Diary of Vilma, The Unconquerable

Clifton's, A Camera Girl & A Green Book

1/29/2019

The Green Book

On January 21st we celebrated the remarkable life of Martin Luther King Jr. and his everlasting legacy of peace and hope for a brighter future without prejudices. Decades prior to the civil rights movement that changed a nation, we were fortunate to have some good people of this world who ran hotels, night clubs, gas stations, barber shops and restaurants who had made the bold decision to cater to the African American population, regardless of the volatile segregation and racism happening across the United States.

"The Negro Motorist Green Book" was published by a postman from Harlem, NY named Victor H. Green as early as the mid-1930's. This guidebook has now inspired and become a major motion picture, "The Green Book" is just out in theaters now. (see the end for the great trailer!!)

The great American car culture boom was upon us, and as more and more people took to the freedom of the open roads, Victor recognized there was a dire need to keep African Americans safe as they traveled. As a postman, Victor was well traveled himself, and as he worked his daily routes he naturally picked up the word on the streets. He worked closely with his fellow black postmen compiling lists of black friendly businesses, eventually publishing his Green Book and charging just enough to make a decent profit. It originally encompassed his own NY territory, but demand for his unique book swelled, and it eventually became a nationwide guidebook. It was updated with new businesses each year, until its final printing in 1966-1967. It was Mr. Green's wish that there would be a time that his book would no longer be needed. The Green Book became indispensable for the black traveler- it was twofold: it created a network of safety and also contributed to the success of numerous black-owned businesses.

Clifton's Cafeteria, founded in 1931, was just one of the businesses proudly listed in The Green Book. Clifton's was on the path of the great US Route 66 Mother Road, and travelers and tourists from all over the country, as well as from all over the world, came to this prime tourist destination. Clifton's once prided itself on creating an atmosphere that welcomed everyone, regardless of race, creed or economic status.

Founder Clifford Clinton made it VERY clear within his policies that anyone who entered underneath the arches of his doors were friends, but he even took it a step further than just "friends." You see, he looked at everyone as under one pure race-- the HUMAN race, therefore you became "family" too. Per Los Angeles historian Kim Cooper of Esotouric Secret Los Angeles, there's a great letter penned by Clifford Clinton to a racist correspondent telling them exactly where they can 'get off' (a likely complaint of the presence of African Americans dining in the restaurant). His Christian business philosophy was wildly espoused in print and in policy, nicknaming his place "The Cafeteria of the Golden Rule." His simple philosophy of "treating others how you would be treated" was the shining light that permeated the cafeteria. Employees were held to this standard even more, service and hospitality were ingrained in them from day one. Clifford would accept no less. In blazing neon signage over the threshold of the front doors the charitable words "Visitor's Welcome" and "Pay what you Wish" lighted your way inside. So not only were you welcomed as family, but if you could not afford to pay-- well that was A-OK too!!

The Meditation Chapel located at the Redwood Forest themed Clifton's Brookdale, 648 S. Broadway.

The Garden located in the basement of the Polynesian themed Clifton's Pacific Seas, formerly on 618 S. Olive

Once entering Clifton's, it was quite literally a sanctuary for all. With its TWO original downtown Los Angeles Disneyland-esque themed locations, a fantasy redwood forest and a tropical Polynesian South Pacific tiki island getaway, you were not only transported to another world, you also entered into the realm of homespun comfort food and were given the opportunity to experience life's quiet reflection. After your meals you could either ascend up to Clifton's castle-like Meditation Chapel or descend down to a basement grotto modeled after the Garden of Gethsemane. Food for the Soul was just as important, if not more, than Food for the Body. For folks of all colors and creeds, you were welcome to remain as long as you wished in this sanctuary type state, you could make new friends, and draw spiritual refreshment for the rest of the day....and you could meet the loveliest Camera Girl of all-- Vilma!

Vilma at The Pacific Seas, all were friends

Vilma our favorite Clifton's Camera Girl was a 19 year-old teenager when she began working at Clifton's. Even from this young age, she had already developed a warm heart and caring acceptance towards anyone whom she would meet, just look at that SMILE!! With Clifford's Golden Rule policy, it was a match made in heaven, and it only solidified her fierce independent streak to buck the current trends of prejudice that permeated the era. Once meeting Vilma, you were no longer a stranger, you were considered an instant friend..... Black, White, Yellow, Jewish, Catholic etc. it did not matter. This picture shown above is one of my favorites in my mother's collection. Everyone seems so happy and relaxed, just good people enjoying good food, no racial/ethnic barriers allowed...or else you'll get a good smack down by by Clifford Clinton!

In her diaries Vilma wrote about customers who she made friends with, who returned back to Clifton's just to visit with her, shoot the breeze.... and hope to get a date with her for the evening. We know that as a young girl working in 1950's Clifton's, it was a veritable smorgasbord of young single men. Oh yes, the man selection was overwhelming and Vilma took full advantage of it! Some of the more intriguing parts of her 1954-1955 diaries, is that Vilma often dated men of color, had gay friends and often frequented gay bars with her dates. And we can't forget that in 1952 when her 15 year-old best friend Billie Jean became pregnant out of wedlock by her boyfriend, Vilma refused to abandon her when all others did! They remained best friends their entire lives. (read the rest of my 1952 blog for the full story of the tragic young life of Billie Jean.) Tsk Tsk all of this was sooooo taboo at the time!! But Vilma, a strong Catholic girl, was led by her faith just like Clifford Clinton, she saw everyone as only one thing: a child of God. My mother, (although not a perfect saint herself!) strived through her actions, and left these wonderful lessons to emulate: Smile at everyone, say thank you for everything, see God in everyone you meet, see His surprises in whatever happens....

The following was published in Clifton's Weekly Newsletter "Food for Thot" on Sept. 27th 1956
"A Place in the Race"
Racial prejudice continues to be a problem and a blot on the face of America. Our basic ideals call for the freedom and equal rights of all men. By not living up to these ideals, we are the same as denying a practical belief in democracy. And in a world where other aggressive ideologies exist, this is a serious and a shameful situation.

In a country like ours, made up of people from many countries, we are mixed bloods and ancestry. This should make us more tolerant. It is time that some of us drop our superiority complexes and work together for the one great race to which we all belong --- the HUMAN RACE.
~ By poetess Esther Baldwin-York

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A Very Clifton's Thanksgiving

11/21/2018

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As we’re chowing down like this finest of Clifton's Cafeteria patrons and giving thanks to God on this beautiful & bountiful life he has provided for us, I just wanted to pause and say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all who follow my blog and social media. Your support and readership is much appreciated!

It all started with the desire to share my mother’s story of her young single life after discovering her diaries she wrote as a woman coming of age in the 1950's. The diaries document her faith, her temptations, her fierce independence with a side order of sassiness, and her magical time working at the historic Clifton’s Cafeteria as a staff photographer, better known as a Camera Girl!! Not to mention all of her adventures working, playing and dating in Vintage Los Angeles and Old Hollywood! This is a truly rare, rare one of a kind story.
If you follow my blog you'll have a blast with the whimsical tale of Vilma, followed by my own version of "Food for Thot" observations. Miraculously, hundreds of Vilma's vintage pictures from Clifton's, Old Hollywood, Chinatown and Long Beach's "The Pike" survived which help me to visually tell the true story of this remarkable woman who was my mother.

It's been such a joy to share these long lost stories and the whimsy of her diaries with all of you, it's been so wonderful connecting with old... and now many new friends. I'm grateful to have you along for the journey to the past!

A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Our latest eBay find has been a stack of vintage Clifton's "Food For Thot" mini newsletters. These newsletters were provided free of charge to all patrons and prominently displayed on each table. They provided uplifting thoughts, prayers, poems and news of the current day. (it was also the inspiration for my blog! After each Diary Blog, there's a special "Miriam's Food for Thot").

Gratitude...
What do I have to be thankful for?
I asked myself today
So I decided to count my joys
As I wandered along my way
The warmth of a home, and love of a friend,
The beautiful sound of rain,
The still of the night, the touch of a child,
A day that is free from pain,
The light of the sun, the cool of a breeze,
The sound of a waterfall,
But the love of God and the pease it brings Is the greatest blessing of all!!!
~Mary Strohschien

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The Story of Vilma's 1958 Oldsmobile 88

5/31/2018

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....And the story of the Diary of Vilma Gals' NEW Oldsmobile Super 88! With BONUS Charles Phoenix VIDEO-ETTE JOYRIDE! Featuring footage of the mid-century Googie kitschy-ness of El Monte's Driftwood Dairy!

Six years ago, after my mother Vilma passed away, I was pondering what to do with her neglected 1958 Oldsmobile 88. Over the past few years, I was seriously looking into finally just getting it renovated. Though it isn’t in the best condition, it still has some serious sentimental value to our family. Even today, just opening up the creaky doors and inhaling its special brand of old car smell evokes the cherished remnants of childhood memories.

