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San Pedro
—  Neighborhood of Los Angeles  —
View of San Pedro and Port of Los Angeles
Nickname(s): San Pedro
Location of San Pedro in Los Angeles County, California
San Pedro is connected to Los Angeles by a thin strip of land, called the "Harbor Gateway", which roughly follows the 110 freeway
San Pedro Location within the Greater Los Angeles Area
San Pedro Location within Southern Los Angeles
Coordinates: 33°44′09″N 118°17′29″W / 33.73583°N 118.29139°W / 33.73583; -118.29139Coordinates: 33°44′09″N 118°17′29″W / 33.73583°N 118.29139°W / 33.73583; -118.29139
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Government
• Type	Neighborhood Council
Population
• Total	86,000
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 90731, 90732
Area code(s)	310/424
FIPS code
GNIS feature ID

San Pedro ( /sæn ˈpiːdroʊ/, not Spanish: [samˈpeðɾo]) is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area. The district has grown from being dominated by the fishing industry to become primarily a working class community within the city of Los Angeles.

Geography[link]

San Pedro is located at 33°44′9″N 118°17′32″W / 33.73583°N 118.29222°W / 33.73583; -118.29222 (33.73583, -118.29139).^[1]

Climate[link]

View from San Pedro of the Palos Verdes Peninsula

The district is situated in a Mediterranean climate zone (Köppen climate classification), experiencing mild, wet winters and warm to hot summers. Breezes from the Pacific Ocean tend to keep the beach community cooler in summer and warmer in winter than those in further inland Los Angeles; summer temperatures can sometimes be as much as 18 °F (10 °C) warmer in the inland communities compared to that of San Pedro and other Los Angeles coastal communities. The area also sees a phenomenon known as the "marine layer", a dense cloud cover caused by the proximity of the ocean that helps keep the temperatures cooler throughout the year. When the marine layer lasts for days at a time and extends farther inland during the months of May and June, it is called June Gloom.

History[link]

San Pedro in an 1850 daguerreotype, Deadman's Island is at the top

San Pedro in an 1893 lithograph

The site, at the southern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, on the west side of San Pedro Bay, was used by Spanish ships starting in the 1540s.

Origin of name[link]

San Pedro was named for St. Peter of Alexandria, a Fourth Century bishop in Alexandria, Egypt. His feast day is November 24 on the local ecclesiastical calendar of Spain, the day on which Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered the bay in 1542 which would become San Pedro. Santa Catalina Island, named after St. Katherine of Alexandria, was claimed for the Spanish Empire the next day, on her feast day, November 25. In 1602–1603, Sebastián Vizcaíno (1548–1624) officially surveyed and mapped the California coastline, including San Pedro Bay, for New Spain.

The Tongva, or Gabrielino, Indians called the San Pedro area Chaaw.^[2]

Settlement[link]

European settlement began in 1769 as part of an effort to populate California, although trade restrictions encouraged more smuggling than regular business. Rancho San Pedro is the site of the first Spanish land grant in Alta California, New Spain. The land was granted in 1784 by King Carlos III to Juan Jose Dominguez, a retired Spanish soldier who came to California with the Gaspar de Portolà expedition.

When New Spain won its independence from the Spanish Empire and Alta California became part of Mexico, the trade restrictions were lifted, and the town flourished.

Under United States control after 1848, when the United States defeated Mexico in the Mexican-American war, the harbor was greatly improved and expanded under the guidance of Phineas Banning and John Gately Downey, the seventh governor of California after the Free Harbor Fight. San Pedro has now become the largest port on the West Coast of the United States and the busiest port in the country.

United States Navy Battle Fleet home port 1919–1940[link]

In 1888, the War Department took control of a tract of land next to the bay and added to it in 1897 and 1910. This became Fort MacArthur in 1914 and was a coastal defense site for many years. Woodrow Wilson transferred 200 United States Navy ships from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1919 when tension arose between the United States and Japan over the fate of China. San Diego Bay was considered too shallow for the largest ships, so the battleships anchored in San Pedro Bay on 9 August 1919. Local availability of fuel oil minimized transportation costs, and consistently good weather allowed frequent gunnery exercises off the nearby Channel Islands of California. The heavy cruisers of the Scouting Force were transferred from the Atlantic to San Pedro in response to the 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria. By 1934, 14 battleships, two aircraft carriers, 14 cruisers, and 16 support ships were based at San Pedro. On 1 April 1940, the Pacific Fleet battleships sailed to Hawaii for annual fleet exercises. The battleships remained in the Hawaiian Islands to deter Japanese aggression until the attack on Pearl Harbor. The fleet post office, supply depot, fuel depot, degaussing range, ECM repair facility, and naval training schools for small craft, fire fighters, merchant ship communications, and anti-submarine attack remained at San Pedro through World War II;^[3] but the battle fleet never returned.^[4]

Appropriately, San Pedro has been selected as the final home-port of the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61). The Iowa is to serve as a museum ship and memorial recognizing "the positive contributions of this battleship and its crew at critical moments in American history".^[5]

Los Angeles annexation[link]

In 1906, the City of Los Angeles annexed the Harbor Gateway, a long narrow strip of land connecting the city to the coast, and in 1909, the city annexed San Pedro and the adjacent town of Wilmington. The odd shape is still seen in the map of the city.

Port of Los Angeles[link]

Vincent Thomas Bridge and S.S. Lane Victory

The Angel's Gate Lighthouse has stood at the entrance to the port since 1913.

