

Some early post cards of Chinatown from the 1960's.

Looking west down Gin Ling Way toward the West Gate
Corner of Central Plaza showing Tuey Far Low restaurant on the left, Chinaware, Gin Ling Gifts and Forbidden Palace restaurant on the right

LMU/LA digital collections

Same view as above - post card format

LMU/LA digital collections

Same view as above - Early view of the Central Plaza - looking NW
Tuey Far Low Chop Suey restaurant on left

LMU/LA digital collections

Former Tuey Far Low Chop Suey restaurant
as it appears today (Golden Dragon gift)

2008 photo: tlc

Kim Ling Inn - 1938


As it appears today, former Kim Ling Inn is now the
Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Society




Former Far Tuey Low chop suey restaurant is now
Golden Dragon Gifts

However, by the 1970's, Chinatown was suffering economically with the influx of new immigrants to the area and out flux of tourist dollars and the more established businesses.

Some Historical markers:
1975

The end of war in Southeast Asia results in many ethnic Chinese immigrants and refugees, some of whom eventually relocate to L.A.'s Chinatown.

1977

Throughout the late 1970's there is continued rapid growth in New Chinatown due primarily to an increase in Southeast Asian Chinese. This leads to commercial activity being supported by both ethnic trade and tourism rather than just tourism as during the 1950's and 60

1979

A large influx of Chinese Vietnamese boat people into New Chinatown occurs.

1980

The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency designates Chinatown as a redevelopment area. source: Chinese Americans in Los Angeles

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