The Peopletron Focus

Knott's Berry Farm- Before and After Part 4

2011-01-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

1970s

I thought I would post another then and now shot of Independence Hall at Knott's Berry Farm. This first shot shows the building and the long walkway leading up to the entrance. I apologize for the quality of this picture, as the prints from this set were badly damaged. I tried to make the sky more blue. The original picture had green skies.

2010

And a more recent picture. The walkway is still there, but shorter. I had my back up against the wall of the Soak City water park. It's a shame that this once quiet and peaceful area of knott's is surrounded by a tacky water park. In the summertime the lawn here gets full of people in their swimsuits running around. But worst of all, it really make getting good pictures of the building difficult. The attraction itself is worth that annoyance as it recreates the original Independence Hall quite accurately.

Chris and Pitt's

2010-09-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

One of southern California's great Bar-B-Q restaurants, Chris and Pitt's has a very unique architectural style; Create a the log cabin look and feel without actually building a log cabin.What you get is a terrific looking little Bar-B-Q place just off of the 405 freeway in Bellflower. The first Chris and Pitt's restaurant opened in 1940 by the young Greek immigrant Chris Pelonis. While many other Chris and Pitt's opened throughout California, only four restaurants are still operating today. The Bellflower location is known as number 4, and numbers 5, 6, and 15 are also still around. Along with the restaurant chain, Chris and Pitt's also has their very brand of Bar-B-Q sauce which is available for sale at select grocery stores.

A view of the corner of the building. It must have been quite an undertaking to paint all of the logs on the side of the building. Although they aren't real, it does give a nice country look to the building located in the middle of Southern California.

The rest of the building. There's not much parking in their lot, and it gets really tight with today's larger cars. I would recommend parking on the street or in their satellite lot across the street.

The Chris and Pitt's BAR-B-Q sign.

Another sign detailing the parking situation.

Chris and Pitt's BAR-B-Q No. 4 is located at 9839 Artesia Blvd Bellflower, CA 90706.

You can visit their website here.

Old Towne Mall- Carousel Gift Shop

2010-08-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

If it was the early 1970's and you found yourself in the Old Towne Mall looking for that perfect gift for your loved one, then the Carousel Gift Shop was just the place for you. This picture shows the plethora of items for sale here. They have all of the typical seventies gifts; owls, mushrooms, caricatured statues, pictures of bread and wine, and lots of pottery. Notice the excitement in the faces of the shoppers as they browse their wonderful selections.

This is another view of the store, located right at the cable car entrance on the north side of the mall.

Here you can see the cable car in the background. You can also see the amazing carpet in the store. I like the quick transition from brick street to deep red carpet.

This ad touts the Carousel Gift Shop as not only the largest Hallmark card and gift shop in the southland, but also as the most beautiful. Many of the stores' names were relevant to the theme of Old Towne, as the Old Towne Carousel was the centerpiece of the mall.

All Old Towne Posts are located here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Catalina- Captured German Machine Gun

2010-08-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Located in a small park in Avalon, Catalina is this World War I German machine gun which was donated to the city of Avalon in 1925. Notice the helmet mounted at the base of the gun.

This picture shows the plaque at the base. CATALINA ISLAND POST NO. 137 AMERICAN LEGION.

Redondo Beach Pier- Green Seahorse, Blue Seahorse

2010-08-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

This is the last of the sea creature tile murals at the Redondo Beach Pier. This green seahorse matches the blue one seen along the same path.

The blue one. This entire set of tile murals is such a nice detail to the pier.

Here's a view of the section of the bike path with the tiles.

Redondo Beach Pier- Green Starfish, Blue Starfish

2010-08-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here's another set of tile murals from the Redondo Beach Pier. This green starfish is along the bike path near the international boardwalk.

The blue starfish which matches the green one.

Redondo Beach Pier- Green Seagull, Blue Seagull

2010-08-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

This Green tile mural of a seagull is located at the Redondo Beach Pier, along the bike path.

The other seagull, which is identical in style to the green one.

Redondo Beach Pier- Green turtle, Blue Turtle

2010-08-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here's another set of tile murals from the Redondo Beach Pier. This time it's a couple of sea turtles.

The blue Turtle. The tiles are staggered blue, green, blue, green, etc.

Redondo Beach Pier- Green Fish, Blue Fish

2010-08-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of retro tile murals located just above the international boardwalk at the Redondo Beach Pier. There are two sets of these murals, one green and one blue. Each containing matching pairs of sea creatures.

The blue fish. These tiles line the bike path and add a nice nautical element to the area.

Old Towne Mall- Turn of the Century Advertisement

2010-07-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

Here's an old advertisement from the long gone Turn of the Century Wax Museum located inside of the Old Towne Mall. Opening Thanksgiving time in 1973, the museum capitalized on the nostalgic aura of Old Towne. I'm not sure how successful the wax museum was, or for how long it lasted, but it did highlight the creativity and desire to create more than just a typical shopping experience. Pick up some macramé and on your way out stop by the wax museum and view a tableau of the suffragette movement. It helped make Old Towne an entertainment destination, not just another shopping mall.

All Old Towne Posts are located here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Old Towne Mall- Clown With Crowd

2010-05-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Kids Have Fun

It's been a long time since I've posted anything, not to mention any Old Towne Mall pictures. This is a shot of a pantomimist entertaining not only children, but an entire crowd of people at the mall. This section of Old Towne was one of the most photographed. I've seen several pictures of this area in old advertisements. It's great to see these old stores. This picture was taken directly in front of June's Needlecrafts (You can see the bottom half of the sign at the top of the photo. Behind that, although out of shot is Su Casa, and behind Su Casa is Jug's Candies. Also recessed behind Jug's is the Tartan Shop, a store that specialized in coats of arms. the little red store that is behind the Jug's candies sign is Ol' Swedes Scandinavian imports (The largest wooden clog dealer in the west). That big yellow building is Music World, where you can find the newest cassettes and 8 track tapes. The big red barn across the way housed several shops including Eyes Art Gallery, and the Indian Trading Post. The yellow building behind the man with the camera is The Athlete's Foot shoe store.

Here's a closer view of the clown. I'm not quite sure what she's doing other than looking at the balloon that just got away. It's great to see how much enjoyment kids got from the live entertainment at Old Towne.

All Old Towne Posts are located here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Jared Sidney Torrance Memorial Hospital

2010-02-23T18:33:00.000-08:00

Tucked away in old Torrance, across the street from the historic Torrance Women's Club is all that's left of the first Torrance Memorial Hospital. Town homes reside where the old hospital used to be, and this old stone is all that remains.

A straight on view.

Madonna Inn Sign

2009-11-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a shot of the sign in front of the world famous Madonna Inn. The hotel features over 200 uniquely designed rooms. From the Caveman room to the Old Mill room, the Madonna Inn is an experience worth having.

Visit the Madonna Inn website here.

Villa Inn Motor Hotel

2009-11-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hospitality Awaits You!

A BIG TEXAS WELCOME to this finest of motor hotels. In the tradition of FINE INN KEEPING the VILLA INN caters to its guests 'round-the-clock.

THE BARCELONA SUITE is ideal for NEWLYWEDS or SECOND HONEYMOONERS . . . a beautiful luxurious suite in which to stay. THE MOROCCO suite is designed for those couples who want the very best in overnight lodging.

SUPERBLY FURNISHED queens and double bedrooms are offered to meet the demands of the most discerning traveler.

HEATED SWIMMING POOL beneath the huge skylights is found our inviting, heated swimming pool within the spacious courtyard; completely carpeted for the protection and comfort of our guests.

DINE IN ELEGANCE . . . the COURTYARD PATIO with its flaming torches afford our guests a delight in dining adventure.

THE BLUE ROOM offers a superb daily buffet luncheon from 11:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at a very reasonable price. For evening dining the BLUE ROOM presents continental and American cuisine for the most palatable taste.

Interstate 40 at Grand Street

9 Arizona Motor Hotel

2009-08-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a few shots of the very cool 9 Arizona Motor Hotel in Williams Arizona. Williams is known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon because of the Grand Canyon Railway that departs daily on a 65 mile journey to the natural wonder.

Located on historic Route 66, this hotel has one of the more spectacular signs in the town.

The view of the motor hotel (or motel) from the street.

The decorative concrete wall that is so common to mid century architecture.

Bahooka Ribs and Grog Sign

2009-05-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

4501 Rosemead Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770

Here's a shot of the sign outside of Bahooka Ribs and Grog restaurant in Rosemead California. This atmosphere of this place is so great! Every table has at least one fish tank, the tables look like planks and are held up by large chains. Tiki gods roam the place, and its nautical decor is incredible!