Satellite Image- San Pedro.

San Pedro, Wilmington, and Terminal Island are the locations of the Port of Los Angeles.

Locations of interest[link]

One San Pedro landmark is the Vincent Thomas Bridge, a 1,500-foot (457 m)-long suspension bridge linking San Pedro with Terminal Island and named after California Assemblyman Vincent Thomas. It is the third longest suspension bridge in California. Nearby is the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum in California, as is the museum ship SS Lane Victory, a fully operational victory ship of World War II and National Historic Landmark. There is also the famous "Ports O' Call" tourist destination built in 1963 which provides many interesting shopping venues and a host of unique waterfront eateries.

The Frank Gehry-designed Cabrillo Marine Aquarium had its origins in the old Cabrillo Beach Marine Museum which was located in the historic Bath House at Cabrillo Beach. The Point Fermin Lighthouse, a Victorian-era structure built in the late 19th century, still exists as a museum and park on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The Korean Bell of Friendship is a massive bronze memorial bell donated by South Korea in 1976 to the people of Los Angeles.

The Korean Bell of Friendship.

The church of Mary Star of the Sea is a prominent landmark with a steeple-top statue overlooking the harbour.

On July 19, 2003, the San Pedro Waterfront Red Car Line was opened, along the waterfront between downtown San Pedro and the Cruise Ship Terminal. This line includes two newly constructed trolleys built to resemble the wood-bodied 500 class cars introduced in 1905 for the Pacific Electric Railway, which once operated more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of track running streetcars and interurbans in Southern California. The 1.5-mile (2.4 km) line operates along former Pacific Electric right-of-way. The line, rebuilt and maintained by the Port of Los Angeles, also has one original restored Pacific Electric interurban, which is used only for special charter excursions and special events. The original car is in fact Pacific Electric 963 (former Los Angeles Pacific 713 as built in 1907) rebuilt by Richard Fellows and renumbered 1058. Discussions have been held to extend the line to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Port of LA Waterfront Red Car Line

Twenty-Eighth Street in San Pedro, between Gaffey Street and Peck Avenue, is the steepest section of public roadway in Los Angeles. For about 50 feet (15 m), the street climbs at a 33.3% angle, although the rest of the street is less steep.^[6]

There is also "sunken city" that is just east of Point Fermin where the land literally "sunk" into the sea.^[7]

Special events[link]

• "Warner On Wednesdays Film Festival (W.O.W.)" and live musical theatre and plays performed throughout the year by The Relevant Stage Theatre Company.
• Golden State Pops Orchestra performs at events in San Pedro throughout the year.
• Annual "Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat" Parade.
• Annual "Holiday Spirit of San Pedro" Parade.
• Annual "Taste of San Pedro" held at Point Fermin Park.
• Annual "Shakespeare by the Sea, Los Angeles" Festival, held at Point Fermin Park each summer.
• Annual "Chocolate Lobster Dive-a-Thon", held at Cabrillo Beach where participants SCUBA dive for "chocolate lobsters" as prizes.
• "First Thursday Artwalk & Dining", held in Downtown San Pedro.
• Annual "Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture", held at Point Fermin Park.
• Annual performance of The Nutcracker at the Warner Grand Theater. The event is put on by the San Pedro City Ballet.
• Annual "Los Angeles Harbor International Film Festival".

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Demographics[link]

Demographic history[link]

Ethnically diverse, San Pedro was a magnet for European immigrants from various countries for years, reflected in the number of restaurants representing diverse cuisines, especially Croatian, Portuguese, Mexican, Italian, and Greek. San Pedro is home to the largest Italian-American community in Southern California, centered on the "Via Italia" (South Cabrillo Avenue). Estimates state that the community numbers about 45,000 Italian-Americans. San Pedro is also considered the heart of the Croatian and Norwegian communities in Los Angeles. The Croatian community, originally composed of seafarers and fishermen from the Dalmatia (especially the islands of Brač, Hvar, Vis and Korčula) region, has been present in San Pedro since the settlement began more than 200 years ago. The City of Los Angeles even named a stretch of 9th Street "Croatian Place" in honor of the city's old Croatian community. There are reportedly more than 35,000 Croats in San Pedro, making it the biggest Croatian community on the Pacific.^{[citation needed]} The Norwegian presence can be felt at the Norwegian Seamen's Church.

A large portion of San Pedro is also composed of Mexican-Americans, Hispanic immigrants and African-Americans with long-time roots in the community. Much of their populations are based in the older, east side of the community surrounding the downtown area and bordering the Port of Los Angeles.

Until February 1942, San Pedro was home to a vibrant Japanese immigrant community of about 3,000 people who lived in what had been described as a on Terminal Island (East San Pedro). These Japanese immigrants pioneered, thus leading the way in establishing a viable fishing industry in San Pedro. The 48-hour forced expulsion of these San Pedro residents and the razing of their homes and shops, as part of the Japanese-American internment during World War II, is described in Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's memoir Farewell to Manzanar

Demographics (today)[link]

In 2009, the Los Angeles Times's "Mapping L.A." project supplied these San Pedro neighborhood statistics: population: 78,405; median household income: $57,198.

