[K.M. Akiyama Co. : pre-war Little Tokyo -- home movies, ca. 1936, 1941]

Maker Noritake, Mr.

Date1936-1941

Mediumacetate

DimensionsL: 315 ft, Film Format: 16.00 mm

ClassificationsMoving Images

Credit LineGift of Yoshio Akiyama

Object number92.14.1

DescriptionBlack and white and some color footage shot by Mr. Noritake, circa 1936 and 1941. Black and white footage is of the exterior storefront of K.M. Akiyama Co. grocery store located at 115 N. San Pedro Street in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Some color footage of produce being weighed. Black and white footage of a family’s home as well as leisure activities.

Timecode list:

0:30 -- Various credits
1:05 -- Truck with “K.M.Akiyama Co. 115 No. San Pedro St. Phone MU. 6781” painted on the passenger side door, man with “K.M. Akiyama Co.” shirt gets out
1:16 -- Awning banner “115 K.M. Akiyama Co.” on side of building; storefront with signage and multiple truckloads of boxes and crate are unloaded by a group of male employees out front; some crates say “Made in Japan”
3:04 -- Man in glasses passes a box to a boy to bring inside
3:10 -- Man is opening a crate filled with cans or jars
3:22 -- Truck arriving in front of store and employees are taking inventory and unloading a shipment of crates and sacks
4:32 -- People, including a child, unpack the crates inside the store and organize the new inventory on the shelves; two female customers can be seen in the background at 5:30 and a male employee smokes while unpacking around 6:12
7:51 -- Workers (including child and man in glasses) pose together in front of stocked shelves; a number of the shots are blurred and out of focus
9:35 -- (Color) Piles of produce (apples, persimmons, eggplant, cabbage, etc) stacked high outside storefront; employees arrange the produce and a couple of men use the hanging produce scale
10:39 -- (B&W again) Store staff tidying the outdoor produce area, bagging and weighing produce for customers using hanging produce scale
11:25 -- Wide view of the storefront where a van has pulled up
11:48 -- A family of six (parents, three boys and one girl) pose together outside their house; individual closeups on each family member
12:40 -- Potted plants that are arranged outside the home
13:02 -- Youngest son sitting with a toy on the porch, oldest son riding a bicycle
13:37 -- Two men in suits and two of the sons sit outside of the house and smile for the camera
13:46 -- The oldest son and one of the younger sons
14:07 -- The daughter plays a song on the piano
14:19 -- The two parents standing together
14:40 -- A collection of trinkets on a shelf in the living room
14:46 -- Film ends

1 film reel (315 ft.) : si., b&w and col. ; 16 mm. original reversal pos.;Black & white amateur footage of K.M. Akiyama Co. located at 115 N. San Pedro Street in Little Tokyo and color footage of Akiyama family at home and playing in Los Angeles, California filmed by Mr. Noritake, ca. 1936 and 1941. Includes footage of exterior views of storefront, people unloading trucks, stocking shelves of family grocery store in preparation for New Year's sale, house flowers, individual family members, boy on bicycle, girl playing piano, kids playing and family house.