A music lovin' Vilma
Friday April 18, 1952
Made some fudge for Betty Jo today.
Saturday April 19th 1952
Went to Spade Cooley’s dance tonight with Jim and it is sure lush. He has horrible bad breath, I wish somebody would let him in on the bitter truth. Tonight he told me he loved me and asked me to go steady again. Also I refused his good night kiss again because I cannot stand Halitosis on anybody. I wish he would wise up a little and just give up and go away.
Sunday April 20, 1952
Spent all day with Jim today and got in at 10:15 or so. He hinted around about marrying me tonight. He is sure stuck on me and when it comes time to shaft him he is going to be one hurt guy, I am afraid to say. I refused his good night kiss again tonight. Man, it sure must be love to have him coming back like this…. and for what? If I was him I would’ve given up a long time ago.
Monday April 21, 1952
Got a letter from Betty Jo today. She says she is so sick of candy it is pitiful, and I sent her some fudge on Saturday. She probably hasn’t gotten it yet, so I wrote back to her today and told her to hold her nose and down it real quick and then fast drink water to take away the candy flavor. Hah Hah!
Wednesday April 23, 1952
Went over Virginia’s today and visited for a couple of hours. We’re all going to the beach together Saturday. She is going to marry Floyd, I just found out today. I hope they’re both very happy.
Thursday April 24, 1952
Got an announcement today from Julia. What do you know? She is now married to a 1st Lieutenant and she was married in Germany. I’m glad for her. She looks so cute in her gown, she is positively a queen anyhow though.
Friday April 25, 1952
Called up Jim today and told him not to come down, as the weather is not so hot. It’s raining and who wants to go to the beach then?
Saturday April 26, 1952
Went to The Stomp tonight and had a real crazy time coming home. Came home with Lorea and Ralph and Floyd. Man that Lorea is sure crazy, she’s cute though, I like her.
Tex came over in the afternoon today while I was in town with Mary Alice. Got in at 10 after 4am this morning, but of course it’s the beginning of Daylight Saving Time so it was only 3am.
Sunday April 27, 1952
Virginia, Jim and Floyd came down tonight to see me. Virginia showed me her engagement ring, man is it sure lush looking. Me and Lorea went to the show tonight and we picked up some guy and he took us to Stan’s Drive In and we had some "vittles". Then we dropped Lorea off and he wanted to take me for a drive. But nothing doing, all I wanted was the food! We sure had a crazy time all of us.
Made some fudge for Betty Jo today.
Saturday April 19th 1952
Went to Spade Cooley’s dance tonight with Jim and it is sure lush. He has horrible bad breath, I wish somebody would let him in on the bitter truth. Tonight he told me he loved me and asked me to go steady again. Also I refused his good night kiss again because I cannot stand Halitosis on anybody. I wish he would wise up a little and just give up and go away.
Sunday April 20, 1952
Spent all day with Jim today and got in at 10:15 or so. He hinted around about marrying me tonight. He is sure stuck on me and when it comes time to shaft him he is going to be one hurt guy, I am afraid to say. I refused his good night kiss again tonight. Man, it sure must be love to have him coming back like this…. and for what? If I was him I would’ve given up a long time ago.
Monday April 21, 1952
Got a letter from Betty Jo today. She says she is so sick of candy it is pitiful, and I sent her some fudge on Saturday. She probably hasn’t gotten it yet, so I wrote back to her today and told her to hold her nose and down it real quick and then fast drink water to take away the candy flavor. Hah Hah!
Wednesday April 23, 1952
Went over Virginia’s today and visited for a couple of hours. We’re all going to the beach together Saturday. She is going to marry Floyd, I just found out today. I hope they’re both very happy.
Thursday April 24, 1952
Got an announcement today from Julia. What do you know? She is now married to a 1st Lieutenant and she was married in Germany. I’m glad for her. She looks so cute in her gown, she is positively a queen anyhow though.
Friday April 25, 1952
Called up Jim today and told him not to come down, as the weather is not so hot. It’s raining and who wants to go to the beach then?
Saturday April 26, 1952
Went to The Stomp tonight and had a real crazy time coming home. Came home with Lorea and Ralph and Floyd. Man that Lorea is sure crazy, she’s cute though, I like her.
Tex came over in the afternoon today while I was in town with Mary Alice. Got in at 10 after 4am this morning, but of course it’s the beginning of Daylight Saving Time so it was only 3am.
Sunday April 27, 1952
Virginia, Jim and Floyd came down tonight to see me. Virginia showed me her engagement ring, man is it sure lush looking. Me and Lorea went to the show tonight and we picked up some guy and he took us to Stan’s Drive In and we had some "vittles". Then we dropped Lorea off and he wanted to take me for a drive. But nothing doing, all I wanted was the food! We sure had a crazy time all of us.
Who was Spade Cooley?
Beginning in the 1930’s, an outgrowth of American country music which became known as “Country Western Swing”, was a prominent musical force throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and right here in Southern California.
According to Merle Travis, "Western swing is nothing more than a group of talented country boys, unschooled in music, but playing the music they feel, beating a solid two-four rhythm to the harmonies that buzz around their brains. When it escapes in all its musical glory, my friend, you have Western swing."
