This collection of films portrays Mexican and Mexican-American
culture in the 1930s to the 1960s and demonstrates the cultural
and economical importance to California. The three films run for
45 minutes and some footage is silent.
The first film is A Street of Memory filmed in 1937. This
film is a beautiful portrayal of the life and culture lived Olvera
Street and the old Mexican quarter in Los Angeles, California.
The second film is Why Braceros? filmed in 1959. This film
was produced to justify the Government run Bracero farm labor program
to the general public. The main audience was Americans in California
who felt threatened by the influx of Mexican workers to their farms.
In addition to being a fascinating view of the program it also offers
great examples of agriculture and agricultural techniques practiced
in the 1950s.
The third film is Good Friday Through Cuernavaca filmed
in the 1960s. This is a silent tourist film portraying the sights
of Cuernavaca Mexico offering a fascinating glimpse of daily life
and touristic views from the 1960s.
Also included is a bonus newsreel Good Neighbor Labor Supply
(1950) - Texas - Restrictions are eased to permit the entry of Mexican
farm labor for work. Under international agreement and contracts,
once illegal entrants may now work for specified periods on valuable
crops.
