On a recent episode of Corridor Cast, Stephen Seemayer discusses his career as an artist and landlord in downtown L.A., as well as his feature documentaries — “Young Turks” and “Tales of the American” — about the genesis of the Los Angeles Arts District.
Seemayer moved downtown from the San Fernando Valley in 1976, turning an abandoned brothel on the second floor of a building at 9th & Central into a 16-room artist compound, complete with darkroom and a screening room.
As a performance artist, filmmaker, painter and photographer, his often controversial work has been exhibited all over the United States.
His late mother, Lynne Westmore Bloom, was the notorious creator of the Pink Lady of Malibu — a monumental feat of guerrilla art in 1966 — and on Corridor Cast, he recounts growing up with the eccentric and rule-breaking artist.
I learned about the existence of Als Bar & The American Hotel approx 21 yrs ago when I met Jesse Easter . He played me a few songs he had recorded in a room at the American that were amazing especially a song called either “there’s a train” or 4th Street Train it was haunting and powerful and it should’ve been a huge hit and he should’ve been a big star. If Jesse reads this or anyone knows how to contact him please pass my email along. Dagwoodx@hotmail.com – great documentary