Pool Hall in Los Angeles At the Turn of the Century

Gelatin silver photograph. No photographer information. Likely taken in the early 20th century. Photograph measures 4 ¼ x 6 inches. Photo has light silvering and was at one time glued to black album paper (paper residue on verso). Overall very good. The previous owner (modern) of this photograph wrote that the owner of the pool hall, Imada, was a Japanese immigrant and that the location of his pool hall was at San Pedro and First in Los Angeles. Historically, "Little Tokyo" or the Little Tokyo Historic District in Los Angeles had the largest Japanese American population in North America, and from a 1905 source was said to be "bounded by San Pedro, First and Requena streets and Central avenue" (Wikipedia). This image depicts a man standing next to a counter (possibly the owner of the establishment) with about 10 men playing pool behind him.