Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee Video Store

On Vineland Ave. in North Hollywood is the best video store I have ever been to. I first went to Eddie Brandt's when it was on Colfax Ave. in North Hollywood, just south of Victory and behind the McDonald's Restaurant. Actors, industry people and movie fans created an eclectic gathering down every aisle. Ask a question and some patron probably knows the answer. Follow this link to a video that appeared on Turner Classic Movies of the store and its manager Donovan Brandt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnNRAgnBdiI

Here is a link to a Daily News article on the store:

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_13254853?source=most_emailed

Laptop Lessons

A few months ago the monitor on my laptop went black and would not come back to life in spite of my fevered attempts at computer CPR. At the time it seemed catastrophic. I used it for writing, photos and music. I checked e-mails and occasionally surfed just to kill time. Mostly it served as my jukebox while I worked on other things at my desk. All my files were backed up and the important things were easily transferred to an 8GB flash key that Phone Rat gave me.

I found myself reduced to borrowing my wife's laptop to check e-mails and other things. The laptop of course can be used with the AC adapter or with the battery. I used the battery since it was a project to dig the plug out of the wall behind things. So I could sit in my chair and be comfortable and check on things. However the most I could get was about 2 hours of life which was initially irritating. But over time I realized I really did not use the computer, on line for very many things. I took care of business and logged off. the battery life became unimportant and an important lesson was learned.

When we are plugged in and have unlimited time we tend to waste most of that time on frivolous things. I am not against the frivolous but as with television, too much is bad for us. But when we are aware of the passage of time and how little we have, as when the computer runs off the battery, we make much better use of our time and distill our session down to what is really important. The lesson obviously applies to life but many of us, including myself don't learn it until we get older.

My battery is actually running low now so it is time for me to end this overly long post and to get on to something a little deeper.

Box Memories

I started collecting boxes when my Dad gave me a wooden cigar box. At the time I didn't realize I would become a collector. As time passed my Dad gave me more cigar boxes which I used to store some of my better pens in. Dad also gave me some English Leather cologne boxes made of wood. After a while they stopped making them out of wood and made them out of heavy cardboard, and I have some of those. I started putting all sorts or small items in these small boxes. Boxes went inside other boxes and they all began to take over my closet. The other day I went through my closet and came across many of these boxes which mostly contained items from my parents. i took pictures and thought I would share some of the contents here.

In the top left hand corner is a money clip my Grandfather received for a work anniversary. Next to it is a money clip from The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas that my parents bought me. Next to it is an old Illinois brand pocket watch that belonged to my grandfather.

The "C" hood ornament belonged to my Dad's last car, a 1978 Chevy Nova Concours model. The ring belonged to my dad and used to have a black onyx and diamond. I still have the broken onyx and the diamond went into my Dad's masonic ring which I still have. Theitem below the ring is a decoder of some sort from 1936. It has numbers around it and the disk that moves under it contains letters. Next to that is a key chain like item from Ralston "Straight Shooters" that spells "good luck" when you spin the disk. Below that is a Lakewood Ohio Bicycle license that belonged to my Dad, probably from the late 30's or early 40's. Lastly to the right is an Ohio State Chauffeurs pin from 1944. It was in with my Dad's stuff but I am not sure if it was his.

Mrs. Perlmuter of Hazeltine

We finally have a picture of Mrs. Perlmuter, the most famous teacher at Hazeltine Avenue Elementary School, thanks to Julie (Rosenthal) Meshchaninov, Hazeltine class of 1969. Julie left a comment on a previous post "Looking For Mrs. Perlmuter" that she had a picture and here it is.

I never had Mrs. Perlmuter as a teacher so I will leave those who did to share their memories. Thanks again Julie and thanks to our friend Bob Walance who came through again.

2010 New Years Updates

A quick reminder for all San Fernando Valley Demolay, Job's Daughters and Rainbow members that the 2010 reunion is at the end of this month in Laughlin Nevada. For details contact me at this site and I will forward you to the event organizers.

We now have a group page on Facebook called San Fernando Valley Demolay's, Jobs & Rainbows for those of you who use Facebook. It is a closed group, for members only so you have to request an invite to join. Just go to the page anc click on the ask to join button. It is helpful if you leave a note with your request and let us know what group you belonged to.

Phone Rat informed me that Valley Ranch BBQ on Sherman Way closed last month. I remember going there as a teenager back in the 70's. As I recall it was ok but not a favorite. Anymore I try not to get too nostalgic when something closes because that is the normal cycle of things, but still its a little sad.

Oh and by the way, Happy New Year!

Phone Rat & the Cemetery

Phone Rat was back here in Ohio a few weeks ago for his bi-yearly visit. We covered a lot of ground in 10 days. We visited 6 states and drove about 2,200 miles. One of the great things you see here in the Midwest are old cemeteries with old fashioned headstones. Phone Rat and I drove to Michigan to see the grave of his cousin who passed away last year. We drove north on M19 to a small cemetery called the Memphis Cemetery, which out in the country just before the town of Memphis Michigan.

