Edit: The original episode was recorded October 2023 and was first released on You Tube, due to technical issues it was not able to be released on audio until now sorry for the delay. On this episode we have a guest co-host our friend Hood Historian we discuss why we love and hate mid-century architecture! From the good, bad and ugly we needed to let out a few laughs. Sabrina also pops in from New Orleans to say hello. Follow us IG @swapmeet_chronicles @hoodhistorian562 @beyondthefacadepodcast Special shoutout to LA Historians Collective in video @etandoesla @ms.bettedaviseyes @californiograph ..read more

On this episode we discuss the 80th anniversary of the Zoot Suit Riots Cruise weekend. This year was different as the city got involved and sponsored events commemorating the Zoot Suit Riots with two different organized events in Little Tokyo and Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights. In addition, we discuss the news of the LA County Board of Supervisors acknowledging and apologizing the city's wrong doing during the zoot suit riots and the banning of the zoot suit in June of 1943. This was a great move by the city and those who helped push it to see change in tragic events that hurt our culture and ..read more

We chat with Wayne Poe from Mr Poe's Morgue on the paranormal presence of Camarillo State Mental Hospital in Ventura (1932) which is now a Cal State University. We discuss the early history of the hospital and its demise then journey into a paranormal hotspot for investigators including our co-host Sabrina-Observing Spooks. We also discuss the making of Wayne's documentary Hotel Camarillo (2014) which includes a decade of footage/evidence from various investigators who dared go into Cam. Check out the documentary on Amazon Prime https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Camarillo-Wayne-Poe/dp/B073GML5R1/?f ..read more

On this final episode for 2022 we recap the year. We discuss feedback of the year in podcasting our favorite episodes, what we need to improve on, goals and outlook for 2023. Follow us on our socials IG swapmeet_chronicles, Observing_spooks_andothervices, beyondthefacadepodcast, You Tube-Beyondthefacadepodcast, You Tube editor Mr Wayne's Morgue. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthefacade/support ..read more

California Prison series is a new segment that we will share exploring the history of California prisons we have visited over time. We discuss the history, architecture of the prisons and experiences (paranormal or not) visiting these places as well as stories/controversies that have occurred at these places over time.  In our first segment we  discuss the history of California Correctional Institution (CCI) or just known as Tehachapi before it was a men's prison  it was a women's prison in the 1930s better known as California Institute for Women (CIW) where  women like inf ..read more

In honor of Slanguage Art Studio 20th Anniversary Installation we created a special episode discussing the abandoned juvenile institutions in Los Angeles that are currently still there or recently razed: Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, Central Juvenile Hall, SRCC/CYA Norwalk, Fred C. Nelles (razed), MacLaren Hall, and General Hospital 13th floor jail ward. Many of these places have been highlighted on Swapmeet_Chronicles but it was important to have a discussion of how these places affected youth throughout the decades and why are they abandoned now? The installation currently at Angels Gate Cultu ..read more

On Ep 22 we interview Eric Craig from The South LA Recap You Tube Channel. Eric was born and raised in South Central or is it South LA? That question inspired his You Tube channel and dive into South LA history. " The South LA Recap is an online-based documentary project that is dedicated to unraveling the immense history, secrets, and stories of South Los Angeles. The South Los Angeles Recap, a series of videos that document the history, neighborhoods, and community members of South Los Angeles. Eric developed this project in December 2020 as an attempt to combat the deficit-based content tha ..read more

Growing up in Los Angeles, we driven down Central Avenue hundreds of times either traveling through Compton, Watts, into South Central onto Downtown. Central Ave was just another street, another road in the urban landscape. However, we soon discovered the hidden history of South Central and Central Ave we never heard of in school. Central Avenue in its heyday was a magical place filled with vibrant jazz music, architecture and Black own businesses/clubs/diners and hotels and more. The ugly presence of segregation was the catalyst for the Black community to establish their roots even if they ha ..read more

On Ep 20 we look into the history of one of the longest streets in Los Angeles--Figueroa Street. We shared the early history of Figueroa street starting from the late 1800s until present day. Around 10 years ago I asked myself why is there so many dingy motels on Figueroa street? One might say its for the obvious reasons but I wanted to find out more. The research never got done at the time but today we are able to discuss the history behind the notorious Figueroa strip between Imperial and heading north towards Jefferson. What lead to the development of this area of Figueroa to its disenfranc ..read more

Episode 19 interview with Catherine Hernandez--known on IG @Hoodarchitect. I chatted with Catherine on her life and journey from the halls of LAUSD to Otis where she developed her craft to become an architect, we  also discuss her current work giving back to the community she grew up in and beyond.  "Catherine D. Hernandez AIA Associate, NOMA. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Catherine has an extensive background in community organizing, policy, and the built environment .She leads capital investments in Southern California at a non profit development and architecture st ..read more