The ethnic composition is 44.6% non-Hispanic white, 4.5% Asian, 6.0% African American, 40.6% Latino and 4.4% belong to other groups. Mexican (31.5%) and Italian (8.4%) are the most common ancestries.^[8]

"19,639 (24.5%) of residents are foreign born, low for the city of Los Angeles but about average for the county. Mexico (49.8%) and Italy (4.4%) are the most common foreign places of birth".^[8]

"22.8% of residents 25 and older have a four-year degree".^[8]

"The median age is 34".^[8]

"Average household size is 2.5 people".^[8]

"There are 3,393 families headed by single parents. The rate is 17.5%. The percentages of divorced males, divorced females, widowed males and widowed females are among the county's highest".^[8]

"There are 6,559 veterans, or 11.0% of the population. The percentage of veterans who served during 1990-99 is among the county's highest".^[8]

Economy[link]

At one point Eva Air had its United States headquarters in San Pedro, but, in 1997, the airline moved its US headquarters to Norwalk, California.^[9]

San Pedro also has the Port' O Call Village which is close to the water with many seafood restaurants and art galleries.

Government and infrastructure[link]

San Pedro Post Office

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn' office is located on Beacon Street.^{[citation needed]}

The San Pedro Superior Court is located on 6th Street.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving San Pedro.^{[citation needed]}

The southwestern tip of Terminal Island, including Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island

The United States Postal Service operates the San Pedro Post Office at 839 South Beacon Street and the Eastview Post Office at 28649 South Western Avenue.^[10][11] The USPS also operates the Seafarers Post Office at Suite A at 93 Berth in close proximity to the San Pedro Post Office.^[12]

The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates the Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island on Terminal Island and in San Pedro.^[13]

Education[link]

Primary and secondary schools[link]

Public schools[link]

San Pedro is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The area is within Board District 7.^[14] As of 2012, Dr. Richard Vladovic represents the district.^[15]

San Pedro High School, Mary Star of the Sea High School, and the Port of Los Angeles High School are primary senior high schools within the region. San Pedro High School is home to the protected landmarks in the form of The English Language Arts and Administration Buildings (c. 1939, 1936, resp.). The school recently celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2003. It is home to both the Marine Science and Police Academy Magnet programs. Port of Los Angeles High School is a public charter high school, fusing a college preparatory program with elective coursework in International Business and Maritime Studies. Such studies reinforce the significant impact of California's ports on the global economy and international trade.

As of 2002 test scores tend to be higher in the area's elementary schools than in its middle and high schools.^[16]

Primary schools (Grades 1–5)

• 15th Street Elementary^[17][18]
• Bandini Elementary ^[19]
• Barton Hill Elementary ^[20][21]
• Cabrillo Early Education Center ^[22]
• Cabrillo Elementary ^[23]
• Leland Elementary ^[24]
• Park Western Harbor Magnet ^[25]
• Point Fermin Elementary ^[26]
• San Pedro/Wilmington Early Education Center ^[27]
• South Shores Magnet for the Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School
• Taper Elementary ^[28][29]
• Taper Avenue Elementary Technology Magnet Center ^[30]
• White Point Elementary ^[31]
• Crestwood Elementary
• 7th Street Elementary

Secondary schools (Grades 6–12)

• Dana Middle School ^[25][32]
• Dodson Middle School (though actually located in Rancho Palos Verdes it is part of LAUSD)
• San Pedro High School ^[33] [2]
  • San Pedro High School Marine Science Magnet ^[34]
  • San Pedro High School Police Academy ^[35]
• Port of Los Angeles High School

Continuation schools

• Angel's Gate Continuation High ^[36]
• Cooper Community Day School ^[37]
• Harbor Community Adult School ^[38]
• Harbor Occupational Center ^[39]

Private schools[link]

Private schools in San Pedro include:

Grades 1–8

• Holy Trinity School^[40]—Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Grades 1–8

• Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School^[41]—Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Grades 6–12

• Rolling Hills Preparatory School—the current location opened on February 6, 2007.^[42]

Grades 9–12

• Mary Star of the Sea High School—Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles^[43]

Libraries[link]

Los Angeles Public Library operates the San Pedro Regional Branch Library at 931 South Gaffey. The library offers free Internet access as well as movies and books. A library card is required for any loan. This library was opened in 1983 in the presence of the late Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.^[44]

Churches and community services[link]

San Pedro has Catholic, Baptist (Southern and American Baptist Association), Pentecostal, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish, Presbyterians, Seventh Day Adventists and Hope Chapel congregations. There are also bilingual churches like the Korean Methodist Church on 6th St, the Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana (First Baptist Mexican Church) on Centre and Sepulveda, built in 1922. This church is associated with the American Baptist Churches USA.^[45] The Hispanic Salvation Army on Bandini Street and also Faro de Esperanza (Lighthouse of Hope) from the Assemblies of God. In San Pedro, some churches give other community services such as free meals, ESL for Hispanics and computer classes. Homeless people may get free meals thru the First Baptist Church on the 500 block on 7th St or the Mary Star of the Sea church on the 800 block. Along 7th St in San Pedro, there are four congregations: the Beth-el Jewish Synagogue, the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, the First Baptist Church (Southern Association), and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormons).

Notable residents[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Point Fermin Lighthouse, built in the 19th century, functioned as one of the harbor's two principal lighthouses.

Art

• Elmer Batters, nylon/foot fetish photographer
• Mister Cartoon, Mexican American tattoo artist and graffiti artist
• Jay Meuser, Abstract Expressionist Artist lived in San Pedro from 1944 until his death in 1963. A bronze plaque is mounted on a building in his honor in the heart of the art gallery district on 7th Street in San Pedro.
• Scott Stantis, Editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune and USA Today and creator of the comic strips "The Buckets" and "Prickly City". Lived in San Pedro 1977–1986 and married a woman from San Pedro.
• Misty Copeland, First African American Soloist in the American Ballet Theater.

