History Lessons (alternately, ch-ch-ch-ch-changes)

Today's post will discuss some of the things we ran across in 1967-68 that were a little different than the way things were 50 years later. We'll also review a few historical moments. Let's start with the culture at the time. 1967 was the Summer of Love, with the Monterey Pop Festival taking place in June on the west coast, the song "San Francisco (Be sure to wear flowers in your hair)" climbing the charts, and the hippie subculture gaining a foothold in many large cities, most notably San Francisco. That cultural phenomenon was clearly present in Los Angeles as evidenced by the various mentions of hippies in Mom's letters, especially the earlier ones. My small-town Texas parents definitely went through a bit of culture shock being exposed to all that, which gave us some entertaining reading on more than one occasion. Closely related to that cultural movement, and no doubt somewhat of a driver of it, was the escalation of the Viet Nam war in 1967. Protests against the war were also escalating, including marches that often turned violent. A Peace March scheduled to pass within a few blocks of our apartment on August 6, 1967 made my parents nervous enough to leave the area that day and make our first of many visits to Knott's Berry Farm. The military draft was also in effect at the time, and we got to see the impact of that on a young family in a letter one of Mom's friends wrote to her. Another bit of civil unrest during this time was the race riots that were occurring all over the country. (Look up "long, hot summer of 1967.") We moved to L. A. only three years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law, and two years after the famous riots in the L. A. neighborhood of Watts. So when Dad found out Mom and I had unintentionally driven through Watts one day, he was understandably upset. Technology has obviously advanced a bit in the past 50 years. Some things that were relatively new at the time, with a certain "wow" factor, are either taken for granted today or have almost disappeared entirely. For instance, Dad spent a lot of money to purchase a Polaroid camera while we were there. Polaroid instant pictures were a good alternative to waiting days to have film developed and they gave people nearly instant gratification. But today, given how easy it is for anyone to take a digital picture and see it (and share it) instantly, for free, Polaroid film doesn't have much of a chance although it does have a certain nostalgic charm to it. Polaroid instant cameras are still available, although with slightly different technology. Another thing that wasn't commonplace in 1967 that we take for granted now is color TV. We had a black and white television set in our apartment, and one of the letters mentioned my parents' friends, the Dirrs, inviting us over to watch a TV special on their color television one night. Mom mentioned that she hoped we could buy a color TV when we got back to Texas, and I'm pretty sure we did before the end of the year. As previously noted, 1972 was the first year in which more color television sets were sold in the US than black-and-white sets. Also in the area of technology, something important was happening in the late 1960s that I don't think was mentioned in any of the letters although there were a few front page newspaper articles about it while we were in L. A. That was the race to the moon. The Apollo program was in its early stages, having yet to launch a manned spaceflight, yet we found our apartment in L. A. exactly two years before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. The changes in technology in the past 50 years have certainly changed the way we communicate. In 1967, long before the internet was even a gleam in Al Gore's eye, there was no such thing as email. This was also long before mobile phones of any type were available, so there were no cell phones either, which meant no texting. No cell phones. No internet. No email. No texting. So how did people communicate? Well, people communicated the old fashioned way, via letters and phone calls using telephones connected to landlines. To make matters worse, the telephone companies charged extra for long distance calls outside of your local area, so most people, especially those who were pinching pennies, just didn't make a lot of long distance phone calls and tended to rely more on letters. We know letters were the primary method of communication between Mom and my grandmother. Letters at the time could go via ground, or you could pay a few cents more for airmail if you wanted faster delivery. All but one of Mom's letters was sent via airmail, and even with that we could see on a few occasions where the lag between sending and receiving caused some communication issues that wouldn't occur today. We have grown so accustomed to nearly instant communication these days that it's hard to imagine having to wait several days, perhaps more than a week, to