Boy, I wanna go there!
Manual Arts is the third oldest high school in LA, dating back to 1910. It’s located in what were once bean fields, but now is part of the inner city. Famous alums include Frank Capra, Jimmy Doolittle & Jackson Pollock.
Today, it’s got about 3,800 students, and is 80% Latino, with the rest being African-American (there are 5 whites & 4 Asians). 97% are considered “economically disadvantaged.”
They appear to offer all the regular sports. Unfortunately, I simply couldn’t find out much about them.
I couldn’t find a decent pic of it, but that basketball court has this awesome guy at midcourt:
Couldn’t find much on the origin of the mascot either, unfortunately. I guess, though, that it does go with the idea of “manual arts.” But just in case you’re not familiar with that term, it describes “the skills and knowledge involved in practical, hands-on work, often in trades and crafts, using tools and equipment.” You know, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics …
I do know that they used to be called the Artisans, which does seem a little more classy. Their mascot is Tommy Toiler, a big, bruising lad with a big hammer. Or, alternatively, this guy:
Not too surprisingly, the girls team are called the Lady Toilers. Somewhat surprisingly, the cheerleaders are know as the Toilerettes.
Which got me thinking … I’m almost certain their rivals must call them all the “Toilets.”
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