This was the car my parents bought right before they got married. On their Wedding Day, it would whisk bride and groom away on their Honeymoon: a road trip across the scenic Pacific Coast from Malibu, up past Santa Barbara to the Lompoc Flower Fields, then on to Vandenberg Air Force Base where my father was stationed.

And what a ride they had! An all new for 1958 Oldsmobile 88, with a pearlescent rose-colored hue, just dripping in shiny new chrome from end to end. My father Richard was decked out in his crisp Air Force uniform next to his radiant bride. Vilma chose a simple, yet elegant fitted white suit for her wedding ensemble, with a simple white floral & pearl adorned hat. They were never extravagant in their ways, and the wedding reflected their style.

Vilma in the midst, Lompoc Flowers Fields

Eventually by the 1970’s, all five kiddos were born (including me, the youngest). My father, always a practical thinker, thought at some point that the giant hulk of a 4-door Oldsmobile sedan was now just too small for his growing brood. So, alongside the Oldsmobile, another family “station wagon” was born: a 1962 white Cadillac Limousine. Yes, you heard right. A LIMO!!!!

My sister Victoria hogs the camera as usual. I'm the little baby peeking out below daddy's arm

Clutching onto the chrome bumper....I'm stuck on you forever 1958 Oldsmobile 88!

Ohhhh it was glorious! Much looooonger than the Olds, it was a pure white ship of a car, with flared red fins oozing down the back. It sported two rows of back seats, including a bonus for us kids: a special interior chauffeur’s window running the span of the driver’s seat…. controlled only by the riders in the back. It sure came in handy when mom & dad were having heated “discussions” in front. Oh what fun it was to have the power to drown them out but good! Trips to the beach were even better in the Limo. Why?? Because my father had one of those old metal chaise lounges, the kind with the back wheels and a thick yellow 1970’s kitschy floral-patterned chaise lounge pad. He strapped that sucker up to the top of the Limo's roof-top car rack, packed up the screaming little kids and whizzed down the 405 freeway until we hit the soothing sands of Long Beach. To fellow drivers encountering the White Beast, it was a trifecta: a blur of confusion... wide-eyed shock... un-controlled snicker. But my dad was quite oblivious to it all, I mean just look at the pride he had in his "station wagon"!!

Dad could drive anything: cars, boats, trucks, commercial vehicles... but the 1962 Cadillac Limousine with the high fashion chaise lounge strapped on top was his favorite!

Now mind you, by the time the late 1970’s & 80’s rolled around, classic cars were just not as "classic" or cool as they are today, especially by the young’uns my age. We had TWO of them, and believe me they had seen some better days. Being dropped off at school in either of the cars was equally humiliating. I would beg my dad to drop me off at the corner, hiding in the back seat for the entire drive there. When he finally stopped in front of the school, I would take a deep breath, slowly open the creaky ton-of-steel door and wait for the dreaded moment one of my friends would catch-a-load-of-me exiting the ultimate UN-cool car. I wished for super-hero abilities, envisioning a cloak of invisibility around me… but somehow that damn imaginary shield never worked. Little fingers would rise and point, accompanied by the sinister lingering sounds of “mean kid” laughter. Oooooh how that hurt!!

But one day when I was older, my father attempted to teach me to drive in the Olds. On the way home from the store, he pulled the Olds over and asked “Wanna drive the rest of the way home?” It was there when I had my first taste of freedom, my flaxen hair blowing in the warm wind at the helm of a boat. Holding firmly onto the over-sized ivory-colored steering wheel I thought…Hey this car is really kinda cool after all!! When we stopped, I looked over expecting to get the gen-u-wine stamp of driving approval, but my father’s face was white with fear! Turns out I had swerved all the way home!

Two rows of back seats and the chauffeur center window, sweeeet!!

After he passed away, my mother sold the Cadillac Limo, but she just couldn’t part with the Olds. I was only 21 years old when dad passed, but as I got older (and wiser) I developed a deep passion for vintage baubles, especially anything from the 1940’s & 1950’s. I finally appreciated this now vintage car and all the memories and fun we had in it. Yes, even those horrific drop-offs in front of the school.

At some point, I moved back home to help my mom since she was getting older. It was then when I honestly had the chance to take a good look at the Olds and see what condition it was in. S-l-o-w-l-y the paint had all been blasted away by wind, rain and sun. Now a unique one-of-a-kind patina that only the elements could create stands in its past pearly rose glory days. I took some feeble action to preserve it, washing it up and getting a proper cover for it. It had not been driven in God only knows how many years. It sits in the driveway right next to the lush green front lawn, with the tall palm trees partially shielding it in their shadows. To the rest of the neighborhood it’s a regular piece of the street scene, and has simply become quite the spectacular piece of lawn art!

Over 60 years of Patina!

After mom passed away, there was still no intention on buying a “new” Olds. However, looking at it seriously and taking all the sentimentality out of it, the whole restoration project by this time would have been too costly, too time consuming and still likely wouldn’t get me a reliable car that I would not be in fear of breaking down every time I drove it.

Through the course of curious events, starting with this blog and the sharing of my mother’s rich and fantastic young life through her 1950’s secret diaries… there have been some good opportunities and more amazing people that I’ve gotten to know, who I am forever grateful for having in my life. So, an already restored upgraded model called the “Super 88” came up for sale. The opportunity presented itself, and I pondered it. I walked away from it…. a couple of times in fact while considering buying it. But for some mysterious reason, it wanted to come home with me.

So thanks to the workings of our friend Charles Phoenix, good advice from Matt the owner of Anaheim Rod & Custom, and some contemplative discussions from my pals Richard & Kim from Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles, I decided to bite the bullet.

Now we’re gonna have some fun with it! And that includes going on future joyrides, and making lots o' new memories. Hopefully you are cool with coming along for a ride with my sister Victoria and I from time to time as we revive all those 1950’s Vintage Camera Girl Dreams of days gone by…

Charles Phoenix hamming it up on our recent joyride!

We seemed to have all color coordinated...by accident!

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The Lost History of El Monte's Legion Stadium

3/16/2018

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"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain." Art Laboe with Jerry Lee Lewis...with those screaming teens.

Art Laboe & El Monte: The Birthplace of Rock & Roll

Fewer & fewer people know “The Lost History of El Monte’s Legion Stadium.” But this massive former high school auditorium had a wild ride as the R & B, Rock & Roll and Country Western music EPICENTER from the 1940’s-1960’s.

As a resident of the City of El Monte myself, I've only seen minimal 'official' recognition on this part of its vivid past, until recently that is! On a rainy winter weekend, the skies parted with rays of sunshine and a cool breeze as El Monte city officials welcomed the famed deejay Art Laboe to give him the “Key to The City,” honoring the man who was the first to officially broadcast the newfangled sounds of Rock & Roll across the West Coast at the Legion Stadium. The talented Mr. Laboe is now 92 years young and still has the voice of smooth butter...oh man I can listen to him all day! Good news is, you still can on radio station 93.5 KDAY where he still spins the “Oldies but Goodies” from 6pm-Midnight on his own show called “The Art Laboe Connection.”

Art Laboe gets the Key...and our Hearts... to the city of El Monte

"The Pink Elephant"

On this recent weekend, El Monte was celebrating the brand-new Townhome complex built on the site of the former Legion Stadium. The developers, along with the city, thought it was high time to give a decent memorial to the old torn down building known affectionately as the “Pink Elephant.” (Named for its size and its tone of light pink paint softly beckoning in the multitudes of music lovers everywhere).

Vilma's Diary & The Legion Stadium

Vilma's 1952 diary primarily focuses on her PRE-Clifton’s Cafeteria day to day life as a blossoming 17-year-old growing up in her home town of El Monte, California. But it just so happens that our Vilma lived about one block away from The American Legion Stadium, and many of her diary writings put us directly in the swing of the 1950’s Rock & Roll and Country Western music played here… along with the cars, culture and dating night life of this kitschy space-age-y era like no other. So read along from my past blog posts for more!

Vilma & her Boys

Why El Monte???

With its wide array of work opportunities and perfect weather, Southern California and the little city on the outskirts of Los Angeles County, was a desirable area to live in with its close proximity to city life. El Monte was a burgeoning town from the 1930’s onward, and a massive high school stadium that could hold about 3,000 people for sporting events was proudly built. It was so large that it even served as a training facility for the 1932 Summer Olympics. For whatever reason, it would never serve as the El Monte School District’s sports auditorium and was eventually sold to the American Legion in the 1940’s. And from there it really gets good!

