The Return of the LACHS Gala
By Adam G. Linder
LACHS Board Member & Media Team Chair
Image courtesy of Meridith Major, LACHS Website & Graphics Chair
One of the last events hosted by the Los Angeles City Historical Society before the world shut down for the Coronavirus pandemic was the 2020 Annual Gala. Some of our members will always remember that as the last time they were able to see each other before the Stay-at-Home order. Unfortunately, that was also the last time many would see each other ever.
If there’s one thing we have learned through this all, it’s the importance of coming together. The Gala may come and go like many of the events in our lives, but after a three-year break, this year felt like a new beginning. Last Sunday, May 19th a room full of historians, members, friends, and family gathered to celebrate. We toasted those we’ve lost, and we honored many of our community who have used their days to promote and enrich the culture of Los Angeles’ deep history.
The LACHS Board of Directors has had a long history at Taix Restaurant, for many years having met for the monthly Board Meeting in the Champagne room. It was an honor that Michael Taix worked together to bring this year’s Gala to fruition, with our very own Claudine Ajeti, who passed away just the weekend before our event. Claudine raved about her memories in the establishment and personally negotiated to get the Sole Meunière on the menu for our members to enjoy.
Image courtesy of Meridith Major, LACHS Website & Graphics Chair
After a lovely introduction to the event by our own Programs Chair, Danny Jensen, our Vice President, Michael Holland, began with honoring our history, toasting our lost friends, and speaking about the newest members of the Board who are helping usher the Society into these new beginnings. After a surprise showing of the world-famous pea soup, and as the drinks kept flowing, Geraldine Knatz took the stage to introduce our Awardees. Geraldine worked tirelessly with the nominations and coordinated with the winners, to ensure that they and their guests were properly honored.
Former Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky was the first honoree for our Special Recognition Award, speaking about his professional history with our own President, Charlie Mims, and their long-running discussions regarding Union matters. Zev spoke about his book, Zev's Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power. A Political Memoir, and used it to segue way to our next Special Recognition Awardee. Zev spoke about how honored he is to be standing there, in his 70s, awarded in the same year as DeMarco Smith, a 30-year-old, who is changing the world already.
DeMarco Smith, cheered on by his friends and family truly deserves this honor. Through his brand “Maintain the Mystery,” he is being honored for his book South Central is Mecca Vol. 1. Recounting his personal history with South LA, and the love of it his grandmother entrusted to him, DeMarco shared with us his plans to create further books bringing the history of the rich neighborhood further to today.
Bobby Green and the 1933 Group were up next and received the honor of the David G. Cameron Preservation Award. Bobby spoke about his own history as a 10-year-old coming to LA, gawking at programmatic architecture, and with hearts in his eyes honoring how special it is that he was able to restore and carry these important landmarks, including Tail O’ the Pup and The Formosa Cafe, into LA’s future.
Christina Rice was next to the podium, honoring her work with the Los Angeles Public Library. She thanked her fellow Librarians, honoring the fact that she now holds the award named after one of the most well-loved librarians, the J. Thomas Owen History Award. Our own Board Member, Nicholas Beyelia nominated Christina, and rightfully so. Her dedication and contribution to Library Studies deserve to go down in their own history.
Unfortunately, Judy Baca was unable to attend the ceremony, as she is currently live-streaming the creation of the next chapters in the Great Wall of Los Angeles over at LACMA. Her coworkers were there to accept on her behalf, and we’re honored for the chance to recognize such an important visual history of our city’s history and culture.
Finally, Elizabeth Gaydowski took to the stage to honor her late husband, Todd Gaydowski, the longtime President of LACHS. In its inaugural year, this award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership in the field of historic research, authorship, publishing, grant-making, records, or historic site management. We are truly honored to have Elizabeth stay so involved with the Board, even providing this year’s beautiful flower and centerpiece arrangements for the Gala.
In addition, we are very grateful for the three Sponsors for this year’s event, which without the night would not have been possible; the Los Angeles Professional Managers’ Association as a Silver Sponsor, and both the Los Angeles Police Museum and GPS Security, Inc as Bronze Sponsors.
Overall, the ceremony and dinner served not only as our return to our Annual Gala, but a chance for everyone to acknowledge our history, both the City’s and our Society’s. Looking to the future for more programs and opportunities, this event bridged generations of History lovers and will act as a moment in time for us all as we bring the Los Angeles City Historical Society into its next and greatest chapter!
