Voilà des photos prises à Bunker Hills, quartier du centre de Los Angeles
ou John Fante a vecu et ou se deroule l'intrigue de plusieurs de ses
romans. J'ai recolle les commentaires en anglais de
l'excellent site qui m'a permis de retrouver la position exacte de tous ces lieux historiques (au bas mot).
Pershing Square Fissure - Although there is no signage to point this out, the jagged inlaid line
of stone running from the SW corner of the park at 6th & Olive
Streets towards the rock pool in the center is installation artist
Barbara McCarren's tribute to John Fante and "Ask the Dust." The fissure
is meant to suggest the Long Beach earthquake which terrorized Arturo
Bandini, and sent him and many Angelenos to sleep in the park out of
fear the already-old buildings on Bunker Hill would collapse on them.
Carey McWilliams' quote in Pershing Square - A curved wall is printed with a quote from John Fante's dear friend and
carousing partner Carey McWilliams, describing a typical early morning
scene in the park around the time Arturo Bandini might have visited it.
The Goodwill - Yes, this is the same Goodwill
thrift store (although much reduced in size) where Arturo Bandini bought
his suit in "Ask the Dust." Its basement is also home to a notably
colony of brown recluse spiders, so don't stray off the main floor.
Closed as of 2013.
Grand Central Market - The young John Fante, like most denizens of old
Bunker Hill, did his grocery shopping here. In "Ask the Dust,"
Arturo Bandini's friend Benny Cohen lives upstairs, dealing marijuana
cigarettes, selling newspapers and preaching class warfare. It remains a
truly delightful and welcoming urban shopping and dining experience.
Angels Flight Railway - The historic funicular was formerly located further north on Hill
Street, until its removal in 1969 as the final buildings were torn down
on Bunker Hill. The restored railway operated in this new location from
1996-2001, was closed following a fatal accident, then reopened in March
2010 just in time for the dedication of John Fante Square on April 8,
2010.
John Fante Square - A city landmark, dedicated on April 8, 2010, the 101st anniversary of the author's birth. Hurray!
Los Angeles Central Library - The young John Fante walked down Bunker Hill from his room in the Alta Vista Apartments (called
the Alta Loma in "Ask the Dust") and borrowed books from this branch.
Years later, a young Charles Bukowski discovered "Ask the Dust" in the
Central Reading Room (now the Children's Room), and was inspired to
write of the real Los Angeles he knew. The revival of interest in John
Fante's work came when Bukowski photocopied the rare edition of "Ask the
Dust" from this library and mailed it to his publisher at Black
Sparrow, John Martin. In "Ask the Dust," John Fante wrote of visiting
the Central Library: "Hya Dreiser, Hya Mencken, Hya, hya: there's a
place for me, too, and it begins with B, in the B shelf, make way for
Arturo Bandini..."
Last surviving Bunker Hill retaining wall - Along the northern edge of this parking lot is the remains of the heavy
stone retaining wall that once surrounded the Fremont Hotel. It is last
surviving example of the type of stonework that was typical of Bunker
Hill during its heyday, and is in excellent condition today.
