The Wrecking Crew Documentary

One last post for a very worthy cause. The Wrecking Crew Documentary is complete and just needs an extra push to get it to the point of release to the public so we can all enjoy it and learn the story behind so many of the hits we all enjoyed in the 60's and 70's. I urge you to visit the Kickstarter site and donate whatever you can.

Last week Phone Rat went to a screening of the documentary in North Hollywood CA. He had a wonderful experience and he to urges you to support Denny Tedesco to finally be able to release his award winning documentary to the public. Here is the link:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wreckingcrew/the-wrecking-crew-doc-untold-story-of-rock-and-rol

Van Nuys Boomers Farewell Post

I would like to thank everyone who visited and read our blog over the past 6 years. I would also like to thank those who contributed with articles and comments. This has been a fun project and we have reconnected with many old friends. The blog will remain online and I will make sure it is monitored so it remains up and visible.

 

Guitar Rat

Butler Brothers & Rod Stewart

Below is a snip from a YouTube video for a Rod Stewart video done for the TV show American bandstand in 1981. The song was Young Turks. It was shot on the roof of the old Butler Brothers Department store in Van Nuys. I spent a bit of time up there cleaning leaves and other things as part of my first job. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6m0fnFTVQE

Butler Brothers & The Sahara Hotel

A couple of souvenirs from my days at Butler Brother Department store and one from the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.

Vintage Tennis Racket

Below is a Wilson Brand, Bruce Barnes Model wooden tennis racket from the 1930's that belonged to my Dad. He was playing tennis (In Lakewood Ohio) with this racket when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Considering the age of the racket and its use its not in bad shape. When I first began to play tennis in the 1970's I used the racket for a while. Most of the time we played at Balboa Park. We also played at the park on Parthenia in Van Nuys.From Lakewood to Van Nuys and back again it now hangs in my office against the hideous blue wall which I should paint.

Racing Memories

One of my fondest memories of Memorial Day was my Dad and I listening to the Indianapolis 500 Race on the radio. Back then the race was not televised live. We would sit with a list of the drivers and cross them off as they dropped out. My Dad always rooted for Dan Gurney. I liked him but I was taken with the wave of British drivers and their rear engined cars. Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and Jack Brabham.

This past week I was in Indianapolis visiting my cousin and found myself at the race track for a few hours to watch some practice. We also visited the Museum at the track which houses many of the winning cars down through the years. The highlight for me was seeing Jim Clark's race winning 1964 Lotus.

Builders Emporium Ad

Los Angeles Angels First Game 1961

On this day in history. Audio Courtesy of LA Radio.com from their KMPC Radio 710 CD.

Tower Records Sunset Blvd

Below is a memento from the 2006 closing of Tower Records on Sunset Blvd. Courtesy of Phone Rat.

The last time I was there (Early 2006) with Phone Rat we were in line behind Paul Stanley of KISS. My last purchase at Tower was an album entitled Black Dahlia by Bob Belden.

Old Friend

An old friend stopped by today.

 

Old friends 40 years ago.

Sound City The Movie

Here is a link to the Dave Grohl movie about the famous recording studio in Van Nuys:

http://buy.soundcitymovie.com/#/trailer