Central Avenue street scene with African Americans, Los Angeles, 1939-1945

Title: Central Avenue street scene with African Americans, Los Angeles, 1939-1945
Alternative title: Scenes on Central Avenue
Date Created: [1939-1945]
Date: 1939/1945
Collection: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description: One African American man and about six boys stand on the sidewalk at the corner of Central Avenue and E. Vernon. The boy in the striped shirt holds a newspaper with the headline "Trojans lead [...] 6-0" and an article titled "German Sub Sinks British [...] Boat." Across the street is the California Bank building with the dental office of Dr. J. G. Hatcher on the second floor (with his name just visible in the windows).
Central Avenue is a major north-south thoroughfare in the central portion of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. From approximately 1920 to 1955, Central Avenue was the heart of the African-American community in Los Angeles, with active rhythm and blues and jazz music scenes. Dr. J. G. Hatcher had his dental practice at 1105 E. Vernon Avenue from 1929 to his death in 1954.