From Eastside to the Dreamy Side: Record Collections and Chicana/o Stories

Schedule

Sun Aug 30 2026 at 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm

UTC-07:00
Location

Central Library - Taper Auditorium | Los Angeles, CA

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Join us for a panel exploring the role that record collections play in capturing these everyday rituals of musical fandom.
About this Event

From spinning records at house parties to tuning in to radio DJs on the road, the role that record collections play in capturing personal, family, and neighborhood stories within local Chicana/o communities have been central to Mexican American life for generations, especially in postwar Los Angeles.


Join us for a panel exploring the role that record collections play in capturing these everyday rituals of musical fandom and how the music we listen to helps shape identity and community, particularly among those who came of age in Los Angeles’s barrios.


Our three panelists include Ruben Molina, author of the new The Dreamy Side: Rhythm and Blues and Chicano Culture in 1950s Los Angeles, Melissa Duenas, creator of the East Side Story Project, and Oscar Garza, a long-time record collector and director of USC’s Arts Journalism program. Moderating the panel will be Oliver Wang, CSULB sociology professor, arts writer, DJ, and record collector.

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Where is it happening?

Central Library - Taper Auditorium, 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

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Los Angeles Public Library
Host or PublisherLos Angeles Public Library

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