Today's focus is on a great little phone booth I saw while visiting Catalina. The design was so cool that I just had to take a couple pictures. There's not a lot to say about it. Just thought I'd share it.
Front view of the booth. I like the yellow lettering, and the worn termite eaten wood.
This post is for Chris Salazar, who wanted something about Zodys. No, this isn't my old name tag, but it was my dad's old name tag. We share first names. My mom and dad met while working at the Torrance Zodys in 1969. She worked in the snack bar, and he in Housewares. My strongest memory of the store is buying M.A.S.K. toys when I was 9 or 10. But Circuit City, which owned Zodys, closed all the stores to focus on their electronics stores. The circuit city that was build across the street from the Zodys site, was recently demolished because they built newer stores on Crenshaw and in the city of Hawthorne.
I'm not posting more about the cinema. However, the movie theater shares a building with a couple other businesses. I liked the style of the sign for the optometrist and dentist. Simple, yet classic. It's a style you just don't see much of anymore. I miss the glass and steel of mid century modern.
Here's a view from inside the walkway. We can see the backs of the signs, which are not as interesting as the faces. Demolition was going on at the former bowling alley site, as seen in the background of the photo.
Once a very popular three building complex, the Redondo Beach Cinema stands as a shadow of its former self. Years ago it housed first run movies, but now it is a discount theater showing movies on their last leg. I loved the architecture of these terrific buildings, which also included a bowling alley and ice cream parlor. This one section of the complex is all that's left, and I wonder how long it will last.
The marquee betrays how long ago I took these photos. The mid century style of the buildings held so much magic for me as a kid when I stood in a long line here to see Return of the Jedi. The last movie I saw at these theaters was Jurassic Park. That was in the building that is now an Expo home design center. Work continues on the former bowling alley location. The death warrant for these buildings was signed when they opened the new General Cinema (now AMC) on top of the South Bay Galleria's parking structure.
Every once in a while I find old photos that really spark my interest. After cleaning out my Grandmother's garage a coupe years back, I found several pictures of old buildings next to railroad tracks. I was drawn to this depot, and some other photos were of a couple of sub stations. I had no idea what railroad they were from, or even in what state they were in. After asking my family about them, all I discovered was that they were from Washington. So a little internet mystery solving helped me discover that this structure was was the south Cle Elum depot in Washington. Part of the Milwaukee Road, the station looks in very poor condition in this photograph. This picture was most likely taken in the late sixties, or early seventies. I'm bad at dating pictures (especially with no clues like cars).
I was pretty sure that this building must have been demolished a long time ago, but to my surprise it had just undergone a major restoration! Of course, the restoration included turning it into a restaurant and museum, and it was so great to see the building in such great condition. My Great Grandfather worked for the Milwaukee Road in the 1920's it turns out, and my Grandfather took these pictures, obviously to remind him of his childhood. About a year after I discovered these pictures I found an old album of my Great Grandparents which had some more pictures of the substation.
This tableau of The Private Life of Henry VIII is one of my favorites from Movieland Wax Museum. King Henry VIII is a popular subject for wax museums, and Movieland was able to create their own based on the 1933 motion picture. Charles Laughton plays Henry VIII, the infamous king of England who created the Church of England because he couldn't get the Pope to grant him a divorce.
A close up of one of his wives. She looks very similar to the ticket booth worker that was the first wax figure seen after you entered the museum.
A close up of Laughton's figure. He doesn't look too happy.
Another one of the wives I assume. Assigned the title "female extra", she could be a mistress seeing I have not seen the movie.
Here's a clapboard sign which shows a little more information about the film. They always tried to be as authentic as possible. The laughton figure sold at auction for $1,900, and three of the four women sold for $100, the fourth one (which can be seen standing on the left of the first photograph) sold for $400. The antique props sold for $1,400, and the set itself sold for $450.
An old fashioned Gazebo at the Market Place where diners are entertained. Food Shops with the aromas of Italian, Mexican, Oriental, European, and Western foods surround the plaza.
I thought I'd include a couple of photographs of some of the interesting patrons at the mall. This guy looks a little out of place, and would probably feel more comfortable in Old Chicago instead of Old Towne.
This guy looks more like a typical patron of the mall I suppose. Notice how this guy and the previous man are both looking at the camera.
Today's focus is on the Catalina Island Yacht Club. Located on the Via Casino, the Yacht Club showcases wonderful 1920's architecture. Unlike most of Catalina's famous buildings, the Yacht Club doesn't use concrete and tile in its design. Instead, a classic nautical theme highlights this great structure.
I Feel like I'm in New England. Although this is a snobby members only establishment, the building does look good.
Whoa, all of a sudden it got foggy! As if this picture was taken on a different day than the others. I wonder why. It really seems like New England now.
You know a building is important when there's a plaque on its wall. Actually, the building being used during the second great war is a really interesting part of its, and Catalina's, history.