Salon Riviera

2009-05-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

The old Palos Verdes Escrow building is now the Salon Riviera located at 1807 S. Catalina Ave in Redondo Beach California. Not much has changed, except the new sign on top of the building.

Palos Verdes Escrow

2009-05-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

An old artists rendering of a small mid century office building I found at a yard sale. The building looked familiar to me, so I took a little trip and discovered the structure is still around. Next time we'll see the place as it looks today.

The Old Julian Garage

2009-05-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

Like most old buildings in historic towns, the Old Julian Garage sells antiques and collectibles.

Visit the Julian California website here.

Hearst Castle Marble Statue

2009-05-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

A quick post of one of the many statues and fountains at Hearst Castle. Though one can argue against the cohesiveness of the estate, the individual pieces of art are incredible.

A close up of the work.

Knott's Berry Farm- Marilyn and Cecelia

2009-03-02T12:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a vintage photo of the Marilyn and Cecelia statues from Knott's Berry Farm. They were not at the park the last time I visited, and neither were any of the other "sit down and pose" statues that were always around the park in years past. I'm not sure when they removed them, but it's sad that another bit of the park is gone.

Visit the official Knotts Berry Farm website here.

Tags: Knotts Berry Farm Ghost Town

Small 76 Ball

2009-01-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I've posted, but I'm still around. I've just been focusing on my other blog, Houses of Wax. This blog is called the Peopletron focus, but it lacks focus, so it's hard to consistently feel inspired to post. But I digress. This past weekend I nearly freaked out when I saw a building in Anaheim that had almost a dozen old orange 76 balls on its roof. It made me miss the roadside icon even more. There are a few of them still around, and a station a few mile away recently received the new red ball, but it is not the same. Here's an old shot of a unique ball that was a lot lower to the ground than usual. it was on PCH on the way to Malibu. It may actually be in Malibu, but I don't remember. I haven't been to that area since I took this picture. Either way, it was nice to see.

Sandy Vitale Dance Studio

2008-10-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

Whenever I drive down Western Avenue in Gardena I see this beautiful old sign. Unfortunately, rust keeps eating away at it, and sooner rather than later it will finally succumb to the elements. So here's some pictures I took of it for posterity.

From a distance, the old brick building, which still has a dance studio on the top floor.

The back of the building. Gardena has a horrible reputation for preserving their historic buildings, as many on this street have met the bulldozer.

I used a drawing program to create this sign, just so I could see how it once looked.

Queen's Motel

2008-08-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the most recent post at the really cool Ultra Swank blog, I thought I would share some pictures of the Queen's Motel in Victorville California. Like most of my roadside signage pictures, this was taken from the passenger seat of our car while on a road trip. The elegance in the simplicity of the sign is what gives it such an appeal. too bad these are becoming so scarce.

Further back, we can see the old motel the sign advertises.

And even further back. I love how the signs contrast with the desert landscape.

Tags: Signage Victorville Queen's Motel

Movieland- Levar Burton

2008-08-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a set from the Movieland Wax Museum featuring Levar Burton from Reading Rainbow. Mr. Burton did an episode on wax figures and had his own likeness created in wax. The whole process wax featured on the show, and this tableau was what resulted.

A larger view of the set. So many books.

Mr. Burton stands under the Reading Rainbow sign.

Levar Burton donated the jacket that the figure wears.

Posters on the wall remind kids to read.

The figure and set both sold at the movieland auction for a mere $150 each, which was way under priced.

You can visit the Reading Rainbow website here. (But you don't have to take my word for it)

For more pictures of wax museums visit Houses of Wax.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Reading Rainbow Levar Burton

Marineland- Mold-A-Rama Sea Lion

2008-07-26T23:33:00.000-07:00

I posted these pictures on my other blog, Houses of Wax a little while ago. But I thought I would share them here for anyone who doesn't read that blog. This is a Mold-a-Rama Sea Lion from the "defunct so long ago" Marineland of the Pacific. I picked this baby up from a garage sale not too long ago, and it was a killer find. The little guy has some minor cracking, but seeing as the youngest this thing could be is over twenty years old, it is in pretty good shape.

A different angle.

And from behind.

You can visit the Mold-A-Rama website here.

Tags: Marineland Mold-A-Rama Sea Lion

Movieland- Lady of the Tropics

2008-06-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

In today's post we see the tableau from the 1939 motion picture Lady of the Tropics. Wax figures of stars Robert Taylor and Hedy Lamarr pose in this small and simple scene. The lighting on each of the the figure's faces makes them look kind of distorted and almost nonhuman. I guess not every wax figure can be perfect.

A flash picture of the same shot. Now we see all the set pieces and scenery, but the figures still look a little off.

A wider shot highlights the entire tableau. It's actually pretty cool looking, even for its small size.

A close up of Taylor and Lamarr. In 1933, Hedy Lamarr caused quite a controversy when she posed topless in the Czechoslovakian film Ecstasy. It obviously didn't hurt her American Career.

The clap board sign which gives information on the film and actors.

During the 2006 Movieland auction, the Hedy Lamarr figure sold for $1200, and the Robert Taylor figure sold for $300. The set sold for $1500.

Visit my other blog, Houses of Wax, for more wax museum pictures.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Lady Tropics Hedy Lamarr Robert Taylor

Crossroads of the World- California and Florida

2008-06-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

6671 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles California, 90028

Here's a set of drive by photo I took of one of the coolest relics of old Hollywood. The Crossroads of the World center is one of the must see structures in Los Angeles. It's been used in movies and television, and has a style remains relevant in the twenty-first Century.

The base of the center building.

The top couldn't fit in the frame, so here's another view of the base.

And on the other side of the country, Disney MGM Studios has their own version of the building. A fairly accurate copy, but a copy none the less.

And Disney wouldn't be Disney without adding their brand to everything, regardless of how appropriate it is or isn't.

Tags: Crossroads World Architecture Disney Studios Sunset

Steve's Drive-In Liquor-ette

2008-06-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

1232 Sepulveda Blvd Harbor City Ca, 90710

One of the great liquor store designs in the South Bay, Steve's Drive-In Liquor-ette has it all. The flashing lights, the typical arrow pointing to the location, and a clock. Not to mention the awesome font with the martini glasses.

Here's the building itself. There's actually three different businesses in the complex. The loan place on the left, as well as a travel agency I believe. The building was built in 1966 I believe, with a couple of improvements since then. They all share the same architecture.

The front of the building. The sign here really is something to see, and the 60's styling never seems to be matched by the bland lettering and dull sensibilities of today's modern design.

Tags: Steve's Liquor Store Liquorette Signage 60's

Old Towne Mall- Sign Then and Now

2008-05-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a before and after shot of the famous Old Towne Mall. This photo shows roughly the same location of where the old sign stood. Not to complain, but the old sign sure was more interesting than the bland Torrance Promenade sign that stands there now.

Another view of the old sign, The entrance on the far right has changed only a little from how it was when this picture was taken. The glass window that goes up the wall is now still there as the front facade of Linens and Things. They added some more stucco, but compared to the rest of the mall, it's the closest to the original structure.

This photo has been slightly altered to match the previous picture better. Lets say some trees are here that block the view of the building, but they were removed from the photo. You can see the glass wall behind the facade. A little work, and some imagination, and the old entrance could be back to what it once was. The reason that they kept this one section so close to the original mall design, was because they tried to have that section as one last remaining area of the mall. The old Mann theater was where Linens and Things is now, and a food court with an arcade and Carousel remained for a short time after they closed Old Towne.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California Promenade

Movieland- High Noon

2008-05-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

In my first post in a while, I'm sharing yet another scene from the Movieland Wax Museum. This time we see Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly in a scene from the classic western High Noon. The Figures are excellent, and the set, while simple, fits the mood rather well.

A close up of Gary Cooper as Marshall Kane.

Grace Kelly as Mrs. Kane.

A clapboard sign of the movie.

More information on Cooper and his career.

The figures moved to the World Wax Museum in Korea after the museum closed, and the set sold at auction for $600. The figures probably would have sold for a high price because of the status of the two stars.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax High Noon Gary Cooper Grace Kelly

Jenny Rose Restaurant

2008-04-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

35555 Ghost Town Rd Yermo, CA 92398

You gotta love roadside signs, and the architecture of the buildings they advertise. In Yermo California, on the way to Calico Ghost Town, is the Jenny Rose Restaurant. The place is typical of the coffee shop/dinner that once ran along California's highways. Long before all of the big chains took over, these places fed hungry travellers on their way to places like Calico. This sign is a great example of the few independent restaurants that are left.

The restaurant itself. That banner seems to have out used its usefulness. I'm not a big fan of banners on the side of restaurants. They detract from the beauty of the classic architecture.

