Submitted by Stella Karen

“A couple of years ago, after one of my retro slide shows, this guy came up to me with a copy of one of my books, “Southern California in the ’50s”. It was opened up to the Los Angeles county fair page. He points to this 1955 photo of a dozen bathing suit-clad fair queens perfectly posed in a row on their backs with their legs up in the air and this guy standing behind them. He says, do you know who this guy is? He’s Bill Adrian; he’s the world’s oldest modeling agent, and you have just got to meet him.”

Click here and listen to the Charles discover the real history and a real person behind one of his many photos.

Six seniors have just returned home from a tour of the Hawaiian Punch factory. Each shows off a complimentary can of the fantasy fruit-flavored and colored virgin cocktail. One of them snagged two cans. He is the only one smiling. All but one wears the Hawaiian Punch factory souviner hat in the normal position with the exception of Miss Floral Print, on the right, who sports her hat side saddle. Did one tourist call the others requesting that only blue, brown or white be worn for the exotic excursion? Color coordinating with friends for a day trip always makes the experience much better and far more memorable!

There is very little that is Hawaiian about Hawaiian Punch. The sweet taste treat sensation is yet one more wonderful creation the world has to thank Southern Calfiornia for. It was first concocted and manufactured in the fine city of Fullerton in 1934. Originaly it was sold as a thick syrup to pour over ice cream until shortly after a creative customer discovered it was even better mixed with water and served as a tutti-fruity something-to-drink on a warn summer day.

Punchy, the “Mr. Product” of Hawaiian Punch, was born in 1962, to star on TV commercials. He was violent and abusive. His long-time catch phrase was “Hey, how about a nice Hawaiian Punch?” which he would follow by attacking someone with his hard fist.

I LOVED Hawaiian Punch as a child and think about it often as an adult. I distinctly recall at about the age of ten discovering that it was even more delicious (and glamorous) when it sparkled after I blended it with 7up.

Several months ago I had the good fortune of being flown to New Your first class. Half way through the flight, long after I’d downed nuts served warm, shoe leather salmon and a make-your-own-sundae desert, the ever hovering stewardess asked if I’d like anything else. I said “well what do you suggest?” She replied, I can make you some fruit punch!” Do I look like a person that likes fruit punch?

Here’s to Fullerton, Fruit Punch –Hawaiian or otherwise- and YOU!

Smart striped tent tops provide an eventful backdrop for a bevy of Queen Scheherazade wannabes cupped and draped in gold trimmed chiffon. They ride high in one of Detroit’s spaciest space age offerings – the all-new for 1962 Polara Convertible by Dodge. Italian sports cars inspired the startling design. WARNING: the abstract relationship between the flared front fenders, cockeyed in-n-outset headlights, teardrop bumper guards and tucked-in turn signals has the power to hypnotize if studied too long. The pretend Arab sheik on the right is clearly experiencing a mesmerizing moment of his own. It’s not difficult to see why.

The odd, sweet, petite fruit of the palm, the date, inspired the first Riverside County Fair and Date Festival in Indio in 1921. This weekend the annual tradition continues. Highlights include the Blessing of the Dates ceremony, ostrich and camel races, Arabian Nights Musical Pageant, and most importantly the crowning of Queen Scheherazade. Arab dress is optional, but encouraged for spectators. www.datefest.org

The Palm Springs Modernism show is also happening in the desert this weekend. It’s a air-conditioned convention hall filled with vendors peddling marvelous mid-century wares to people with deep pockets, and lookie-loos like me. It’s a great show. So on your way to or from the date festival come on by. The show is the kickoff to Palm Springs Modernism Week. I will be part of the festivities performing my Retro Slide Show Tour of Southern California, which will include a special section on the desert, this Wednesday, Feb 21, 7:30 at the Camelot Theater in Palm Springs. www.modernismweek.com.

Here’s to the Italian influence, Arab dress, mid-century modern and YOU!

With his paper bagged purchase in hand, a boy wearing blue jeans and a bolo tie poses in front of a trading post with a motel or a motel with a trading post. Whatever it is it’s a sensational Southwestern sensory overload to say the least.

In the center next to the front door, a wooden Indian sits in chair. His moccasins don’t touch the ground. Motel is spelled out in four rows of neon framed in a rustic font on a fake wood grain signboard. A coke machine is snuggled up to the mock adobe building.

And then there’s the finishing touch, a trio of totem poles –daddy, mommy and baby, who’s peeking out from behind that dangerous-to-get-to-close-to silvery-golden-green succulent. Or are they giant Kachina Dolls? Whatever they are they are related to Tiki gods and they remind me of the giant totem pole I made for a class project in third grade. I stacked six five gallon Baskin Robbins ice cream containers together, paper mache’d them and painted them with a colorful, exotic faces. Does anyone paper mache’ anymore?

Speaking of…the other night I paid my once-a-year visit to Baskin Robbins. I was craving a big ‘ol scoop of peanut butter and chocolate. It was delicious as usual and I was enjoying every quick melting bite and lick of the stingy scoop I got until I looked around and realized Baskin Robbins no longer has a different flavor for each day of the month. They’ve always had 31 flavors. Is less really more? Never with ice cream!

Here’s to totem poles, paper mache’, 31 flavors and YOU!

These fine folks look like they are all related except for the breakout star of this portrait, Beavis and Butthead’s grandma, down on the left. It must be June. Junior has graduated. His gown and tasseled cap go almost unnoticed next the other fashion statements in this front yard family photo. Conservative high-necked dresses, cut in solids, prints and polka dots are generously accessorized with earrings, pearls and brooches. Obligatory hats and gloves complete the ever-so-civilized look. Proper ladies do not leave the house without them.