Acting

• Mike Lookinland, who played the youngest brother, Bobby Brady, on The Brady Bunch television series from 1969 until 1974, lived in San Pedro while a child actor.
• Dewey Martin, who played, among others, in Howard Hawks films of the 1950s.
• Patrick Muldoon, had regular recurring roles in the well-known soap operas Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place. Starred in 1997 film Starship Troopers.
• Sharon Tate, actress and wife of Roman Polanski, brutally murdered by the "Manson Family".
• D. L. Hughley, comedian and actor. Attended San Pedro High School.
• Kirk Harris, actor and filmmaker. Starred in Chamaco with Martin Sheen and Michael Madsen, among other films. Lives in South Shores, San Pedro.
• Anthony Head, actor. Owns a home in San Pedro.

Music

• Ambrosia: Well-known classic rock band with top 40 hits including "You're the Biggest Part of Me" and "(That's) How Much I Feel".
• John Bettis: Lyricist for many big artists including: Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Carpenters, Whitney Houston and others. He has won an Emmy award and has been nominated for an Oscar for his work on the Godfather III theme song.
• Minutemen: the band members for the influential and eclectic punk rock band grew up in San Pedro and the band was formed there. Bassist/songwriter Mike Watt still lives in San Pedro and is an active participant in its music scene. Drummer George Hurley still lives in San Pedro, as well.
• Krist Novoselic, the bassist of Nirvana, grew up in San Pedro before moving to Aberdeen, Washington.
• Art Pepper, Jazz saxophonist, was born in nearby Gardena, but was raised in San Pedro.
• Brenton Wood, singer and songwriter, his biggest hit "Gimme Little Sign" reached #9 on the pop charts in 1967.
• Eric Erlandson, co-founder of and lead guitarist for 1990s rock/grunge band Hole. 1981 graduate of San Pedro High School. He also attended Holy Trinity Catholic School, Dana Junior High School (now Middle School) and Los Angeles Harbor College.
• Blu, Los Angeles based rapper and record producer, born in San Pedro
• Jim Korthe, vocalist for rap-metal group 3rd Strike, grew up in San Pedro. He died in his San Pedro home in January 2010.
• Mark Powell, artist and drummer of The Get Set, Kosmos Express was born in San Pedro, California
• Miguel (singer), grew up and went to high school in San Pedro

Politics

• John S. Gibson, Jr., a Los Angeles City Councilman, lived there until his death in 1981.
• James Hahn, former Mayor of Los Angeles, is a current resident.
• Janice Hahn, current City Councilwoman for the 15th district.
• A.E. Henning, Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1929–33
• Xavier Hermosillo, former Chief of Staff for the State of California Republican Party. Former award-winning newsprint reporter, television commentator and radio talk show host.
• Joe Hill, a radical songwriter, labor activist, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World, lived and worked in San Pedro in the early years of the 20th Century and here began his labor organizing years.
• Yuri Kochiyama, held a dying Malcolm X in her arms after an assassin had shot him.
• Mike Lansing, school board member for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Also the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Harbor Boys and Girls Club.
• Vincent Thomas, California Assemblyman representing the 68th (later redrawn as the 52nd) Assembly district from 1940 through 1978. The famous Vincent Thomas Bridge is named after him. Thomas lived in San Pedro until his death in 1980,

Science

• John Olguin, director of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium from 1949 until 1987. Founder member of the American Cetacean Society and the "father of recreational whale watching."^[46]

Sports

• Joe Amalfitano, long-time third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Part of the 1981 and 1988 World Series championship teams.
• Alan Ashby, Catcher for the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays in the 1970s-1980s.
• Denise Austin, Fitness personality
• Ronnie Barber Sr., played tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs in the old AFL.
• James Cotton, ex-CSULB basketball standout. Sharpshooting guard was selected in the second round by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1997 NBA Draft. Played two seasons for Seattle.
• Joe Danelo, ex-kicker for the New York Giants
• Mario Danelo, record-setting ex-placekicker for the 2006 NCAA national champion USC Trojans fell to his death in the cliffs overlooking Santa Catalina Island in San Pedro in 2007.
• Gary Gabelich, set the Guinness Book of World Records driving his rocket-powered "Blue Flame" vehicle for a world land speed record of 622.287 M.P.H. at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah on October 23, 1970. Record stood for 13 years.
• Bob Gross, starting small forward for the Portland Trail Blazers 1977 NBA championship team.
• Brian Harper, former starting catcher for the 1991 World Champion Minnesota Twins. Manager of Los Angeles Angels triple-A affiliate Salt Lake City Bees.
• Dennis Johnson, Boston Celtic and Seattle SuperSonics basketball great in the 1970s and 1980s. Won three NBA championship rings.
• Richard Johnson, former USFL and Detroit Lion wide receiver.
• Ed Jurak, utility infielder for the Boston Red Sox in the 1970s and 1980s.
• Andy Lopez, former head baseball coach of at the University of Florida. Coached Pepperdine University in 1992 to the College World Series title. Currently the head baseball coach at the University of Arizona.
• Garry Maddox, 8-time golden glove winning and starting center fielder for the 1980 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.
• Haven Moses, former starting wide receiver for the Denver Broncos in the 1970s. Started in Super Bowl XII versus the Dallas Cowboys.
• Willie Naulls, ex-UCLA basketball great. Played power forward/center for New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. 4-time NBA All-Star with the Knicks in the 1950s. Won 3 NBA Championships with the Celtics in the 1960s.
• Robb Nen, former relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, and San Francisco Giants
• Angela Nikodinov has finished in the top five in the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships 7 times (1996–2004) and placed 4th in the World in 2002.
• Raul Rojas, featherweight boxing champion in the 1960s.
• Norm Schachter, three time Super Bowl referee in the National Football League.
• Tim Wrightman, ex-UCLA star and starting tight end for the dominant 1985 Super Bowl XX Champion Chicago Bears.
• Petros Papadakis, Former Captain of USC Trojans Football Team
• Rene Paragas, San Pedro native and current Saugus High School Cross-Country coach. Set a California record as he led the Centurion girls to a sixth straight State title in 2011.^[47] Holds a total of 7 CIF Championships in both track and field and Cross-Country. Recently featured in the December 19 issue of Sports Illustrated.^[48]

