Music & Memories

Radio Rat and I have been talking about music and memories lately. The world does not need two more old coots reminiscing about the old days. But the recent death of Roger Moore reminded me of some very good memories from 40 years ago. A specific song was on my mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy-c8aAntWA

The movie and song were released 40 years ago this July.

We were talking about songs and how they remind us of a place, a time and or a person. In each of our minds there are songs that belong to specific people in our lives. This James Bond song is a special song for me and belongs to the special person in my past and wonderful memories. It is also a reminder of the immaturity of youth that fails to hold on to the best ones.

Dearden's Van Nuys Closing

Saw this on Facebook today:

 

Dearden's which used to be Adray's and before that Butler Brothers Department store where I had my first job as did a couple of friends. Wish I could get back there before they close. I hope the building stays.  Radio Rat, Phone Rat and myself were last there 11 years ago on what we called our 'Wonder Years Tour". 

Here is a link to the article

http://www.dailynews.com/business/20170601/deardens-furniture-store-to-close-all-8-southern-california-stores-taking-with-it-420-jobs

I have an iTunes playlist for my times at Butler Brothers and it is playing now as I write. Songs as a reminder of a time, a place and friends and girlfriends. I was actually just thinking about a post about music and memories and this comes along.

Here is a musical reminder for me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2sCqIYI_WA

Van Nuys Blvd. Blog

A neat Tumblr page on Van Nuys Blvd.

http://vannuysblvd.tumblr.com/archive

Another Van Nuys Link:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/412923859569850467/

And a link to the wonderful and important work of Roger McCloskey

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/richard-mccloskey.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=404554

Sir Roger Moore

Sad to hear the news that Sir Roger Moore passed away. My first recollections of Sir Roger are from watching the TV show "The Saint" with my Dad. We both liked the show quite a bit. And of course years later he became James Bond in the movies. Like most fans I saw all twelve of his Bond movies. I guess my favorite s "The Spy Who Loved Me"

All the talk about James Bond in the wake of Sir Roger's death reminded me of a Valley memory from the 1960's. I forget the year now but it was during the Sean Connery era. A car dealer, I think it was on Van Nuys Blvd but I am not sure, had the Aston Martin from the movie Goldfinger. I haven't checked but there might have been more than one used for the movie. Either way it was a Bond car.

My Dad and I always went to see the latest James Bond picture. Along with the Matt Helm series with Dean Martin and James Coburn in the Flynn Series.

I remember I got a James Bond briefcase for Christmas one year. Along with 007 powder and cologne. I wish I still had those. Somewhere I have a picture of me with the briefcase gun. But I still have the memories.

I read that Sir Roger said his career after Bond was not as successful as Sean Connery's. He said Connery was a better actor. He sells himself short. Moore was fun to watch, entertaining and a decent actor. Be it a TV show or a film, he helped take you away from the world for a few hours. That is a great service and contribution. I wish more actors would realize this and just act and not try to save the world. I have one Moore movie and it is not a Bond picture but Moore in "Sherlock Holmes in new York". I think I will go watch it now. RIP

Rock 'n Roll

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxbwqTideE8

A song with memories from 1979 and 1980. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Van Nuys Boomers

Another Halloween Scare

A Halloween Scare

Doc Johnson in North Hollywood CA

In a past post I mentioned that i used to work a few doors down from Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage" recording studio. I neglected to mention another work neighbor a few doors down in the other direction, across the street from where I worked. The business is called "Doc Johnson" They are one of the main manufacturers of Dildos and sex toys.

Their first shift go to work early as we did. We would watch the neighborhood women walk to work on many mornings. being an almost all guy work environment where I worked I will spare you all the jokes and remarks.

One day years ago Doc Johnson had a fire or some kind of accident, I forget exactly what now. The result was the small street we all shared was flooded with latex and other materials used in the manufacture of dildos.

Of course we had a copy of their catalog. It usually surfaced when we explained to a new employee what Doc Johnson was.

At that time you could go over to their small showroom and purchase their products. No one there ever did, or admitted they did. Once in a while a well known porn star would arrive at Doc Johnson. They were there so they could make a mold of their prominent endowment. Word always got around the neighborhood.

Valerio Street Elementary School

The following picture is courtesy of Tom Cluster, Valerio Street Elementary student from 1955 to 1958. Tom also attended Robert Fulton JHS from 1958 to 1961. Tom says Valerio and Fulton were adjacent (7426 Kester) to each other. The picture below is from Valerio's first year at its new location, 15035 Valerio.

In the staff picture below principal James Harris is in the middle of the top row. Carl Lipari is a 5th grade teacher immediately behind the sign in front and Evelyn Mrgudic a 6th grade teacher is at the far right on the top row.

Thanks again Tom for sharing this photo!