In the late 1940’s Country Western music was HUGE! A talented entertainer and producer by the name of Cliffie Stone had heard about the massive venue and moved his big Country Western Variety Show in on Saturday nights. “Cliffie Stone’s Hometown Jamboree” became the biggest thing on the West Coast and was televised across the nation for almost a decade. The locals called this the “Oakie Stomp” or just “The Stomp” for short. The “who’s who” in Country Western and Country Western Swing descended on El Monte for the weekend with performers such as Tennessee Ernie Ford, Speedy West, Bucky Tibbs, female artist Molly Bee and many, many more! El Monte became known as “The Grand Ol’ Opry of the West Coast.”

Cliffie Stone and his Variety Show cast. The locals used to call it "The Oakie Stomp"

Herman "The Hermit" (so named for his untamed beard) was a banjo playing superstar known for his flamboyant attire. He was also Cliffie Stone's father.

Hello Rock & Roll & Doo Wop!

Cliffie Stone eventually decided to move the variety show to another city, but this by far was not the end of the Legion Stadium! Just about this time, in the early to mid 1950’s this newfangled style of music called “Rock & Roll” was beginning to emerge. And it was wild I say, just wild! The gyrating hips of Elvis Presley could not be stopped. Large throngs of young people were being swept up in the latest craze. Band promoters couldn’t keep up and were trying to locate venues large enough to hold those screaming teens. The problem was, it was the decade before the Civil Rights movement and race relations and segregation were sparking tensions within the County of Los Angeles. Funny thing is, it was music that was bringing blacks, whites and Chicano’s together.

Well, the city would still have none of it. The Los Angeles County politicians deemed up an ordinance that prohibited large numbers of teens from gathering in one place.

Organizers and band promoters scrambled to find a large enough venue to hold their musicians, many of which were black—and unwelcome. Here comes the Legion Stadium to the rescue! At the time, El Monte lived on the outskirts of L.A. County and was not subject to that pesky ordinance. So to El Monte they came! And Deejay Art Laboe led the pack!

El Monte Metro Bus Station, art work by Vincent Ramos (from 2014)

Art Laboe was instrumental in organizing bands and musicians and bringing them into this new venue. It was here at the El Monte Legion Stadium for the first time that all races were welcome by the city…and guess what? They were all there just to have fun and listen to music. Naturally there came some riff-raff, as with any large crowds—fights in the parking lot and excessive drinking were commonplace. But Art Laboe recalls that everything was set up just to have fun, fun, fun! People came from the more affluent areas of Southern California, and merged with the strong multi-ethnic Hispanic/Chicano population of the area. From the abundant military bases across Southern California, came the Soldiers on weekend leaves and Sailors just back from sea who traveled to El Monte to attend the shows and dances.

Art Laboe broadcasted “live” out of the stadium for more than a decade and brought with him literally ALL of the famous doo-wop & R & B musicians of the day, with the likes of Ritchie Valens, Rosie & the Originals and The Penguins. And you just might remember their famous song called “Earth Angel” too! Frank Zappa, who was a regular at the stadium, wrote a special song called “Memories of El Monte.” He collaborated with the Penguins to set it to the tune of that very song!

After Art Laboe’s time at the Stadium, in the 1960’s came Ike & Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, and for the first time ever, a live closed-circuit telecast by The Beatles direct from England. By the late 1960-1970’s however, Los Angeles County’s misguided ordinance was no more and it was becoming ever more difficult for the stadium to survive. Finally, in 1974 El Monte’s Legion Stadium met its match with the cold-hearted wrecking ball.

The Post Office

What stands in its place is the El Monte Post Office, and now a brand-new Townhome complex. For YEARS there has been a lonesome single column with its own tiled roof portico directly in front of the Post Office. It displays images of many of the musicians that played here along with sporting events like boxing, wrestling and the craze of the Roller Derby competitions. Sadly, this little column has been mostly forgotten, it’s tattered images are wind-whipped and showing the years of dirt that I don’t think anyone has ever washed off. As I see people busily completing their mail errands, I usually take the time to wander the five yards or so from the Post Office entrance to this sad lonely memorial. I’m the only one there of course, snapping photos with my iPhone and thinking “wow, most people have no idea what went on here!”

Wind whipped and a little bedraggled

So to my wonderment and sheer pleasure, it was exciting to see that the sad column is no longer alone in the elements that time has forgotten! Just a few yards away from the covered portico is where we’ll find the memorial fountain located at the entrance to the new homes. The Townhome construction company collaborated with an artist by the name of Rebecca Nederlander to create the fountain. It was cast using a 3D sound wave pattern and the shape is inspired by the old ‘45 records.

You can see her interview explaining the significance of the piece below:

The end of an era...

The cars, dancing, Rock n’ Roll, Doo-Wop and R & B artists of the day created a very special and lasting harmony inside and outside this non-descript former High School stadium, which still deeply resonates with the thousands who remember attending the shows here. Thankfully, the city and the construction company have stepped up to officially recognize the unique historic value of the piece of land where the history of Rock n’ Roll began on the West Coast.

And thankfully we have a girl named Vilma, who took her pen in hand...

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Vilma goes Ker-PLUNK! Plus: Big Jay & The Final Rub

2/21/2018

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The all new for 1952 Mercury!

Friday August 22, 1952
Went to see Big Jay McNeely tonight with Bill and Glenn in Glenn’s new 1952 Mercury. Really in style, what say. It was crazy to make an understatement, it was getting so rough the cops threatened to raid the place. We had fun though.

Saturday August 23, 1952
Went to The Stomp tonight, went with Jay and his cousin. Boy I was never so mad. They wouldn’t take me home, they wanted to take me up to the mountains….and I was starting to get scared.

So I told them I was going to jump out of the car, and you know what? They slowed down the car trying to tease me, and man before you could say “GO MAN GO” I was out…KER-PLUNK! They just drove off, so I ran to a gas station and called a taxi. It cost me all of two whole bucks! AAK! My hard-earned money. So I had the driver take me to the club called “The Ship” to see if Bill was there. I found him, then had him take me home.

Sunday August 24, 1952
Bill and Don took me to the beach today. Got a nice tan.

Monday August 25, 1952
Bill took me to a drive-in tonight and we saw “Smoky Canyon” and “She’s Working Her Way Through College.” They were pretty good.

Tuesday August 26, 1952
Bill picked me up from work today, he came down tonight with Don.

Wednesday August 27, 1952
Bill picked me up again from work today. Mr. Miller the man I work under went out and talked to him, and I introduced them. Bill had to leave early tonight, end of his leave.

Friday August 29, 1952
Me and my little sister June went to the show tonight and saw “Francis Goes to West Point” and “Untamed Frontier.”

I heard Billie Jean came down at 8:30pm when me and June were gone and then my guy friend Billy Gene came down at 9:00pm. It’s too bad they both missed each other. Ha!

Saturday August 30, 1952
Went on a double date to a drive-in movie with Bill and Glenn and Mary Alice. Saw “Son of Paleface.” Rubbed against Bill tonight.

Sunday August 31, 1952
Went on triple date to the beach with Billie Jean & Donny, Mary Alice & Glenn, and Me and Lover Bill today. Had fun. We all went over to Bill’s afterwards and had a little party. Boy I really got rubbed against today and tonight. Am very sore, and I feel kind of impure. Bill wanted to make me. Got in at 2:00am.

Oh my, my, my! All those movie Double Feature’s, boy Vilma never slows down. Not to mention all of the precarious positions Vilma has gotten herself into this past week!

Big “Jay” and The Jail Raid
First it started out cruising in style in the all-new-for-1952 Mercury, then almost getting swooped up in a raid and thrown in jail while at the Big “Jay” show. Don’t know who Big Jay McNeely was? Oh boy you’re about to find out…and I guarantee you’re gonna love him!

First, it begs the burning question: What’s up with the cops needing to raid a musical performance anyway?

Big Jay McNeely, at 90+ years old, is currently the last living survivor of a group of African American rhythm & blues musicians called the “Honkers”. These musicians took the art of the jazzy Saxophone to a whole new level, one that nobody had ever heard before…

The Music
For music and young folk, the year 1952 was the convergence of the fresh new sounds of rock & roll, the rise of the doo-wop artist and twangy Rock-a-Billy style music (birthed from Country Western Swing). Rhythm & Blues was at the core of all of these musical styles, which was still wildly popular. Big Jay became one of the biggest blues stars of the 1950’s who perfected a flamboyant, out of this world stage show featuring the “honking” sounds of his rocking Saxophone that literally mesmerized large hordes of young people. “Honkers” like Big Jay overblew their saxophones and often hit the same note repeatedly, which combined with on-stage antics like crawling on floors and walking on tables, created a steamy and uninhibited environment for teenagers.