Writers and poets

• Louis Adamic, 1899–1951 Slovenian-American novelist and journalist who wrote about American minorities and immigrants.
• Richard Armour, poet and author who wrote over sixty books, was born in San Pedro on July 25, 1906.
• Charles Bukowski, author and poet, lived there in his later years.^[49]

"San Pedro is real quiet. It used to be a seaport full of whorehouses and bars. I like the quietness. They ask you how you're doing, they really want to know."

• Richard Henry Dana, Jr. author of the famous memoir Two Years Before the Mast. Dana was not a resident but rather a famous visitor to San Pedro, who wrote about the experience in his memoir. San Pedro's first middle school is named after him.

"Two days brought us to San Pedro, and two days more (to our no small joy) gave us our last view of that place, which was universally called the hell of California and seemed designed in every way for the wear and tear of sailors. Not even the last view could bring out one feeling of regret. No thanks, thought I, as we left the hated shores in the distance, for the hours I have walked over your stones barefooted, with hides on my head, -- for the burdens I have carried up your steep, muddy hill, --for the duckings in your surf; and for the long days and longer nights passed on your desolate hill, watching piles of hides, hearing the sharp bark of your eternal coyotes, and the dismal hooting of your owls." Excerpt from Two Years Before the Mast [At the time, San Pedro had no dock. Everything had to be loaded onto smaller boats and rowed ashore.]

• Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of the popular memoir Farewell to Manzanar on the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. She briefly lived in East San Pedro (Terminal Island).

"In those days it [East San Pedro] was a company town, a ghetto owned and controlled by the canneries. The men went after fish, and whenever the boats came back-day or night-the woman would be called to process the catch while it was fresh. One in the afternoon or four in the morning, it made no difference...I can still hear the whistle--two toots for French's, three for Van Camp's--and she [Mom] and Chizu would be out of bed in the middle of the night, heading for the cannery." Excerpt from Farewell to Manzanar

• Louis L'Amour, Western Fiction Writer.

"The worst times were when he was "on the beach" - on shore, in San Pedro, California, between ships and broke. "I slept in boxcars and under piles of lumber, and took jobs no one else wanted. I was 18 and looked 24. There were several times I went three and four days without eating. I didn't beg or steal, just went without. I'd like to recover for my readers what it's really like to be hungry. I have a penchant for stories about survival, lessons in survival. I've been a survivor most of my life." L'Amour chronicled some of his experiences on the beach in San Pedro in is 1980 book Yondering.."

• Sandrot Meallet, author of the novel Edgewater Angels.

"Meallet calls the people he grew up with in the Rancho San Pedro Housing Project ' the most wonderful people I ever knew. These kids had to grow up in a constant state of cultural crisis, always reacting to the police, their messed up parents, and neighborhood gang leaders. It takes superhuman strength to get through it and be aware.' "

• Scott O'Dell, author of young-adult literature, lived in East San Pedro (Terminal Island) during his childhood.

"Island of the Blue Dolphins, though it is based upon the true story of a girl who lived alone on a California island for eighteen years, came from the memory of my years at San Pedro and Dead Man's Island, when, with other boys my age, I voyaged out on summer mornings in search of adventure."

• John Shannon, Mystery Novelist

"It was interesting. San Pedro may have been the last great place to grow up in the L.A. area -- a harbor, a real sense of community, a real Left, even a literary history: Charles Bukowski, Louis Adamic, even Richard Henry Dana stayed [here] for a time. I could ride the ferry across to Terminal Island, hang out at the docks, walk down the harbor among the commercial fishing boats with old Sicilians and Croatians mending their nets, catch crawdads in Averill Park."

• Diana L Guerrero, author of What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality^[50] and Blessing of the Animals^[51] grew up in San Pedro.

"San Pedro was a great place to grow up because it was such a close knit fishing village that helped me develop love for animals and the environment. My connection with nature and animals began at our home near the cliffs of Royal Palms and my professional path began at the Cabrillo Beach Museum under the tutelage of John Olguin. John was the first to put me in front of an audience. As for my writing? In the 9th grade we produced a magazine called, "The Perpetual Wave" and I believe that the article inside the magazine was my first published work.