In case you didn't understand that the Jenny Rose served food, this sign shows the international symbol for "grub served here".

A close up of the sign shows the damage that time has done to to it. It's sad really.

Tags: Jenny Rose Restaurant Yermo California Roadside Signage Calico

Movieland- Kevin Costner

2008-04-04T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a small set, that like many historical wax museums, shows a single figure in a simple tableau. Kevin Costner is John Dunbar in his 1990 Academy Award winning film Dances With Wolves. Most of the set is that backdrop that seems more grand with the lighting effects. Without it, the set is little more than dirt and rocks. The figure is fairly realistic, but for some reason doesn't seem to do the film, or actor justice.

An up close look at the Costner figure. It's actually a pretty decent figure. The detail is rich and it looks like him, but for some reason there's just something missing in my opinion.

The sign in front of the dirt and rocks (and tumbleweeds).

The figure ended up in Korea, at the World Wax Museum exhibit. It wasn't sold at the auction.

View more Movieland Wax Museum figures, and many others at my other blog, Houses of Wax.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Dances With Wolves Kevin Costner

Walt Disney World- Contemporary Resort Concourse

2008-03-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

With the construction of another shop at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, the Grand Canyon Concourse of this 1970's hotel looks different now than just a year ago. Here's some shots of the area as it looked back then. This first photograph shows one of many lamp stands that graced the waiting area. As you can see in the background, there was already a gift shop, and that shop sold the same stuff as everywhere else in the "World". The addition of the new store seems unnecessary.

A view of outside through the patterned windows of the side of the building. The lamps were cool. They didn't need the Mickey ears that seem to adorn everything that has Disney's name on it.

The Game Station arcade. This may still be there, but getting this shot might be a little tougher now.

Another wall. It actually matched the planters. I was at the mall a while back when they were adding more of those carts that sell junk. Someone asked the manager why they weren't adding more benches and seating, because they really need them. The manager replied, "Because benches don't make money". That about sums up why this area of the hotel has an ugly store in it now. (A store with giant Mickey ears, a detail that screams "We have no more creativity, or originality left!")

The obligatory exterior view of the hotel from the Monorail.

Tags: Disney World Contemporary Resort

Old Towne Mall- Antique Car

2008-03-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

For today's post I thought that I would share perhaps my favorite image of Old Towne. Here we see an antique car with driver, and one of the Singing Security Guards. They seem to be having a great time together, and are enjoying their employment at the mall. I love the shops and second story windows in this shot. I don't remember the car ever being at the mall, but I wasn't born yet when the mall first opened. I wonder how long the car was actually there. For a mall, they had a lot of vehicles parked in the walkways. I guess malls today still have them, but they're usually contests that people have to enter to win said car. Then the people who entered get put on mailing lists. But the Old Towne Mall has their car for atmosphere. Those where the days.

A close up of the car. I'm not an antique car enthusiast, so does anyone out there know what kind of car this is? It reminds me of something from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or the Great Race.

A close up of the driver and the guard. Old towne recreated a time when women couldn't vote, but it looks like they were allowed to drive though. I know this is a posed shot, but she'll have to drive through the ropes if she's going to go anywhere.

Here's a shot of a sign from one of the stores. I think those are mushrooms on the right, another popular fungus from the seventies.

Anyone who has to buy cheep bulk items for parties or classrooms knows of the Oriental Trading Company. I assume this is the same company as the catalog people.

Remember the good old days when you could buy a gun at the mall, or bring your own gun to the mall and sell it. Ahhhh. . . Good times. I think this is Al's Gun Room, but a lot of the sign is blocked by the light post. Maybe it was Sal's Gun Room. Anyway, I hope anyone looking for Old Towne pictures enjoyed today's post.

All Old Towne Posts are located here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Calico Ghost Town Now and Then

2008-03-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

Today's post is of the Calico Ghost Town just outside of Yerma California. This promotional photo shows how the back of the town looked after Walter Knott restored the town. It's a very dry and barren land with not much foliage. Presumably, this father and son are having a great time gazing out toward the center of town. Father is explaining the place to his son who is actually interested in the town's history.

Today, the same view of the bridge. The buildings look rebuilt to me. McCulloch's doesn't seem to be made of adobe, and there's some detail work that has changed. But the view is pretty much the same as it has been for years. Tumble weeds have sprouted up, and the dry, barren land looks just a little less dry and barren.

Visit the Calico Ghost Town website here.

Tags:Calico Ghost Town Yermo Architecture

Ted Green and Martin Chevrolet

2008-03-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

This newspaper ad from 1968 shows a sketch Ted Green Chevrolet located on Hawthorne Blvd in Torrance. The building is still there, but is now Martin Chevrolet. This idealized drawing shows the dealership in a perfect light, with patrons walking around the grounds, but the best part of the picture is how beautiful the place looks. Mid Century architecture is my favorite, and the Ted Green Chevrolet building is a great example.

23505 Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90505

This shot is how the place looks today. The only drawback is how the large trees block the full view of the building. The sign is updated with the new dealership name, but the used cars signage on the back wall is still around. There was another dealership on Hawthorne Blvd next to the Penske Cadillac and Hummer that had a similar used cars sign, but that place is long gone.

A close up of the used car lot with the Martin Chevrolet sign.

And just the used cars lettering.

View more on Martin Chevrolet here and here.

Tags: Ted Green Martin Chevrolet Architecture Torrance

Movieland- Antony and Cleopatra

2008-02-29T17:33:00.000-08:00

The Movieland Wax Museum tableau featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the movie Cleopatra was one of the most popular in the museum. Based on the price her figure went for, there is no doubt that she was truly one of the most popular stars of her era. Here we see her on the throne as Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. Although it took some time for this 1963 motion picture to recoup its $44 million budget, it did eventually become a money maker for the studio.

Insert joke here. Taylor gave a "larger" than life performance.

Richard Burton as Mark Antony. His figure played second fiddle to Taylor's all the way up until the end of Movieland.

A clapboard sign that was the standard at movieland.

Elizabeth Taylor's wax figure sold at the Movieland auction for $25,000, while Burton's sold for a mere $5,000. The props sold for $1,500, and the set/stage sold for $200.

See even more wax museum pictures at Houses of Wax.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton Cleopatra

Hot n' Tot Coffee Shop

2008-02-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

2347 Pacific Coast Highway, Lomita CA, 90717

I always love it when I see the sign for the Hot n' Tot Coffee Shop in Lomita. The building is actually not as interesting as the sign because it's covered in canopies. But the coolness of the sign makes up for it. Here we see the full sign in all its glory. Very mid-century.

The signage sans pole. As far as I can tell, the original building is from 1946, then it was remodeled in 1954, and I have no idea what improvements or addition were created since then.

The main sign up close, The font for the words "Coffee Shop" is very similar to that of J's Coffee Shop.

Tags: Hot Tot Coffee Shop Signage PCH Lomita

Movieland Wax Museum- Marx Brothers Then and Now

2008-01-27T17:33:00.000-08:00

Over at my other blog, Houses of Wax, I just posted an article on Movieland Wax Museum's Animal Crackers set. The set was bought by a fan and carefully reassembled. There are several photos showing before and after images. Check it out here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Marx Brothers

Big Shoe Repair

2008-01-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

931 Chester Ave Bakersfield, CA 93301

There's much to say about roadside Vernacular Architecture, and the Big Shoe Repair building in Bakersfield California sums it all up in a single picture (Although I'll include three). It is unfortunate that vandals think the building makes a better graffiti canvas than a piece of art. The poor quality of the cover ups also distract from the beauty of the building. But even so, one can't help but admire the originality of the architecture.

A close up of the top of the building. Rope makes a nice shoelace. I wasn't expecting the building to maintain this special detail, but was pleasantly surprised at its appearance.

From another angle the graffiti doesn't look as imposing. I'm so glad this artifact from the 1940's still remains for now. (Although these shots are from 2006)

Tags:Architecture Bakersfield Big Shoe Building Googie

Santa's Village- Santa's Wishing Well

2007-12-23T18:33:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all! Here's a shot of the long gone Santa's Village in Sky Forest CA. This is the small wishing well that stood unsuspecting in a small corner of the park. The small crimson well collected change for the Crippled Children's Society. But with Santa's Village losing so much money every year, they soon became the charity. This shot was taken within a week of the park's closing. A late snowstorm made the park's last days very cold.

A shot of the sign inside the structure. A nice detail in an amusement park that had no rival (except the other Santa's Villages).

View information on all of the Santa's Village theme parks here.

Previous Santa's Village post.

