Hart Street

We have heard from a longtime friend from Van Nuys Demolay. You can probably guess who it is. I was glad to hear he is still playing music in a country band. I wish we lived closer to each other so we could play some of the old songs. I don't recall any country songs but there was some good rock 'n roll. Wait, we did play some Eagles songs, that should count.

He sent me a few pictures of his band if I get permission I will post them here.

Hopefully we will hear from more of you. Me and a few old band mates are already sending e-mails back and forth catching up and finding out about our lives now as well as the requisite old farts talking about the old days.

Flying Tiger Line

The story goes that John Wayne adopted the nickname "Duke" after working on the movie "Flying Tigers". Duke Hedman, the premiere ace of the Korean War Flying Tigers acted as an adviser on the movie. If it isn't true it should be. i wish I had known this bit of trivia when I flew with Duke Hedman back in the 1960's when he was a Captain with Flying Tiger Line. My dad worked for Flying Tigers so I flew a lot back in the days. Being a freight airline I sat and slept behind the crew in the cockpit. I loved the noise and the motion of the Lockheed Connie in the picture above. Flying from Los Angeles to Cleveland was a little longer trip back then. Chicago and Detroit were the usual stop overs. One day I got to sit in the co-pilots seat while we were flying from Chicago to Cleveland. Imagine my surprise when I touched the wheel and the plane banked a bit. To this day I don't know if the pilot was having fun with me or it was the auto pilot. I do remember we were over the Great Lakes at the time.

For the curious there is a picture of Duke Hedman on my Flickr (Link to the right of this page) sight. He is in a photo with Robert Prescott, my dad and few Tigers who are receiving their 25 year plaques back in 1975. There is also a link to the Flying Tiger Pilots Association. There are many old photos as well as updates by Flying Tiger employees.

Speaking of famous old pilot's I can drop the name of Bud Gurney. Mr. Gurney used to barnstorm with Charles Lindbergh. He was in one of my dad's Masonic lodges. His daughter was an active member of an equestrian stable in the San Fernando Valley and my parents used to go watch her practice and compete. I met Mr. Gurney a few times but never had the chance to ask about his flying days. There is a little information about him scattered around the internet and a few small pictures. If you have seen the movie about Lindberg starring Jimmy Stewart you will see Mr. Gurney being portrayed by Murray Hamilton.

Van Nuys Blvd., Hollywood Knights and Aloha Bobby and Rose

Two movies hit America's theaters in 1979 and 1980. Neither made it above back seat drive in quality but they are significant for others reasons. The first was called "Van Nuys Blvd". The movie was a poor rehash of American Graffiti but is notable to us in the San Fernando Valley for its locations.

The other movie was a similar piece of work called "Hollywood Knights". The local significance being the sight where the car club met called Tubby's was actually shot on Van Nuys Blvd. near Saticoy Street as I recall.

A few years earlier in 1975 another movie was released which featured a few Van Nuys Blvd. shots. This movie was called "Aloha Bobby and Rose". It featured Paul Le mat of American Graffiti fame. Aloha Bobby and Rose had a darker plot and was a small notch above the other two movies. It had some night time scenes of a red 1968 Camaro on Van Nuys Blvd to the sounds of Emerson Lake and Palmer (Karn Evil 9) as well as Elton John.

Though it is not an L.A. movie does anyone remember a movie called "Vanishing Point" with Barry Newman and a white Dodge Challenger?

Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2008

Last week the names of the 2008 Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame class was released. Arguments always ensue with this kind of discussion but here goes anyway. I was pleased with the selection of The Dave Clark Five. They were the number two British band behind the Beatles for the first wave of the British invasion. This is probably not a popular choice among those who frown on well crafted Pop. The same was said about the Loving Spoonful years ago when they were inducted. Hopeful lead singer Mike Smith will be able to attend. He is a paraplegic since he suffered a fall at his home.

The Ventures deserve the nod as the premier instrumental guitar band of the sixties. John Mellencamp probably deserves induction as one of the top mid-west populist of his day. Most people have probably not heard of Leonard Cohen. He is a Canadian poet who turned to song and has produced some of the most influential albums among his peers. An acquired taste but I am glad for his induction. Lastly we have Madonna. I understand this was inevitable, but personally I don't see it. Cultural icon aside, her music never resonated with me. I am sure my good friend Arnold is happy.

