Chavez Ravine--Ry Cooder and LA History, Set to Music

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When Ry Cooder revived the Buena Vista Social Club, he focused a lot of attention on life in Cuba since the Communist Revolution. His latest album re-visits a sad chapter of Los Angeles history, the 1950's uprooting of a Mexican-American community to make way for Dodger Stadium. Before Dodger Stadium was constructed, low-cost housing was planned for Chavez Ravine in a development designed by Richard Neutra, one of LA-s most revered architects. Chavez Ravine, the CD, arrives at an appropriate moment, as the first Mexican-America mayor in a century is about to be sworn in. We hear from Ry Cooder and others about the project to keep the memory of Chavez Ravine alive and what it means today.
When Ry Cooder revived the Buena Vista Social Club, he focused a lot of attention on life in Cuba since the Communist Revolution. His latest album re-visits a sad chapter of Los Angeles history, the 1950's uprooting of a Mexican-American community to make way for Dodger Stadium. Before Dodger Stadium was constructed, low-cost housing was planned for Chavez Ravine in a development designed by Richard Neutra, one of LA-s most revered architects. Chavez Ravine, the CD, arrives at an appropriate moment, as the first Mexican-America mayor in a century is about to be sworn in. We hear from Ry Cooder and others about the project to keep the memory of Chavez Ravine alive and what it means today.

PBS on Chavez Ravine

Dodger Stadium

Wilkinson v United States

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton