Nostalgia (Fresno, Glendale, Santa Clarita: stores, gardens, warehouse)

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by jalopy43

I used to pick through the dumpster at the ATT building,on Van Nuys Blvd.!! Used to find all kinds of electronic goodies!! This was the days before sucurity cameras'homeland sucurity" and restricted areas.. ha ha ha You try that now, and you would probibly be shot, or wind up at Guantonimo P.C.!!! Also getting pretty good tires,in the trash bin, at any,and all gas stations ,in the valley. Thank you for this site!!, Sparky

Try that now, and you might have to move someone out of their home before you can enter! LOL!

[theatregal]

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

I was just reading the thread about earthquakes in California and someone mentioned quakes being like "E Ticket" rides. This caused me to think about the "E" Ticket, along with some other nostalgic things I remember from growing up in Southern California. Here's a list that comes to mind off the top of my head. Anyone else have anything they'd like to add?

Disneyland Tickets: A, B, C, D, & E Denominations. "A" was least expensive, and could mostly be used for the trolley on Main St. and similar attractions. I don't really remember what the "B" tickets were good for, maybe the shooting gallery? (remember that, too?) "C" tickets were for middle of the road attractions, but I can't remember which they were. Maybe the steamship "Columbia," or the Train around the park? "D" tickets were for the better attractions, but not the best ones. It's the "E" ticket rides I remember best, such as the Matterhorn, the Jungle Cruise, and Space Mountain. I think even "Small World" was an E ticket ride, although I can't imagine why, since you could never get that song out of your head!!!

The Helms Bakery man: He used to deliver fresh bread through my neighborhood in his old (probably new at that time) Suburban Panel Truck.

The Carnation milk man: Yup, we had fresh milk delivery back in those days, too.

The family farms in the San Fernando Valley: There were quite a few farms and dairies in the Valley back in those days. I think of the ones I remember, there is only one left. It's the one on Rinaldi St. in Mission Hills.

The Principal's Paddle: I remember this one, too. Back in those days, if the teacher thought you were out of line, he or she could send you to the principal for some one-on-one attention. This meant one paddle to one bottom, repeated, if necessary. I only experienced that once!

The Pacific Electric: This was the public transportation system that Los Angeles used to have. Although I'm too young to have experienced it, I've heard many great things about it. The legend has it that the demise of the P.E. was brought about by General Motors, Standard Oil, and Goodyear Tire, all of which wanted to put people into their own cars.

Marineland: This was a theme park with a marine theme (betcha' didn't see that coming, did ya?). I hardly remember it, since I went there only once, when I was very young.

Busch Gardens: Back in the 1970s, the Anhauser Busch Brewery on Roscoe Blvd. used to have a Busch Gardens Theme Park on the grounds. I remember going there only once, too. When the brewery expanded, they got rid of the theme park. There used to be a number of exotic birds there, and I've heard that they were turned loose when the park went away, and were seen in the Valley for several years after that.

I can remember many of these things from my childhood, most of them very fondly. I'm sure that if I put my mind to it, I will be able to come up with some other fond memories from that era. For now, though, I'd like to hear about what others remember from their earlier days.

Wow.... What a walk down memory lane.

Yes I remember the "E" tickets... I remember buying the books of tickets and there were never enough of the "E"s. lol....always came home with left over "A" & "B".

I wonder when the Helms Bakery delivery trucks stopped.... I saw several being used as "Woodys" in the 70's.

I remember Busch Gardens... I only went there once and remember being bored waiting for my parents while they sampled each beer in the beer garden. Funny, I now live by the Bud Brewery in Ft. Collins Colo.

I was lucky enough to take my children to Marineland before it closed. I loved going there! Anyone remember "The Pike" in Long Beach? Or "POP" in Santa Monica? I went to the opening of "POP" when I was quite young.

I saw something posted about Jungleland in Thousand Oaks.... I remember going there.

I grew up in the Valley... mid 50's through 70's. Mostly in Burbank, although I did live in Sylmar in 1960-1962. I lived in Granda Hills in the mid 70's. My father still lives in Burbank.

I remember going to Hansen Dam... there was a park and a beach. My parents belonged to "Chuck Wagon Trailors"... something like that.... there were many actors (westerns) who belonged. They had a chuck wagon style cookout there every year.

There was a drive-in resterant near there called "Crazys".... Great pastrami beef dip sandwhiches. mmmm.... I miss those! There was a similar type place in Burbank, called "The Dip" There was also a fantastic sandwich shop there called "Tony's" or was it "Bob & Tony's".... I think they had one in Mission Hills too.


I would enjoy reading more memories.....