Let’s face it, being African American in 1952 and having explosive shows that drew massive mixed-race audiences didn’t go over too well with the local authorities. Vilma accurately portrays the performance in her diary “Things were getting so rough, the cops were threatening to raid the place”. Let’s also have Big Jay share with us in his own words below:

“I’d do my own shows,” McNeely said. “Book them myself, just like Art Laboe and Johnny Otis did, and it was OK for them because those guys weren’t black. I’d bring in Bobby Day, The Hollywood Flames, all these groups and we’d just pack the places. People would see these huge crowds and think all the kids were on drugs, they said, ‘Oh those white kids were all dancing like Watusis!’ And I got barred from playing here, I couldn’t work anywhere in Los Angeles.”

Vilma goes KER-PLUNK!

By this time, it’s pretty clear that our young Vilma was no fool when it came to figuring out a man’s ulterior motives. Yup, she always seemed to have her Spidey senses in high gear.

The Scene: Saturday night at El Monte’s Legion Stadium.

The Show: Cliffie Stone’s Hometown Jamboree, better known as “The Oakie Stomp” or “The Stomp” to the locals. The Stomp was the king of destinations for all things Country Western Swing and the emerging companion musical style called “Rock-a-Billy” we just mentioned. In 1952, El Monte’s Legion Stadium was the place to be on a Saturday night and was a host to a multitude of the biggest name musical stars of the day. You can read more about the legendary stadium in my former blog post “here”.

The Evil Plot: Vilma obviously felt some level of comfort with her two companions, as she did know them as prior acquaintances, so she traipsed off with them after the show. This was pretty typical for Vilma at the time, thinking that she might score some vittles after the show at any one of the neon ensconced mid-century space-age-y drive-through eateries around town like Carpenter’s, Stan’s, Mel’s…. Oh gosh, any one would do! And don’t forget Vilma loved getting free grub from her dates too! But something went terribly askew. We can only imagine Vilma sitting in the front passenger seat, with Jay at the wheel, his cousin in the back as they darted their sinister eyes back and forth to each other through the rear-view mirror, casually whispering to each other the heinous plot to kidnap an all alone vulnerable girl and head to the nearby So Cal mountains for God only knows what…

But not so fast boys! That ‘vulnerable” girl was Vilma. This game was not gonna be played on her watch. Her good virtue was at stake, and it was NOT going to be taken by the likes of these two losers. Little do you know that Vilma is the master chess player and you are still playing checkers. Check mate you dirty little punks, yes-sir-eee Vilma is already 10 steps ahead of you.

“OK Vilma! Yeah we’re gonna slow down the car” as they mocked her…hahaha! Big laughs alright…but then as the car door suddenly flew open in mid-roll…out those blond curls flounced and flew…her body hitting the asphalt, well they didn’t know what hit them! They only knew one thing: the coward’s way of fleeing the scene.

And what did Vilma hate the most? Getting her clothes mussed up? Playing the victim and crying like a blubbering baby? No, No, NOOOO…. It was having to pay TWO WHOLE BUCKS for a Taxi!!

The Final Rub-a-Dub-Dub
And speaking of doing things on her own terms… allowing a man rub up against her? Well, after all she was still a young woman exploring her own sexuality, but with some boundaries in place. Oh, poor Bill you tried so hard, but to no avail. Plus, it didn’t hurt that turning up like her best friend Billie Jean was a constant deterrent. Devil on one shoulder…Angel on another…that’s our Vilma!

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Billie Jean's Scream's... turn to Joy

8/3/2017

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Daniel Michael

Sunday August 10. 1952
Bill took me for a ride today, I told him I did not want to see him anymore. Honestly, he is sure one persistent guy. Told me he liked me very much and said he’d see me later.

There’s been a prowler around the block and he’s been to every house down to the O’Malley’s. Boy am I scared, he’s even been over to Mary Alice’s and Billie Jean’s house. Oh boy am I scared.

Monday August 11, 1952
Went into downtown El Monte tonight with Mary Alice and got a coke at Thrifty’s. Some exciting evening. Also she told me all about what she did to Joe… and what he did to her. Oh man I’m glad I never went that far. No wonder why she is so hurt that he left her.

Main St. or Downtown El Monte circa 1950's, with Thrifty's Drug Store in the foreground, now known as "The Valley Mall." Thrifty's was a popular drug store famous for their own brand of ice cream. The Ice Cream production module of Thrifty's brand is still produced at a large plant here in El Monte and distributed to it's parent company "Rite Aid." Most of the buildings you see here are still intact, but the name brands are long gone.

Thursday August 14, 1952
Went to The Centennial Dance tonight, came home with Cecil and a friend of his. Cecil kissed me goodnight… AAK AAK…how horrible! I mean don’t get me wrong, Cecil’s a good looking guy, but his kisses are just not up to par.

Sid and some other guy came down tonight too. Heard Billie Jean just had her baby on Monday, her baby is a boy and she named him Daniel Michael.

Friday August 15, 1952
Well seems like Bill can’t take no for an answer….back again and asked me for a date for tonight. I REFUSED. Me and Mary Alice went up to The Centennial Dance again tonight.

Saturday August 16, 1952
Bill was over today and asked me for a date for tonight. I REFUSED. Me and Mary Alice went up to The Stomp and then went up to The Ship afterwards with a couple of guys. Bill was up there with some witch.

Sunday August 17, 1952
Bill took me to the beach today and showed me a pretty good time, the water was real warm. I guess Bill is OK. He asked me if I was his girl again but I told him to “cut the comedy”. He took off tonight with Glenn up North to Sacramento, he’ll be back on Thursday.

Monday August 18, 1952
Worked hard today. Went to bed early. Daddy’s vacation starts as of today.

Tuesday August 19, 1952
Cecil came down tonight, asked me to go out with him tonight. I REFUSED.

Announcing the birth of Daniel Michael
Born: August 11, 1952

Much ado about Donny
Nine long months ago on a sultry Southern California November evening, 15 year-old Billie Jean abandoned herself into the arms of 20 year-old Donny…in the ultra-romantic backseat of his car. That night, sweet Baby Daniel was conceived by a troubled young girl looking for love, and a young passionate man who was ever at the ready to provide his “services”. Donny would also be the man who would steal away her virginity. But was it true love? Hardly. Billie Jean was just another one of his conquests, and being that he was still a legally married man, his intentions were not in Billie’s favor. Perhaps in the perfect world Billie Jean would have been strong enough to take a page out of Vilma’s own playbook and tell Donny “I REFUSE!”

Two years earlier, when he was 18 years old, Donny joined the military right out of high school like many young men did in those days, and was sent overseas to serve his tour of duty in England. Already a budding womanizer himself, he quickly turned to carousing the nights away with his military buddies in this foreign land. It was there where he became sweet on a local young woman, taking her hand in marriage on an alcohol fueled night. After his tour of duty, he simply abandoned the girl and returned to his parents’ home, where he landed a job as a rookie El Monte Police Officer…still married...and with no plans to bring his new bride home to meet the folks. Nope, not for 'Mr. Stand-up' guy Donny. Oh, and he conveniently left out this important factoid to his new conquest Billie Jean.

After Billie Jean's own deeply disturbed alcoholic father found out his oldest daughter was “in trouble” he tried to do the right thing for his daughter. Jumping into action, he made Donny sell his brand spanking all-new-for-1952-Chevrolet to pay for the maternity home fees. As the time drew near for Billie Jean to have her baby, Billie Jean's father & Stepmother and Donny's parents eventually had to hash out the best course of action for the unruly and unprepared pair.

Meanwhile at the Maternity Home...

St. Anne's Maternity Home nursery. Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo courtesy of St. Anne’s)

Billie Jean, who had just given birth, would remain at St. Anne’s Maternity Home for another two weeks before her release, as in those days this was the customary time for recovery. (Wowee! have times changed!) Thankfully, the Franciscan nuns were kind and understanding to her during her stay.

After he was born however, little Daniel was whisked away all too quickly to the nursery under the assumption this child would be put up for adoption. The good nuns at St. Anne’s Maternity Home didn’t want the mothers getting too close to their children of course, all that natural bonding stuff would happen and it was believed it would just cause much more emotional detriment for the young mothers.

The tale of two Cafeteria's
During her months hidden away at the maternity home, Billie Jean was put to work in the small Cafeteria serving the nuns, staff and the other pregnant mothers. A far cry from another more well-known cafeteria called Clifton’s, where just a few years earlier, she and her best buddy Vilma would often hop on the local Pacific Electric Red Car Trolley from the El Monte station and tromp through downtown L.A. on an adventure all on their own, shopping at the Five & Dime stores and then stopping to have lunch at the grand Redwood Forest eatery. Now, those more innocent of days were lost forever, and slopping food on trays didn’t seem so glamorous.

Billie's first true love

The Nurse who loved Bacon
Throughout her stay, one of the nurses on staff instantly took a liking and interest in young Billie Jean, and in turn, Billie Jean gave her extra pieces of bacon on her plate whenever she would come down her cafeteria line.

