Please Join the Little Tokyo Historical Society and Little Tokyo Service Center, as they mark the 101st anniversary of this centering point for the Little Tokyo Community!
In 1922, The Union Church was founded, breaking ground on the first Japanese American Christian Church in the Nation. As a meeting center for the community hosting weddings, Basketball games, and other special events, even offering social services during te Bronzeville Era. After WW2, The union Church would return to the building unil the city took emminent domain over most of the block North of First Street bulldozing many Community businesses, and former residencies, but though the Congregation moved over to Third Street, the Building remained.
In the 1980's, Director John Carpenter used the location as the centerpiece for his film "The Prince of Darkness" making it Iconic to cinema fans around the world.
Finally, the building would find a second life after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. After being declared a Historic Building, the Little Tokyo Community would see the building restored as an Arts Center inviting East West Players, Visual Communications, LA Art Core, and Tuesday Night Project to take up residence in the community! The Building reopened in 1998 rechristened as the Union Center for the Arts, continuing to hold up narratives of the Asian American Experience and the Japanese American Community.
Roughly 18,000 Guests attend Plays, Musicals, Concerts, Poetry Readings, film screenings, classes and gallery openings annually, driving interest in local restaurants, and shops, while contributing to Little Tokyo's identity as an incubator for arts, culture and AAPI representation in arts and entertainment!
Join us as we commemorate 100 years of keeping space in Little Tokyo!
Featuring
- A Rededication ceremony unveiling a new Historic Marker Plaque honoring the Location.
- Open house in the Visual Communications Offices and Archives
- Behind the scenes tours at East west players and a first look at the 1 Million dollar rebuild of the David Henry Hwang Theatre's Rigging Infrastructure (sponsored by the Ahmenson Foundation)
- Open Gallery at LA Artcore
- Presentations from Tuesday Night Project, and the other Building Tennants
Sunday, March 10th
1:00pm
Union Center for the Arts
120 Judge John Aiso St
Los Angeles, Ca 90012
Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVP's are encouraged!
