First Presbyterian to Show Nagano Films at Fall Festival

Mario Reyes with Steve and Patty Nagano.

First Presbyterian Church, 2775 Lincoln Ave., Altadena, is holding its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 3 to 8 p.m.

To be featured are the usual mouth-watering delights, including teriyaki chicken, chow mein, chirashi, hamburgers, hot dogs, and snow cones.

There will be many game booths for young children, live entertainment, a boutique, bake shop, raffle prizes, and much fun and fellowship for all ages.

A special presentation will be the showing of two short documentary films recently made by Steve Nagano, who with his wife Patty are very active in Little Tokyo affairs and service projects. Both films have been shown several times in the past year in Southern California, but will be shown for the first time in Altadena.

The first film, “Six Weddings and a Dress,” tells the story of Chiyomi Ogawa’s wedding dress, worn by her on March 26, 1944, which was then worn by five other women who had also been incarcerated at Manzanar.

All of these women and their husbands married in the early years after their release from the Manzanar concentration camp. They made their homes and raised their families in Pasadena. As youth, the children of several families attended the church when it was located in Pasadena before the building of the 134 Freeway caused the church to move to its present location in 1967.

The second film, “More Than 1000 Words,” is a profile of photographer Mario Reyes, who has been the photo editor of The Rafu Shimpo for the past 25 years and has recorded important events of the Japanese American experience with expertise, love and compassion.

The screenings will be held at 4 p.m., with a second showing at 5:30 p.m., in the air-conditioned sanctuary. After each presentation, there will be time for questions. Attendance is free.

An added attraction this year is a display of wedding pictures and memorabilia of members and friends in the Library Room, which will be open during the entire festival.

For more information on the church, call (626) 791-4271 or visit www.firstpresbyterianchurchaltadena.org.