SAN GABRIEL, CA, 1960

I took this shot back in 2012 at the end of my morning walk east on Las Tunas Drive.  I lived behind this building but it has greater memories for me than a landmark adjacent to my old residence.  My family grew up on Gladys Avenue one block west of this Shakey's.  My dad used to take my brothers and me miniature golfing at the old Aloha Miniature Golf on Las Tunas at Burton.  It's gone, of course, but not gone from memory.  What's regrettable is that the city never, ever, ever takes photos of former buildings to create an homage to its own history.  That's because the city government is not in any way interested in its past.  The government, for the most part, is bitterly protective of its past and will derail most efforts by John Q. Citizen to unearth any details, positive or otherwise.  Governments like it just fine that you forget about the city's history, its people, landmarks, and so forth.  But they will spend a fortune and erect a bronze statue to commemorate anew some Mexican rancher or indigent Indian, someone who has almost no connection to the modern world or civilization, as an homage to the forward-looking values (meaning socialist spending) of its socialist-minded supervisory board.  Across the street from Shakey's, meaning north across the street, was the old Goody's Restaurant where somebody in my family used to enjoy something.  No one talks, so no one knows.  I had breakfast here once with Norma Parker.  Such a wonderful, gracious companion. 

On September 13, 2018, I sent out an email to a few family members: 

Did any of you ever eat at Goody's in San Gabriel?  Enjoy a shake, a malt, a burger, anything?  Did Mom or Dad like the place?  The coffee?  The ambiance?  The service?  Or was the place built AFTER the Walgenbachs moved to Duarte?   

Do you recall the Aloha Miniature Golf Course down the way on Las Tunas Drive about where Burton intersects it?  

Dan replied

Yes, I did eat there with Pa and Lily most likely, as they were the ones that seemed to frequent it as I recall. I don't recall any item worth noting.  

I do remember going to the miniature golf course. It was a popular hangout.

I remember going to the Shamrock roller rink more than any place in San Gabriel.  And, maybe the San Gabriel and Temple City theaters, especially in the summer. 

The problem with Goody's or the miniature golf place was that both cost money of which we did not have an abundance to spend on such frivolous ventures. 

Shamrock Roller Rink was located one building south of Las Tunas on the east side of San Gabriel Blvd., the building directly behind O'Donnell Chevrolet.