Comments on: Happy New Year, Monterey Park, CA, 1956

By: Craig Stewart

Craig Stewart — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:58:31 +0000

What a wonderful picture, I was only 4 years old then, it captures a time in our lives that will never be again. It was before pagers, cell phones, e-mails and the “instant” madness that surrounds us today. A television took a minute to warm up and the fastest item was instant coffee; I wonder how the future will look back on these days.
“Oh I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now”.

By: June Lee

June Lee — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 05:22:22 +0000

That’s the picture of our 1956 “progressive” New Years Eve block party in a new neighborhood of Newport Beach at the time. I was 15 and mostly an observer of the wild goings on. The grownups could really party! One neighbor guy poured me a tumbler full of scotch (from someone else’s bottle, of course – I got the impression that scotch was wildly expensive). I hated the taste and got rid of it as soon as I could. I also had a pair of those clear plastic “Cinderella” high heels and wore them in Las Vegas earlier that year when we went to the dinner show to see Joe E. Lewis and Sophie Tucker at the El Rancho Vegas.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:49:34 +0000

Funny, I was born in Monterey Park, circa 1953. In 1956 we moved outta there to a brand new development in brand new La Mirada. Everyone wanted new, new after WWII. However, I imagine the kitchen in our home in Monterey Park looked a lot like this one. I’m sure my VERY stylish parents looked like this in their home in M.P. (from the many pics I have of them from Xmas’s past, including dad’s cigs) except my mom’s boobs were a lot better!

By: Maryann

Maryann — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:45:18 +0000

Ooooh! I love her shoes!! As usual, Charles has done a splendid job taking us down Memory Lane on New Years Eve! Cheers, everyone!!

By: Pax Romano

Pax Romano — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 01:05:17 +0000

This slide is priceless! Thank you for making my day a much brighter shade of yellow.

By: Tim Severs

Tim Severs — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:15:23 +0000

Happy New Year indeed! They look like they’re in the festive spirit. Happy New Year Charles! May this year be filled with more slides, slide shows, cool L.A. Disneyland tours, and more books. You da man, Charles!

By: DavidinBerkeley

DavidinBerkeley — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 23:53:50 +0000

I must also point out the classic hair and glasses she has on.

This, my friends, is the slide to beat. I’d love to use this as a “Happy New Year” card for the year when I neglect to send out my Christmas cards on time.

Brad: You’ve got the cleverest mom.

Happy New Year, everybody!

By: Edie

Edie — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 20:17:22 +0000

I wrote a show about my early life in 1950′s Kansas City, Missouri. So your photo of New Year’s ’57 was very evocative. I’m sorry I missed your show; but I just found out about this site. Do you give info about your shows here? Would love to revel with other revellers. Thanks! Edie

By: Trish

Trish — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 08:42:42 +0000

Ah yes, back before politically correct. Dem was da days my friend, dem was da days.

Reminds me of after work cocktails at the Pink Poodle off of Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica.

*sigh*

Trish

RIP Jerry

By: Glenn Amer

Glenn Amer — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 23:40:14 +0000

Dear Charles,

thanks for all the wonderful photos and stories you send each week!

I only wished I lived in the States so I could attend your shows!

Best wishes for a great 2007 from Sydney, Australia.

Glenn.