Anthony Davis Scored 6 Touchdowns in 1972, Beating the Irish, 45-23. This is the game that my dad remembered while in attendance at the 1974 mauling

I obviously didn't attend this 1972 game, but I did attend the 1974 USC vs. Notre Dame game, where Anthony Davis destroyed the Irish.  

My dad was a diehard Notre Dame fan, but our seats were smack dab in Trojan territory. ND was up 24-6 at half. Coming back from restroom, he says to me "Let's go." I said it's only half time. He says, I know, but Notre Dame is not holding.  Because my dad had tracked ND each year, he was thinking what Anthony Davis did to them in 1972. Two years prior, 1972, Anthony Davis scored 6 touchdowns against Notre Dame, beating the Irish that year by a score of 45-23. As we left the stadium, we heard the roar of Anthony Davis' return to open the second half, like the Romans cheering on the slaughter of the Christians. By the time we reached the car and turned on the radio, another USC touchdown. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6ivTXDWZZw

Van Patrick was Notre Dame's radio announcer.  Here he is in 1971 against USC.  And the 1973 ND game against Purdue.  

Pete Arbogast was the Trojan's radio announcer.  

Bob McAllister of Wonderama, 1955-1977

Bob McAllister, 1935-1998, host of Wonderama, 1955-1977.

I watched this show occasionally.  His voice and diction were interesting, a mixing of kid appeal along with that of high school voice.  The show was Wonderama, hosted by Bob McAllister.  "Kids are people too" in an era when kids were supposed to be seen and not heard.  

Steve Garvey, 1B for Los Angeles Dodgers, 1970-1987

A young Steve Garvey with Gil Hodges. Garvey, then a boy growing up in Tampa, Florida, became the Dodgers’ batboy thanks to his father’s job as a Greyhound bus driver for the team during Spring Training. Steve Garvey served as a batboy for five years (1956–1961), beginning at age seven, during Dodgers Spring Training in Florida. This experience allowed him regular, up-close contact with many of his baseball idols, including Hodges.

I wanted to post this pic of Steve Garvey on the left, and Gil Hodges on the right because my dad was such a Steve Garvey fan, mainly because Garv was a Catholic and a hardworking man and athlete.  Perhaps an even stronger reason for my dad's admiration of Garvey was the fact that Garv is Irish Catholic, "Steve Garvey is Irish-American on his father's side; his father's ancestry is from County Cork, Ireland."

Garv had early signs of talent, drafted by the Twins when he was just 17, "drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Twins in the June 1966 amateur draft at age 17."

Oh, and did I say that he's Catholic? Wealthpeeps answers this question,

he identifies as a devout Roman Catholic.

Throughout his life, Garvey has remained steadfast in his Catholic faith, and his interactions with individuals from diverse religious backgrounds highlight his openness to engage with people of differing beliefs.

He played 3rd base for the Dodgers in 1970 and hit his first home run on July 21, 1970, off Carl Morton of the Montreal Expos. He moved to first base in 1973 after the retirement of Wes Parker. 

View west on the 10, Los Angeles, CA, mid-1960s. Bendix Building at right. [St Joseph's] with tiers, burned in 1980s.

 

1960s, View west on the 10, Los Angeles, CA, ca. mid-1960s.  Thank you to Paul Ayers.  Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2025.

I found this pic posted by Paul Ayers on Tuesday, August 11, 2025, and I wanted to know what the buildings in the background were.  I asked, 

Can anyone name the 3 major buildings in this photo? The one with the 2 towers, the one just off the freeway, and the one at the far right of the photo? Thanks.

Paul replied, 

Bendix Building at right. St Mary’s with tiers, burned in 1980s. Don’t know one at center. 

I thanked him, and then a day later Errip Errense corrects him, saying, 

Actually, it was St. Joseph's, [offering this link].  

The 70s had some great movies and great music. I can't imagine any white band producing a song like The Pusherman, 1972, though maybe the producers and distributors actually were white. When I hear this song, I think what a great cultural service it is to all young men to warn them of drug pushers in your neighborhood and midst. Growing up, I had a good friend who was on something, and he told me to never try it. I didn't need to be told. Drugs scared me.

1967, Many songs explore the theme of LSD, including "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles, 1967, on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

1966, "Alice D. Millionaire" by The Grateful Dead, 1966.

"Girl on LSD" by Tom Petty,

1967, "White Rabbit," Jefferson Airplane, 1967. Although mushrooms are mentioned in this song, I don't think this song glorifies a drug-addled experience. To the contrary, the end of the song, the final lyrics read, "Feed your head / Feed your head," which sounds to me like extremely solid advice for kids growing up in the crazy times of 1960s.

