The Public Media Group of Southern California announced today that Lost LA, its award-winning co-production with the USC Libraries, will return this January for a sixth season.
Six new episodes will air on PBS SoCal beginning Tuesday, January 2, at 7:30 p.m. Pacific. A special encore will also be broadcast on Wednesday, January 3 at 8 p.m. Pacific on KCET. Subsequent episodes will debut Tuesdays on PBS SoCal and Wednesdays on PBS. After its initial telecast, each episode of Lost LA will be available to stream on its companion website and on the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal and KCET will get early access to stream all six episodes on PBS Passport starting January 2.
Lost LA—part of the USC Libraries' longstanding commitment to building public engagement with regional history collections—explores Southern California's past through documents, photos, and other rare materials from local libraries and archives, many of them members of the LA as Subject research alliance. Hosted by the USC Libraries' Nathan Masters, the half-hour series has won multiple accolades since its premiere in January 2016, including six Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards, three Golden Mikes from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California, and a PRExcellence Best in Show Award from the California Library Association.
USC Libraries collections featured prominently in this sixth season include the Olive View Sanatorium and Hospital records, the "Dick" Whittington Studio photographs, and the Filipino American Library collection. William Cunningham of the USC Digital Library and William Deverell, a USC historian and director of the libraries' Collections Convergence Initiative, also guest star in the new episodes.
The new season will be telecast as follows (subject to change):
“Fast Food and Car Culture" – Tues., Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. on KCET
From McDonald’s to Taco Bell, many of the world’s most iconic fast-food chains were born in SoCal including Bob’s Big Boy, In-N-Out Burger and Del Taco. This episode explores how car culture and the restaurant industry collided in the LA region, forever shaping the way Americans dine and drive. Featured interviews include: LA Times’ Gustavo Arrellano and Stacy Perman, LA Magazine’s Chris Nichols and author/chef George Geary.
“Historic Filipinotown” – Tues., Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Filipino Americans fight to make their heritage more visible in Los Angeles. This episode explores the Yo-Yo’s surprising origin story, tours Historic Filipinotown in a Jeepny and tastes classic Filipino street foods. Featured interviews include: activist/librarian Florante Ibanez and the hosts of “This Filipino Life” podcast.
“Hiking Trailblazers” – Tues., Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Meet the people who led Angelenos onto their local trails, including early wellness guru Paul Bragg. In this episode, Nathan explores the origins of LA hiking, from the Indigenous people who first walked the land to activists like Walk Good’s Etienne Maurice who blaze new paths over familiar terrain. Featured interviews include: Modern Hiker’s Casey Schreiner.
“Eternal City: Los Angeles Cemeteries” – Tues., Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Visit Forest Lawn, Evergreen and Hollywood Forever to see how LA reinvented the cemetery. In this episode, Nathan and UCLA’s Eric Avila visit the gravesites of the rich and famous while learning how racial segregation once divided the dead. Featured interviews include: The Chinese Historical Society’s Eugene Moy and film historian Karie Bible.
“Tuberculosis, the Forgotten Plague” – Tues., Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Archives reveal the “forgotten plague” that shaped Southern California. In this episode, Nathan explores how California’s fresh air and cheap land drew consumptives to local sanatoriums as well as the stark reality of life as a tuberculosis patient. Featured interviews include: USC’s William Deverell, LA Times’ Patt Morrison and infectious disease specialist Dr. Brenda Jones.
“Tiki Bars and Their Hollywood Origins” – Tues., Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Nathan explores some of the oldest Tiki bars in Southern California. In this episode, discover the Hollywood origins of Don the Beachcomber and learn how postwar American pop culture appropriated the rich traditions of the South Pacific. Featured interviews include: Tiki Ti’s Mike Buhen, Tiki Scholar Sven Kirsten and Strong Water’s Ying Chang and Robert Adamson.