[theatregal]

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

I was just reading the thread about earthquakes in California and someone mentioned quakes being like "E Ticket" rides. This caused me to think about the "E" Ticket, along with some other nostalgic things I remember from growing up in Southern California. Here's a list that comes to mind off the top of my head. Anyone else have anything they'd like to add?

Disneyland Tickets: A, B, C, D, & E Denominations. "A" was least expensive, and could mostly be used for the trolley on Main St. and similar attractions. I don't really remember what the "B" tickets were good for, maybe the shooting gallery? (remember that, too?) "C" tickets were for middle of the road attractions, but I can't remember which they were. Maybe the steamship "Columbia," or the Train around the park? "D" tickets were for the better attractions, but not the best ones. It's the "E" ticket rides I remember best, such as the Matterhorn, the Jungle Cruise, and Space Mountain. I think even "Small World" was an E ticket ride, although I can't imagine why, since you could never get that song out of your head!!!

The Helms Bakery man: He used to deliver fresh bread through my neighborhood in his old (probably new at that time) Suburban Panel Truck.

The Carnation milk man: Yup, we had fresh milk delivery back in those days, too.

The family farms in the San Fernando Valley: There were quite a few farms and dairies in the Valley back in those days. I think of the ones I remember, there is only one left. It's the one on Rinaldi St. in Mission Hills.

The Principal's Paddle: I remember this one, too. Back in those days, if the teacher thought you were out of line, he or she could send you to the principal for some one-on-one attention. This meant one paddle to one bottom, repeated, if necessary. I only experienced that once!

The Pacific Electric: This was the public transportation system that Los Angeles used to have. Although I'm too young to have experienced it, I've heard many great things about it. The legend has it that the demise of the P.E. was brought about by General Motors, Standard Oil, and Goodyear Tire, all of which wanted to put people into their own cars.

Marineland: This was a theme park with a marine theme (betcha' didn't see that coming, did ya?). I hardly remember it, since I went there only once, when I was very young.

Busch Gardens: Back in the 1970s, the Anhauser Busch Brewery on Roscoe Blvd. used to have a Busch Gardens Theme Park on the grounds. I remember going there only once, too. When the brewery expanded, they got rid of the theme park. There used to be a number of exotic birds there, and I've heard that they were turned loose when the park went away, and were seen in the Valley for several years after that.

I can remember many of these things from my childhood, most of them very fondly. I'm sure that if I put my mind to it, I will be able to come up with some other fond memories from that era. For now, though, I'd like to hear about what others remember from their earlier days.

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

I'm not sure if it's the one you're thinking of, but there was Randy's Donuts that had the big donut on the roof somewhere on the west side, just off the 405, possibly around Manchester or Century, or somewhere close to that area.

The Pantry is still down there near the Convention Center, on Figueroa St. at 9th St., if I recall correctly. They still serve huge portions for a fair price. I enjoy eating there from time to time, especially breakfast, but don't do so very often, since I don't get into that part of town very much. They used to claim that they were never without a customer, but there was one time that the health dept. shut them down, and obviously, they couldn't have a customer there at that time.

How about Cruising on Van Nuys Boulevard? I was too young to get involved in doing so, but some of my older siblings were there. It's a shame that things took a turn for the worse and that cruising became a criminal activity. It seems like society took a turn for the worse around the same time.

There was a donut shop on Burbank Blvd. that had a big donut sign. I remember crusing on Van Nuys Blvd. I only went a couple of times, before I discovered crusing the Sunset Strip. Anyone remember "The Dog House" or "Pandora's Box" on the strip in 66' 67'? Wow.... I was there when they had the riots on the Sunset Strip in 1966..... that was unreal.

[theatregal]

Originally Posted by Westward

How wonderful to be reminded of all the good things! I can still hear that little jingle from the ice cream truck that came through every summer.

I can remember when the Target at Victory and Vineland - across from Leon's - was first a SuperFair, and before that, it was a dump. Which is why it sank and had to be rebuilt.

There was Pic Wick theaters, ice skating and horseback riding. And the skating rink on Vineland across from the Alta Dena dairy at the end of the old Burbank runway, now the old Costco bldg. Can't remember it's name, something Gardens. And Unimart.

Van Nuys Blvd- there was the Hippodrome and other psychadelic stores. Farther up near Roscoe or Parthenia was the Red Barn that had the best steaks.

Is Winchell's Donuts still around? They were the best, and so was Pioneer Chicken. Bob's had the best strawberry shakes, and anyone remember the old orphanage/school Villa Cabrini with the chapel on the hill above Glenoaks? And Shakey's Pizza with their silent movies.

Anyone remember sky-writing across the valley? Those were the good ol days.

