Pasadena Museum of History Acquires New Guide

Pasadena, CA --After living in the Crown City for over half a century, I had never visited the Pasadena Museum of History. My son, James, is a Junior Docent and gave our family a tour of the historic, Fenyes Mansion, built in 1905. All of us were very proud of the job he did! 

LA's Own Eiffle?

Los Angeles icons change throughout the decades. In the 60s, LA was known for its City Hall, Dodger Stadium, and Watts Towers.

As a kid, I had a View-Master with a disk of seven popular Western destinations. Las Vegas being one with that historic sign reading, "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas," and LA with a stereoscopic photo of the Watts Towers seemingly stretching to the heavens.

Forty-something years is a long time to finally visit the historic landmark. I followed the well-marked signs through South Central LA, across the Metro Blue Line tracks and into a neighborhood of weathered homes with chain link fences and power lines with multiple pair of shoes hanging from the wires. I looked up through my windshield hoping to find one the towers guiding my way, much like the Eiffel does in Paris. One block to go and there they were.

The Watts Towers were built between 1921 and 1954 by an Italian immigrant by the name of Sam Rodia. Over the course of 33 years, he build, by hand, 17 structures, the tallest reaching nearly 100 feet high (30 meters). The towers are made of fragments of bottles, plates, pottery, tiles--anything Sam could find. The Watts Towers are another example of vernacular architecture made popular in the early to mid 20th century.

Long Leash

Los Angeles, CA -- It was past the "magic hour" and my shutter was dragging in the low light. I was still able to catch this woman walking her unruly dog. The dog never made it in the frame.

Trumped by Volume

Los Angeles, CA --From Alameda Street, the voluminous sound of mariachi filled the air. A small door from the main, LA thoroughfare leads pedestrians to the congested cobblestone street call Olvera where vendors, restaurants and street performers provide their unique goods and services.

Walking out from the hall leading to Olvera Street, was a man with his accordion, sitting on a bench. He is part of a trio that regularly performs for handouts. This time, however, the big boys were out (earlier post), and were drowning out the talented underdogs. The moment the other team finished, my friends began their simple set of tunes.

Rialto's Nip Tuck

South Pasadena, CA -- Another Southern California, Route 66 icon receives gentle attention.

When I saw the crane extended and men in hard hats working along the blocked off sidewalk, I had to pull over and get the scoop on the 85-year old theater. I spoke with the workers and they said some of the plaster was falling off the building (part of the National Register of Historic Places), and they were shoring it up. No major face lift today, just and a little lawsuit prevention.

Bono's Pride

Fontana, CA -- Joe Bono took me on a tour of his prized, roadside diner recently. "This building has been in our family since the 30s," he said while pointing to an old photo on the wall. Bono's Deli has not been in service for a couple years but Joe is working on reopening the historic landmark very soon. Inside, the walls are lined with Route 66 memorabilia.

His family once owned 200 acres of vineyards along Baseline. The vineyards are long gone but he is trying to preserve the nostalgia by collecting wine bottles and building a wine tasting room attached to the 100-year old diner.

"You know there are probably six Route 66 enthusiast clubs out there; I belong to six of them," chuckled Bono. Looking back at the pictures on the wall, he pointed to a framed photo of he and Sonny. You mean Sonny as in Cher? I asked. Joe looked over at me with a big smile and said, "My cousin."

The large orange, pictured above, was built in the mid 1930s and was used as advertising. It used to be two miles down Route 66 but was recently moved to where it is now. Another example of vernacular architecture, which was very popular in the 30s and 40s.

Sign of the Times

Los Angeles, CA -- Afternoon light shines on the red tile roof of The Los Angeles Times Building in Downtown LA.

In 1934 (when architect Gordon B. Kaufmann designed the building), who would of thought that a brick and mortar building would be mostly replaced by silicon chips, wi-fi and LCD screens?

First in Freeways

Los Angeles, CA -- Originally the Arroyo Seco Parkway, now called The Pasadena Freeway, is considered the first freeway in the United States. Opened in 1940, the Pasadena Freeway was built to give L.A. commuters a more direct route to the quaint suburb of Pasadena, six miles north-east. It is now considered a State Scenic Highway, National Civil Engineering Landmark, and National Scenic Byway.

Notice the "on" and "off ramps" to the right. Can you imagine going 65 to 5 mph to get off a freeway? ...and try getting on!

The freeway is a blast to drive on, especially late at night when you have most of the windy "race track" to yourself.

Kelso Depot (Continued)

One of my greatest pleasures is driving through the Mojave Desert. In the good old days, I had a VW Van--a Westfalia camper equipped with roll-down windows and a spray bottle as an air conditioner.

Every other weekend a small group of friends chose a remote desert location on a map and drove there. Back in '80s, Kelso was headed towards ruins. The 80s was all about New Wave music, building up cities and solving the Rubik's Cube. Old desert towns and buildings were used more for target practice and dirt bike destinations than being appreciated and left alone. Preservation was alive but struggling.

Today, Kelso is enjoying a revitalization. The East Mojave is now mostly a Preserve. Inside Kelso Depot, an old fashioned soda fountain greets visitors with turn-of-the-century charm and nostalgia. All the individual rooms in the train station are used as a museum and library. They even have original recordings of a 1950s radio show broadcasting from a nearby desert town.


Here, one finds a vibrant, living desert full of history and hidden treasures.

Today, I drive a car with air conditioning. But when I'm rolling through mirages on the sun-soaked highways of the East Mojave, you will often find me with my windows down and stereo playing Marty Robbins and the Sons of the Pioneers, singing,

"All day I've faced a barren waste
Without the taste of water,
cool water
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry
And souls that cry for water
Cool..., clear..., water...."

St. Luke's Awaiting

St. Luke's Hospital used to be an East Pasadena icon. Its familiar copper-top dome and, now removed cross, once rose high above most other buildings. Doctors, visitors and patients all enjoyed a magnificent view from the 7-story building, both of the San Gabriel Mountains above and Eaton Canyon below.

Today, the designated Historical Landmark is just another hidden treasure, currently locked up, waiting to be rediscovered and appreciated by the community.

Built in 1933, the Art Deco structure provided a much needed service to the growing population of Pasadena. But after nearly 70 years of service, the failing medical center sold to Caltech in July of 2003. Caltech planned to use the property as a stand-alone, large-scale research program facility.

Last year, however, Caltech sold the 13.4-acre property to a Beverly Hills developer. Their plans are still vague but a spokesperson for the developer claims they are advocating for an “urgent care facility, open space, historic preservation and a use consistent with the neighborhood at the site.”

One of the reasons this hospital is important to me it that it was in those interior walls that I first felt the slap of a hand, took a breath and saw light.