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This Month's Meeting:
The Diary of Vilma
The Lost History of the Clifton's Cafeteria Camera Girls
Monday, March 19th 7:00pmLa Crescenta Center for Spiritual Living
At the intersection of Dunsmore and Santa Carlotta
If you live in Southern California, you're likely familiar with the iconic Clifton's Cafeteria located in downtown Los Angeles. However, most people don't know that from 1945-1959 Clifton's had a full-fledged professional photo studio operating out of their basement. "Keepsake Photography" employed a team of Camera Girls who would roam around the themed dining rooms with their cameras offering to take your "Souvenir Photo" as a memento of your visit to this wildly popular eatery and tourist destination. Miriam & Victoria are the daughters of Vilma, one of the original Clifton's Camera Girls. They recently discovered their mother's diaries which she wrote while working at Clifton's in the 1950's, along with hundreds of her never before seen original photographs.
The diaries and photographs tell the lost Vintage L.A. story of the photo studio, and about a sassy, fiercely independent girl named Vilma who became one of the most successful camera girls up at Clifton's. She even invented a way to become the star of YOUR very own souvenir photo! Sadly, her ambitious aspirations for success eventually led her down a criminal path…. and into the office of Clifford Clinton. Come to the talk for all of this, and to find out if Vilma escapes with her good name!
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