I didn't pay much attention to the whole process and am not sure who is in and who is still out of the Rock Hall of Fame. The last time I tuned in was a few years back when Bob Seger was finally inducted. Of course I have a few names that I believe have been overlooked. Joe South, the wonderful singer songwriter from the sixties. How about The Blasters, the best roots rock 'n roll band to emerge from Los Angeles. Speaking of L. A. bands I think my first choice would be that amazing Rock/boogie/soul/country band called Little Feat. Check out any Little Feat record along with the solo efforts by the late Lowell George. Time to go crusin' and put on your Sailin' Shoes.

Van Nuys Blvd. Memories

With Christmas looming large I started to think back to Christmas in Van Nuys and things that used to be, but are no more, including me in Van Nuys. One of these was the annual Bethlehem Star Parade which used to take place every Christmas season on Van Nuys Blvd. I remember going to the parade sometime after we arrived in Van Nuys (1960). I believe the parade was finally canceled due to lack of interest sometime around 1970. By then I was 15 years old and into music and didn't give it a lot of thought until I got older.

As you get older it seems the vague memories start to haunt you more than the things you remember clearly. One of those places was a restaurant called, Otto's Pink Pig". My parents used to take me there once in awhile. Somewhere in my office I have a matchbook from Otto's. Another place on the boulevard I remember but was never very fond of was Farrell's Ice Cream. Friends and I usually went there on Wednesday cruise night. A loud place that was even louder on cruise night. Does anyone remember, "The Zoo" and "The Pig's Trough"?

I also recall liking to eat at a place called "Oscar's". Now I don't recall if they had a location on the boulevard but I do recall they had one at the corner of Sepulveda Blvd. and Sherman Way. My Dad almost always ordered a Chili Size. When Oscar's closed it was replace by a burger place who's local claim to fame was having red hamburger buns. Now does anyone remember that place and the name?

The picture above from the 1958 Bethlehem Star parade is from the CSUN digital library. I recommend their website for anyone wanting to view images from the past. Be prepared to spend a night at your computer.

Merry Christmas!

Butler Brothers Department Store & Builders Emporium Hardware Store

Here are a few more friends and co-workers we are looking to reconnect with:

From Butler Brothers Department Store:
Patty Russmann, Bob Russman, Mr. Gordon Axelrod aka Mr. A, Mr. Harold Anderson, Mr. Kirkpatrick, and I'm sorry I can only remember first names of the following: Gwen, Angie, Walt (warehouse). Frank (furniture department).

From Builders Emporium Hardware Store:
Shirley Naito, Jennifer Newman Joe Ceruli, Robin Pesso, Sandy Be Miller, Don Burr, Karen Larini, Brian Hospadar, Sam Melman, Leslie McNair, Lee Durgin (also Van Nuys Demolay), Kathy Montgomery, Lori Nieman, John Nichols, Diane Billie, Steve Lafferny, Jeff Morris, Karen Willis and Rene Midler.

I apologize for any misspellings and for the maiden names.

Van Nuys Demolay Members

Here are the names of a few Van Nuys Demolay members. Some of are still in touch while others are still out in the wilderness. If you are one of them, or know one of them we would love to hear from you:

Rusty Baingo, Larry Bittke, Richard Bowman, Kevin Bowman, Jim Bullen, Alan Butts, Jeff Coleman, Doug Corbett, John Crippen, Dave Farrand, Chuck Fox, Jim Fox, Paul Glassco, Tom Hart, Tom Martin, Keith Nance, Howard Mitchell, Dave Mitchell, Bill Mitchell, Karl Inman, Tom Raden, Ben Gordon, Garry Russell, Ron Steiner, Dan Swanson, Bruce Timbers, Greg Timbers, Jim Thomas, Scott Thomas, Curtis Thornton, Alan Trusler, Jim Drew, Keith Barrett, Ken Barrett, Brian Lincoln, Will Thurston, Chuck Weymouth, Bruce Arnold, Bob Harmen, Hal Weiblen, Lance Braun, Larry Thornhill, Ken Winte, Gary Zeiger, Duane Joslin, Lee Durgin, Mike Campbell and so on.

There is a only a partial list of the members during our era. Most of us were members during the late 1960's and early 1970's. If you were there before us or came after we would love to hear about your adventures.