After baby Daniel was born, this mysterious nurse would steal into the nursery late at night, retrieve baby Daniel and sneak Billie Jean into the Nurse's Lounge. Billie Jean finally had the chance to strike up a lasting bond, staying up all night with the baby, playing & softly cooing to him. Now she finally understood how to nurse him, finding relief from her engorged milk-filled breasts she was so fearful of that one day in the shower. Those laborious screams in the night now over, her fears turned to joy in just being with her child. Like clockwork, in the wee hours of the morning the nurse would come to gather baby Daniel, returning him to the nursery. Their secret bartering system was safe with each other: more bacon on the plate for more time spent with the baby.

Billie discovers true love
Billie still not knowing how this would all turn out, had this precious time to ponder her young life. Having to quickly grow a bit in maturity, she did discover one big thing: through Daniel she finally experienced a pure and true love, a love like she had never known before. Oh she loved her dearly departed mother alright, but this was so different! She couldn’t resist Daniel’s beautiful swimming pool baby blue eyes, wispy blond locks and chubby rosebud cheeks. He looked so much like his father. And the way that mother and child would look into each other’s eyes on those secret nights when the nurse would come to deliver her tiny special package-- well they just needed each other dang-it! This love was unconditional.

The Grand Plan
Billie Jean had decided she wanted to keep her baby! But how? It was Donny’s well-meaning parents who stepped in to save the day. They told Billie Jean they would take the baby into their home, and would force Donny to finally get an annulment from his sham marriage, naturally so he could then marry Billie Jean. Since she was almost 16, all they had to do was wait for the annulment to go through. To Billie Jean’s ears, this sounded like a swell plan. She could come home, escape from her own alcoholic father, keep her baby and have a real marriage, protecting her from the scandal of her un-wed motherhood. She was also “pretty sure” that she loved Donny… and that he loved her too.

Proud momma Billie Jean, Daniel Michael & papa Donny

Hmmm... this sounds like one of those old fashioned shot-gun marriages--where the parents are pressuring their wayward son to “do the right thing” and marry the girl who he got in trouble. And for Billie Jean? This sounds only like a fine escape plan. The stage was set...but for good or for bad? Time will tell in our next diary episodes.

A word about Guardian Angels
Since hearing this account of her life from my dear friend Billie Jean, I have often liked to think that our bacon lovin' nurse was one of her Guardian Angels. Sent from on high for a special purpose, her late night lawlessness bucking all the maternity home’s strict rules, taking a kind interest in one girl’s life, bringing together mother and child forever, all through the enchantment of BACON! Hey, God does work in mysterious ways!

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Billie Jean's Screams In The Night

3/8/2017

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Billie Jean and her beau on Esmerelda Ave, El Monte

Saturday July 26, 1952
Went out on a double date with Rip and Virginia and The Doll. We went up to the Riverside Rancho and Bill was a bit under the influence and he started getting all sentimental and telling me "He loved me and he’d never look at another girl", "I was his one and only", and "I was wonderful and he had eyes only for me," and a bunch more words. Oh brother, the things you have to listen to when you have ears! But I liked it though, I mean really. Tommy was up there too and danced with me.

Sunday July 27, 1952
Bill came down today and we went to Baldwin Park today. Stayed with me tonight and said a bunch of sweet things to me. Also Mary Alice came over.

Monday July 28, 1952
Got another letter from Charles mother, says he’s still overseas, and is alive and fine but he doesn’t write to anybody. I don’t know what the heck it could be, my last letter to him was rather cool, I have a sneaking hunch that it is that. I don’t mean to be conceited but he does love me very much. I am going to write to him tonight.

Tuesday July 29, 1952
Billie Jean called me tonight and told me a bunch of things, and she said she is scared stiff. All she hears is women screaming in the night and I am real worried about her.

Wednesday July 30, 1952
Bill came down today. What a man! What, a man?

Thursday July 31, 1952
My little brother Bobby is 13 today. Got him a beach ball for his birthday. He likes it.

Friday August 1, 1952
I stayed at home tonight.

Saturday August 2, 1952
Bill took me to The Stomp tonight, then we went to Nick’s Love Nest and also The Pioneer Café. Got in at 10 after 4:00am. Mary Alice and Glenn went along with us. Joe broke up with Mary Alice and she is real hurt. I hate Bill’s dumb butt, he kissed Mary Alice right in front of me to get me jealous, and I wish he would just shove it.

Sunday August 3, 1952
Bill Took me to the beach today, just me and him. Ahhh to hell with him!

Monday August 4, 1952
Bill picked me up from the bus stop today. Big charge you know.

Tuesday August 5, 1952
Bill took me to a drive-in and we saw "Jumping Jacks". HATE HIM!

Wednesday August 6, 1952
Bill and Jim breezed in at 10:00pm tonight. Some nerve showing up so late.

Thursday August 7, 1952
I'm 18 years old today. Bill and Jim took me to work this morning. I had a real nice birthday, I got a lot of nice presents and had an enjoyable day.

Friday August 8, 1952
I broke up with Bill tonight.

Saturday August 9, 1952
Went to the beach today with Bill. Mary Alice and me went to The Stomp tonight and we sure had a flawless time. We went to The Pioneer Café after the dance and I went in there with three escorts. Man I had the time. Then two guys walked me home and they both kissed me goodnight, we were all feeling so good, and they have my phone number up at work. Man I don’t know what I’ve been missing. Bill was up at The Stomp with some girl, but he still danced several dances with me. Told me he loved me and to be careful.

A young Billie Jean, innocence lost

Billie Jean’s Screams in the Night
As Vilma and Bill’s hot and cold, on-again off-again relationship twists and turns day-by-day and hour-by-hour, let’s delve into how Billie Jean is coming along. And exactly what's up with those screams in the night? We know her due date is on August 10th, so she'll be giving birth any day now!

As we recall, our 15 year-old Billie Jean discovered she was pregnant by her 20 year-old still married boyfriend Donny, a local kid living in a nearby El Monte neighborhood. By this time Vilma and Billie Jean had already been the best of friends since middle school, but Vilma had already seen the signs of discontent in Billie’s life over the ensuing growing years:

When Billie was only 13, her good mother passed away from a sudden illness.
Her father was a stinking drunkard/philanderer who had re-married by the time Billie was 15.
She was sexually molested by her father and a local parish priest. (more on this at a later time)
And for the cherry on top: she was a budding shoplifter.

Is it any wonder Billie Jean ended up in this delicate predicament? Did she ever really have a chance?

The Maternity Home

St. Anne's maternity Home, Los Angeles (photo courtesy of St. Anne's)

(photo courtesy of St. Anne's)

As soon as Billie Jean started showing at about four months pregnant, and as soon as the rumors began stirring, she was promptly whisked away to St. Anne’s Home for Unwed Mothers, in the heart of Los Angeles to be exact. Billie also received the finest send off party from her family too! (not really) Her father called her a “whore” and her sister, who was so ashamed of her, exclaimed in a fiery fit of rage that she “couldn’t wait for her to get the hell out of the house”. One could only imagine how utterly alone and afraid she was in this moment in her life.

Established in 1908, St. Anne’s began as a small twelve bed hospital for pregnant, unwed, young mothers under the patronage of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. By the 1950’s the facilities had expanded and served up to 400 women annually. The brilliant actress/philanthropist Loretta Young even served as President of the St. Anne’s Foundation for a period of time.

Maternity homes served a very special need in the community, and thankfully they still do! In the 1950's however, unwed pregnancy was still considered shockingly scandalous. Maternity homes were often regarded as ‘hiding places’ for young women, where girls came in shadowed secrecy in order to conceal the shame of their pregnancies from their hometown, and even from their own families.

Nuns in traditional full habits, who were also trained nurses and midwives, assisted young girls in delivering their children and made the arrangements for their subsequent adoptions. For the time period, it was just a forgone conclusion that adoption was the best choice for these young girls. Since women were not primary breadwinners, they had little resources to maintain a single parent home. Almost 90% of all babies born at St. Anne’s alone were given up for adoption.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart (photo courtesy of St. Anne's)

Billie’s Abandonment
While in the Maternity Home, Billie was abandoned by all of her friends, and not surprisingly, the man who fathered her child. But then there was Vilma...

Vilma once declared Billie Jean’s middle name as capital T-R-O-U-B-L-E for many a good reason. But wasn't that also precisely what their friendship was? It was trouble to be associated with her when word got out of the scandalous pregnancy, trouble to stay friends when she was arrested for shoplifting and on her way to reform school, trouble to stay friends with a girl with a tumultuous family life, and trouble to stay friends when Billie was “way ahead of her” in the sexual category.

