Atwater Village Oral History Project
Nothing brings the past to life quite like hearing the voices and memories of those who lived it. In partnership with local filmmaker Luke Mines, Friends of Atwater Village (FAV) is collecting and preserving the oral histories of longtime residents and community members. These recordings capture the diverse voices, experiences, and traditions that make up the fabric of Atwater Village.
Through video interviews, storytelling, and visuals, younger generations can hear first-hand accounts of what life was like in our neighborhood decades ago—stories of family, work, schools, businesses, and the everyday moments that shaped community life.
This ongoing project is made possible in part by a Neighborhood Purposes Grant from the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council. Selections from the Oral History Project can be found here on our website (see below), as well as on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, ensuring that these stories remain accessible and continue to inspire.
Jimmy Hawkins Oral History
Jimmy Hawkins is an Atwater original who went from being a child star in Hollywood to becoming a successful film producer and author. He was born in Atwater in 1941 and as a child starred in the classic film "It's a Wonderful Life". He has deep family roots in LA and show biz and a lifelong love for Atwater Village where he has lived for many decades. This is the first in a series of oral histories from @friendsofatwater , @atwatervillagenc and Atwater resident @lukemines who filmed and edited these stories from Jimmy.
Glenda Mueckay Mendizabal Oral History
After immigrating from Ecuador, Glenda Mueckay Mendizabal was a student at Glenfeliz Elementary in the 1970s and this June finished her 28th year teaching at the same school. She has seen a lot of changes over the years and given a lot back to the kids of LA. This is the second in a series of oral histories from the Friends of Atwater Village, the AVNC and Atwater resident Luke Mines, who filmed and edited these stories from Mrs. Mendizabal. Three short animations in this clip were done my Mrs. Mendizabal's daughter @suki_sketches and some music was contributed by @mikeraznick
Gene Gilbert Oral History
Over 25 years ago Gene Gilbert began leading an effort to designate part of North Atwater as an official Equestrian District. In 2008 the city council approved an official horse district in the neighborhood. Here Gene speaks about organizing to create the Equestrian Distict, what makes the area special and why she thinks horses are so important to the neighborhood and city. This is the third in a series of oral histories from the Friends of Atwater Village, the AVNC and Atwater resident Luke Mines, who filmed and edited these stories from Gene Gilbert.