have someone reply to a question. We did learn about one method of almost instant communication that was occasionally used back then, and that was the telegram. When my grandmother made her flight plans to visit us she sent a telegram because sending an airmail letter would have taken too long. Strangely enough, we also learned that Western Union continued their telegram service until 2006. Speaking of letters, we also learned the use of zip codes was somewhat new in 1967. Although Mom grew up in the house my grandmother was still living in, she didn't even know my grandmother's zip code when she started writing letters. It took her several months to get to the point where she always remembered to include the zip code when addressing the envelope, but she ended up doing it consistently. Not only was it nearly impossible to communicate as quickly as we do now, it was also difficult to get stuff as quickly. We moved to L. A. six years before the first overnight delivery service, Federal Express, began operations. People in 1967 probably didn't see much of a need for overnight deliveries, and they definitely would have been amazed that in the future you could even get same day delivery of some items. During our stay in L. A. we also ran across a few things that seem totally out of place today and have since been changed for the better, often with the prodding of the legal system. The first notable event was the search for an apartment in Los Angeles when my parents found it difficult to find an apartment building that would allow children. This was before the Fair Housing Act of 1968, so that was a perfectly legal practice at the time. The next incident that comes to mind was my encounter with a pay toilet when I was unable to pay. Fortunately pay toilets were banned in most places in the US in the 1970s and are rarely seen today. We learned that car seats were not very common in the late 1960s and certainly were not required by law. On a related note, I don't think any of the letters mentioned seat belts, but seat belts were not even required equipment for all seating positions in passenger cars until 1968, and wearing seat belts wasn't mandated by law until the mid 1980s. For most people it's weird to even think about not wearing a seatbelt today. Another more recent change in the area of child safety was the design of playground equipment. I haven't done any research on that, but the playground equipment I played on in Griffith Park would be viewed as quite archaic and hazardous today. Another item related to health and safety that was mentioned many times during the first half of our stay was the smog. Say what you will about California's environmental regulations, but they seem to have greatly improved the smog situation over the past 50 years. It was really sad reading Mom's description of how the smog affected us. Even if people who were living there got used to it, you know it had to have a negative effect on people's respiratory systems and who knows what else. If you want really bad smog today you can go to some big cities in China. We also learned that the medical guidelines regarding the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy have changed in the past 50 years, since Mom did not abstain early on in her pregnancy. In the world of sports there was a lot going on, although in most cases Mom just mentioned it as an aside, leaving me to do the research to figure out what game she was talking about. (You're welcome.) The most important thing from a historical perspective was the rise of OJ Simpson to national prominence as a junior running back for the USC Trojans. I really wish I could ask my dad what his thoughts were while watching college football's "Game of the Century" between USC and UCLA, especially OJ Simpson's touchdown run that is considered one of college football's best plays ever. The same goes for college basketball's "Game of the Century" between UCLA and The University of Houston two months later, which Mom and Dad both watched intently with friends while I played on the floor with coloring books and dominoes. Finally, since we were so close to Hollywood, it's only natural that the world of entertainment was featured in one way or another in many of the letters and diary entries. Mom and I saw a scene from the 1968 movie "The Party" being filmed, we saw a Shasta root beer commercial being filmed, and we attended tapings of Let's Make a Deal (with Monty Hall) and Art Linkletter's House Party. Our friends the Dirrs appeared on The Newlywed Game with Bob Eubanks, and Mom and I got to see Dean Martin's dressing room, including the toilet, as part of an NBC studio tour. And some television history was mentioned in one of the letters, too. That was the final episode of "The Fugitive" television series, the most watched TV show of all time until the world found out who shot J. R. Ewing 12 years later. In tomorrow's post I'll try to fill in a few gaps and tie up some loose ends.

