[Home Movies of the Watanabe Family's Store in Long Beach, CA / circa 1936-1937]

Dateca. 1936-1937

Mediumfilm

ClassificationsMoving Images

Credit LineGift of Bruce M. Watanabe, M.D.

Object number2003.121.1

DescriptionBlack and white home movie footage of Long Beach, California filmed by Gunji Watanabe circa 1936 to 1937. Footage includes many scenes of customers in the Watanabe family store (KW Market); around the family home and neighborhood; a memorial or death anniversary for Yuriko Watanabe; and a brief baseball game. Customers and family friends are almost equally split between Japanese American and Caucasian; two African American customers are also filmed. Scenes of working at the KW Market provide perfect glimpses into a typical Japanese American family business. Because of the number of close ups and recurring individuals on film, some repeat visitors are identified by previous timecodes or letter designations (A,B,C). A is Mrs. Matsu Watanabe, B is Mr. Keida Watanabe (owner), and C is their son Gunji Watanabe (the filmmaker). KW Market / K.W. Grocery was located at 336 West State Street (now Pacific Coast Highway). The Watanabes lived at 334 West State Street.

0:31 -- Panning views along State Street from outside Watanabe Family’s store in Long Beach, California.
0:36 -- Interior view of the Watanabe store showing canned goods, a Caucasian customer, and a woman (A) behind the counter. A man (B) joins the woman behind the counter. Smiling and waving at the cameraman.
0:57 -- Elderly Caucasian man pulling a cart of odds and ends up the street, outside the store.
1:02 -- A younger man (C) gets out of a vehicle in front of the store.
1:09 -- Man (B) parks and exits the same vehicle outside a home. A woman in an apron (A) is watering plants.
1:32 -- Woman (A) is dressed up and walking in a park; panning shots of the park; picnic laid out.
2:13 -- Back at the family store. A young Caucasian boy and his family are shopping. Woman (A) employee is behind the counter again with younger man (C). Man (B) helps a young customer across the street. Employees (A, B, C) unpack groceries, tend to displays, and rub dirt off potatoes.
3:14 -- Three young men are joking around in front of the camera outside a home.
3:33 -- Man (B) and young man (C) take turns walking a toy duck with rolling rubber feet outside a home.
4:03 -- Back at the store, a Caucasian family of three exit and pretend to get in a car, then are back inside shopping with employees (A, B) packing grocery bags. Family leaves with groceries.
5:03 -- Two Caucasian women exiting a house (including customer from 0:36) and standing by flowers.
5:21 -- Japanese American family of four outside the store getting into a car. Exterior panning views of shops and homes nearby.
5:52 -- Young Caucasian girl (from 4:03) tap dances in a frilly outfit outside a home (same home from 5:03). A small group watches her, and a “car for sale” sign is visible. A Caucasian woman, young lady, and the tap dancing girl pass the cameraman.
6:46 -- Back at the store, a young man (C) helps a Caucasian young woman customer. She and a group of three Caucasian young women pose for the camera.
7:26 -- Customers drive away from the store.
8:10 -- Exterior view of the family store from across the street -- “KW Market” sign is visible.
8:21 -- Various Caucasian and Japanese American customers getting in and out of cars.
8:56 -- Man (B) and woman (A) exit a house (#334 State Street) and walk along a sidewalk to the store. Man (B) and customers leave in a car. Caucasian man and his son exit the store.
9:54 -- Three Japanese American children eat ice cream bars. Two Caucasian girls leave the store with ice cream bars. More customers get into cars.
10:15 -- Panning views of oil wells.
10:45 -- Views from a car and of other cars driving around a cemetery. Many people walking among graves -- could be a holiday or for a funeral.
12:20 -- Closer view of group gathered around a grave with flowers and small Japanese and American flags.
13:30 -- Close up of a grave covered with flowers, for Yuriko Watanabe (Oct 13, 1921 to Sep 14, 1929). Yuriko was buried at Central Memorial Park (now called Westminster Memorial Park).
((recent burial, or anniversary?? Film is supposed to be mid-30s))
14:10 -- View of open fields.
14:33 -- A man and two women leave a house wearing dressy clothing, walk around, and return to a porch.
15:04 -- Baseball game.
15:34 -- Home interior with woman (A) seated, then moving to stand by portrait of young girl (Yuriko?). Closeups of photos of same young girl. Man (B) stands by portrait of young girl, then approaches the camera and peers into the lens. More posing of the woman and man standing by family photographs alternated with closeups of the photos.
17:36 -- Back at the store, young man (C) stocking displays. Children walk around the store, including a young African American woman and girl, two Caucasian girls, and two Caucasian women with a little girl drinking from a soda bottle. Another Caucasian family of six poses for the camera.
19:13 -- Men stand outside the store around a car.
19:33 -- Young man (C) helps a Caucasian family in the store.
19:40 -- Woman (A) walks with a parasol.
20:06 -- Film ends.

1 film reel : si. ; 8 mm. original pos. Title supplied by Academy Film Archive: Home Movies of the Watanabe Family's Store in Long Beach, CA / circa 1936-1937