The cemetery is across from a large open field surrounded by large trees which were just starting to show fall colors. Phone Rat took pictures of many of the old grave markers. I wish I could post them all. To get a feel for the area you can view the cemetery from Google Street View.

Driving through all these Midwest states you get an authentic feel for the country, its people and its land. I witnessed that when we drove back to Ohio in 2006 but it is good to get a refresher course. Even though I am here in Ohio I still have a California, Los Angeles attitude that sometimes forgets there is more to our country. If you have never driven through the Midwest you would not believe the amount of corn you drive by. It seems a crime to use it to fuel cars and not feed people, but that is the conservative in me.

2nd Annual Demolay, Jobs & Rainbow Reunion

Word has come down that the 2010 Demolay reunion will be in Laughlin Nevada in either January or February of 2010. One of our distant past members will be working in Laughlin at that time. I'm not spilling names but he plays bass guitar and used to throw a wicked softball pitch. As details become available I will post them here. if anyone has questions or suggestions please e-mail at this blog account and I will steer you in the proper direction.

If anyone is a member of Facebook you should know we have a group page called, San Fernando Valley Demolay, Jobs & Rainbow. The page is new and it will become a clearing house for information. Just click the add a friend button and I will let you into the group.

The picture above is from Google and is a satellite view of Harrah's in Laughlin. I used it because this is where we used to stay and it is where we honeymooned.

Cohasset Street Elementary School

I realized today I have neglected my other grammar school, Cohasset Street Elementary School, which I attended for the 6th grade and maybe the 5th. You'd think I would remember. I could verify it but that would require a trip into the closet to dig out my report cards. But it's 11:30 pm and I don't feel so inclined.

As usual I am poor on names but recognize faces. Many went on to attend Fulton Jr. High with me. My best friend at the time was Paul Bjork, however he is not in this class picture. His family had a house on the land that is now the U.S. Post Office at the corner of Haskell Ave. and Sherman Way. I recall playing in that large lot which ran west up to Gloria.

I remember Tommy who lived on Dempsey just south of Cohasset Street. Tommy had two fake teeth in the front which for some reason really impressed me. I forget why he had them but I wouldn't be surprised if a fist was involved.

I also recall Debbie who I think lived near me. I have a graduation day picture of her, Paul and me in front of our apartment door. I would post it but I look so damn pudgy, and even after all these years it gives me the creeps.

If anyone remembers names from the picture I would appreciate it. The coolest thing was my teacher in the picture, Mrs. Tremonti lived in our apartment building. She was a very nice lady.

Looking for Mrs. Perlmuter

Last Saturday a few Hazeltine Avenue Elementary alumni from the 1960's had a small reunion. I participated for a few minutes via a speakerphone on a cell phone. It was great to talk to my fellow classmates and my new friend Bob who I had not yet spoken to. The group had a wonderful time and swapped stories, and anytime stories of Hazeltine are shared the topic of the legend that was Mrs. Perlmuter comes us and looms large in our psyche. I was never in one of her classes but I saw her around the school and like many kids ran the other way whenever I saw he in the hall. From what I heard later she was a disciplinarian but not as bad as all of us imagined.

Bob reports that Mrs. Louise Perlmuter had a full life of 95 years and passed away in April of 2005.

With all the memories flowing and recently posted pictures we discovered that no one had a picture of Mrs. Perlmuter. If anyone out there has a class picture with Mrs. Perlmuter or any other photograph we all would love to see it. It is as Bob put it the Holy Grail of Hazeltine in the 1960's. Please let us know if you have a picture and can scan it and share it with all of us. I have left a picture off this post in hope of adding one in the future.

Bulletin Board Service, Chat Rooms of the 90's

I was talking with an old friend and the subject of the BBS came up. After I got my first real online ready computer, a Tandy 1400HD like the one in the picture with a 2400 baud modem, this same friend introduced me to the online world. I checked out a few bulletin boards at first but did not really get heavy into it for a year or so. When I did I checked out a number of local boards and finally settled on a couple.

The first board I became an active member of was the After Hours BBS. As you may recall your time online was based on you paying for the service. Sometimes I paid and could chat all I wanted and other times I did not pay and chatted very little. I only ever met one person from the BBS in real life. I did strike up a few virtual friendships that would meet up again a year or so later on the other board i became an active member of, Beeline BBS. This BBS operated out of North Hollywood and compared to many was very friendly and well run. I attended a few events but for the most part just chatted online at night after work or when I had nothing else to do. My handle/name back then was "Katmandu"

Looking back it was an interesting period. I never was one to hang out at the normal social sites such as bars, clubs and so on. For a brief period I had some fun and never had to get dressed up. I finally signed off around 1998 and have never been back to any online chat rooms. I guess I got it out of my system. I had just met my future wife so I had other things to keep me occupied.