Tags: Santa Claus Santa's Village Architecture Sky Forest

Seaside Lagoon

2007-12-17T20:33:00.000-08:00

With the fate of the Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach uncertain (again), I thought I'd post some pictures of this aging community landmark. This shot shows the entrance to the facility. I spent many summer days enjoying the Lagoon, and its now removed diving boards.

Taking a few paces backwards, this signs lists all the attractions of the Portofino section of King Harbor.

Returning to the Lagoon on a calm Sunday afternoon.

I love signs which detail the history of our local communities.

This fountain IS the Seaside Lagoon. Even as a kid, I appreciated the style and design of this mid century local icon.

A close up view details the simple grace of this remnant of 1963. Who knows if this wonderful swimming area will still be around for the next generation of South Bay children.

Visit the Seaside Lagoon Website here, and sea the current options for the site.

Tags: Seaside Lagoon Redondo Beach

Turn of the Century- Lon Chaney Sr

2007-10-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

The Old Towne Mall could be a scary place, and no other section of the mall represented that fact than the Turn of the Century Wax Museum. Here, eerie images of past movie stars and historical figures stared blankly in space. This picture shows a wax figure of Lon Chaney Sr. from his 1923 motion picture The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This figure looks incredibly acurate, and Quasimodo never felt so creepy.

This close up shows the tortured soul as if he were waiting for the next female museum patron to walk by so he could snatch her up and take his victim up to the bell tower. Excellent detail abounds on a very realistic figure.

View more information on Lon Chaney here.

Tags: Turn of the Century Wax Museum Wax Figure Lon Chaney Hunchback

Japanese Village and Deer Park- Doves

2007-10-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

Doves Alight on Outstretched Hand Bearing Food

This is a vintage postcard from the old Japanese Village and Deer Park in Buena Park. These doves remind us a a not too long ago time when amusement parks had more that just thrill rides. They offered a glimpse into a world that most never see. Animals and shows that represented various cultures and lands showcased places we don't often have a chance to see. These doves wouldn't be much of a draw for Magic Mountain, and Disneyland never shows their petting zoo in their commercials. But the Japanese Village was all about such things. I wish I was old enough to have experienced it.

Tags: Japanese Village Deer Park Buena Park

Movieland- David's New Home

2007-10-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

A recent news story was published this week that reveals where the new home of the giant statue of David that once guarded the Palace of Living Art will be. The statue found its way to the Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum in St. Augustine Florida, and will be missed by everyone who visited the late great Movieland Wax Museum. This vintage postcard shows the statue with a bit more covering than it usually has. The leaf is a nice touch!

This shot shows the statue shortly before the auction in 2006. It continued to watch over the empty building after the museum closed. The developers who planned on remodelling the property bought the statue at auction for $120,000! Unfortunately, the plans fell through and David was without a home.

David in the buff. He will be unveiled at his new home on November 2nd.

Amazing craftsmanship went into this recreation.

A night shot shows the perfect man. He must be cold up there.

Read the article about David's move here.

Visit the Palace of Living Art in San Fransisco here.

Tags: Palace of Living Art Wax Museum Michelangelo David Statue

A Rather Large Cow

2007-10-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Or maybe it's a Bull. In any case this large Bovine is a great example of roadside vernacular. Used as a draw to attract drivers, these amusing creatures offer a distraction from the dull buildings and signs that line most roads now a days. This guy is located near the Sequoia National Park, either in Three Rivers, or perhaps Visalia.

A profile view of the creature. Oversized animals are one of my favorite roadside attractions.

Pretty good detail.

A different shot, this time without the banner advertizing cabins.

Tags: Roadside Attractions Animals Cow Visalia Three Rivers

Fox Drug Stores

2007-10-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

1327 El Prado Ave Torrance, CA 90501

This great old drug store in old Torrance has such wonderful signage. Every time I go to this area, which is fairly often, I need to take a good look at it. For over fifty years this pharmacy has been serving the community of Torrance, and hopefully it will continue for some time.

Unfortunately, the trees block most views of the complete sign. So I guess anyone who wants to see the place should go there and catch it for yourself. The fourth Sunday of the month hosts an antique street faire, and that would be the best time to view the store.

Another shot. The store was closed on this trip. (As evidenced by the security gate being up.)

Another angle.

Such a beautiful sign. The owl is fake by the way, as if anyone thought otherwise.

View the Fox Drug website here.

Tags: Fox Drug Torrance Signage

Unknown Ghost Town

2007-09-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, but my job has had me working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for the last six weeks. I should get back to my regular schedule in a week, but even then I will want to spend more time with my wife. In any case, my posts will become more frequent soon.

This photograph is of my Grandfather in front of what appears to be a building in a ghost town. He's no longer with us, and my grandmother is really not in the best shape, so I can't ask her where this was. It can be anywhere from Oklahoma to Washington State. My guess is that it is closer to the West than the Midwest, since my idea of a ghost town revolves around the old west and mining (Not that there isn't mining in other parts of the Country). This photograph was in a pile of pictures that included some shots from the Milwaukee Road, and those are from Washington. There are at least fifteen buildings in this town, as they seem to be numbered. If anyone knows where this might be from, I would be much obliged if you could tell me.

Tags: Mysterious Ghost Town

Ken Miller Recreation Center

2007-09-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

3341 Torrance Blvd, Torrance Ca, 90503

Today's focus is on the Ken Miller Recreation Center in the heart of the Torrance Cultural Art Center. Located next to the Plunge pool, and the Library and Police stations, the recreation center serves as a local meeting place for the residents of the South Bay. I was fortunate enough to attend a wedding reception here recently, and found the architecture of the facade quite appealing. I often passed this building and thought of how great the simple mid century architecture is.

Another view boasts the symmetry and simplicity of the building. The interior, remodeled in 2005, is nice, but hardly fits with its Modern roots.

A nice plaque which labels the building.

Outside, on the lawn is what probably was a bust of Ken Miller. Whatever it once was, it's long gone now.

This is what it reads. The sadness of neglect and vandalism. Probably the work of JR. Higher students one night at Co-Rec.

Learn more about the Ken Miller Rec Center here.

Tags: Ken Miller Recreation Center Torrance

LAX Theme Building Remodel

2007-09-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie update today because I have been so busy at work. Who knew working 12 hours a day 7 days a week would take up so much of my blogging time. Anyway, here's some pictures of the LAX Theme Building undergoing some much needed renovations. Part of the building fell off a while back (March?), and it needed a very expensive and extensive rehab. These shots are a drive-by photoshoot from when I went on my Honeymoon.

More. . .

More. . .

More. . .

Bye-bye. . .

Hopefully I will get some free time, but I won't be off my hectic work schedule until October.

Visit my previous Theme Building post here.

View a little more information about the building here.

Tags: Architecture LAX Theme Building

Movieland- Ben Turpin and Harry Langdon

2007-08-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

In what is described by Movieland Wax Museum as a typical setting, we see Harry Langdon (1884-1944) and Ben Turpin (1864-1940). They never starred in movies together, yet Movieland put them together in this unusual scene. Langdon is on they left, and Turpin is on the right (For those of you who didn't already know, and that's probably most everyone).

As you can see, the scrim makes taking pictures very difficult. This photograph is from the auction, and I can't remember if they had the snow on when Movieland closed. Wow, a whole wax museum scene in such a small space. I guess they know how to utilize every bit of space.

The clapboard sign. The wax facts says: "Ben Turpin's crossed eyes were insured for $25,000 in 1925. More pies hit his face than any other man in movie history." And most people have never heard of him. His wax figure sold for a mere $850 at the Movieland auction. Langdon's sold for even less, at $500. The small set sold for only $125. Even I could have afforded it, if I had paid the $300 fee to enter the auction.

View the filmography of Harry Langdon here.

View the filmography of Ben Turpin here.

See even more wax museum pictures at Houses of Wax.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Ben Turpin Harry Langdon

Old Towne Mall- Paul Freiler's Historical Models

2007-08-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today's focus is back on The Old Towne Mall. This time around, I thought I'd post on Paul Freiler's Historical models, and an ad they had back when they were located inside Old Towne. This ad shows how much the shop fit in perfectly with Old Towne, as they sold mostly historical, as their name stated, models and toys. I remember going into this shop when I was a small kid, and marveling at the displays of the military aircraft and ships. My uncle used to have small soldiers that were the scale of the jeeps and tanks, and I loved seeing them at that store. He gave me a whole bag full of them, but I soon lost them all. If I only ever had money as a kid, I would have bought more of them at Paul Freiler's.