Film and television

• Anthony "Twan" Huljev, a filmmaker (of Croatian ancestry, born and raised in San Pedro), producer of the award-winning underground film "Night Train"^[52] which won awards for Best Cinematography and Best New Director at the 2000 FantaSporto International Film Festival ^[53] in Porto, Portugal. Son of Vladimir Huljev (co-founder of the American-Croatian Club in 1958, annexing the Croatian Hall
  File:Croatian Place.JPG

  Croatian Hall
  in the early 1970s). Grandson of Vido Druskovich, a fisherman on the locally legendary fishing vessel "San Pedro Boy", on which he lost his life in April 1971. From 1999 to 2006, Anthony was the Los Angeles Regional Director for Burning Man; from 1998 to 2002 he produced the Burning Man Opera. Owner of extensive email lists and blogs featuring art, music, film, entertainment, and events in southern California, as well as casino gaming and horse racing. Anthony is close to the San Pedro community, with many family members and friends in residence, including Minutemen founder Mike Watt and former KXLU radio personality Brother Matt Matich, with whom he is an occasional guest on The Watt From Pedro Show. Anthony lived next door to musician Krist Novoselic, a fellow Croatian-American, when Krist lived with his family in San Pedro, prior to their moving to Aberdeen, Washington where, some years later, Krist became the bassist in the rock band Nirvana.
• Lincoln Ruchti - Director of the documentary Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade^[54]
• Robert Towne, writer, director, producer, actor. Raised in San Pedro. His father owned a popular dress shop that was on 6th Street. One of the best script doctors in Hollywood, he contributed crucial scenes to such films as Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and The Godfather (1972). Also wrote Chinatown (1974), Mission: Impossible (1996), Mission: Impossible II (2000), The Last Detail (1973), Shampoo (1975). The Writers Guild of America, west recently ranked Chinatown, behind only Casablanca and The Godfather, as the third greatest English language screenplay of all time.^[55]
• Peter V. Manghera, hosted a Public-access television talk show on cable TV. The series was created and produced with his brother Jeff Manghera, who handled the production chores. Their show, Pete's Place, was broadcast on Cox Communications Inc., Palos Verdes (previously Dimension Cable) from February 1994 to December 2008 and had included many notable personages, including Rep. Jane Harmon (D-CA), Mayor James Hahn, and District Attorneys Steve Cooley and Gil Garcetti. The series ended production in December 2008 when the Public-access television cable TV channel and production studios were eliminated by Cox Communications, Inc..
• Enzo Giobbe - Director of photography on many Hollywood and European movies. Director and cinematographer on some of the most popular music videos during the 1980s. Raised in San Pedro. His father was a well known commercial fisherman who owned several fishing boats. His mother owned a popular children's clothing store on 6th Street.

The Infamous

• Joe "Pegleg" Morgan, ex-godfather of the Mexican Mafia prison gang. Joe, who was of Croatian-American heritage spent his early years in San Pedro. Moved to East L.A. in his teens. He was the link between the Mexican Mafia and the West Coast Italian crime syndicates criminal activities of the 1970s. Joe Morgan was the character " JD " in Edward James Olmos 1992 movie American Me.

Television[link]

San Pedro incinerator chimney

• NCIS: Los Angeles (2009)^[56][57][58]
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2009)^[59]
• Mad Men (2007) ^[60][61]
  • in Season 2, Episode 12 - The Mountain King, scenes are shot in San Pedro near Point Fermin and Cabrillo Beach. The original Don's wife, Anna Draper, is shown to live in the area.
    • "Don disembarks from a bus at San Pedro, pauses to look around in a picturesque manner, and heads on his way."^[62]
    • "It appears that Don and Anna lived for a time in the San Pedro area of L.A."^[63]
• Dexter (2006)
  • Episode: Born Free (2006)^[64]
  • Episode: It's Alive! (2007)^[65]
  • Episode: Waiting to Exhale (2007)^[66]
  • Episode: Dex, Lies, and Videotape (2007)^[67]
  • Episode: Our Father (2008)^[68]
  • Episode: Do You Take Dexter Morgan? (2008)^[69]
  • Episode: Finding Freebo (2008)^[70]
  • Episode: The Damage a Man Can Do (2008)^[71]
  • Episode: Blinded by the Light (2009)^[72]
• The O.C.(2003)
  • The popular television show The O.C. filmed on location in San Pedro; footage taken include 5 scenes in 4 different episodes.
  • Season 1, Episode 21: "The Goodbye Girl" ^[73]
  • Season 1, Episode 24: "The Proposal" ^[74]
  • Season 1, Episode 24: "The Proposal" ^[75]
  • Season 3, Episode 5: "The Perfect Storm" ^[76]
  • Season 3, Episode 1:"The Aftermath" ^[77]
• Covert Action (2002)
• CSI: Miami(2002)
  • TV-Series 2002–Present
  • TV-Series 2002–2003^[78]
• Robbery Homicide Division (2002)
  • TV-Series 2002–2003^[79]
• 24 (2001)
  • TV-Series 2001^[80]
• Alias (2001)
  • TV-Series 2001^[81]
• Fear Factor (2001)
  • TV-Series 2001^[82]
• Power Rangers in Space (1998)
  • TV-Series 1998–1999^[83]
• Riptide (1984)
  • TV-Series 1984–1986^[84]
• Cousin Skeeter (1998)^[85]
• 240-Robert (1979)
  • TV-Series 1979–1981^[86]
• Waterfront (1954)
  • TV-Series 1954–1956^[87]
• My So-Called Life (1994) was filmed at San Pedro High School.
• Mr Show with Bob and David (1998)Season 4 Episode 5
• "Knight Rider"
  • TV-Series 1982–1986
• "Wonder Woman"
  • TV-Series 1975–1979
• "The A-Team"
  • TV-Series 1983–1987
• "Who's the Boss"
  • TV-Series 1977
• The San Pedro Beach Bums
  • TV-Series 1977-78 - considered ahead of its time. Cancelled early, but later designated as culturally and historically significant by the American Library of Congress^[88]

