Mexican American Art Since 1848 (MAAS1848)

Pete Rodriguez On Set

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Associate producer Pete Rodriguez on the set of the 1962 short film, The Cadillac, shot in Dominguez Hills and El Monte. Robert Clouse directed the film, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Image is a reproduction.

Pete Rodriguez was born in Sonora, Mexico in 1919, and came to Los Angeles in 1923. His family moved to California as political refugees due to his father’s involvement in the 1910 Mexican Revolution. His family lived in “Sonoratown” near Macy and Olvera Streets before later moving to Boyle Heights. In 1925 his family moved to Catalina to join his uncles, who were some of the many Mexican laborers who built Avalon Bay. His father returned to Mexico to participate in the Partido Liberal Nacional (National Liberal Party) and Pete moved with his family to Orange County, then later returned to Boyle Heights in 1931. He attended Stevenson Junior High and Roosevelt High School, from which he graduated in 1937. His mother worked long hours as a seamstress to provide for her family during the Depression. Pete enlisted in the Army in 1943 as a paratrooper, but due to a bad knee was placed in limited service and left after 12 weeks. He worked as a lumberjack until 1946, when he returned to Los Angeles. He met and married his wife, with whom he had three children, in 1947. He began working in radio in 1949. He and his brother, Eddie, worked for KPMO and KFVD and hosted a show called “Buenos Días.” They later began to produce television shows and movies, such as “Fandango” on CBS and the Academy-Award nominated “The Cadillac.” In the 1960s Pete joined a group called Justicia, which advocated for justice for Chicanos in the film industry. Pete was hired at ABC through his involvement with Justicia. He worked as the Community Affairs director and was involved with any issues regarding Mexican or Chicano people at ABC.

Shades Of L.A. Collection Photographs

Hats

Cadillac (Motion Picture)

Rodriguez, Pete

Portrait Photographs

Shades Of L.A. Mexican American Photographs

Television Producers And Directors--United States

1961

image

Photographic prints

Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection

Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)

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