Eventually, Paul Freiler's moved out of Old Towne, and relocated just down the street near the corner of Hawthorne Blvd. and 182nd Street. (Close to the last 76 ball in Torrance). I forget which year they finally closed, but I think I was still in High School when they did. A buddy of mine worked there, but by then, it seemed like they focus more on role playing games than on Historical models, as half the store had lead figures, and painted monsters displayed. The other half was split between model cars and stuff with only a small section dedicated to Historical models. The location is now a mattress store I believe, and El Pollo Loco is directly on the corner. I still pass by the building and half expect to see the Paul Freiler's sign.

Read a webpage about miniatures that mentions Paul Freiler's here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California Paul Freiler's Model Shop

Sequoia- Moro Rock Then and Now

2007-08-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I made my annual trip to Sequoia National Park. This was the first time since I've been married, and it was a blast. Today's pictures focus on one of the great treasures of the park, Moro Rock. In order to reach the top, one must climb countless steps, or t least it seems countless. This first picture shows what the rock looked like years ago, most likely the sixties. . .

And this shot shows how it looks now. As you can see, not much has changed at all! Maybe a little graffiti on a couple signs, but that's it.

Near the top.

A little teeter rock action.

I kind of like this shot.

I've always liked the trash cans in our National Parks.

View the official Sequoia National Park website here.

Tags: Sequoia National Park Moro Rock

EPCOT Wand removal

2007-07-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to visit Walt Disney World on my honeymoon during the beginning stages of the removal of the ugly Mickey wand at Epcot. This first picture shows the wand without any modification. But looks can be deceiving, as there is more than meets the eye. . .

This reverse view shows that the back of the sign is missing the "ot" from Epcot. They were going pretty slow on the removal of the lettering. This picture is from the 11th of July.

A slightly closer view shows the giant crane they need to remove the sign. They just can't remove it fast enough in my opinion.

Later on in the week most of the lettering was gone except for this lone E. I'm sure someone was sad to see the wand being removed, but I don't know who it is.

And the back of the wand on July 15th.

From World Showcase. One day, when I return to Epcot, I hope to see just Spaceship Earth. I wish the attraction was open when I went, but you can't have everything.

From the right angles, you'd hardly notice the wand was there anyway. This is how it should have looked all along.

Visit the Epcot website here.

Tags: Epcot Spaceship Earth Wand Removal

Pann's- pt 6- Dine and Dash

2007-07-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

I'm getting married this weekend to my beautiful fiancee Jessica, so there won't be any new posts for a little while. Probably most of July, but here is the last of My Pann's visit.

Here's the top of the menu, which is also similar to their website design. Nice touch using the chef and the sign.

The bottom of the menu. Although the atmosphere was incredibly wonderful, the food was just good.

More nice lighting. Different than the others, but still beautiful.

As we leave, we notice that even the door is awesome! Like I said before, it's all about the details. Okay, so this was a quick post. I will be back in a couple weeks. (Hopefully)

Visit the Pann's website here.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 5- The Devil is in the Details

2007-07-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pictures of the wonderfully detailed lighting elements of Pann's. This long structure, which hangs above the counter portion of the restaurant, looks incredible. That's cork board that creates the stone-like textured squares.

Some really neat fixtures. Far better tan the ones we get in coffee shops today.

Another angle. It was pretty amazing to see how much of the place was preserved. Nobody gets this excited about the architecture of Starbucks or a new McDonalds, which says something for the emotional pull that Googie still has on the community. I'm too young to remember when Googie was new, so its appeal has something more to it than simple nostalgia.

A single light fixture, part of the amazing attention to detail that makes Pann's such a great place.

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . we eat and run.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 4- Waiting for a Table

2007-06-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

I usually hate sitting around the lobby of a restaurant waiting to be seated, but since so much of Pann's is vintage, I didn't mind one bit. Check out the cool bench, and the seats over at the counter! Incredible.

Even this glass divider has artistic detail. Don't settle for plain old frosted glass anymore!

Inside the building there's a neon recreation of their famous sign. Their logo is world class Googie to the core.

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . ceiling high jinks.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 3- Googie Paradise

2007-06-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the wonderfully sloped roof of Pann's. The lighting also adds to the ambiance and mood of the restaurant. How could someone dislike Googie architecture? Standing in front of this place gave me chills and caused me to appreciate the few examples we have left of this amazing era of the twentieth century.

Basically, the same shot as before, but with more of the lighting present. Night pictures are always difficult to get right, so I thought I'd include two. Even if they are fairly similar.

A close up of the Yucca trees in front. One important detail of good landscaping is having plants and trees that are appropriate to the architectural theme. And Pann's landscaping does just that.

Even the street number is Googie! Remember, that's 6710 La Tijera Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . we wait to be seated.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 2- Stuck in the Parking Lot

2007-06-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

Even the parking lot signs are cool at Pann's. This sign, which warns non customers to not even think of using Pann's parking lot, has the vintage style and design we'd come to expect from Pann's.

The same sign taken with the flash on. What a difference!

I like the font here, and anyone in the area, feel free to order some nice Coffee shop food.

A view of our destination. Even from the parking lot side, the building has wonderful style and detail; The angled roof, the glittered stucco, the stone wall. Wait until we see Pann's from the most beautiful angle!

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . full frontal pictures of the exterior.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 1- Sign of the Times

2007-06-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

6710 La Tijera Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045

The absolute coolest Googie restaurant in all of Los Angeles is Pann's Coffee Shop. The next several posts will concentrate on a recent trip I made to this historic and iconic landmark. This sign shows the originality, and just incredibly wonderful detail of Googie architecture.

A close up of the sign without the neon lights on. They actually flash on and off, signaling to motorists to come in and spend a few minutes in mid century heaven.

With the lights on, unfortunately they weren't all working (As you can see). If only the sign didn't reference the 50's, then there would be no distinguishing it from how it was fifty years ago.

The side of the building is stamped with the Pann's logo. A very nice detail that most places overlook these days.

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . more exterior shots.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Movieland- The Lucy Show

2007-06-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

A very simple display of Lucille Ball stands unassumingly off in a corner. I suppose the figure itself is the main focus of this set. It would have to be. Lucy was born in 1911 and died in 1989. She is definitely considered one of the greatest female comics of all time. Her career spanned decades and this redhead became the top draw on television. This figure honors the contribution she made to the fields of television and comedy.

A close up of the wonderfully sculpted Lucy figure. It looks as though she is ready to spend a night on the town, as she has her pocket book along to pay for all of it. Don't tell Ricky. Actually, the figure is supposed to represent her later series, The Lucy Show which ran from 1962-68.

A fairly dark picture of the clapboard sign shows information about when this three dimensional representation is supposed to take place. The Lucy figure was not sold at the auction, but the small set sold for $300.

View the filmography of Lucille Ball here.

For more pictures of wax museums visit Houses of Wax here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Lucille Ball

Last 76 Ball in Torrance Destroyed!

2007-06-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

These photographs both disgust and sadden me. On Hawthorne Blvd and 182nd st, the last remaining orange 76 ball in Torrance, and I'm pretty sure the whole South Bay, has just been removed. Not only did they take it down, but they really did a real number on it. This wasn't unexpected in general, but I did not think that they would do it so soon. The station hasn't been remodeled yet, and the ball is often the last to go. You can see in the back of the picture that the building and island still look old. But I noticed about a moth ago that they stopped spinning the ball, and that got me worried (for a good reason it seems).

A close up of the destruction. Those bastards! I wonder if Conoco Phillips actually realizes that they're weakening their brand by removing its uniqueness. I won't go to a Seventy Six anymore thanks to their stupidity. Now if they ever start adding balls again, then maybe I'll change my stance. Where are the new red balls that we were promised?

This is what replaced the wonderful 76 ball this week. Does this really look any better? A flat sign? Welcome to the unimaginative, bland 21st century. McDonalds thinks they're Starbucks, and Conoco Phillips wants their brands to get lost in the crowd.

Thanks to Ben Taniguchi of Galvin Preservation for the first two pictures.

Visit savethe76ball.com

Tags: 76 Ball Removed Orange Red Torrance California

Old Towne Mall- Clown With Family

2007-06-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Rest Stop in the Old Towne Mall

Here's another scene from the Old Towne mall. It shows a wonderfully surreal clown entertaining shoppers in what must have been a common sight in the early days of the mall. We also see other mall goers enjoying themselves, whether window shopping or taking a break on a bench. I guess their motto was correct when the proclaimed that "Old Town is a family affair." I don't recall ever seeing a clown at the mall when I was a kid, but by the time I was old enough to understand what was going on around me I think the mall stopped most of their usual street entertainment. It's a shame that so many attractions today focus solely on one demographic. Either kids are the main focus, or it's high end trendy fashion. Nothing seems to be made that kids can enjoy that doesn't bore parents. I suppose the joy of nostalgia and the optimism of youth don't mix as well as it used to.