Vilma was warned by her own mother on more than several occasions to “stay away from Billie Jean” as she was convinced she was going to be a bad influence on her eldest daughter. Who could blame Vilma’s mother though? After all, she witnessed Billie Jean’s shoplifting firsthand. Holding her youngest daughter 8-year old Mary Jane in her hand, Vilma’s mother stood from afar peering over the store shelves with pursed disapproving lips, while Mary Jane’s eyes turned as wide as saucers as they watched the store detective catch the unruly curly-haired girl in the act.

The Gift of A True Friend

Vilma had her mind made up. Although the nagging pressure of her mother was a constant drumbeat in the background, she dismissed her mother’s concerned pleas and refused to abandon her friend in her time of need. Going back to the very first “diary episodes,” it was Vilma’s words written long ago that set the tone for how she would treat Billie Jean, unequivocally declaring that “she is a good friend, and I won’t let her down”.

Well, we can see that Vilma didn’t just write down empty words, if she wrote it, (about Billie Jean, or anything else for that matter) it was important to her and dog-gone-it she really meant was she said! Though determined not to let her friend down, there really wasn’t much Vilma could do for Billie Jean but the simple things that make up a friendship. Over the months that Billie Jean has been hidden away, and now almost ready to give birth to her child, she has been in constant contact with her: writing letters (as they did in those days), calling on the phone and sending baked goodies with thoughts of well wishes. Simple things indeed, but to a vulnerable young girl in crisis it meant the world to her.

Billie Learns the Hard Way
For all of Billie Jean’s sexual experience, she was still an immature and naïve girl of 15. With her mother being long gone at the crucial point of transition from girlhood to womanhood, sadly she had no one to teach her about the proper aspect of the birds and the bees, the massive changes her body was going through, nor the process of childbirth itself.

Case in point, on one of these early August mornings Billie Jean took in her usual shower, but something was different. She looked down and what she saw astonished and confused her: a strange white substance was flowing down her body which was being washed away by the stream of shower spray. She suddenly realized it was emanating from her very own breasts! The streaming flow continued for a while, but the only words she could squeak out were “Well what on earth is this?” Poor Billie Jean only learned of the purpose for this mystery liquid after her child was born: it was merely the female body preparing mother’s milk to nourish the child.

SCREAMS
Needless to say, Billie Jean is in a place where she is alone, filled with shame, and hurt by all of those around her, but absolutely more terrifying than the “milk episode” is what she hears in the wee hours of the night. SCREAMS. Screams of torment, agony, sobbing and gnashing of teeth. Primordial, yes. It is other women in labor.

As this naïve girl gently puts her hands on her warm protruding belly and feels the child inside kicking and moving about, not knowing what her future holds, she can’t drown out those incredulous sounds as they echo through the halls of the facility. Perhaps pulling up the covers over her head will help? No, not so fast! For she knows soon, and very soon that she will be one of these same women screaming out on a hot summer’s night, giving birth to her child as our mothers have done for us since the beginning of time.

I’m happy to report that St. Anne’s still exists today and is still serving local communities, providing a supportive atmosphere that women in crisis need more than ever. Maternity homes and local pregnancy help centers of today provide women in crisis free medical care, continuation of education, job training, low cost housing and free food and clothing. (But typically are no longer run by those nuns in full Habits).

What’s next for Billie Jean?
Will her boyfriend Donny ever show his bad boy face again? Does she keep her baby? Were the nuns mean to her?

...And is Vilma finally ready to toss Bill to the side of the road?

We’ll find out these burning questions and more in the coming diary episodes!

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Clifton's South Pacific Island Dream

12/10/2016

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Tiki aficionados unite! Clifton’s Pacific Seas lives again!

Island Destination: 5th Floor, Clifton’s Cafeteria. Downtown Los Angeles, 7th and Broadway.

The new Clifton's Pacific Seas. (photo courtesy of Thrillist)

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Pacific Seas pre-opening event to get a sneak peek into all the talk of L.A.’s newest tiki bar. The tiki bar lies on the 5th floor, but entering into the bar required a bit of sleuthing!

What 100 year old 5-story historic building doesn’t have secret passageways? We were led up, up & away through a corridor to a mysterious mirrored wall. Where was the entrance we wondered? Pushing open the mirrored wall led us to another climb up a dimly lit stairwell, and finally, there it emerged: the new owner Andrew Meirian’s love letter to the lost Clifton’s Pacific Seas.

The entire top floor is an extravaganza of meticulously crafted artifacts (some gathered from the legendary Bahooka bar in Rosemead, CA), hand painted South Pacific island themed murals, one of a kind crafted bamboo seating areas and performance stage, scents of coconut, and a soundtrack of rain playing softly in the background were just some of the sights and sounds of the evening.

Was I still smack dab in the center of L.A.? No, not in that moment, for it felt as if we sailed away into another land distant from the hubbub of the city, and for those few hours we dined and drank and took in all the island delights.

In the "Map Room" with mid century ambassador extraordinaire Charles Phoenix.

Time travel with me:
Now that you know about the “new” tiki bar version of the Pacific Seas, I feel compelled to take you way back in time to its fanciful origins. After all, this is where my mother Vilma spent her youth working and playing beneath the palm trees, waterfalls and gardens that were once here in old vintage Los Angeles.

Where girls with blossoms in their hair offer you tempting foods to eat and souvenir photos too!

The Origins: much more than a bar!
In the 1930’s, the visionary Mr. Clifford Clinton originally started out with TWO founding cafeterias in downtown Los Angeles.

Clifton’s Brookdale, a Redwood Lodge theme on 7th and Broadway. So named after the real Brookdale Lodge nestled in the redwood forests of Northern California.

Clifton’s Pacific Seas, a South Pacific island theme on 6th and Olive. (torn down around 1960 for a parking lot)

Your souvenir photo keepsake book, for $1.50

Decades before Disneyland existed, Mr. Clinton came up with the fantastical idea to create a distinctive dining experience, including so much more that you would undoubtedly never forget. In fact, many patrons from days gone by never have. Thousands of people who are still alive today have memories etched into their minds of the vivid, childlike wonderment that Mr. Clinton created in his fantasy themed dining rooms. But Clifton’s represented so much more than a ‘dining experience” as we will soon see.

Who was Clifford Clinton?
To understand the ‘why’ of Clifton’s Cafeteria, we have to understand the ‘who’ of Clifford Clinton. You see, Mr. Clinton was a Christian missionary who had traveled extensively throughout the world in service to the poor. Out of all of his travels, two remarkable places transfixed his thoughts: The redwood forests in Northern California and the islands of the South Pacific.

Clifford Clinton

The Spiritual nature of Clifton's:
The majestic splendor of these areas of the world were not only physical, but spiritual too. Being God’s creation, he regarded them as natural Cathedrals built by the Master’s hand. Yet for all of its beauty, they are mere glimpses of heaven on earth.

In the midst of the Depression Era Clinton envisioned creating an atmosphere that could bring this glimpse of heaven to the masses. It would be a place which could be a respite for everyone, and he was determined by a will not of his own to incorporate his missionary spirit of charity. Indeed, everyone was welcome too! Rich, poor, homeless and the hopeless. There was signage “Pay What You Wish” emblazoned on the front entrance. If you could not afford to pay, well that was A-OK.

A poem sings about the island getaway from the city...in the city, the Pacific Seas

The tourist destination of all tourist destinations:
From its inception, Clifton’s Cafeteria’s became one of the most hotly visited tourist destinations in the world, at the height of its popularity it was serving up to 15,000 meals per day. It was said that if you came to Los Angeles and didn’t pay a visit to Clifton’s, it was on par with visiting Egypt and not seeing the Great Pyramids! It was THAT popular.

Sail away to the Pacific Seas as she stood so many moons ago:
Let's begin with the outside façade: Mr. Clinton took over an existing cafeteria on 6th and Olive and transformed the outside into an over the top paradise wonderland. The entire front wall was lavishly draped in tropical foliage, and the centerpiece? A REAL giant sized running waterfall right down the middle, for the time there was nothing like it in the world! As a Christian, perhaps it was his attempt at capturing the essence of the Garden of Eden.

"Before"

"After"

Neon!
And the neon, oh yes, the glorious neon! During the earliest decades neon was used practically everywhere. Neon signage beckoned you into movie palaces that graced downtown's Broadway district, to Hollywood's elegant supper clubs, to your local classic diner's and drive-in car hops. Clifton’s was no different, their name was immortalized in neon out front, and on the inside the neon did not disappoint. There were swaying neon palm trees and tropical flowers at every turn, along with rain huts, hourly thunderstorms and bamboo as far as the eye can see! Mist shrouded flower grottos and rock waterfalls created balmy air for a full sensory experience.

No wall was left uncovered:
Photos from one of Clifton's souvenir photo books in my collection feature the Main Dining Room, Polynesian Dining Hut and the Aloha Entertainment Platform. As we can see, no wall was left uncovered! Talented artisans painted South Pacific themed murals on every square inch, (plain white walls be banished!) and no detail was spared when it came to creating an atmosphere to wrap you in paradise.

