Backyard Parties

1970s: Temporary Discothèque

John Guzman of Face to Face was one of the first generation of DJs in the Eastside of Los Angeles that helped form what would become one of the biggest regional subcultures in Southern California history. Eastside DJ culture had its own fashions, music styles and attitudes that were organic to the area and developed from the milieu of growing up bilingual, in an place where a minority was the majority.

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Written by Gerard Meraz

The early pioneers of Eastside DJ culture were a new breed of aficionados that innovated a paradigm for dance-based entertainment. They utilized hand-drawn and linotype-made flyers that promoted their DJ names and events to an audience that would make them minor celebrities for providing nightclub environments in backyards, halls and restaurants.

DJs like Face to Face, Ultimate Crave, Disco Express, Brittania and many others would compete to have the biggest sound and light shows at the biggest parties. They mixed professional, club quality audio equipment and lights, as well as home-constructed speakers and light controllers.

Around the DJs a network of promoters with names like Cowboy Productions and Valentino Productions helped form a network that provided a fashion, money, fans and dancers for the burgeoning scene. Some of these promoter crews supported their own DJ exclusively, and others supported or hired DJs that would spin at promoter-organized parties. This first generation of Eastside DJs began the process of innovating the mixing of records on turntables, and presented the idea of where DJ based entertainment could and would become.

Posted Aug 10, 2008
01:02 PM
by SHORTDOG
EAST L.A. / Montebello, CA

Hi, I am looking to get a hold of as many DJ's , Promoters, Party Crews, Girl Crews, and party people that were partying in the East L.A. / Montebello area back in the 80's &early 90's. I am planning to hold the biggest "Flashback" party next year for my 40th and would like to go back to the days of Mini Trucks and Mini Skirts! So break out your Aquanet and hit me up by e-mail at: shrtdog99@yahoo.com with your contact info and tell me about yourself and a little memory you have of "Our Days"...I'll be sure to get back to you with a "Flyer!" Oh! and Tell a Friend and have them tell a friend too. Thanx.