A close up of the clown interacting with a boy whose head movement caused picture blur.

Sorry about the watermark on the main photo, but a couple of sites have been using my pictures without linking back here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California Clown

Tom Sawyer Island pt 5- Smuggler's Cove

2007-06-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

As we make our way across Tom Sawyer Island, we eventually find Smuggler's Cove. There we encounter two classic and wonderful attractions, the Pontoon, and suspension bridges. Instead of thrills, they offer fun and simple experiences that fit quite well with the theme of the island.

The Suspension bridge one day when it was closed off. You can see the leaves collected on top of it. This was back when it was unknown if the bridge would ever carry people again. Good thing it eventually reopened.

The sign warning people to be safe on the bridge.

Another view of the suspension bridge on another day. No pirates around.

Two children enjoy the up and down bobble of the Pontoon Bridge. One of the greatest simple pleasures at Disneyland.

Don't say we didn't warn you. You don't have to go this way. But why would anyone choose not to?

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island Smuggler's Cove

Tom Sawyer Island pt 4- Injun Joe's Cave

2007-06-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

Before it became Dead Man's Grotto, there was Injun Joe's Cave. Children and adults both marveled at its mysteries. Would they discover the treasure, or run into Injun Joe himself? Only the brave who dared to enter will find out.

The sign further intensifies the mysteriousness of the cave. Maybe Disneyland does have some unexplored elements after all.

The cave is dark and dreary (When you don't use the flash on your camera), and we hear screams call from out from nowhere. Who is the man who screams in such agony?

This sign explains that the sound is from the ghost of Injun Joe. A supernatural element is now added to the experience.

The bottomless pit is not so bottomless. In fact we can see the remnants of the last person who fell down the hole; someone who got a set of free green beads over in New Orleans Square.

The backside of the cave, or is it the entrance?

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island Injun Joe

Tom Sawyer Island pt 3- More Fort Wilderness

2007-06-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

Lights out in front of Fort Wilderness. The island would be so fun to explore at night, but Tom Sawyer Island always closed at dusk. This shot was another of my attempts at art.

Just in case anybody missed the giant fort on the island, a sign directs visitors to view, if not enter, the once magical structure.

From the Mark Twain riverboat guests get a slightly obstructed view of the fort. Gun shots could once be heard when passing the fort, as kids and adults pretended the fort was under attack by hostile natives. The guns were removed a few years ago after a child was injured in an accident with one of the rifles.

A peek inside the closed fort. A water cooler can be seen inside the Regimental Headquarters which now appears to be a break room for cast members. I wonder if the figure of the Andrew Jackson is still in there.

Find more information on Fort Wilderness here.

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island Fort Wilderness

Tom Sawyer Island pt 2- Fort Wilderness

2007-05-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

Fort Wilderness, which was once an intricate part of Tom Sawyer Island, offered kids, and adults the opportunity to recreate the experience of a true frontier. The outpost of the island, Fort Wilderness had a small store, and guns that made shooting sounds. What I enjoyed the most was the peek in scene, similar to those at knott's Berry Farm, of the Regimental Headquarters. Unfortunately, I never took any pictures of it.

A "Vintage" picture of Fort Wilderness. From the outside, it looks very much the same then as it does now.

The entrance of the fort as it looked after it was closed. So sad to see the fort not get a true final farewell.

My attempt at an artistic shot of the fort. I kind of like it.

It's dusk, and the sun sets on Fort Wilderness. What will be in store for this Disneyland real estate? A newer and better Fort Wilderness? An empty parcel of land? A stone fort similar to those seen in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies? Only time will tell.

Find more information on Fort Wilderness here.

Next Time: A few more shots of the fort.

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island Fort Wilderness

Tom Sawyer Island pt 1- Castle Rock

2007-05-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

With this week's opening of Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, I thought that I would share a few photographs of the island before its transformation. These posts will also include a couple of vintage pictures of the island (If you consider 1980's pictures taken with a Kodak disc camera vintage).

Castle rock before its 2003 remodel. About fifteen years before. Sure it may not be as safe as it is now, but aesthetically, it was very beautiful. Although, the addition of Tom and Huck's lookout was done very well.

A slightly different angle just before the remodel. I always got confused when I roamed around the caves as a kid. They seemed so large and mysterious.

One thing Tom Sawyer Island Has is Signs. Every piece of rock work, or bridge had a name. I suppose it helped kids remember their favorite part of the island.

Teeter rock before it they sealed it to the ground. That really made me sad.

PLEASE
WATCH YOUR BALANCE
THIS TEETER-TOTTER ROCK TILTS!

I have to admit that I am intrigued by the new Tom Sawyer island, but I am also sad that so much of it changed, especially with the rumors of Fort Wilderness' impending demise.

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island

Riviera United Methodist Church

2007-05-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

The Riviera United Methodist Church is a terrific looking building on Palos Verdes Blvd in Redondo Beach. The church has been around since 1956, and the building had major improvements in 1968. I have no idea what changes were done to the building back then. In any case, it looks really cool. More like a concert hall than a church.

An old sign showing where the parking is.

A slightly closer view of the building that shows the cross and the windows.

A fairly simple, yet classic sign in front of the building.

The church building is located at 375 Palos Verdes Blvd, Redondo Beach Ca, 90277.

Tags: Architecture Riviera United Methodist Church

Movieland- Dinner at Eight

2007-05-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

I usually post pictures of Movieland Wax museum on both this blog, and my wax museum blog. The last time I posted about Movieland on the other blog I totally forgot to post it here also. So here's a (relatively) new post from the late great wax museum.

This figure of Jean Harlow is from the 1933 motion picture Dinner at Eight. Considered Hollywood's first platinum blonde, Harlow quickly became a major star, but died tragically at the age of 26. This movie highlights Harlow's sex appeal, as she was one of the most popular leading ladies of the 1930's. Harlow died in 1937 of a kidney disease.

The tableau with flash on shows how the lighting really set the mood for the scene. The set is filled with light colored props and dressings, allowing the lighting to better recreate such an intimate setting.

Without the lighting, you'd think this was Harlow's preserved corpse. A little too much make-up was applied to the figure.

Some of the props from the set. For some reason they remind me of my grandmother's house. All the props and the set sold at the auction for a combined $2900. This includes the beaded curtain and chandelier(not shown), as well as the couch and end table.

The clapboard giving more information about Jean Harlow and Dinner at Eight. Jean Harlow's wax figure sold at auction for $7,250, a relatively large amount.

View more information on Jean Harlow here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Jean Harlow

Busch Gardens- Yahoo Flume Ride Part 3

2007-05-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

The final drop is the most exciting part of any log ride. Here at Busch Gardens, the drop seems especially fun because of the cool 1970's environment. Look at the amazement on the faces of the two women in the log. No wonder they called this the YAHOO flume ride. The difference between a flume ride and a motor boat ride is the wonderfully thrilling drop!

After the drop is the part of the ride where the wake may or may not get the rider wet. The men in this photo share the same excitement that the women in the previous shot do. Upon closer look at the shot, one very interesting thing can be seen in the log...

THE MAN IS HOLDING HIS BABY ON THE RIDE! That's right, this must be from before height limits were established for theme park attractions. I would have been scared silly if I was that baby. Only the man's arm is keeping her from flying out into the water. But all's well that ends well.

Tags: Busch Gardens Los Angeles Van Nuys Log ride

Busch Gardens- Yahoo Flume Ride Part 2

2007-05-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

As a few minutes have passed, and we're enjoying the beautiful scenes of Busch Gardens, we come across this beautifully designed tropical paradise. We hear the birds singing in their habitats, and other guests view us from a nearby walkway.

After the calm tropical section, we now enter the most exciting part of the flume ride. The conveyor belt lifts us higher and higher, as we now get a beautiful view of the entire park. Only a small section left before the big payoff. All log flume rides have a giant drop, and it looks as if it's right around the bend.

Next Time, part 3

Tags: Busch Gardens Los Angeles Van Nuys Log ride

Busch Gardens- Yahoo Flume Ride Part 1

2007-05-10T00:33:00.000-07:00

This three part post will take us on a virtual tour of the Yahoo Flume Ride from the defunct Busch Gardens amusement park in Van Nuys California. The Ride is your typical flume, featuring barrels that hold up to four people. Unlike Knott's Berry Farm's Timber Mountain Log Ride, and Disneyland's Splash Mountain, The Yahoo Flume had no theme other than highlighting the beauty of Busch Gardens itself. Instead of animatronic loggers or singing alligators, real birds, gardens, and lakes surround the visitors of this modest attraction. The Yahoo Flume is a similar experience to Magic Mountain's Log Jammer. Let's begin our tour.

