
Stories from Latino L.A.
IMPORTANT PARKING/PROGRAM DETAILS BELOW!
Special Events: Beginning at 6:00 p.m., all attendees are invited to view the brand-new exhibition Visualizing Language: Oaxaca in L.A. Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit is on the second floor of the Central Library and will not be available for view after the program. LFLA Members are invited to stay for a special reception in the Taper Courtyard after the program.
Parking: Before 7:00 p.m, parking is available in the Westlawn Garage underneath the Library at 524 South Flower Street. If you arrive at 7:00 p.m. or after, Flower Street and the Westlawn Garage entrance on Flower Street will be closed. The open entrance will be on Grand Avenue, between 5th and 6th Streets. On Grand, you will turn right in to the first driveway after the 5th Street intersection. A Library Security Officer will be present. We apologize for any confusion caused by the ongoing construction projects in the downtown area. Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time. We recommend taking public transportation or ride share services such as Uber or Lyft.
As Lost & Found at the Movies is free of charge, it is our policy to overbook. In the case of a FULL program your free reservation may not guarantee admission. We recommend arriving early. Unclaimed reservations will be released to standby patrons at the start of each program.
In celebrating the breadth and diversity of Latino film culture in Los Angeles, we’re joined by actor and filmmaker Edward James Olmos, LA born and bred, for a look at the films and experiences that were formative to his work as well as his role in the emergence of a strong, distinctive cinema that countered stereotypes and offered complex stories of Latino characters and communities.
As a prologue, we also explore one of the most fascinating but overlooked stories in Hollywood history: the Spanish-language features produced by the studio system in the early years of talkies, after the introduction of sound threatened Hollywood’s once universal product. These films (like Universal’s 1931 Dracula in which you will find Carlos Villarias rather than Bela Lugosi bearing fangs) as well as those imported from Latin America, sustained a string of downtown theaters and a thriving film culture from the 1930s to the early 1960s.
Sadly many of these movies, stars and theatres have been lost to time, but we remember them with film archivist Alejandra Espasande-Bouza (Academy Film Archive) along with a sneak peek at some rare treasures forthcoming from the Academy Film Archive and the UCLA Film & Television Archive PST programs.
LFLA Members enjoy exclusive access to the exhibition Visualizing Language: Oaxaca in L.A. prior to the program, and a Member Reception to follow the program
Lost & Found at the Movies is generously supported by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association




Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does Lost & Found at the Movies cost to attend?
Lost & Found at the Movies is free to attend.
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Can I attend if I’m not a Member?
While priority notification is given to LFLA Members, non-Members are welcome to attend if space allows. However, the complimentary reception following the program is limited to Members.
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Do I have to make a reservation?
Reservations are recommended, as our programs often fill to capacity. Priority is given to reserved guests.
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Can I attend even if I don’t have a reservation?
Yes! We often have space available to accommodate walk-up guests without advanced reservations. Check our stand-by policy for more information.
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Reservation Policy for Free Programs
As Lost & Found at the Movies is free of charge, it is our policy to overbook. In the case of a FULL program your free reservation may not guarantee admission. We recommend arriving early. Unclaimed reservations will be released to standby patrons at the start of each program.
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Standby Policy
Standby numbers are distributed in person only one hour before the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no advance wait list for full programs. Standby patrons will be admitted based on availability. Most programs will be available via podcast. Become a Member of the Library Foundation to receive priority notification of these programs.
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Canceling a Reservation
If you are unable to use your reservation, please email [email protected]
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Where does Lost & Found at the Movies take place?
Unless otherwise noted, Lost & Found at the Movies is held at the downtown Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium.
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Where should I park for Lost & Found at the Movies?
We recommend taking public transportation. Parking for the Central Library is at the Westlawn Garage at 524 S. Flower Street. For more information, visit the Library’s website.
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Where do I purchase the speaker’s book?
Occasionally a guest on Lost & Found at the Movies is touring with a book. Books are made available for purchase at programs or can be purchased while making your online reservation. In order to participate in the book signing, you must purchase at least one book.