Having a gay old time at The Stomp
Tuesday Feb. 19, 1952
Went to a lecture with Buella tonight. It was really very interesting, it was about demonstrative affection, ego’s, neurotics and homosexuals etc., I thought it was pretty good.
I picked up Bryan somebody on the way home and he is pretty average. Says he is going to drop by one of these nights. Darn it all, I wonder if I will ever see that Don Williams ever again. (see Feb 2 & Feb 8)
Friday Feb. 22, 1952
No work today. Me and mom really got something accomplished today though. We took in all of my skirts so that they fit now. I look double fine now that I’ve lost 15 pounds, well at least everybody says so. Mom says to believe everything good said about you, and so I am. Anyway that is my old line “I believe everything I hear, don’t you know.” Some line huh?
Saturday Feb. 23, 1952
Mary Alice, Buella & me went to The Stomp tonight and we had a ball. I had some brew and I felt good. Buella was making out just fine with the guys & Mary Alice even better. Me and Mary Alice went home together. The only thing is, I went home with a jerk and he kisses miserably. Mary Alice went home with a positive doll, and so I hear it he kisses fine as wine. Jim Bakker (the girl hunter) was there and he says sarcastically “Stay a good girl now Vilma”. Some smarty.
Buella smuggled some hooch in and she passed out completely. That’s one way of getting attention I guess. We got in at 2:30am, I stayed overnight with Mary Alice.
Sunday February 24, 1952
Me and my sister Junie went to Alhambra today and went shopping, I got a size 14 black fine looking skirt, a real fine wool jersey blouse for $3.00, a new girdle and some new stockings.
Went to a lecture with Buella tonight. It was really very interesting, it was about demonstrative affection, ego’s, neurotics and homosexuals etc., I thought it was pretty good.
I picked up Bryan somebody on the way home and he is pretty average. Says he is going to drop by one of these nights. Darn it all, I wonder if I will ever see that Don Williams ever again. (see Feb 2 & Feb 8)
Friday Feb. 22, 1952
No work today. Me and mom really got something accomplished today though. We took in all of my skirts so that they fit now. I look double fine now that I’ve lost 15 pounds, well at least everybody says so. Mom says to believe everything good said about you, and so I am. Anyway that is my old line “I believe everything I hear, don’t you know.” Some line huh?
Saturday Feb. 23, 1952
Mary Alice, Buella & me went to The Stomp tonight and we had a ball. I had some brew and I felt good. Buella was making out just fine with the guys & Mary Alice even better. Me and Mary Alice went home together. The only thing is, I went home with a jerk and he kisses miserably. Mary Alice went home with a positive doll, and so I hear it he kisses fine as wine. Jim Bakker (the girl hunter) was there and he says sarcastically “Stay a good girl now Vilma”. Some smarty.
Buella smuggled some hooch in and she passed out completely. That’s one way of getting attention I guess. We got in at 2:30am, I stayed overnight with Mary Alice.
Sunday February 24, 1952
Me and my sister Junie went to Alhambra today and went shopping, I got a size 14 black fine looking skirt, a real fine wool jersey blouse for $3.00, a new girdle and some new stockings.
"The Stomp"
Some personal photo's from Vilma's memorabilia
Some personal photo's from Vilma's memorabilia
The Home Town Jamboree Players
Throughout these last few months, Vilma has been going out to dances almost every Saturday night. Where has she been going? Well to THE STOMP of course! What exactly was The Stomp? Officially known as Cliffie Stone’s Hometown Jamboree, referred to by the locals as the 'Okie Stomp', it was a musical variety show/television broadcast production run right out of El Monte’s once famous Legion Stadium. It was THEE place to be on a Saturday night back in 1952!
Cliffe Stone was a big country and western singer who came riding into town eyeing the Legion Stadium for a show he was doing on the radio. Cliffie Stone and The Hometown Jamboree radio show began a long run at the stadium. Cliffie’s show was so popular it began a simulcast on both radio and television. The shows were held at the El Monte Legion Stadium for 5 years and broadcasted in Los Angeles on KXLA & KCOP. So every Saturday night at 7:30 pm you would hear “Live From El Monte California, The Hometown Jamboree! Acts like Tennessee Ernie Ford, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Liberace and Elvis performed on Hometown Jamboree. This brought more attention to the venue and legitimized its future potential for the city of El Monte.
Why of all places in El Monte, a little known town on the outskirts of Los Angeles, were famous musicians gathering for major productions? We’ll explore later why the Legion Stadium was once at the heart of the music industry and at the epicenter of the Rock & Roll phenomena in the 1950’s. With Vilma in the midst of it all!
In the meantime, enjoy a couple of fun tunes that were played at the dances. Just close your eyes and imagine being back in 1952!
Cliffe Stone was a big country and western singer who came riding into town eyeing the Legion Stadium for a show he was doing on the radio. Cliffie Stone and The Hometown Jamboree radio show began a long run at the stadium. Cliffie’s show was so popular it began a simulcast on both radio and television. The shows were held at the El Monte Legion Stadium for 5 years and broadcasted in Los Angeles on KXLA & KCOP. So every Saturday night at 7:30 pm you would hear “Live From El Monte California, The Hometown Jamboree! Acts like Tennessee Ernie Ford, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Liberace and Elvis performed on Hometown Jamboree. This brought more attention to the venue and legitimized its future potential for the city of El Monte.
Why of all places in El Monte, a little known town on the outskirts of Los Angeles, were famous musicians gathering for major productions? We’ll explore later why the Legion Stadium was once at the heart of the music industry and at the epicenter of the Rock & Roll phenomena in the 1950’s. With Vilma in the midst of it all!
In the meantime, enjoy a couple of fun tunes that were played at the dances. Just close your eyes and imagine being back in 1952!
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