Nostalgia (Long Beach, San Fernando, Williams: airport, food, discount)

[Charles]

Odd Even license plate system for buying gas 1979

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[poetamelie]

Ah, Genieland. Somewhere in my elementary school photo album I have a black and white (Kodak Brownie) shot of my Bluebirds troop walking to the front entrance of Genieland. I remember being enchanted by a little white goat puppet that stepped up onto our knees and waggled her head. That was 1969--5th grade.

I am astonished by the memories washed ashore on this wonderful beach of nostalgia. There's a Farrell's revival parlor at Mountasia is Saugus (same menu, layout, candy counter, etc.), and I'll be going there for my company Xmas party. I lived down the street from the Zody's on Sherman Way at Bellaire (used to run to the back wall, where all the groovy Barbie doll displays were). I definitely preferred Pup 'n' Taco over Der Wienerschnitzel (although Der Wiernerschnitzel had the better jingle: "Yum, yum, yum, YUM! To Der Wiernerschnitzel COME! Wiernerschnitzel hots dogs are der Top Dog! Come! That hungry tummy! BRING! Your Dad and Mummy."--am I making anyone retch yet?). I watched Sheriff John, Bozo, Hobo Kelly, Engineer Bill, and Pix-Anne (with her fake-looking flights), as well as the handsome Tom Hatton (still alive!) as Popeye on Channel 5. Spent Saturdays watching reruns of the Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies on Channel 9 (theme was "The Sorceror's Apprentice," with paper cutouts of Holmes and Watson on the case until a gust of wind caught Watson by his umbrella and sent him flying). Spent Sundays watching Chiller and Creature Feature on Channel 11. Seymour's Sinister Cinema on Channel 5. Anyone remember an old show on Channel 5 called "Danger is My Business"?

Also recall the neighborhood pony rides where the wandering man would bring his ponies onto our street for a couple of hours. I miss the old Food Giant on Lankershim Blvd. and Strathern (great candy counter; mean candy counter man). Favorite bird at Busch Gardens: the bright yellow **** of the walk. Visited Jungleland just as it was shutting down for good (and recall a mule ride around an open pit of garbage with lots of yellowjackets attacking our snow cones). Field trip to Roger Jessup's Dairy and all the little drive-up corner "dairies" that later became gas stations and convenience stores. And yes, I recall the White Front department stores and Leonard's in Burbank. I give thanks every day for having been whelped in 1960 at the tail end of the boom, when everything seemed to last forever, the smallest of things could give you a huge thrill, toys were imaginative (and less cynically marketed), food definitely tasted better, and nobody my age was jaded. It was a glorious time to be a child.

[poetamelie]

Originally Posted by onlyonejudy

Unfortunately the video of the Zoo is actually Farrells - but it was interesting!

You can buy plastic animals (including monkeys and mermaids) just like the ones in Farrells ice cream dishes at Cost Plus. I gave some to my sisters as stocking stuffers, and they both (now in their 40s) squealed.

[poetamelie]

Originally Posted by JustPassinThru

We always took our out-of-town visitors to Lion Country Safari, and they were always disappointed. But the few years that that adorable bag of bones, Frasier, reigned supreme were a real treat. He would often lie on a small hill, surrounded by a half dozen admiring females, while other bigger, stronger, males would eye him jealously from afar.

Frasier sired 33 cubs in two years. Don't know if that's what killed him, or what kept him going.

Later, there was a movie about him called "Frasier the Sensuous Lion." Hmmm.

[Charles]

Going to Laserium at Griffith Park Observatory Planatarium. My first time was 1977. I was 16. Everybody (and I mean everybody) getting loaded in the parking lot. Laserock, Laserock II, and other themed shows. Waiting in line, everyone is buzzed, looking down at Dodger Stadium, hearing the the concert at the Greek Theater. After the show you open the door and view the LA Basin as far out as the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the approach lights at Santa Monica Airport. What a view.

Good memory jogger here:

Laserium History

[JustJulia]

I wish I had time to read everything, but the first several pages fueled my memory quite a bit. Many of you already mentioned the places I would have ... Zody's, Fedco, Gemco, Farrell's (did anybody mention Swensen's? man, I miss having a good ice cream parlor), Lion Country Safari, Alpha Beta, Lucky's, Pioneer Chicken, Winchell's, Orange Julius, Cal Worthington and his dog Spot, and the jingle for Pete Ellis Dodge ...

I remember the arcades: Tilt, and Chuck E. Cheese before it was just for little kids. And shopping for clothes at the Little Folks Shop.

Thanks for the memories.

[Charles]

Pat Collins, the Hip Hypnotist. I remember seeing her show maybe around 1979 or 1980 or so, I think on Sunset.

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[Charles]

Computer BBSs; The things we used before the internet. Hayes Smartmodems

Modem, Bulletin Board Systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


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War Games Dialers

PSA Airlines (I once flew from LAX to San Diego for $7 on PSA. It was around 1971 or 1972, something like that.)



Western Airlines (The ooonly way to fly....)

[jdavid93225]

Speaking of airlines, there were quite a few that aren't around anymore. Remember Hughes Airwest ("Top Banana in the West"), TWA, PanAm, and Braniff? Those are just a few that I remember.

The Air and Space museum in San Diego's Balboa Park has a neat exhibit about PSA, which was headquartered in San Diego. I remember when they still flew the L-188 Electra Turboprops into Burbank Airport. A short time later they were flying L-1011s in addition to 727s and DC-9s (MD-80s). Several years later they started flying the BAE-146, which they called the Smileliner, a name that was the result of a contest they had. Here's a video of one:
JetVideos.Net » PSA BAe-146 at San Jose

Here's a neat page about the history of PSA:
Catch Our Smile

Having grown up near the flight path into Burbank airport, I was always interested to see what was flying into Burbank. I remember several airlines jets flying in there, even though they didn't offer service to Burbank. This was because Lockheed still had most of their factory there, and these airlines' L-1011s were, most likely, being test flown. It was interesting to watch in those days. In addition, S-3a Vikings and P-3 Orions were also common sights. C-130 Hercules', C-141 Starlifters, and C-5a Galaxies were also seen on occasion.

Originally Posted by Charles

Computer BBSs; The things we used before the internet. Hayes Smartmodems

Modem, Bulletin Board Systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


(images not protected by copyright)



War Games Dialers

PSA Airlines (I once flew from LAX to San Diego for $7 on PSA. It was around 1971 or 1972, something like that.)



Western Airlines (The ooonly way to fly....)

[Charles]

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

C-130 Hercules

If you saw the C-130 heading east over Sherman Way, yes most likely it was heading into BUR. However, up until sometime in the 1970s or 1980s, the C-130 Air National Guard were at Van Nuys and then moved to Point Mugu. Could have been they were heading into the landing pattern for 16R at VNY too.

Below is Mark Reynosa's excellent write up on this.

Van Nuys AAFBU and ANG Site