Film[link]

The "Danish Castle"

• The community of San Pedro, California is a very popular location for filming.^[89] Films shot in San Pedro include:
  • The Most Dangerous Game is a 1932 film adaptation of the 1924 short story of the same name by Richard Connell.^[90]
  • Landmark black-and-white 1933 horror/adventure film King Kong.^[91]
  • Iconic 1936 comedy film by Charles Chaplin about the Great Depression, Modern Times.^[92]
  • Classic 1937 comedy film Nothing Sacred.^[93]
  • Academy Award nominated American film The Long Voyage Home released in 1940 and directed by John Ford.^[94]
  • Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. (1941) the Republic Movie serial.
  • Raging Bull, which stars Robert De Niro, who won an Academy Award for the part, as Jake LaMotta.^[95]
  • Escape from the Planet of the Apes, the 1971 science fiction film starring Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, and Bradford Dillman. It is the second sequel to the Planet of the Apes movie of 1968, the first sequel being Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970).^[96]
  • Chinatown, the 1974 film directed by Roman Polanski featuring many elements of the film noir genre, particularly a multi-layered story that is part mystery and part psychological drama. The movie won several high-profile awards, including an Academy Award in 1975 for Best Writing and Original Screenplay for Robert Towne.^[97]
  • Private Benjamin, the 1980 comedy film which tells the story of Judy, a wealthy Jewish woman, who joins the Army when her new husband dies on their wedding night.^[98]
  • Swing Shift, the 1984 feature film directed by Jonathan Demme and produced by and starring Goldie Hawn with Kurt Russell. It also starred Christine Lahti.^[99]
  • To Live and Die in L.A., the neo-noir American film released in 1985 and directed by William Friedkin. The movie is based on the novel written by former Secret Service Agent Gerald Petievich, who co-wrote the screenplay with Friedkin. The picture stars William L. Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Turturro, John Pankow, and others. The film tells the story of how two U.S. Secret Service agents set out to arrest a counterfeiter, using any means necessary. The agents do not let the law stand in their way.^[100]
  • Wanted: Dead or Alive is a 1987 film directed by Gary Sherman and starring Rutger Hauer as Nick Randall, the descendant of the character played by Steve McQueen in the television series of the same name.^[101]
  • The 1987 film Some Kind of Wonderful stars Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson, and Mary Stuart Masterson. It was one of the many successful teen dramas written by John Hughes in the 1980s, although this one was directed by Howard Deutch. The film's title comes from a song written by John Ellison that was a hit for Grand Funk Railroad.^[102]
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master is the fourth film in the A Nightmare on Elm Street series. It was released in 1988. The film was directed by Renny Harlin.^[103]
  • The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, the 1988 comedy film, the first in a series of movies starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, and O. J. Simpson.^[104]
  • Colors the 1988 film starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall and directed by Dennis Hopper. The rest of the cast includes stars such as: Glenn Plummer, Grand L. Bush, Don Cheadle, Damon Wayans, Leon Robinson, and María Conchita Alonso.^[105]
  • The Abyss is a 1989 science fiction film which was written and directed by James Cameron, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn.^[106]
  • The Hunt for Red October the 1990 film based on the best-selling novel of the same name.^[107]
  • Boyz n the Hood, rapper Ice Cube's first production film in 1991.
  • Successful 1992 film A Few Good Men, starring the star packed cast of Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Bacon, J. T. Walsh and Kiefer Sutherland.^[108]
  • Clear and Present Danger the 1994 film directed by Phillip Noyce, based on the book of the same name by Tom Clancy; starring Harrison Ford.^[109]
  • Heat the 1995 remake of L.A. Takedown, a 1989 television movie written and directed by Michael Mann. Critical and commercial success, grossing $187,436,818 worldwide.^[110]
  • Outbreak (1995) is a suspense film starring Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. The film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen. In addition, Outbreak features Cuba Gooding, Jr., Donald Sutherland, and Patrick Dempsey.^[111]
  • A Walk in the Clouds the 1995 romance film directed by Alfonso Arau and produced by the Zucker brothers; it is a remake of a 1942 Italian film of the same title. It stars Keanu Reeves, Giancarlo Giannini, Anthony Quinn and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón.^[112]
  • The Usual Suspects is a 1995 American film written by Christopher McQuarrie (who earned an Oscar for the screenplay) and directed by Bryan Singer. It stars Kevin Spacey (who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance), Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, Pete Postlethwaite, Benicio del Toro and Kevin Pollak.^[113]
  • The Crossing Guard is a 1995 independent film directed and written by American actor Sean Penn. It stars Jack Nicholson, David Morse, Anjelica Huston and Robin Wright Penn.^[114]
  • Freeway the 1996 thriller film starring Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland and Brooke Shields. The movie is a black comedy loosely modeled after the story of Little Red Riding Hood.^[115]
  • 1996 Academy Award-nominated action film The Rock.^[116]
  • Face/Off the 1997 critical and financial successful action thriller film, starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage.^[117]
  • Beverly Hills Ninja the 1997 film starring Chris Farley as a bumbling Beverly Hills ninja. Written by Mark Feldberg and Mitchell Klebanoff and directed by Dennis Dugan, the film was released the same year of Chris Farley's death. Also stars Nicollette Sheridan, Robin Shou, Nathaniel Parker, Soon-Tek Oh, Keith Cooke, and Chris Rock.^[118]