October 25, 1967: Space for Christmas

Letter postmarked October 25, 1967:

The CCZCC, which set a record of 11 in the last letter, is reset to zero again due to the omission of the zip code on this envelope. Sadness. :-(

For some reason Mom printed this letter instead of writing it in cursive like all the previous letters.

Dear Mother and Mike,

The letter I wrote you Monday hasn't been mailed yet, but I thought I would write again and bring you up to date. As you know from the other letter, I went to Olvera Street on Monday. I tried to buy another, larger turtle for David Wayne and Dave, but they didn't have a bowl large enough to keep one in. I don't know which one of the Davids was more disappointed.

Tuesday I drove to Santa Monica beach to a Penney's store. Here's what I got David Wayne for Christmas: A Johnny Lunar space set (as advertised on TV), a Slap Trap game (also on TV), a circus train, and two pairs of Disneyland pajamas. I had already gotten him a Build-a-Road for his Matchbox cars. Dave has me thoroughly confused - First he says, "Now don't get too much for David Wayne because we'll have to transport everything back to Texas." Then every time he sees a toy on TV or hears David Wayne talk about some toy, he says, "Why don't you get that, too?"

[Since Mom bought all those items on a Tuesday, I wonder if I was with her, and if I was, how did she manage to keep me distracted while she made those purchase? Very impressive.]

[Here's a commercial for the Johnny Astro toy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmLMrMdIy5c. Remember, this was 21 months before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, so toys related to space exploration were quite popular.]

[And here is a link to a web site with tons of information about Johnny Astro: http://www.johnnyastro.com/johnnymain.htm]

[I'll have more to say about Johnny Astro when Christmas rolls around.]

David Wayne showed especial attention to the Tricky Tommy Turtle, but it costs $9 and I think it would be pretty expensive to mail. He also got excited over a Major Matt Mason set (some kind of weird looking contraption that supposedly walks on the moon).

[Here's a commercial for Major Matt Mason from 1966, which pales in comparison to the 1968 commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q98uWOPGEAM]

[Here's a web site with tons of information on the Major Matt Mason toy, including the 1968 commercial with awesome narration, which I have transcribed below: https://vintageactionfigures.com/major-matt-mason-the-man-in-space.html]

Meet Major Matt Mason, Mattel's man in space
And the bravest astronaut yet
He lives on the moon (we may all be there soon)
And he gets around with a jet

Until Sergeant Storm with his red uniform
Major Matt worked all alone
Now together they face the dangers of space
And seek to learn the unknown

The machines that they drive seem almost alive
As they transport the adventurous pair
The new Astro-Trak whips through the black
And Firebolt even goes where

They meet Captain Lazer, his space gear ablaze
With energy stored from the stars
He's a giant, it's true, but a friendly one who
Spent his boyhood on Mars

An exciting place, the world of space
As all the astronauts know
This world is swell, it's made by Mattel
With it, how far can you go?

By the way, remember those beautiful glass figures on Olvera Street? Well, they wrap and mail those for you at one of the stores. I have decided that's what I'm going to get Dave's aunts. If you are interested I could mail some to your friends for you. You can get really nice things for just about any price. I bought David Wayne a grab bag for 39 cents and he got a pretty glass cat that sells for 60 cents. I tried to get him to send the cat to Linda Kay, but he won't part with it.

[Sorry about that, Aunt Linda. If I still had that glass cat I would send it to you.]

You know what David Wayne really wants for Christmas? To see Knucklehead! I wish we were rich and could fly Mike out here for a few days. That would mean more to David Wayne than all the toys in the stores. He really misses Mike.

[Uncle Mike is just twelve years older than me. After Mom got divorced from her first husband she and I lived in a rental house on my grandmother's property in Denton until Mom and Dad got married in 1966, right after I turned four. Since Uncle Mike and I hung out a lot during that time, he was sort of like a big brother to me during my toddler years. I was six years old when he got married, and when he drove away from their wedding reception with everyone waving goodbye I cried because I thought I'd never see him again.]

Dave plays with him a lot at night though and that helps. Last night they played like Dave was a bucking horse. This morning Dave's knees had no skin on them and he was having a little difficulty bending them. Poor Daddy!

