Nostalgia (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Ana: apartment complexes, mobile home, theatres)

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by ronaldgibson

I was told by my dad that the lot where Target is now use to be a city dump. That might be the reason why the ground sinks, like it said in one of the previous messages.

As I recall, that's what it was. When they built the store on top of it, they never compacted it properly, and when the trash started to biodegrade, it settled, causing the building to sink.

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

There was a family restaurant on the way back from Laguna Beach that my dad would take me and my brother to. It had a tiger theme, and started with an "S", I think. I used to love that place! It was probably very cheesey, but at 5 or 6 years old, I was easily pleased! Anyone remember what it was called? Samba's, Simba's? I hadn't thought of that in years...

I think it was called Sambo's.

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by CentralCoastAdvisor

I've got some:

What about Gemco? Who baught them all out anyway? I just to love Gemco with the little security guy standing right by the entry. That place was huge!

Anyone remember Farolls Ice Cream and Candy store? They used to come through with drums and huge sundaes...

My first husband bought my wedding ring at Gemco ... the cheap b*stard! LOL

[Twinkle Toes]

Anyone remember Lion Country Safari???

[GoodbyeCalifornia]

Having grown up in Glendale, these posts made me recall many things from my childhood:

Watching Roller Derby and Lawrence Welk on TV with my grandmother.

Birthday parties at Mission Pak on Brand Blvd. and riding on that old fire engine that they had.

My mom dragging my brother and I to The Akron store in Burbank. Or trips out to the Laurel Plaza and lunch at that Hawaiian themed place near the ice rink. I remember the hot dogs had these funny cuts in them and were served on a hamburger bun.

Visiting Ports 'O' Call in San Pedro and dinner on board the Princess Louise.

The Japanese Deer Park

Can't remember what is was for but Channel 9 or 5 running a commercial with a guy wanting you to call "RIchmond 9 5171"

Van de Kamp's and Tiny Naylor's coffee shops

Going down to Wallach's Music City with my brother to buy his first stereo during their going out of business sale

Driving down Sunset in my handed down '69 Mustang to shop for vinyl records at Tower Records

And for the person that mentioned Sambo's...I haven't been up that way since 1999 but at that time the last remaining Sambo's was still open in Santa Barbara. And I have the refrigerator magnet I bought there to prove it. LOL.

[Beckett24]

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.

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right, it's my first time but here goes....

What a great post....the older we get the more we love nostalgia and the simpler days of our youth...

...how about the Pike in Long Beach? Anyone remember that?

...and I remember Henry's Chicken in the Rough--a car hop drive in restaurant on Foothill Blvd. near Claremont

...and what about A & W Rootbeer stands and rootbeer floats...yum...the last ones I remember were the original one in Glendale and one on the way to Big Bear going up the back way.

...do you also remember when Knott's Berry Farm was fun without all the modern rides?

...and how about when Crystal Lake in the Azusa mountains was a great place to go camping?

What fun we all had back in the "good ole days".

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

While I'm thinking about it, remember Fedco? How about Two Guys? White Front?

I remember Fedco!

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

How about those other grocery stores: Lucky, Hughes, Alpha Beta (tell a friend), Market Basket...

I totally remember Lucky and Alpha Beta. I remember the Alpha Beta had weird machines you had to use at the front of the store if you were going write a check for groceries.

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlours had several locations in the valley.

There's a Farrell's on Mira Mesa Blvd. in San Diego. It's just like I remember it as a kid.

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

Here's another: Cal Worthington and his "dog" Spot! Are those commercials still on TV? I haven't seen one in a long time.

I still see Cal commercials, but I assume it's a new Cal, because the original must be long dead.

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

And another: Pete Ellis Dodge, Long Beach Freeway, Firestone Exit, Southgate! Haven't seen these commercials in a long time, either.

Oh no! Now I have that jingle stuck in my head!! What about Phil & Jim's? I can't even remember what they sold just their commercials that kept repeating Phil & Jim's over and over again.

Originally Posted by Westward

Is Winchell's Donuts still around?

There's a Winchell's in Poway, and I think there's one in Cerritos. They're scattered here and there.

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

Anyone remember Lion Country Safari???

I was just going to post Lion Country Safari! Looking back, I can't believe that someplace like that actually existed. I loved that place!!

How about the big park that used to be across the street from Knott's Berry Farm? With the lake with the paddle boats? And the big building that was like a replica of some building in Philadelphia or something? I feel like it was called Liberty Park or something.

Or the Haunted Shack at Knotts? Is that still there? And the panning for gold? And there used to be all the shops outside of the park and there was a really good bakery (at least it was good to a kid).

How about Baker's Burritos (I think there's still some out in the IE) or Naugels (they were bought out by Del Taco)?

How about when there were still orange groves in Irvine?

Oh, and there was the best pastrami place in the world in Downey, called Sam's. Oh man, they were killer.

How about old Department stores: Bullock's, Broadway, Montgomery Wards?

How about when there used to be a food court across from the carousel inside South Coast Plaza? Or when there was a Carl's Jr. where the Rainforest cafe is in there?

Oh man, I could go on and on. LOL

V. =)

[cloud dweller]

Yes sir,that was before our young black brothers made everything so nasty.

[Charles]

This photo was taken by my dad in the late 1950s. At the time they lived in Burbank. It looks likes it might be a city or county park. Note the mound of earth as if some bulldozers had been grading. Hansen Dam area? Looks like it is near the foothills. My parents are their mid 80s now and they do not remember.
Thanks.

[Twinkle Toes]

I like the chick holding the cotton candy.