Joseph Mesmer, Mary Franklin and Kay Sugahara at the banquet at the Kawafuku Cafe for the 2nd annual Nisei festival, Los Angeles, 1935
Description
Joseph Mesmer (left), Mary Franklin and Kay Sugahara on the night of the banquet of the Nisei festival at the Kawafuku Cafe (then located at the intersection of S. Los Angeles St., E. 1st St. and Weller). Mesmer and Franklin wear ribbons of the Pioneers of Los Angeles County. The banquet honored members of this historical society and prominent elder members of the Los Angeles Japanese community. Joseph Mesmer was a guest of honor at the Nisei festival [Los Angeles Times 8/13/1935]., Handwritten on negative: Joseph Mesmer, Mrs. Mary Franklin, Kay Sugahara, 8/2/1935, Joseph Mesmer wears the same suit and award ribbon in a photograph taken at the Nisei festival banquet on 8/13, 1935, published in the Los Angeles Times on 8/14/1936., Text from negative sleeve: 1739, Joseph Mesmer, Mrs. Mary Franklin, Kay Sugahara, Chinese Festival, 8/2/35, [stamped;] AUG 28 1935, -118.24235737323761, 34.05145605221779, The first year of the Nisei festival was 1934. The term Nisei was used to signify the second generation, or American-born Japanese who were American citizens. The festival is now [2012] known as Nisei Week. In 1935 the second annual Nisei festival included a banquet, fashion shows, an ondo (folk dance), kendo contests, a pageant tracing Japanese history, flower and tea ceremonies adn a parade.