Below street level:
And Clifton's would not be complete without the spiritual aspect of Christ in the Meditation Garden. Entering into the basement level was another world unto its own, a transcendent retreat tucked away from the hustle & bustle of the burgeoning city just outside its enclave. Clifton's Pacific Seas featured an entire walk-about into the Garden of Gethsemane to contemplate your life in peaceful solitude, as a recorded poem called "The Influence of One Life" softly played in the background.

A beautiful full color view of the Garden for Meditation and close up of the Christ sculpture.

A sense of Community:
The spirit of Clifton's exuded a sense of community too. From it's complimentary group meeting rooms, courtesy sightseeing tours of the city, to its free birthday cakes for the kiddos and exchange boards (a place for folks to offer services, wants and needs). And let's not forget the wise personal advice from "Mrs. Von"! Located in her very own personalized Tiki hut, she dispensed advice like a pre-curser to a "Dear Abbey" character. Judging by the photo, you may think this is slightly reminiscent of a preist's "confessional" room, a blinged out bamboo/rattan-laden version no less!

Group rooms, free to use for parties and meetings from 10 to 400

15 mile "courtesy" bus tours of downtown L.A. only cost $0.15 cents.

Kiddos enjoying free cake, what could be better?

"Dear Mrs. Von, forgive me for I have sinned"

And last but not least, the Camera Girls!
Naturally, there were camera girls dolled up in island attire to take your photograph in beautiful surroundings while you dine!

Rosemary and Vilma

Oh what fun Vilma and her Camera Girl pals must have had working in this tropical island getaway, all the while mingling with families, tourists, cops, businessmen and military men. Never was there a shortage of dates for these sharp girls to choose from too!

Fine patrons enjoying the scenery, meal and souvenir picture with Vilma!

Military men once flocked to downtown L.A. for its nightlife.

Isn't a camera girl just supposed to take your photo?
Well, not in Vilma's world! "Would you like a picture with a pretty girl"? Vilma, with that single tagline, made herself the "star" of your souvenir photo and thus began her savvy business woman career as a camera girl. A fiercely independent girl at only 20 years old, she was able to earn a living, buy her own car and move into her own apartment. A major feat for any girl in 1954! And here are the photos to show how she worked her charm!

Surrounded by a bamboo forest under a tiki hut. The splendor.

The charm of blossoming beauty, surrounded by the tropics. What man could resist?

One of 12 waterfalls that filled the interior of the Pacific Seas, and a perfect photo op!

Shall we have a chat about the Camera Girl's uniform's? Oh yes, let's do!
The "uniform's" consisted of various island themed dresses and full length skirts, proving that modesty is attractive and classy. These gals didn't have to show less skin in order to feel beautiful, how refreshing! Flowers in the hair and the obligatory Hawaiian lei were part of the island theme. The wide "corset style" belt was multifunctional too! Not only did it cinch the waist (ooh la la!) but it doubled as a place to hold their carry bag which contained their supplies (extra film, mailing envelopes, pencil & paper) while working the floor. Genius!

Vilma in "Full Gear"

Another beautiful Camera Girl displays her vintage camera and "menu" of services.

In a nutshell:
The original Clifton’s succeeded in providing food for the body and food for the soul. The true soul of Clifton’s was family, community and charity perfectly combined. (With free birthday cakes too!) One can only dream that Mrs. Von could still be around to give her wise tiki advice, or that we could watch performers hula their hearts out on the Aloha Entertainment Platform, or ascend down to the Garden for Meditation for renewal. And who wouldn’t want a picture with the alluring movie star-like camera girl named Vilma?

"Aloha" from Vilma the Camera Girl!

Is it a good thing to have a new version of the Pacific Seas resurrected from the rubble of its teardown so many years ago? Well of course it is! Only but a snippet of the real deal, new generations now have an opportunity to experience a slice of downtown’s forgotten history.

And sorry Mr. Clinton, I know you were a strict teetotaler…but I think we should all have a drink to that!

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Vilma daydreams in the shadows of the Sixth Street Bridge

8/30/2016

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Monday July 14 1952
Ted was down at the house.

Tuesday July 15, 1952
Caroline and Linda were over today, also Mary Alice tonight.

Wednesday July 16, 1952
Got a job today as a Comptometer Operator over at Baker’s and Confectioner’s Supplies in Los Angeles. Starts at $200.00 a month, 8:30-5:30, 1 hour for lunch. I start my new job tomorrow.

Friday July 18, 1952
Bill took me out tonight to a drive in movie. Boy I sure feel like breaking up, he says so many things, he’ll be good, he’ll be this and that and he just keeps on nevertheless. He tried his damn-dest to fool around tonight but I wouldn’t let him and that is the most aggravating thing is when a guy keeps on trying to paw you and keeps on. He’s no good for me, I don’t think it’s going to last very much longer us going together, I hardly want it to when he’s like that.

Saturday July 19, 1952
Went to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium tonight on a double date with Mary Alice and Joe, and me and The Lover. Then we went up to The Stomp and the guys drank beer while we watched. Got mad at Bill and walked home, but he followed me and stayed out in the driveway for two hours thinking I’d come out, well hmmphh I just went to bed and went to sleep. Hate the damn ass.

Sunday July 20, 1952
Bill came over today and made up with me, wish to hell I could get rid of him, he always turns up like a bad penny. Took me to the beach and he wants me to take him back, and old softy me I said “uh huh”. Can’t stand him, wish he’d wake up all right.

Monday July 21, 1952
Cecil and a bunch of guys in a lush Mercury came down tonight and asked me to go to a party with them, but I told them I was going steady. Anyhow Mom said I couldn’t go because she wants me to hold on to this job and I have to act bright and get the sleep I should.

Boy got woke up at 5:00am this morning and thought it was the end of the world! Man, I really got shook up with that earthquake, I got hold of my sister June and wouldn’t let go and I was praying like crazy! Oh man.

Tuesday July 22, 1952
Virginia came over today but I was at work, she broke up with Floyd I hear. She wants me to call her tomorrow night. Also Doug and a friend of his came down in their green 1950 Ford tonight. They’re pretty nice.

Wednesday July 23, 1952
Bill came down today and picked me up from work. Well, I guess he’s all right.

Thursday July 24, 1952
Worked hard today as usual. Billie Jean called me today at work, she expects her baby around the 10th of August.

Friday July 25, 1952
Bill came down tonight with a buddy of his and he sure is cute. His name is Bill too and is from Brooklyn, NY. Boy I wouldn’t mind switching Bills, what a fine guy he is but I don’t stand a chance with him, so I guess I’ll stick to the original Bill.

Vilma daydreams under the Sixth Street Bridge

As Vilma, the 1950’s girl about town, starts her new Comptometer Operator gig, she commutes westbound into Los Angeles from her hometown of El Monte and arrives at Allied Baker’s and Confectioner’s Supplies warehouse in L.A. The business is located exactly where Whittier Blvd. turns from street to bridge.

The former site of Bakers & Confectioners. The light grey building with a bluish hue, now abandoned, is used for Hollywood movie shoots.

At this juncture a variety of warehouses, big and small, live beneath the shadows of the Sixth Street Bridge. In front of Vilma is the looming skyline of DTLA, just behind her is the East LA residential neighborhood of Boyle Heights.

The art deco style bridge built in 1932 crosses over the L.A. River and transitions into 6th St., which leads directly into the heart of downtown.

It is here where she starts the first day of her new job in the Accounting Department as a Comp Girl. 8:30-5:30, with a 1 hour lunch. As a Comptometer Operator it was her job to keep the books in order, using the Comptometer machine to manually calculate hundreds of financial transactions. The clickety- clack clickety- clack of the machine was mundane, lifeless and boring.

A rare peek inside, perhaps one of the windows Vilma daydreamed from.

Imagine the daydreams flashing through the mind of young Vilma while the lull of the Comptometer machines clack on, the sounds of delivery trucks march on and the scents of flour and sugar swirl softly through the air…

Clickety clack…clickety clack…clickety clack…
8:30am- Whew, so glad I made it on time. Remember, Mom says I’ve got to act bright and keep this job. This is my second time working as a Comp Girl, and boy do I hate it, doing the same thing over and over again. It’s going to drive me crazy! I suppose it’s worth the $200 though.

9:00am- I love looking out these warehouse windows at that beautiful bridge, it’s so close I can reach out and touch it. Wish I could throw Bill off of it.

10:00am- That earthquake was really very terrifying, glad I still share my bedroom with my sister June. Don’t know what I would have done without her there to grab onto. Just heard it killed 12 people, epicenter was in Tehachapi and it was 7.7 magnitude. One of the biggest earthquakes we have ever had. Saw a picture in the paper today and it created a big deep fissure in the earth for miles long. Wish I could throw Bill down it.