After boarding the log/barrel, we begin a calm and relaxing tour of the south side of the park. A rushing waterfall greets the travelers, as they get a rare glimpse at the backside of water. Riding Disneyland's Jungle Cruise is not the only way to see this amazing phenomenon.

After we pass the waterfall, another of Busch Gardens' rides is in view. The Motor Boat ride gives guests a similar experience to the logs with one major difference. That difference will be exposed in a couple of posts.

Next time, part 2.

Tags: Busch Gardens Los Angeles Van Nuys Log ride

Chester Plumming and Supply

2007-05-07T00:33:00.000-07:00

Chester is a great little old logging town in Northern California. It borders Lake Almanor, which is near Mount Lassen. Although most stores in this area are gift shops, the classic old town feel is alive and well in the old buildings along the main street. This building is the Plumming and Supply store which has some nice old signage and design. The services that this business provides betrays the needs of the town, and is very different than the suburbs of Los Angeles where I live.

I don't know what I was thinking when I took this picture, as the beginning and end of the sign are cut off. Oh yeah, I couldn't get further out into the street without getting run over by a truck. Although Chester is a small town, the main street was quite busy.

A close up of the broken neon sign. It's little details like this that most of our contemporary architecture is missing.

Learn more about Lake Almanor here.
And here.

Tags: Architecture Chester Mount Lassen Almanor

Pacific Coast Highway Orange 76 Ball

2007-05-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

A few shots for todays focus from a 76 station on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. In the south bay there is only one 76 station left with a ball (Hawthorne and 182nd st in Torrance). How long that will last, I do not know. If and when the station gets remodeled, I hope that it will receive a new red ball instead of the plain sign all the other stations received.

A little closer view. I never thought that a company would abandon its trademark so easily. But because of the efforts of Savethe76ball.com the ball will live for a while longer with a new color scheme. I still wish they kept the orange though.

This picture is not a ball, but a really large sign so people will know the station is there from a mile away.

Tags: 76 Ball Removed Orange Red

Old Towne Mall- Singing Security Guard

2007-05-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

This picture of the Old Towne Mall Singing Security Guard is probably the most accessible picture of the mall on the web. I held off posting it because most people who are interested in the mall have most likely already seen it. For those of you who have not, here is the singing security guard in all his happy 1970's glory. I like the banjo player and pianist in the background. One interesting feature of this photo is the carousel in the far background. It's not the double decker carousel that many of us remember in the mall. I have no verification, but I assume that the mall opened with this smaller carousel, then upgraded to the double decker shortly after.

As a bonus, here's an ad from "The Book Experience" discount bookstore in Old Towne. Anybody remember this place, because I don't. Although, I would love to believe that it was a small store with a wooden ladder on rollers so patrons could reach books on the top shelf. In reality it was probably just your standard bookstore. They did seem to offer many full featured services like 14K Gold imprinting, gift wrapping, and mailing service. I remember the B. Dalton (or was it Walden books) which came later, and was one of the last stores to remain at Old Towne.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Catalina Phone Booth

2007-04-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Visit the official Catalina Island website here.

Tags: Catalina

ZODYS Name Tag

2007-04-24T00:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Tags: Zodys Torrance

ZODYS Commercials

2007-04-24T00:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of Zodys commercials I found on You Tube. I felt they went well with my other Zodys post. Even if they aren't my own videos. I like this first one the best because of the cool Zodys logo.

This video is less impressive, but still gives a sense of the Zodys image. Yay Founders Day!

Tags: Zodys Commercial

Redondo Beach Cinema's Neighbors

2007-04-21T23:33:00.000-07:00

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.

The Redondo Beach Cinema 3 is located at 1509 Hawthorne Blvd, Redondo Beach Ca. Next to the former Zodys building (Now Ralphs).

Tags: Redondo Beach Cinema Galleria Architecture

Redondo Beach Cinema

2007-04-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Tags: Redondo Beach Cinema Galleria Architecture

Milwaukee Road- South Cle Elum Depot

2007-04-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

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.

See photographs of the restoration here.

Tags:Milwaukee Road Cle Elum Depot

Movieland- Private Life of Henry VIII

2007-04-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

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.

View more information on Charles Laughton here.

For more pictures of wax museums visit Houses of Wax here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Charles Laughton

Old Towne Mall- Market Place

2007-04-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Here's a great picture of the food court at Old Towne Mall. Notice how busy it is. This looks like a scene from Disneyland, or Knott's Berry Farm, not your local mall. How many times have you seen costumed entertainers singing for patrons at a mall? The most I find today is a "deaf" person trying to sell me stickers for a dollar. Somehow that doesn't feel the same, and just makes me uncomfortable. The only restaurant here that I can make out the name of is "Old Towne Bakery." My personal memories of the food court don't have it looking like this. Does anyone have any information on the evolution of it? Maybe I just didn't pay that much attention when I was really young.

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.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Catalina Island Yacht Club

2007-04-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Visit the official Catalina Island website here.

Tags: Architecture Catalina Via Casino Yacht Club

Moneta Presbyterian Church

2007-03-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

1842 W Gardena Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247

This old photograph shows The Moneta (now Gardena) Presbyterian church. The church was built in 1922 and still stands as the Gardena Valley Church of Christ. The architecture is so simple, yet very beautiful. Thanks to Ben Taniguchi of Galvin Preservation for this picture.

This is what the building looks like today. As you can see, only small changes to the exterior are noticeable. The sign on the tower shows the "new" name of the church, and small support columns hold the overhangs by the doors. The building can use some TLC, but overall, it is very similar to the way it was 85 years ago.

Tags: Architecture Gardena Church of Christ

Turn of the Century- Theodore Roosevelt

2007-03-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Old Towne Mall, beginning in 1973, had a small wax museum featuring several scenes from history and entertainment. I posted this picture on my wax museum blog, but since Turn of the Century Wax Museum is part of Old Towne history, I though some people might want to see it here. Theodore Roosevelt was our 26th President, and served from 1901-1909. He assumed the presidency when Mckinley was assassinated. I like the big smile on the wax figure.

Tags: Turn of the Century Wax Museum Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Angel Food Donuts

2007-03-26T23:33:00.000-07:00

There's just something about buildings with giant donuts on them. This one, on Santa Fe in Long Beach, has a slightly smaller donut than The Big Donut Drive-in buildings. But that doesn't take anything away from its coolness. Many of the remaining donut shops also offer sandwiches and drinks, making them more desirable to the local consumer. The shop's full name is Mrs. Chapman's Angel Food Donuts, but I guess that is too long of a name to paint on the donut.

Another angle shows more detail of the building itself. It's very similar to the many other donut shops in the area built at the same time. This one was built in 1956.

This Angel Food Donuts is located at 3657 Santa Fe ave, directly on the corner of Sante Fe Ave and Cameron St.

Tags: Googie Architecture Drive-Ins Big Donut Angel Food Donuts

Torrance Housing Woes

2007-03-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

I usually blog photos of architecture and amusements that I like, but I thought I'd change it up a little for today's post. A few days ago I read an article in the Daily Breeze about how the city of Torrance is coping with the housing boom coming to an end. Of course, the end of this so called boom is seen by most as a very good thing for the city. Besides the obvious ugliness of the dense townhome developments, the city now has to now face the burdens put upon its public works, health, and safety departments. The article mentions how the extra population has caused a huge traffic problem for the city, as well as the deterioration of the roads by this traffic. Overall, the "boom" had just made the city too crowded. Luckily, the new Mayor cares more for the overall wellbeing of the city and not just the few extra bucks these housing projects bring. He even mentioned how the city needs more parks. Something I have thought for a long time.

Thi$ picture of a Torrance Town home i$ actually a mild example. Mo$t of the development$ feature no trace of a yard what$oever. No community pool for the resident$ (that would take up $pace for more unit$), and mo$t offer little gue$t parking. Visitor$, and even re$ident$ who have more than two car$ or choo$e not to park in their garage$, have to take up $pace in front of neighboring $ingle family home$. It $eem$ like every lot with a big yard wa$ $ubdivided into two, and even three parcel$. Torrance, however, is not the wor$t example. Redondo beach i$ becoming ju$t a horrible place to vi$it. Imagine vi$iting a friend and having to park two to three block$ away.

Anyway, my next post will be more cheerful.