[Having played the part of the horse in the bucking bronco game many times myself, I can vouch for the fact that knee protection is essential.]

We got some new neighbors yesterday - in the apartment right above ours. They must wear army boots and I'm sure they must be changing the location of the kitchen, from all the hammering and sawing going on. Unfortunately, they don't have any children for David Wayne to play with.

[Loud neighbors upstairs - every apartment dweller's dream.]

Last week we had a funny thing happen at the apartment. I had gone somewhere that day so I only got to see the last part. A lady in #6 celebrated her 84th birthday. It seems that the owner's wife, Mrs. Lerner (at least 60) and Mrs. Sabo (the manager that you met) went to wish her a happy birthday. These three old ladies spent the entire afternoon gossiping and drinking cocktails. I came just as the party was breaking up and I never got such a laugh in my life. They had really had a _good_ time!

Well, I will close for now. I've already washed the clothes and gone to the post office this morning. Now all that is left for me to do is wash my hair, drive clear across town to that Penney's store you and I went to and get a present for Linda Kay's baby, go to the doctor, have the car washed and waxed, and clean the apartment. I think I'll take a nap instead.

[That sounds just like something I would say today.]

Love,
Linda

P. S. - I'm going to send Wayne a toy for Christmas since he won't have David Wayne's to play with. Don't tell though.

October 12, 1967: Spaghetti trot

Letter postmarked October 12, 1967:

The CCZCC now stands at 8.

Dear Mother and Mike,

How are things in "Little D?" What has Mike done exciting and how is his love life? Any news yet from Wayne or Linda on their baby's arrival? I do hope everything goes alright and that Linda won't be too scared. Mother, you might better send Mike to get the baby bed at the jailhouse pretty soon.

[As most of you know, Big D is Dallas and Little D in this context is Denton. I have no idea what "baby bed at the jailhouse" could possibly mean.]

I haven't been to Farmer's Market yet to get any catalogs. I just don't feel like getting out and fighting the traffic. It's not that I feel sick, just lazy. Last Friday I did take David Wayne to Griffith Park where he rode on the little train ride and a pony ride. At the pony ride the man asked him if he wanted to walk or trot. Of course, the little stinker said trot and he really bounced all around the track. Afterwards, he said he didn't like it (he laughed during the whole ride!) and I said, "Why did you say you wanted to trot?" To which he replied, "I didn't know what 'trot' meant." At least he has the spirit of adventure. We also toured the famous "Travel Town" in Griffith Park. It is located right on the top and must be only a few feet from the sun - that is the hottest place I have been. We did go through a passenger car in a train and many things there were interesting. They have there the oldest circus car in the world. It, evidently, was one for lions and it is just like they show in the movies.

[Regarding the pony ride, that sounds exactly like something I would do, say "yes" to something I was offered without inquiring about what it is. Here's a memorable example from 1985, when I was 22 years old. I was on a two- or three-week business trip to Connecticut with a group of coworkers, and one weekend we drove down to New York City. It was my first visit to The Big Apple. I went to dinner with one of the other guys, and when the waiter took our drink orders I asked for tea. The waiter asked if I wanted Long Island iced tea. Having never heard of Long Island iced tea, but with Long Island being one of the boroughs of New York City and me being in New York City for the first time, I said yes, because, well, when in Rome . . . So my Long Island iced tea comes to the table. For those of you unaware, I've had fewer than 10 beers in my lifetime and have never taken more than a sip of liquor at any one time. Thank goodness I wasn't super thirsty and didn't take a big gulp of that "tea" when it arrived. I could tell on that first sip that it didn't taste like any tea I've ever had before, sweet or unsweetened. I did not need a refill. Q: "Why did you ask for a Long Island iced tea?" A: "I didn't know what it was."]