  • Batman & Robin the fourth installment in the comic book-inspired film series initiated by Tim Burton, and the second directed by Joel Schumacher. Released in 1997, it starred George Clooney as Batman and Chris O'Donnell returning as Robin, and introduced Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone), a niece of Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred (Michael Gough). The villains in this movie are Poison Ivy, played by Uma Thurman, Mr. Freeze, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger (who received top billing for this film), and Bane, played by Jeep Swenson.^[119]
  • Amistad is a 1997 Steven Spielberg film based on a slave mutiny that took place aboard a ship of the same name in 1839, and the illegal activity that followed. Starred Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, and Djimon Hounsou.^[120]
  • Highest grossing film of all time, 1997 romantic drama film Titanic, by James Cameron.^[121]
  • The Lost World: Jurassic Park the 1997 science fiction film and the second Jurassic Park film as part of the Jurassic Park franchise.^[122]
  • Wild Things is a 1998 erotic crime film starring Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards, Neve Campbell and Bill Murray. It was directed by John McNaughton.^[123]
  • The Thin Red Line is a 1998 war film which tells the story of United States forces during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. It marked Terrence Malick's return to filmmaking after a twenty-year absence.^[124]
  • The Big Lebowski, the 1998 American comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges stars as Jeffrey Lebowski, an unemployed Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler, who refers to himself as "The Dude".^[125]
  • Fight Club the 1999 feature film adaptation of the 1996 novel Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk; adapted by Jim Uhls, directed by David Fincher, and starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, and Meat Loaf.^[126]
  • Gone in 60 Seconds the 2000 action film, starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, and Robert Duvall; directed by Dominic Sena, and written by Scott Rosenberg. It was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and is a remake of the 1974 H.B. Halicki film Gone in 60 Seconds.^[127]
  • Charlie's Angels (2000) is an action/comedy film based on (and something of a sequel to) the 1970s television series Charlie's Angels. The angels were played by Cameron Diaz (Natalie Cook), Drew Barrymore (Dylan Sanders), and Lucy Liu (Alex Munday).^[128]
  • U-571 is a 2000 movie directed by Jonathan Mostow, and starring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, Jack Noseworthy, Will Estes, and Tom Guiry. In the movie, a German submarine is boarded in 1942 by disguised American submariners seeking to capture its Enigma cipher machine.^[129]
  • One Night at McCool's the 2001 dark comedy, directed by Harald Zwart and starring Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas, Paul Reiser, John Goodman, Liv Tyler, Reba McEntire and Andrew Dice Clay.^[130]
  • The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear the 1991 sequel to the 1988 film The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! was also filmed in San Pedro.^[131]
  • High Crimes, the 2002 American drama film/thriller film starring Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman.^[132]
  • Catch Me If You Can the 2002 motion picture set in the 1960s. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and adapted by Jeff Nathanson loosely from the book by Frank Abagnale, Jr. and Stan Redding. The lead actors were Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, with a supporting role by Christopher Walken.^[133]
  • Red Dragon, a 2002 thriller film, based on the novel of the same name written by Thomas Harris featuring the brilliant psychiatrist and serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter.^[134]
  • A Man Apart the 2003 action film starring Vin Diesel and directed by F. Gary Gray.^[135]
  • The Shape of Things is a play by American author and film director Neil LaBute apapted to a 2003 American movie. Starring Paul Rudd, Rachel Weisz, Gretchen Mol, and Fred Weller.^[136]
  • 50 First Dates the 2004 romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore and directed by Peter Segal. Other cast members included Rob Schneider and Sean Astin.^[137]
  • The Devil's Muse (also known as Black Dahlia Movie: The Elizabeth Short Story)^[138]
  • Shelter, a 2007 film starring Trevor Wright, Brad Rowe and Tina Holmes. A big part of the story takes place in San Pedro and Zach, the hero, lives there with his family.
  • The Midnight Meat Train, a 2008 horror film based on Clive Barker's 1984 short story of the same name.^[139]
  • Cloverfield, a 2008 monster/horror film directed by Matt Reeves, produced by J. J. Abrams and written by Drew Goddard.^[140]
  • Pearl Harbor, where a scene was filmed at the Warner Grand Theatre.
  • Primary Colors, a 1998 film starring John Travolta.^[141]
  • Hancock, the 2008 comedy superhero film directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron. The train wreck scene was filmed in San Pedro, California, in conjunction with Pacific Harbor Line RR. PHL SD18 diesel locomotive #40 was changed by the movie crews to the fictitious Southland & Western RR.^[142]
  • G-Force the Disney movie about special agent pets had a few action sequences towards the end of the film taking place on 9th street and Ports O' Call. When the rodents showcase their hamster ball motorcycle you can clearly see the port of LA in the distance. When the government agents reach a fictional theme park, they are actually in the Ports O' Call parking lot when they set off all of the fireworks .^[143]
  • (500) Days of Summer, the 2009 film where the wedding scene in the park was filmed at the Point Fermin Lighthouse.^[144]
  • Crank: High Voltage (2009)^[145]
  • The Ugly Truth (2009)^[146]
  • Fast & Furious (2009)^[147]