1971, "Sweet Leaf," Black Sabbath. Doesn't take a terrific imagination to figure out what this song is about. But I suppose it appealed to a lot of former conservative teenagers who were looking to be part of the counter revolution.

1972, The Needle and the Damage Done, Neil Young. About heroin.

Cocaine, Eric Clapton

Los Angeles County, Post-War Boom, 1946-1962

1953, Hollywood Freeway over the Four-Level Interchange, or "The Stack". Courtesy of the California Dept. of Transportation.  Thank you to Los Angeles County Post-War Boom, 1946-1962.  

Gunfire. Commandos. Hostages. All components of a January 4th Siege on City Hall, staged by the War Department in 1944.

Shots of Chinatown come in at the 1:24 mark.

California Internment of Japanese began in 1942 and ended in 1944, 

On December 18, 1944, the Supreme Court handed down two decisions on the legality of the incarceration under Executive Order 9066. Korematsu v. United States, a 6–3 decision upholding a Nisei's conviction for violating the military exclusion order, stated that, in general, the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast was constitutional. However, Ex parte Endo unanimously declared on that same day that loyal citizens of the United States, regardless of cultural descent, could not be detained without cause.^[227][228] In effect, the two rulings held that, while the eviction of American citizens in the name of military necessity was legal, the subsequent incarceration was not—thus paving the way for their release.

1944, Hostage situation at the City Hall.  

Mazzy Star, "Fade Into You", 1993

Sunset Boulevard at N. Hill Place, 1925

1925, Sunset Boulevard at Hill Place. A building advertising Coca-Cola at front and side, stands on top of a hill. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection)  Thank you to LAPL.  

View of the Pontoon Bridge between Terminal Island and San Pedro, 1958

1958, View of the Pontoon Bridge between Terminal Island and San Pedro.  It was built in 1943 and was supposed to be temporary.  It lasted nearly 25 years.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.  

San Gabriel Riverbed, Duarte, 2022

San Gabriel Riverbed, Azusa

Duran Duran's 1992, "Ordinary World," Consequential, Momentous, perhaps Portentous?

 

"Ordinary World," 1992, Duran Duran.  It's funny that when I hear this song, I am not reminded of 1992, but instead I am cast back all the way to 1982 when I was 25-years-old and working for United Parcel Service, 1979-1986.  Age had little meaning to me, only health.  As long as I was healthy to do the work at UPS, I was good.  

This song among many captures for me the age when I was 25 in 1982 when I realized the momentous and consequential, I wanted to say portentous, feeling of that age and the ill-formed visions that were cobbled where, whatever I chose, I knew that I would be on my own.  It was the feeling of being dispossessed of skills or training, everything except money, except youth, that here was I was poised to embark on a life with no support, no skills, no direction.   And that I would be the one who would bear all the responsibility for my failures that would mercilessly be pinned on me, and others would delight in it.  That no wife, friend, ally, partner, family member would aid me or bail me out of bad situations.

"Things Have Gone to Pieces," George Jones, 1965

1965, "Things Have Gone to Pieces," George Jones, 1965.

Lyrics thanks to ZA Lyrics.

"Things Have Gone To Pieces"

Oh, the faucet started

Drippin' in the kitchen

And last night your picture

Fell down from the wall

Today the boss said "Sorry,

I can't use you anymore."

And tonight the light bulb

Went Out in the hall

[Chorus:]

Things have gone to pieces since you left me

Nothing turns out half-right now it seems

There ain't nothing in my pocket,

But three nickels and a dime

But I'm holding to the pieces of my dream

Somebody threw a baseball

Through my window

And the arm fell off

My fav'rite chair, again

The man called me today and said,

"He'd haul my things away

If I didn't get my payments made by ten."

[Chorus:]

Things have gone to pieces since you left me

Nothing turns out half-right now it seems

There ain't nothing in my pocket,

But three nickels and a dime

But I'm holding to the pieces of my dream...

Carpenter Bill Crawford works on the framing of Dairy Valley’s in Cerritos new Richard Gahr High School, 1964

1964, Carpenter Bill Crawford works on the framing of Dairy Valley’s (Cerritos) new Richard Gahr High School at 11111 Artesia Blvd. between Studebaker and Gridley roads, 1964.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.  

Frontierland's Golden Horseshoe, Disneyland, CA, 7/18/1955.

1955, Opening day at Frontierland's Golden Horseshoe, Disneyland, CA, 7/18/1955.  Thank you to Anika Tabbasum.  Was here one year with Dad, Joe, and Marilyn D.  

Jack Dempsey Boxing in Santa Monica, 1920s. Dad would have loved this

1920s, Jack Dempsey boxing for a fund raiser in a ring outside the Gables Beach Club, Santa Monica, CA, 1920s.  Thank you to Bruce Dunseth.