One reason that I don't feel like going out is the smog. I read in the paper this morning that it lacks only a few numbers (0.44 whatever that means) to be at the danger alert stage which is 0.50. Every morning Dave and I feel like we are coming down with a fresh cold - runny eyes and nose. After that clears up later in the morning, our headaches begin - we call them "smog headaches." I'll describe how bad the smog is - you can't see Griffith Observatory! Remember how you could see it going down that big hill on Normandie? That stuff is poison, you know, and I will really be glad when it gets better.

[Griffith Observatory was a little over three miles due north of our apartment on Normandie.]

[I believe the numbers Mom was mentioning in that paragraph are ozone parts per million (ppm). According to an article I found at ozoneservices dot com, 0.50 is the ozone level at which Los Angeles, California, declares its Smog Alert No. 1. It can cause nausea and headaches in some individuals. Extended exposure could cause lung edema (an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in connective tissue or serous cavity). It enhances the susceptibility to respiratory infections. So I guess it's no wonder Mom and Dad were having issues.]

Last night we ventured out just to have something to do. Really, the reason was because Dave was kinda upset: He was being sweet and helping me drain the spaghetti for supper when the lid slipped and all our supper went down the garbage disposal. I laughed about it, but poor Dave didn't think it was very funny as he had to go to the store and buy more spaghetti (and a strainer, by the way) and wait another 30 minutes for supper.

[I can see Dad being more upset about that incident than Mom was. I bet it was rather funny, though, watching all that spaghetti slide down the drain. Good thinking about buying that strainer.]

Anyway, we left after supper and drove down Sunset Strip - hippie land. I think Dave just wanted to see people who looked sillier than he felt when the slippery spaghetti slipped down the sink. Well, we got lost after turning off the strip and we wound up way on the other side of town. I didn't think we would ever see our apartment again.

[Hello again, hippies. It's been awhile.]

Do you remember the nice little man who came to our apartment building and washed the porch and steps and watered the sidewalk? He's sorta the handyman who comes once a week. I found out from the manager that he is in and out of mental institutions all the time because he sets fires! Boy, do I feel safe now.

[He sounds like an ideal candidate for an apartment complex handyman.]

I guess I will close for now. It is time for my morning nap and then I will eat lunch and take my afternoon nap. On second thought, I may skip the naps today - the handy fire-setter is here today. I'd hate to be burned in my bed!

Love,

Linda

July 21, 1967: No more motels

Diary entry for July 21, 1967:

DW and I took Dave to work then we drove to apt. and unloaded car. We got everything put up and it looks like home now. Dave came home and we went to grocery store. Fairly cheap considering all I bought. I cooked supper and then we just rested and enjoyed spreading out. We went to bed about 10:00 (on twin beds pushed together). Only trouble they weren't same height. DW slept on pallet.

Wasn't I a good little helper? The full address of our apartment was: 215 S. Normandie Avenue, Apt. 2 Los Angeles, CA  90004 That's about midway between Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles, so we were right in the middle of things. It looks like the building is still there based on Google Maps. I don't really recognize it from Google Street View, other than the driveway on the side dipping down from street level with parking underneath the building. I think it was all white when we lived there. Seems like there is quite a bit more security fencing around there, too.

[Edited 8-25-17 to add two pictures and commentary.]

Here is a photo of the front of the apartment building. You can see some of "215" in the upper left corner. The stonework around the stairs appears to still be there as of 2017.

And here is a photo of me standing outside our apartment building on January 7, 1968. This must be the north side of the building. Don't I look stylish in my white button-down shirt, brown pants with wide belt, white socks, and brown sandals or moccasin slippers?

As I recall it was a one bedroom apartment. Walking in the front door there was a kitchen and dining area to the right, and a living room to the left. Straight ahead must have been the bathroom, and I believe a right turn into the bedroom. I think I eventually slept on a cot in what I'm calling the dining area. For those of you unfamiliar with the term "pallet" in this context, it's a makeshift bed (likely some blankets tossed on the floor in this case), not a wooden pallet used for shipping material.

Next up: First weekend in Los Angeles