The foot races of the Garibaldina Mutual Benefit Society, often organized for charitable purposes, commenced in front of the Italian Hall, the Society’s headquarters, on North Main Street in little Italy. This particular race, which took place circa 1917, captures a rare street-level view of Main at the corner of Macy (present-day Cesar Chavez) looking north.

The Garibaldina Society members who participated in this race included Luigi Boldetti (far left wearing a hat), R. Nuccio (#11), Domenico Arobio (in back of Nuccio, wearing a hat), Ottavio Basso (#7, owner of Basso Bakery on Broadway and Ord Street), C. Scannavino (behind Basso, wearing a hat), A. Piantanida (at Basso’s right), Gino Guasti, Domenic Merlo (#4), Saverino Fanetti (behind Merlo), G. Benotti (#3), and A. Cerrina (behind Benotti.) On the far right of the photo is the breezeway entrance to the Italian Hall’s saloon. On the far left is one of the city’s famous streetcars. Do you have additional information regarding this photograph? If so, please contact the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles at (213) 485-8432.

This is one of the thousands of rare and one-of-a-kind photographs in the Italian American Museum’s collection, the only of its kind in the region. 

To learn more about our collection, donate photos or other artifacts, or support the collection’s preservation, visit www.italianhall.org or call 213.485.8432.
 
The mission of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is to foster understanding of Southern California’s diverse heritage through research, historic preservation, exhibitions and educational programs that examine the history and continuing contributions of Italian Americans in multi-ethnic Los Angeles and the United States.

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