DOWNEY - Two short films about Watts, Calif., made a month before the infamous riots of August 1965, will be presented Thursday inside the John Downey Room at the Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center.The showing begins at 7:30 and is part of the Downey Historical Society's regular program. The first film is a black and white, 13-minute short called "Felicia" (a junior in high school). Felicia is shown observing the area as it was in the spring of 1965. Produced by Stuart Roe, Felicia comments on hopes and frustrations experienced by the black population. The second film is called "Watts Towers Theatre Workshop" and features Steven Kyle Kent. In July of 1965, a drama student at the University of Southern California began working with a group of teenagers from Watts. The film was made and shown as a PBS special, produced locally by KCET. The program will also feature a 5-minute 16mm home movie of the Watts Towers filmed in 1970 by Cal State Long Beach professor Josephine B. Schultz. Steven Kyle Kent will be the program's guest speaker. The community is invited to attend.

********** Published: May 22, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 5