A Tale of Two Rivers: Los Angeles and San Antonio Trudi Sandmeier 00:00Today on Save As: Leslie Dinkin 00:01What I really liked about the L.A. River, I guess, is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything else, you know. It…
Author archive for: seidenbe
A Tale of Two Rivers: Los Angeles and San Antonio
Why do urban rivers look like they do? What makes one river key to a city’s identity and another one largely unknowable? We wrap up Season Four with a trip to the banks of the Los Angeles River, where Cindy Olnick chats with new dual-degree alum Leslie Dinkin about her award-winning master’s thesis, Heritage in Practice: A Study of Two Urban Rivers.
Leslie wanted to know what happened to set the Los Angeles and San Antonio Rivers on such different courses in the development of their respective cities. In addition to comparing their histories, she walked nearly sixty miles along both rivers. In her thesis, she documents the experience through her written reflections and hundreds of photos by Rio (yes, Rio) Asch Phoenix. In the episode, she shares stories, insights, and part of her conversation with Char Miller, Director of Environmental Analysis and W. M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis and History at Pomona College.
Read MoreSeason 4, Episode 11Beyond the Stage: Uncovering Drag Culture in Los Angeles
Drag performances have long been a draw for audiences in L.A., though often held “underground” because of threats of persecution. In addition to its entertainment history, drag has had a role in affirming and protecting gender identity. Architect and recent graduate Jesús (Chuy) Barba Bonilla researched this history for his master’s thesis, Drag Culture of Los Angeles: Intangible Heritage through Ephemeral Places. In this episode, Willa Seidenberg chats with Chuy about how he chose this topic and why it matters within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. He delves into the challenges of researching drag’s hidden and erased heritage and the vital need to uncover, document, and share these stories.
Read MoreSeason 4, Episode 10Beyond the Stage: Uncovering Drag Culture in Los Angeles Cindy Olnick 00:00Today on Save As… Jesús Barba Bonilla 00:01Drag is not new. I think it’s important for people to understand this and for people to know that there’s a lot more to…
There’s an App for That: 3D Scanning with a Smartphone Trudi Sandmeier 00:00Today on Save As: Ye Hong 00:01I was hoping that it can be beneficial for the protection of our built environment, either to have like collective memories, and…
Documenting Black Women’s History at the Wilfandel Clubhouse
Dedicated students at the University of Southern California have pulled out the laser scanners and measuring tapes to document the Wilfandel Clubhouse in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Wilfandel Club, the oldest Black women’s club in Los Angeles, was founded in 1945 by Della Williams (wife of architect Paul R. Williams) and Fannie Williams as a safe place for social, civic, and community events. In this episode, producer Willa Seidenberg visits the clubhouse to see the students in action, hear what they’re doing and why, and talk with longtime member Jan Morrow Bell.
Documenting Black Women’s History at the Wilfandel Clubhouse Cindy Olnick 00:00Today on Save As… Eliza Jane Franklin 00:01This is really a hidden gem. So many of these places and spaces that will uplift the Black community are often hidden, or they’re unacknowledged…
The Midcentury Spa-Tels of Desert Hot Springs
New alumna (and Save As producer) Willa Seidenberg has enjoyed the mineral-water spas of Desert Hot Springs for decades. In the 1950s, the Coachella Valley town became a destination for middle- and working-class families who frequented the simple spa motels, or “spa-tels.” Willa and co-host Cindy Olnick took a road trip to Desert Hot Springs to see the remaining spa-tels and talk about Willa’s thesis, Spa City: The Midcentury Spa-Tels of Desert Hot Springs. You’ll hear about Willa’s research journey down rabbit holes that led to valuable discoveries. You’ll also learn about tools the town could use to boost its economy by celebrating its heritage.
Read MoreSeason 4, Episode 7The Midcentury Spa-Tels of Desert Hot Springs Trudi Sandmeier 0:00Today on Save As… Willa Seidenberg 0:01I always loved it, A: because the spa water is amazing. And, B: the minute I get to the desert I relax. Trudi Sandmeier 0:17Welcome…
The Hidden Heritage of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf
A San Francisco native, alumna Emi Takahara always wondered why so many locals dismiss the historic Fisherman’s Wharf as a tourist trap. Sure, it has overpriced food, but it also has a culinary history that might surprise you—as well as longtime businesses trying to weather the changing times. In this episode, Emi talks with producer Willa Seidenberg about her thesis, The Restaurant That Started It All: The Hidden Heritage of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, how Italian immigrants shaped Fisherman’s Wharf in the nineteenth century, and how it’s evolving in the twenty-first.