"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.”
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'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.”
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!
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!
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!”
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:
You can see her interview explaining the significance of the piece below:
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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...
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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