Joel Bloom, 59
Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Bloom, a legit actor/playwright and longtime activist in the gentrification of downtown Los Angeles --- whose achievements resulted in the L.A. City Council naming a section of Los Angeles after him --- died mid-morning on July 13th in Los Angeles following a seven-year battle with cancer. He was 59.
Bloom, who owned and operated Bloom's General Store since 1994 in the Arts District of Los Angeles, was one of the forces responsible for bringing the Arts District much needed recognition. A sampling of his numerous achievements included bringing the community a bus route, 30 street lights, 75 trees, plus being active in the naming of the area known now known as the Arts District.
On July 3, the Los Angeles City Council honored Bloom by officially approving the Motion to rename Third and Traction in Downtown Los Angeles Joel Bloom Square.
During the early 1970s, Bloom served as a combat cameraman with the U.S. Air Force in South Viet Nam. Following his discharge in 1974, Bloom finished his degree in psychology from the U of Illinois and then while searching for work with Chicago-based TV stations, he joined the Second City Theatre Troupe as a stage manager. He later worked with the Organic Theatre Company and toured with the 1985-86 production of David Mamet's "Glengarry Glenn Ross."
Arriving in Los Angeles with a bevy of Chicago-based theatre types, he settled in the Arts District of Los Angeles in 1986, serving as a stage manager for Shakespeare Festival/L.A. and later working on his own creative projects.
In December of 2000, Bloom's doctors discovered a tumor and several weeks later he underwent 10 hours of surgery at UCLA where doctors removed three massive tumors. Following his surgery, Bloom read a Veteran newsletter mailed to him which discussed the connection between Agent Orange --- the defoliant used to clear swaths of Vietnamese jungle --- and soft-tissue sarcoma.
The connection ultimately made it possible for Bloom to receive military disability from the U.S. Government.
Bloom is survived by a son, Randy Bloom; two grandchildren, Evan, 6 and Sam, 2; a brother, Michael Bloom and a sister, Lynn Barnau.
Memorial services for Bloom will be announced this evening at 5pm, July 13, when a Celebration of his Life will take place in front of Blooms General Store, located near Joel Bloom Square.
Written by Douglas Galloway with contributions by Eric Richardson and Ed Fuentes.
Added 6pm: A Downtown Los Angeles memorial service will be held on 3rd and Traction Ave, Joel Bloom Square, Sunday July 22. Joel Bloom's funeral will be held in his hometown, Chicago.
Added 12:30am July 14: Joel Bloom, 59; L.A. arts district activist LATimes
Added 12:45am July 17: Lilli Muller, one of the organizers for the Memorial, plans to announce a 3pm start time for the July 22 "block party" that will be held at Joel Bloom Sqaure (3rd and Traction). Final details will be a new post.
Editor's Note: We were honored to have friends and family share their memories on last month's post about Joel Bloom Square. Downtown lost a great voice today, and he will certainly be missed.
sk on July 13, 2007, at 12:32PM – #1
I feel pretty sad about this. Joel was a great guy and a provided an oasis downtown denizens in decades past.
I always recall his movie rental policy of getting your name and phone number. If you keep the movie for too long, even if it was a couple of months, an extra dollar was all he charged you.
alena on July 13, 2007, at 02:12PM – #2
bring achocol and food
Nic Cha Kim on July 13, 2007, at 02:34PM – #3
Joel Bloom will be missed by many.
Margery Bloom on July 13, 2007, at 04:09PM – #4
I would just like to thank all of you who visited, shared stories, and generally provided much relief and comfort to Joel, and also to Randy.
I only met a few of you, but if a man is measured by the friends he has, my father-in-law was of enormous stature indeed.
We will miss him. May the downtown that he loved so much continue to move forward and become the downtown he dreamed it to be.
Jim on July 13, 2007, at 05:00PM – #5
Good luck and God bless. I send my thoughts and prayers.
Victoria on July 13, 2007, at 05:56PM – #6
Just heard, saddened. Wish I could be there-live in Netherlands now... wrote a bit on my myspace blog if you care to read it kids... Namaste! Goodbye to a man closer to me than my father.
Don Garza on July 13, 2007, at 07:08PM – #7
I just woke up and checked my e-mails and there it was. An E-mail from Ted Greaton that Joel Bloom had passed away. I first met Joel when we were forming the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council and then got to know him better when we started the Skid Row Watch Walk. He began the walk with us here in Central City East. Joel was an inspiration to me. He being a combat veteran and not afraid to speak up and not afraid to walk the streets with the police , led me to take courage to do the same thing. NO one can ever replace the Mayor of the Arts District, Joel Bloom.
When Joel told me what type of cancer he had , I knew from my dealings with the veterans community and the claims process that it was a presumptive condition for agent orange, meaning he qualified for veterans benefits under that condition. Thus , Joel Bloom is considered by me and many others to be a casualty of the Vietnam War.
May you rest in peace my dear friend.
It is a sad thing. But it is even harder to feel very sad. Knowing Joel's character and knowing his life was one of full vibrancy and fighting for what he believed in and the difference he made in the lives of many others, he , as far as I am concerned , led a life that was worthwhile and his impact on others will be felt for years to come. I don't think a lot of people come even close to what Joel Bloom has accomplished by who he was. Thus, I just feel that his passing is a great loss to all of us but it can be said he made a difference and am comforted by that knowledge
brady westwater on July 13, 2007, at 09:39PM – #8
It is 9:30 PM and I just left the 5 PM wake that is still going strong with a crowd still spilling from the sidewalk out into the street. It is certainly an end of an era. No other person in the Downtown arts community could get so many people to show up on such short notice to celebrate their life. More later tonight on the event....
Ed Fuentes on July 15, 2007, at 01:11AM – #9
A post from my flickr set, July 14
We spent many years in Los Angeles living in the Arts District before leaving in '05. I also spent a lot of time with Joel. He was a difficult person to understand, but was the best thing that ever happened to the Arts District! I learned today that he died. I hope his courage to make that little part of downtown Los Angeles better continues to live on in every current and future resident.
Angelo La Pietra
Stacie Chaiken on July 15, 2007, at 03:18PM – #10
My husband Marty and I moved downtown last year. Marty works at the Daily Journal, at First and Vignes, so every morning I'd walk with him and our dog Billie to Groundwork on Traction on the way to the paper, and we'd stop in to talk to Joel at the store — who was always ready with a treat for Billie. Joel gave us the rundown on the history and the politics of the hood. He was, in his own inimitable way, a one-man Welcome Wagon, telling us all the stuff you really need to know. So sad to lose him. We'll miss him a lot.
Evelyn on July 16, 2007, at 07:10PM – #11
Joel was one of a kind. I knew him during our short time at the Pasadena Playhouse. What time will the Memorial be this Sunday?
Kevin C on September 16, 2007, at 01:19PM – #12
I remember him saying to me wheres that movie you rented ! I'd ok & run up stairs & get it cause I would forget all the time ! hahaha It just goes so far back remebering him. Havent been able to get around there for a couple of months. Last time I was sitting in my truck haveing coffee in the loading zone next to his store. Seeing him & getting out to talk to him & say hi ! I'm so saddened finding out that he has left us. He watched alot of us grow up around the area. Come & go ! Interesting life ! I remeber when he was managing the American & he hated it. Everyone in there was on drugs & he couldnt get rid of them ! LOL What a life he had in a great place like the Downtown Arts Distrit. Joel you will be missed ! I miss liveing down there so much !