If you’ve been following this blog, you’ve already become familiar with another big Country Western Swing musical variety show called Cliffie Stone’s Hometown Jamboree. This was Vilma’s favorite Saturday night hang out lovingly referred to as "The Stomp", which played right out of El Monte’s Legion Stadium.
The talented Mr. Spade Cooley entertained a generation from the mid-forties until he spiraled out of control in the late fifties, his being a tale of the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Unfortunately a dark and disturbing one at that.
Beginning in the 1930’s, an outgrowth of American country music which became known as “Country Western Swing”, was a prominent musical force throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and right here in Southern California.
According to Merle Travis, "Western swing is nothing more than a group of talented country boys, unschooled in music, but playing the music they feel, beating a solid two-four rhythm to the harmonies that buzz around their brains. When it escapes in all its musical glory, my friend, you have Western swing."
If you’ve been following this blog, you’ve already become familiar with another big Country Western Swing musical variety show called Cliffie Stone’s Hometown Jamboree. This was Vilma’s favorite Saturday night hang out lovingly referred to as "The Stomp", which played right out of El Monte’s Legion Stadium.
The talented Mr. Spade Cooley entertained a generation from the mid-forties until he spiraled out of control in the late fifties, his being a tale of the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Unfortunately a dark and disturbing one at that.
Spade Cooley was an immensely gifted musician that rode Country Western Swing to money and fame. But all the money and fame in the world does not make a happy man. His alcohol laden binges turned him into a raging beast, one day in 1961 that beast tortured and beat his wife to death. Regrettably, he seemed to be unrepentant of his crimes. He made parole a mere eight years later. On one of his final weekends in the big house, he was asked to play a benefit concert for the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County. He truly gave the performance of his lifetime and even received a standing ovation. He then walked off stage, had a heart attack.... and died.
Here is an amazing tune from Spade Cooley and His Orchestra on an episode of the Three Stooges (years prior to his demise).
Here is an amazing tune from Spade Cooley and His Orchestra on an episode of the Three Stooges (years prior to his demise).
Vittles at Stan’s Drive In
Peanut Butter & Jelly, Apple Pie & Ice Cream, Laverne & Shirley, Cars & Drive-In’s. You can’t have one without the other!
As we've seen, the 1950’s was one of the most innovative times for American car production. The manufacturing capitals of Detroit and Los Angeles switched from pre-war cookie cutter styles reflective of the limited metal rationing of WWII, to full blown state of the art designs and concepts. It’s safe to say that America was in the midst of a love affair with its cars. Naturally of course this created the need for all sorts of fun car related activities.
You practically wanted to do everything in your car. So when you wanted to go get some food (or “vittles “as Vilma would say), why bother to get out of your vehicle?
Peanut Butter & Jelly, Apple Pie & Ice Cream, Laverne & Shirley, Cars & Drive-In’s. You can’t have one without the other!
As we've seen, the 1950’s was one of the most innovative times for American car production. The manufacturing capitals of Detroit and Los Angeles switched from pre-war cookie cutter styles reflective of the limited metal rationing of WWII, to full blown state of the art designs and concepts. It’s safe to say that America was in the midst of a love affair with its cars. Naturally of course this created the need for all sorts of fun car related activities.
You practically wanted to do everything in your car. So when you wanted to go get some food (or “vittles “as Vilma would say), why bother to get out of your vehicle?
Stan’s was only one of hundreds of Drive-In Restaurants that had sprung up all around the country. It was classic comfort food served right up at your car window. They had several locations in SoCal, including Los Angeles and El Monte, which was right on the corner of Valley and Garvey.
To attract travelers passing by, Drive-In’s were typically located in heavily trafficked areas. By nightfall the glowing neon lights and mid-century architecture, often reminiscent of the space age, transformed them into beacons which summoned you in.
As a small child growing up in El Monte in the 1970’s, I was fortunate enough to remember the big A & W Root Beer Drive In stand which used to be located on the corner of Peck and Lower Azusa Road. My father used to pack us kids up in his classic 1958 Oldsmobile (with no seat belts), roll into an open spot and order us kids the best hamburgers, fries and root beer floats on God’s green earth. A simple effortless meal to feed his clan, and what a treat it was to eat in the car with Daddy! It was magical even in the 1970’s. Long may Stan’s and A & W live on in our memories!
To attract travelers passing by, Drive-In’s were typically located in heavily trafficked areas. By nightfall the glowing neon lights and mid-century architecture, often reminiscent of the space age, transformed them into beacons which summoned you in.
As a small child growing up in El Monte in the 1970’s, I was fortunate enough to remember the big A & W Root Beer Drive In stand which used to be located on the corner of Peck and Lower Azusa Road. My father used to pack us kids up in his classic 1958 Oldsmobile (with no seat belts), roll into an open spot and order us kids the best hamburgers, fries and root beer floats on God’s green earth. A simple effortless meal to feed his clan, and what a treat it was to eat in the car with Daddy! It was magical even in the 1970’s. Long may Stan’s and A & W live on in our memories!
The A & W in El Monte
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