Comments on: MYRTLE TURTLE & HER ROYAL COURT, INDIO, CA, 1967

By: lisa contreras

lisa contreras — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 17:14:37 +0000

My aunt Mary worked at that same store in downtown Indio until she retired. I think she helped open it. I have ony seen pictures of it in black and white. Nice to see the color.

By: Sarahanne

Sarahanne — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:37:56 +0000

When I first saw the picture I thought to myself- “no way this is in Indio, there was definitely not a market in Indio in 1859.” So thanks for clarifying! Love the pics (and all the others!) Keep them coming (especially the ones from Indio)

By: Linda Laird

Linda Laird — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:10:12 +0000

Love the picture and all the background info! My east coast grandparents always shopped at the A&P on Bristol St. in Santa Ana in the 1950s-60s, and I grew up on “Woman’s Day” magazine, but I never knew they were connected.

I think the car decor is actually made from paper napkins, not TP. The colors are brighter, and the paper the right size and much sturdier for the job. In the late 1950s, I remember helping my Aunt Yvonne decorate a float for Riverside City College w/paper napkins. I was only 4 yrs. old, and I was thrilled to be hanging out with the cool big kids!

By: Travelgrrl

Travelgrrl — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:49:04 +0000

The boy in the front passenger seat looks like a mini Secret Service agent.

By: Charles Phoenix

Charles Phoenix — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:34:33 +0000

TURTLE FOUND! A reliable source tells me Myrtle Turtle sits on a strip of commercial property in downtown Joshua Tree on the south side of Highway 62 between Hillview and Sunset. If you see Myrtle please say I said hello!
Here’s to Myrtle!
Charles

By: Sue Schoneman

Sue Schoneman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:24:27 +0000

That IS my hometown A&P in Indio and I was 11 years old in 1967! My parents shopped at this store and JC Penny and Yellowmart just up the road. When A&P closed the butchers gave my folks the huge butcher block cutting board and a fantastic set of knives that I now have in my kitchen. Wow, what a great surprise. THANKS for the blast from MY past:-).

By: LindaJan

LindaJan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:20:15 +0000

This is a fascinating and fact-filled post! I had no idea about the origin of A & P, their radio hour or Woman’s Day! This made my day.. I’m from Salt Lake City and Phoenix, and there were no A& P’s! Makes me sad I missed them in the good ol’ days. The Turtle Races sound “keen”. The turtle is so realistic, too! This just a too cool blast from the past!

By: Jerry Foisel

Jerry Foisel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:16:18 +0000

“turtle abuse?” Oh PETA… puhleeze! But REALLY? The annual Joshua Tree Turtle Races… CLOSED AFTER SEVERAL DECADES FOR ALLEDGED, “turtle abuse”. Oh Myrtle! We loved ye! Come back Myrtle. Timmy’s heart is breaking.

By: Jay Blake

Jay Blake — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:52:16 +0000

There was an A & P in my hometown (pop. 3273) but we never shopped there because I think my dad had something against “chains”.

By: David

David — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:20:21 +0000

I can still smell the ground coffee and picture the machine customers could use to grind their own beans in the aisle of the A&P in Upper Arlington, Ohio. A&P got mostly beat out of business by bigger, newer, better-priced competitors, but in their day, they were dominant in many towns. In some nicer areas, A&P built their grocery stores with a Howard-Johnson’s-like cupola on the roof. Some of these have survived even where A&P is gone. This whole shot is a gem, particularly with the turtle race angle. Thanks, Charles!