Yes...those were the good old days! I do remember the sky writing across the valley.

I lived a couple of blocks south of the back enterance to Unimart, just north of Luther Burbank Junior High. I remember that they made freah hot carmel corn in the snack bar... it's all you could smell when you entered the store.
I grew up in Burbank, so I remember Villa Cabrini well.... I believe that it is condos now.
I last ate at that Shakey's pizza on a visit home in 98'. It was next to the Cornell theatre. Burbank had three theatres in the 50s & 60s... The Cornell, The Californian (on Magnolia) and The Magnolian. I spent many Saturdays watching double features. LOL... $1.00 paid for admission, popcorn, a drink and maybe a candy bar.... Cheap babysitting!
I don't remember just where it was, but my grandparents lived in the Bellflower/Lakewwod area and they took us to a place (subdivison) somewhere between there and Norwalk (?)... I think it had "schoolhouse" and/or "lane" in the name, to see the Christmas lights. All the houses were decorated way over the top....animation, live figures... it was so cool. Does anyone remember this?

[Twinkle Toes]

My dad used to be a Helms Bakery man when I was a baby and toddler. I also remember Marineland very well as it was very near the neighborhood I grew up in. And that Christmas display - used to go there all the time. Wasn't it called Santa Claus Lane or Candy Cane Lane or something like that? I'm leaning more toward Santa Claus Lane for some reason. I'd have to call up my parents and ask. They'll remember.

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by theatregal

There was also a fantastic sandwich shop there called "Tony's" or was it "Bob & Tony's".... I think they had one in Mission Hills too.

The sandwich shop in Mission Hills is Matt & Tony's. This is probably the one you were thinking of. I know it's been there many years, and has been a popular spot for as long as I can remember. It was on Sepulveda, just south of the 118 freeway (or north of Chatsworth St. if you were there before the freeway was), and is still there to the best of my knowledge. On the other side of the freeway to the north, and on the other side of Sepulveda is the Bear Pit. It has also been there for as long as I can remember.

Something else I was reminded of the other day...
Fotomat booths!
Does anyone else remember these little booths sitting by the side of the road in many areas? They were a drive up film developing company, but they seem to have disappeared about the time the one hour photo places showed up. For that matter, does anyone even remember developing film? LOL!

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

The sandwich shop in Mission Hills is Matt & Tony's. This is probably the one you were thinking of. I know it's been there many years, and has been a popular spot for as long as I can remember. It was on Sepulveda, just south of the 118 freeway (or north of Chatsworth St. if you were there before the freeway was), and is still there to the best of my knowledge. On the other side of the freeway to the north, and on the other side of Sepulveda is the Bear Pit. It has also been there for as long as I can remember.

Something else I was reminded of the other day...
Fotomat booths!
Does anyone else remember these little booths sitting by the side of the road in many areas? They were a drive up film developing company, but they seem to have disappeared about the time the one hour photo places showed up. For that matter, does anyone even remember developing film? LOL!

Yeah, Fotomat! I had a friend who was a Foto Mate. She said they always had to watch out for people not paying attention while driving through the parking lot because their booth had been hit a few times. How scary is that!!!

[jalopy43]

Remember Checker Cabs? Black and white checked cars were all over the Valley. I remember when the Huges store opened . It was on Parthinia,and Van Nuys blvd. Engineer Bill" was there with a van customized like a train engine. I was selected to be in a contest, I won lots of prizes! Right across the street was Phil Ahns (chinese actor)'Moongate" restraunt. They tore it down to make way for 'The Americana" theatre. Before that it was a vacant lot, where Santa and his 'real live raindeer" used to set up..

[theatregal]

Yes, that sounds like the place. It was owned by the same people that owned "Tony's" in Burbank on Burbank Blvd (near where it meets Victory). I tried to take my kids' there in 1998, but it was gone. I still compare every sub I have to those... they were great.
I remember that you always ordered a half sandwhich there, because they just cut off the hard ends of the french bread... so you really got more than a half.

Wow...Engineer Bill.... I remember drinking my milk while I watched him (some kind of a game). Remember Popeye...the host, sailor something..., he always drew a picture from a "squiggle". Do you remember Sheriff John?

LOL... I had forgotten The Bear Pit..... I loved going there when I was a kid!

[theatregal]

I think you're right about the name... it was something Lane. For some reason... I still think it had "School" or "School House" in the name. This place wasn't in the valley... it was somewhere between Bellflower/Lakewood and Norwalk or Whittier. LOL... I was just a kid, sitting in the back seat (without seatbelts! ) in my grandparents car... I didn't really have a clue where I was going.... But, It was really cool!