APM Terminals, Los Angeles, March 2025

APM Terminals, Los Angeles.  

Striking Workers picket in front of Pabst Brewing Co. plant at 1920 North Main Street, 1954

1954, A lone picket parades across the entrance of the Pabst Brewing Co. plant at 1920 North Main street as workers went on a strike in wage dispute. More than 1100 men were idled when picket lines were set up around this brewery and another in Van Nuys by AFL International Union of Operating Engineers. The brewery, located at 1920-2026 N. Main Street, was designed by architect John C. Austin and built between 1898 and 1908. The facility was originally occupied by the Los Angeles Brewing Co., then by Eastside Brewery, and lastly Pabst Brewing Company. (Herald Examiner Collection).  Thank you to LAPL.  

John's Birthday

Dad loved to do little extras for people's birthdays.  Pretty great to have examples of his work even at this late a date.  This was probably 1985.

101, Ventura

 It's funny how much I think of my dad as drive 101 from Ventura to Monterey under the sun and occasional canopy of eucalyptus and cedars.  He used to take me, Tom, and Joe to Solvang for a pancake breakfast (I often got pigs in a blanket), air hockey they had in the motel Rec Room, and he'd always make a stop at Santa Inez Mission.  One year I bought a triptych and a tiny plaque of St. Michael driving Satan into Hell.  He loved stopping at Catholic churches in every new city he'd visit. I drove him to Monterey in 1985, three years before he passed, and he loved it and I loved the exclusive hours with him.  A great memory from that trip was him unscrewing the cup of a thermos and pouring me a cup of hot coffee that infused the car as I'm driving my green 1980 VW bug on the 101 at 5am outside of Thousand Oaks.

215 N. Hill Street, Burt Lancaster's Home in the 1949 movie, Criss Cross

1953, Panoramic view of the city west of downtown Los Angeles on a clear day (1953).  Thank you to Los Angeles History.

Panoramic shot, the city of Los Angeles is visible stretching west from downtown, bathed in sunlight on a clear day. The view captures the expansive nature of Los Angeles, where the skyline begins to emerge against the backdrop of the surrounding hills and valleys. During this time, the city was rapidly developing, with residential and commercial areas expanding beyond the city center. The clarity of the skies and the bustling streets highlight the optimism and promise of the post-war era. This image offers a rare opportunity to see Los Angeles before the density of the modern metropolis fully took shape.

Jim Dawson points out, 

The single two-story house halfway up the photo, toward the left side, was 215 N. Hill Street, just above the northern termini of the Hill Street tunnels. It was Burt Lancaster's house in the 1949 film noir, Criss Cross. Here's a close-up shot:

Flying Wing planes at the Northrop plant in Hawthorne, 1949.

1949, Flying Wing planes at the Northrop plant in Hawthorne, 1949.  Thank you to Lynn Thompson. 

MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, 1957

7th & Hope Streets, Los Angeles, 1933

1933, 7th and Hope Streets, Los Angeles (1933).  Thank you to Historical Los Angeles USA.

In 1933, the intersection of 7th and Hope Streets offered a glimpse into a bustling downtown Los Angeles. Streetcars and automobiles competed for space while pedestrians filled the sidewalks, heading into offices, shops, and cafes. This corner was part of a growing financial and retail hub, where Art Deco architecture rose alongside older brick buildings. The Great Depression was still gripping the nation, but the city’s rhythm carried on with resilience. Downtown LA in the early '30s was a mix of commerce, ambition, and changing times.

1940, Union Oil Building, 7th and Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA.  Thank you to Getty Images. 

Zachary All, 1983

from Wikipedia, 

Edward G. Nalbandian (December 29, 1927, Belmont, Massachusetts – February 22, 2006, Los Angeles) was the owner of Zachary All Clothing in Los Angeles, a store he opened in the 1950s at 8700 W. Pico Boulevard in the Pico-Robertson District, then moved to 5467 Wilshire Boulevard (just west of La Brea Avenue) in the Miracle Mile shopping district.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Nalbandian became a minor celebrity, making frequent appearances in (often live-streamed) commercials for his store and even on talk shows such as The Tom Duggan Show. In most of these commercials he would repeat variations on statements such as "Come on down to 5-4-6-7 Wilshire Boulevard" and that the suits at his store came in "cadet, extra short, regular, long, extra long and portlies". In one commercial, Nalbandian said of his low prices, "My friends all ask me, 'Eddie, are you kidding?' And I tell them no, my friend, I am not kidding." This inspired the Frank Zappa song Eddie, Are You Kidding? from the album Just Another Band from L.A. (1972), as well as Mark Volman's monologue to the audience in the track Once Upon a Time from the album You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 (1988).