If you were a member of and Job's Daughters or Rainbow Group in the Valley we would also love to hear from you. Bethel 80 and Bethel 303 met at Van Nuys Masonic Temple. We would also like to hear from our sponsoring Masonic Lodge, Van Nuys 135 Royal Arch Mason's, as well as Zenith Lodge and Van Nuys #450 Masonic Lodge.

Van Nuys Blvd.

It is impossible to speak of Van Nuys of the 60's and 70's without discussing Wednesday night cruising on Van Nuys Blvd. If you didn't spend time cruising you were at least aware of it, if not inconvenienced by it in your travels through the center of the San Fernando Valley.

Van Nuys Demolay met on Wednesday nights, about a quarter mile from the action on the boulevard. Those members who were old enough to drive, and trusted enough to drive alone were always anxious to get the meeting over with and hit the streets. If you had school the next day your evening probably ended after the meeting. Sometimes you were lucky and you hitched a ride to Bob's restaurant at the corner of Van Nuys Blvd. and Roscoe Blvd. What happened from there depended on your age group and mode of transportation. If you had a converted van like the drummer in our band, Desert Radio Rat, your options increased. Though I must confess he and I usually ended up parked somewhere watching TV in the back of the van,drinking what ever beverage was in his frig as we watched the cars and girls pass by.

Some of the local hangouts in the area were Mike's Pizza on Van Nuys Blvd., Lido Pizza on Victory Blvd. and the back of Butler Brothers department store where we worked. A few of our members worked at the Von's Market in that block and we would sometimes drop in and annoy them. We were like thousands of other kids. We cruised the boulevard and then left and found adventure other places. There is plenty of that for future stories.

Sound City Recording Studios

Being a musician I have always been interested in the recording process and the various studios around town. Los Angeles is full of current and past landmark studios. The Valley has quite a few popular studios tucked away in non-discreet buildings. One I have a particular fondness for is Sound City Studios in Van Nuys. It is on Cabrito Rd. which is just south of Roscoe Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd. I used to live on Langdon Ave. which is right around the corner from the studio.

During the time I lived in the area Fleetwood Mac recorded their 1975 comeback album at the studio. Later Tom Petty used Sound City to record "Damn the Torpedo's". Years later I found out Nirvana recorded parts of their "Nevermind" album at Sound City.

During those days I would come home late at night and exit the 405 at Roscoe Blvd. I would cut up Orion St. on my way home. More times then I remember I would see rock bands and expensive cars at the Denny's restaurant at Roscoe and Orion. A fun feature of the studio was its parking lot on the roof. The studio was recessed from the street a bit. You drove in the driveway under an arch and there was a ramp which took you up to the roof. Many times I took advantage of this ramp to disappear from a friend who was following me in his car. it was a great place to hide and confuse a friend. I never told them about my hiding spot until years later.

Curiously I lived near another recording studio when I lived in Valley Village and worked near a studio owned by Frank Zappa. More to come.

Marlon Brando, Jack Webb & Birmingham High School

The other day I wrote about Balboa Park and it's Hollywood connection. If you continue north on Balboa Blvd. from Burbank Blvd. you will come to the corner of Balboa and Victory Blvd. On the Northwest corner is Birmingham High School. Drive a little further north to the next light which is Haynes Street. Haynes cuts through the middle of Birmingham High School. The section from Victory to Haynes is the newer part of the school. The part north of Haynes is the old section.

This old section used to be the Birmingham General Hospital during and after World War 2. In 1950 this site was used for the filming of a movie called, "The Men", staring Marlon Brando and Jack Webb. In the picture above you can partially see a window behind Brando that looks out on another one of the buildings.

When I attended Birmingham I had heard that the hospital morgue was located beneath the cafeteria. Many people told me they had ventured below and seen the morgue. I never did, nor can I verify their claims. True or not it was a curious bit of lore that stayed with you whenever you ate in the cafeteria chowing down on a grilled cheese sandwich.

I had quite a few classes in this old section. If they are still in use I hope they have finally air conditioned them. One of my few fond memories is having lunch in the old section with a tall brunette with long wavy hair and deep brown eyes. We were both writers and we shared what we wrote. I don't recall how we came to have lunch together. She was a nice, insightful girl. As I recall she was a member of the drama team at Birmingham. I went on to avoid school as much as possible and as such avoided sharing more lunches with my friend. I have gotten smarter since I left school.