Speaking of fancy hats last Saturday I unexpectedly discovered the California Millinery Supply while walking up Spring Street in the heart of old downtown Los Angeles. The next thing I know I’m inside the store surrounded by a wonderland of vintage hat making supplies. On one side of me a rainbow wall of rare ribbons and floor-to-ceiling shelves overflowing with fancy feathers, fake fruits, flowers and leaves and everything else you could ever dream of trimming a hat with. On the other side an unexplainable variety of hypnotizing hat forms hanging from the ceiling and stacked in spectacular antique oak display cases. Virtually speechless I managed to form a short sentence and ask the very nice lady behind the counter what year this place began. “1939” she replied. Little has changed since. All I could do was just stand there mesmerized turning around in circles thinking “what-decade-am-I-in?” It was wonderful!

California Millinery Supply is located at 721 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA
213-622-8746. Make sure to tell them I sent you!

Here’s to hats and gloves, Beavis and Buttheads grandma, California Millinery Supply and YOU!

Mom’s looking at us; the little girl is staring at her, and grandma’s playing with her lobster. Dinner is served on a modern, multi-colored set of divided plastic dishes with matching mugs; coral, aqua, lt. yellow and white. The white enamel pot next to the slide bread is probably where the melted butter is. The pots-and-pans print tablecloth really stands out next to mom’s plaid jacket and grandmas print skirt. A wood wall provides a rustic backdrop.

Speaking of a lobster at camp this reminds me of when I went to camp last summer in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. My campmates and I arrived just in time for a genuine, old fashioned, outdoor lobster and clambake feast served generously with all the trimmings. During the time we ate the moon replaced the sun in the sky. For desert Chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes with fresh raspberries, melted butter and whipped cream were served. Yes, I went back for seconds! They’re delicious! You can easily make them at home. Use Bisquick and toll-house chocolate chips. And don’t forget the whipped cream. The secret is not to add the chocolate chips to the batter but to drop them separately onto each pancake right after you pour it in the skillet.

After a very satisfying dinner I was informed by my hostess that our camp was only reachable by canoe and that I would have to row a canoe full of luggage one mile across the moonlit lake all by myself. My canoe was loaded up with luggage and I as-gracefully-as-I possibly-could climbed in took my little seat between the paddles. She said “You do know how to paddle a canoe don’t you?” I said “Of course, I’ve been to Disneyland!” As I was pushed off something was off balance-probably me-and the canoe began rocking back and forth and a bunch of the luggage fell over to over side. I was sure I was going in. Inside I kind of panicked as I quickly realized this topsy-turvy canoe wasn’t easy to handle and I was going in circles. The audience of well wishers and pusher-offers on the dock seemed to think that was very funny! They cheered as I finally got the canoe going in a straight line just in time to get tangled up in someone’s fishing line! Talk about embarrassing! Oh well. Then I got a cramp.

Here’s to lobster, camp, canoes, chocoloate chip pancakes and YOU!

Someone has either lost all their money at the Golden Gate Casino or gotten some serious indigestion at Denny’s! Whoever they are and what ever is wrong with them they are being well taken care of. A lipstick red fire truck, policeman and two men wearing white have come to their rescue. The streamlined Chevrolet panel delivery truck makes a stylish ambulance. The siren is like a cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.

Like the International House of Pancakes, McDonalds, Jack-in the Box Taco Bell, and many other food franchises the world has Southern California to thank for Denny’s. Yes, Denny’s is yet another Southern California original. The legendary coffee shop chain began in Lakewood in 1953 not as Denny’s but Danny’s. And not as a coffee shop but as a donut stand. By the time the name was changed to Denny’s in 1959, lest it be confused with then rival Coffee Dan’s, they were serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and were “Always Open.”

In 1977 America’s waistline began to expand a bit when Denny’s gave the baseball term “grand slam” another meaning: a big, deluxe breakfast of eggs and pancakes with not bacon or sausage but bacon and sausage. Why bother choosing one or the other when you can have both.

Today, Denny’s is the biggest sit-down restaurant chain in America.

Here’s to the rescue team, the stylish ambulance and having both bacon and sausage!

The parking lot is full. A silver metallic 1963 Chevrolet Impala is either coming or going. American monster cars surround a lonely little foreign car parked backwards next to of the two front doors. Compared to the others the foreign car is a toy. The Impala is the Honda Civic of its day.

The big maple-toned sign is piece of early American furniture waiting to happen. A delivery truck must’ve hit the little, hanging two-toned sandwich/steak sign that hangs crooked below it.

Stylistically the super-sized a-frame structure is Swiss Miss Modern. Or in Southern California terms: Wienerschnitzel meets Ranch House. It has the a-frame of the hot dog drive-thrus and used brick chimney, diamond pane windows and the colorized version of a wood shake roof of a typical tract home. The spectacular orange-white-turquoise color scheme is borrowed from on the grand daddy of the coffee shops, Howard Johnson’s. The a-frame buildings were cloned until 1979 when the last one in that style was built. Scale-wise they are monumental compared with other coffee shops of the day which are generally sleeker and far more space age.

The interior is maple to the max! Beneath the soaring beeamed celing is an early american wonderland of vinyl booths and maple-toned tables and chairs. Each tabletop has its own pot of hot coffee and and eight artificially flavored and colored syrups perfect for drowning your culturally-themed panckaes.

The world got a little smaller in 1958 when the first International House of Pancakes opened in Los Angeles. It is a
coffee shop with a gimmick –glorifying pancakes into an around-the-world-taste treat sensation by ever-so-slightly altering the recipe. Top a short stack with Lingonberries and there Swedish; pineapple and they’re Hawaiian; add some shredded potoatoes and there German. Lighten up the batter and voila there French! Who knew panckaes were so worldly?

Here’s to Swiss Miss Modern, pancakes and YOU!