A vertical fracture on the northeast side of Bear Mountain, along the White Wolf Fault.

July 21, 1952

11:00am- Watching the delivery trucks get loaded up with supplies, bags of flour and sugar, baking pans of every sort, they’re just roaring over that bridge with deliveries into the big city. Wish I could tie Bill up in one of those big flour bags and send him packing.

12:00pm- Lunchtime: The bridge heads directly down 6th street, so in just a few short minutes I can be in downtown Los Angeles. I'll head over to Clifton’s Cafeteria on 6th and Broadway for some homestyle turkey and stuffing. They’re famous for their 365 days a year Turkey Dinners you know, and since I haven’t earned my first paycheck, Mr. Clinton says I can always “Pay what I Wish”. I'll call Bill and see if he can meet me for lunch.

12:15pm- Well took the bus across the bridge, now I’m here eating at Clifton’s. It’s one of my favorite places to come, it’s just like eating in a Redwood Forest! I’m sitting under the big mural that depicts a night-time forest with a big lighted moon with an owl overlooking me as I dine. Went to the little chapel on the second floor with the big neon cross on it. In the chapel I can press a button to hear the poem “Parable of the Redwoods”. I even said a little prayer for the people who died in the earthquake. Bill couldn’t make it on such short notice, but said he will pick me up tonight after work. I guess I won’t throw him off the bridge after all.

Vilma the Camera Girl and her guy pal under the neon cross.

The Chapel as it stands today, sans the bold neon cross. It was supposedly broken during the renovation.

12:30pm- Billie Jean and I used to come here to Clifton’s when we were about 12 years old. That wasn’t too long ago, I’m almost 18 years old now, and those were simpler days for sure. We saved up our babysitting money every month and made a big adventure out of it, just the two of us. We would take the P & E Railway from the El Monte station, ride into downtown all on our own, hit the five and dime stores to shop, then have lunch at Clifton’s. It was a big day and boy it was a real treat. I still can’t believe she got pregnant by Donnie that Jerk of ’52. If I’m not careful Bill will put me in the same boat, on guard Vilma!

Those arches.

1:00 pm- Took the bridge back over to the warehouse district to come back to hell, errghh I mean work. As I gazed out the window on the bus ride back I really got a good look at the bridge. It has such beautiful arches, the afternoon sun cast a warm glow on them and I can see all the design work. It would be a shame if this bridge ever came down, but the only thing that would ever take it down would be an earthquake I suppose.

2:00pm- I’ve decided to kill Bill, it would be quite easy you know. I can tinker with the brakes on his 52’ Mercury and when he drives over that bridge to pick me up he won’t be able to stop....well you know the rest. Oh damn it! How else am I going to get rid of him? I’ll have to make a really good confession of course.

Clickety clack…clickety clack…clickety clack…

4:00pm- Phoo-ey! They can train a monkey to do this! This is just too much, my brain hurts already. Maybe I’ll go work at Clifton’s one day, I can serve up food, bus tables, be a cashier, or heck maybe I can be one of those pretty Camera Girls who get all dolled up in those cute outfits. Now that’s a real job, taking souvenir photos of all kinds of folks, not to mention the handsome men! Oh boy, I can only dream!

5:30pm- Quitting time! Bill is here, and does he look double fine. Says he wants to take me to dinner, so I guess he can live for now. But he better be good like he said he was going to be. Told him “Now darling be extra extra careful when we ride that beautiful bridge home”…

She stood in her regal glory since 1932, ironically an earthquake did not do her in. The city is in the process of demolishing the bridge due to its structural integrity, and a new one will rise in its place.

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Vilma's Summer of Love... or Hate?

7/9/2016

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Vilma and Friends: Billie Jean front and center with the fab hat.

Author's note: "Betty Jo" has been a pseudonym since the beginning of this blog. Betty Jo's real name is "Billie Jean". I have had the pleasure to re-connect with her recently and share this blog with her. She has thrown her support behind this 100% and given permission to use her name and her pictures in this story that she is so intimately connected to. She is now 80 years old and lives in Laughlin, Nevada. We love you Billie Jean!

Friday July 4, 1952
Bill came down today and we went over to his house, but nobody was home. We started necking on the couch and god darn I had a weak moment there and I let him rub on me. He started to raise up my skirt and then I had to make him quit. That is the very first time I ever let any guy rub against me like that and it felt good, no lie. He got real emotional and wouldn’t let me up though, and he told me he loved me so very much and said “Darling let’s never argue again, I love you so much.” And he asked me to go steady and I told him “I wasn’t going to go steady with him now or never.” So we left his house and then he took me out tonight to Arcadia to see fireworks.

I was real mad because of what almost happened today and so he was real real sweet to me tonight. I liked him a lot when he talked that way, and so he asked me to go steady and I said “Yes”.

Saturday July 5, 1952
Oh honestly, this is getting from bad to worse. I let him feel me up, and oh man did he did a thorough job of it. I feel so terribly filthy dirty. I’ve got to break up with him, no mistake about it, I’ll be in Billie Jean’s shoes before you know it. Honestly, I hate him for even doing it. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him, I hate him and all the men in the whole world!

Cecil and Jerry McClellan came down today.

Sunday July 6, 1952
Mom told me some guys in a red car came down tonight when I was gone, but I don’t know who they were. I was real mean to Bill today, and when he came over this morning I told him I was going back to bed and told him to go home. He was supposed to go to 10:00am Mass with me this morning, and I got up and went to 8:30 Mass by myself and he even came down in time and everything.

Tonight he asked if I loved him and I said “No”, and he said he didn’t either. I hate him for even telling me that he loved me in the first place. Last night I was wanting to kick myself in the behind for even letting him feel me up. I have found out tonight that I do not like him anymore at all, and I am going to write him and break up and tell him I don’t want to see him anymore. He told me he thought he loved me, but after today he found out he didn’t. So it didn’t hurt me anyhow. I just can’t stand him anymore and that’s the end of us as soon as I write the letter.

Monday July 7, 1952
Wrote the letter today and mailed it, said might see him around sometime.

Wednesday July 9, 1952
Scotty, Wayne and his brother came down today. Said they’d see me in September, they were going overseas.

Well, old faithful Bill came down today. He said he didn’t get the letter, but anyway we’re still going steady. I told him not to let it make any difference and just ignore it when he gets it. Took me out tonight and told me he loved me and said “Oh darling, don’t ever break up with me.” and he really rubbed against me but completely. But we’re going to be real good from now on though. I know good and well a couple of girls who would gladly go out with him, but he’s in love with old softy me.

Friday July 11, 1952
Mary Alice came down tonight wanting to go on a double date tomorrow night to The Pike.

Saturday July 12, 1952
Confession today.

Bill took me to The Stomp tonight and we had a flawless time. He’s flawless himself.

Sunday July 13, 1952
Holy Communion.

Bill took me to Belmont Shore in Long Beach today and I’ve got a terrific tan. He came down tonight and stayed with me. Oh my darling Bill, I love him so much.

Well, well, just when you thought Bill and Vilma were over for good, surprise! She takes him back, again! And finally says yes to “going steady” too.

Is Vilma finally turning into an old softy like she says? Sure, she has had some weak moments, and Bill is really wearing her down... ummm, ergh… in more ways than one. “Bill came down today and we went over to his house, but nobody was home”. That is BIG trouble for any young susceptible woman!

But hard wired into her being is this inner desire to hold her own until that day she walks down the aisle with her husband. But man, no one ever said trying to be a good Catholic girl was going to be EASY.

And for Vilma, who is no puritan herself, has just got to have some fun along the way…only to a point of course. As she explores her limits, they take her ever closer to the razor’s edge, but there is this oh so mysterious unseen “something” which seems to hold her back from falling over the precipice into Billie Jean’s shoes. That something: her guiding light and North Star, which is her faith, includes a healthy fear of God and sin.

And as we read along through her timeless journey, we see how she applies her faith oh so imperfectly in her life.

As Vilma’s summer of love continues… let’s hope she makes the right decisions and does not succumb to being a weak softy over a man named Bill.

Coming soon: Billie Jean is still tucked away in the maternity home, but is soon about to give birth! Will she keep the baby?

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Clifton's, A Camera Girl & A Green Book

A Very Clifton's Thanksgiving

The Story of Vilma's 1958 Oldsmobile 88

The Lost History of El Monte's Legion Stadium

Vilma goes Ker-PLUNK! Plus: Big Jay & The Final Rub

Billie Jean's Scream's... turn to Joy

Billie Jean's Screams In The Night

Clifton's South Pacific Island Dream

Vilma daydreams in the shadows of the Sixth Street Bridge

Vilma's Summer of Love... or Hate?

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