1940s-1950s

I was born in July 1945, in Long Beach, just after World War II.

Both my adopted dad and my grandfather had served. Grandpa was a pilot based in Texas, and Dad was a pilot but he was a photographer aboard military planes going over Germany.

I don't remember a lot about the after affects of war in those days, my dad and grandfather didn't talk  much about it, if at all.

My mom loved to have fun, she and dad who grew up next door to each other in Naples, California, used to take me body surfing in Seal Beach. I loved to watch them have fun.  My uncle had a sailboat and they would often sail together on that. Sometimes they sailed to Catalina but I don't remember ever going with them.

 Aerial view from Point Fermin, San Pedro to Long Beach.

One thing my mother adored was going on the rides at the Long Beach Pike. Especially the Cyclone racer.  Anything wild and crazy, my mother loved, just like her dad. I was more like grandma; leave me on the ground please.  

 Cyclone Racer 1947

 Cyclone Racer 1930s

This last photo of the racer is about 1930s.  You can see how wild it was, and part of it went over the water.  My girlfriends and I when we were abut 12 or 13 used to go to the pike all the time. Long Beach then was near a Naval Station so there were a lot of handsome sailors around we could look at.  Not flirt with at that age, just look.

 Cyclone Racer 1920s

Rabbit Ride

This is the ride I liked: the Rabbit ride.  And they had a Fun House and a Haunted House, and of course a Diving Bell (which took you under water), and Bumper Cars.

The Diving Bell

The Pike 1940s

Red Car

Another thing mom loved to do was go shopping in Long Beach; we were living in Seal Beach at the time (right next door to LB) and they had a train connecting the two cities.  It was called the Red Car, and it cost about 25c.  She and grandma and I would get to Long Beach and shop at Buffums or Sears.  Women wore hats in those days, which I kind of like now, and wished we'd go back to wearing hats.  Lot's of great hats made of felt, with feathers or jewelry.  Quite nice.

There was a great restaurant in Long Beach that made nothing but chicken pot pies, nothing else, and they were the most delicious pies ever.  Nothing fancy in that shop, the waitresses had hair nets, white caps, and white uniforms. The room was hot and steamy.Women wore hats in those days, which I kind of like now, and wished we'd go back to wearing hats.

Marie Calendar's started in Long Beach, and we always had a slice of strawberry or peach pie, depending on the season. Yummy!

Crest Theater 1947

Another thing my family did a lot was go to the movies. Every Friday night on payday. I went too because mom didn't believe in sitters.  I wish I could remember what movies we saw, but one thing I do remember was the glorious glamorous women with their cocktails and their cigarettes in long ebony holders.  I couldn't wait to grow up and do the same.

Dad drove a 1952 Studebaker then. Oh how I wish I had that car now!