Tags: Torrance CA Housing Problems

Japanese Village and Deer Park

2007-03-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

Today's focus is on yet another Southern California amusement park that I never had a chance to go to; The Japanese Village and Deer Park. Located just minutes from Movieland Wax Museum at 6122 Knott Ave in Buena Park, this Japanese culture sharing, and wild animal feeding park seemed to focus solely on family style fun. No roller coasters here, just shows, animals, great landscaping, and beautiful architecture. Consider it Busch Gardens Van Nuys Japanese style. Switch the beer with sake, and birds with deer, and you have the Japanese Village and Deer Park. Maybe it doesn't hold as much wonder to me as Busch Gardens or Marineland, but the Deer Park really seemed like a place that almost anyone could enjoy.

Visitors of all ages enjoy petting and feeding gentle Japanese Sika and Fallow deer.

I really like this shot. Petting zoos don't look like this anymore. I understand how shots like this are meant to create an ideal setting, and reality never meets expectations, but it must have actually been a really cool place.

Tags: Japanese Village Deer Park Buena Park

Sequoia Auto Theatre

2007-03-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a shot of the old Sequoia Auto Theatre in Visalia California. This is another example of abandoned signage advertising a demolished structure. The arrow points to an empty field. I always have mixed emotions about abandoned structures and signs. It's their mysterious, lost nature that makes them so appealing, but these places are usually overlooked and under appreciated when around.

This blurry picture shows the sign from the other angle. Another website states that the storage shed at the base of the sign still houses marquee letters. See the pictures here.

Tags: Visalia Sequoia Auto Theatre Signage

Lomita Railroad Museum Locomotive

2007-03-13T00:33:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd put up a couple shots from the Lomita Railroad Museum. The Engine here is number 1765, and is really cool to go in and explore. The locomotive is a true Southern California piece of history, as it was mainly used around this part of the state. Built in 1902, the engine was retired in 1958. The museum features several train cars as well. A couple of them, a boxcar and an oil tank, are across the street in a small park.

A reverse 3/4 view gives a better angle of the size of the train. The museum is hidden a a small neighborhood in Lomita.

Visit the Lomita Railroad Museum's website here.

Previous post on the museum

Tags: Lomita Railroad Museum Roadside Attractions

LAX Theme Building Closes

2007-03-09T21:33:00.000-08:00

For a little while anyway. I was at work the other day when a coworker was watching television during her break. I heard the ABC7 anchor speak the line "Los Angeles Landmark has closed." Of course he didn't say which one it was, and I always get alarmed when I hear a teaser like that. Eventually they announced that it was the famous Theme Building at LAX. I was relieved to learned that it was only a temporary closure. Inside the 1961 structure is the ultra Retro/Modern restaurant "Encounter", which is now closed for several months. The reason is because a large chunk of stucco fell off one of the arches onto the roof of the building. It should take six months to complete the necessary repairs, and the restaurant may even open earlier.

The Theme Building is such a part of Los Angeles that even before I learned what had caused the problem, I knew they were going to fix it. The news report stated that in surveys about Los Angeles the Theme Building was second only to the Hollywood Bowl in recognizability. I pass the building often and I always remain in awe at the shear beauty of the structure.

View a little more information about the building here.

Tags: Architecture LAX Theme Building

Old Towne Mall- Artisan Way

2007-03-06T22:33:00.000-08:00

Watch the Artisans at Work

Artisan Way was a C shaped loop off of the main Old Towne lane. Here, over 40 shops of handcrafted merchandise featured everything from Greg Quayle's metal sculptures, to macramé and pottery. Local artist Kris Wallace also sold nature paintings at his booth. It was very unusual to find a section in a mall that specialized in home made arts and crafts. It gave many young artists an outlet to express and display their artistic visions.

I don't know much about Artisan Way other than what I just wrote. How long did this section of the mall last? I can't remember ever seeing it when I was a kid in the 80's. In 1982 the mall allowed discount retailers in. Perhaps that was the end of Artisan Way. Maybe I just didn't care so much for "art" back then and never paid attention to that part of the mall.

Visit Greg Quayle's website and see his wonderful Fleas here. (you can see a picture of him at Old Towne in 1973 in the "Meet the artists" page)

Visit kris Wallace's website here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California

Movieland- Modern Love

2007-03-03T02:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice and dark picture of silent film star turned talkie star Charley Chase waving to all the excited guests of Movieland Wax Museum. He's seen here in the 1929 motion picture Modern Love. Chase shares the set with the far more famous Buster Keaton, but the little amount of detail and time given to Charley doesn't seem to bother him much. He just keeps on waving and smiling.

A flash shot of Mr. Chase shows a little more detail than the precious picture (with all of its mood lighting) does.

His figure sure kinda looks like a rat. That was the first thing that stuck out to me.

Yes, Charley did star in many Hal Roach pictures. The Charley Chase figure sold at the Movieland auction for $650, more than $3000 less than the Buster Keaton figure did.

Find more information on Charley Chase here.

See more wax museum photographs at Houses of Wax here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Charley Chase

Around Old Torrance

2007-02-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

Ahh, Sartori Ave. It's the main street of old Torrance, and houses several antique stores, a pawn shop, and an awesome cigar store. I love walking down the (usually) quiet streets of this historical part of Torrance. Here's a couple pictures of some of the buildings in the area.

Most of the stores in this area have this layout. Glass display windows are the remainders of an architectural style long gone.

Across the street is Lauridsen Ballet Centre. I believe that this building was once a really big thrift store. I don't know what it was originally.

Every fourth Sunday Downtown Torrance hosts an antique street faire. Visit the official website here.

Tags: Downtown Torrance Architecture Antique Faire

Mammoth on the Hill

2007-02-25T00:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been driving to Riverside and suddenly begin daydreaming? Soon the road turns into a prehistoric river and you're imagining all the cars as boats finding their way through the savage jungle. You avoid each one as you make your way to a safe place. As you look for a suitable docking location, you notice saber tooth tigers and velociraptors on the shore. Luckily, you have your trusty rifle to protect you. But before you land, you notice a large, angry Mammoth charging towards you. Your little rifle will do you no good as the massive beast approaches. You aim, close your eyes, and pray for the best. . .

Well, me neither. But I did see this cool statue of a Mammoth on top of this hill. It's nice to see unique and unusual artwork in Southern California. There were other statues too. Dinosaurs to be exact. I fact, the statues are part of the Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center. a museum that specializes in teaching about Archeology, Paleontology, and Geology.

Visit the Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center website here.

Tags: Mammoth Statue Jurupa Museum

Busch Gardens Skyrail Part 3

2007-02-23T00:33:00.000-08:00

This is the final part of my Skyrail posts. Although Busch Gardens was just a brewery and bird sactuary turned amusement park, turned bigger brewery, I think that it deserves recognition as one of the most potentially great lost amusement parks of Southern California. The place was 70's to the bone. Bird shows, motor boats, beer barrel log flume rides, and of course the terrific Skyrail tour. When I was a kid and my family drove up the 405, I would always look for the brewery. Nobody told me whether or not the brewery was actually the former Busch Gardens, I could just tell from the look of the place that the old photos my father had were from there. I would look for the Skyrail, but as I stated in a previous pose, the place closed way before I could have ever remembered any of it. It's doubtful that any new construction would ever attempt such interesting projects. As roller coasters pop up left and right at our existing parks, attractions like Skyrails and monorails just don't excite as many people as they used to.

Another view of the Skyrail. One train leaving a building and another one entering.

An artist's rendering of the Skyrail as it leaves the loading station. It looks as if the track splits so that the trains can load on separate sides of the platform. The picture from part one shows this as well.

Visit the Busch Gardens Tampa website here.

Tags: Busch Gardens Los Angeles Monorail

Busch Gardens Skyrail Part 2

2007-02-21T01:33:00.000-08:00

After a little more research, I am pretty sure that Busch Gardens did close in 1979. Perhaps someone got it confused with Marineland of the Pacific which was bought by the owners of Sea World in 1986. In any case, from the pictures I've seen the place was beautiful, but I guess Anheuser Busch makes a lot more money selling beer than doing bird shows. I just can't believe they trashed all the improvements they made to the park. In 1974, Busch Gardens expanded and built another monorail. That one basically circled the park and gave views of the many gardens and Islands of the area. I would love to see some of those pictures! So Busch Gardens had two monorails. That is pretty impressive. I can't believe that at one time Southern California had at least five monorails! Disneyland and Magic Mountain are the only two places left with them. Though Magic Mountain's was closed for a while before deciding to reopen. Santa's Village and The L.A. County Fairgrounds had the other two. There could also be more that I do not know about.

Here's a shot of the much smaller Budweiser brewery during the time of Busch gardens. You can see the Skyrail track wrapping around the building and stretching off toward the loading station.

Another beautiful shot of the Skyrails as they pass each other. I don't know if watching beer brew is all that exciting, but with a ride like this, it just very well may be.

Visit the Busch Gardens Tampa website here.

Tags: Busch Gardens Los Angeles Monorail