Demolition of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Building located at 1151 S. Broadway, 1968

What is this, Demolition Thursday?

JOHN GARZA: In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in Egypt. That discovery fascinated the entire world. Hollywood went all in on Egyptian themes.

In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in Egypt. That discovery fascinated the entire world. It happened right around the time the motion picture industry was becoming the biggest form of entertainment alongside radio.

Hollywood went all in on Egyptian themes. From Rudolph Valentino to Cleopatra to The Mummy, Egyptian-inspired movies were everywhere. It became one of the biggest cultural trends of the era because of that discovery.  --John Garza

John Garza took a minute to clear things up. 

Shut up with the whole “Islamic architecture” BS. Always trying to make everything into a race issue. The people who do this stuff are the true racists. Because everything in their mentality revolves around race and religion. And the people who are so shocked by that, are the people who just see other people as just ordinary human being. Not by labels and segregation into type.

I’m five generations from Los Angeles. My great grandfather was a builder. Built many of these structures, you are talking about in this post.

So let me tell you how the Gothic look became popular in Los Angeles.

In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in Egypt. That discovery fascinated the entire world. It happened right around the time the motion picture industry was becoming the biggest form of entertainment alongside radio.

Hollywood went all in on Egyptian themes. From Rudolph Valentino to Cleopatra to The Mummy, Egyptian-inspired movies were everywhere. It became one of the biggest cultural trends of the era because of that discovery.

From there, the influence spread into fashion. The flapper look emerged, shaped partly by the women’s liberation movement and partly by the fascination with ancient Egyptian styles. Women started cutting their hair into the short bob that became iconic. Women started painting their faces like the statues in the ancient pyramids along with the Jewels of the Goth look of the flapper movement. Los Angeles also embraced Egyptian Revival architecture, along with other Mediterranean-inspired styles, and buildings reflecting those influences started appearing throughout the city.

It had nothing to do with Islam. I can’t stand this new generation trying to make everything about race or religion, or immediately jumping to “Islamophobia.” This was simply a fashion trend, like every generation has. Trends come and go, and they’re often inspired by history and archaeology. In this case, the influence came from the discovery of the ancient Egyptian tombs—not from Islam. Also a lot of other architecture was also influenced by the Spanish mission buildings of California that have been here since the 1700s. That whole Mediterranean Spanish look that was so famous during the Spanish era of California… was also a very great influence in the architecture of Los Angeles Angeles during the 1920s. That is why many of the old palace style movie theaters in Los Angeles look like Egypt Egyptian tombs inside. Some of these theaters are spectacular.

I could tell you all about LA and it’s true history, my friends. My family’s been here in Los Angeles since the 1880s. That’s just my mom’s family. My father’s family has been here in California for hundreds of years since it was the Spanish colonies. When my family migrated to Los Angeles in 1887 there was nothing here but dirt fields and farms all the way to the horizon. My great grandfather became a builder. My family friends and neighbors watched Los Angeles literally rise up from the ground. And I knew all of those people.

I could teach you about Los Angeles history, my friends. Not this BS that these bougie LA wannabe like to post. THE POSTCARD VERSION OF LA.

I mean… Los Angeles was established as a city in 1781. When it was still New Spain. Hollywood didn’t even come into the picture until the late 1920s. The Hollywood sign was just a Real Estate sign. It wasn’t associated with the movies until the late 1920s early 30s. After the Real Estate was all sold off, the sign was just left to rot. By the late 1920s, everybody was calling it, Hollywood. The European settlers started settling in California during the 1600s. Not exactly your bougie postcard version of LA.

I don’t look any of this stuff up. I speak from the point of view of somebody who is fifth generation BORN in Los Angeles. 

My number one reason for being so corrective in my posts when it comes to any history, I know. Because we are in an information war. History is getting rewritten through technology. Bounce it around the echo chamber enough times, and history gets rewritten. To me it is very important to keep the facts to our history. That is my only reason for all of the comments I make on every historic page.

I am also the author of Pacific Red Car.

Demolition of Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, begins, 1957

[1957] Demolition of the Bunker Hill structure known as "Melrose Hotel" located at 138 South Grand Avenue. Built in 1881, it was a Victorian mansion with overlapping shingles, cupolas, and domes, and eventually became a hotel apartment. When built, the hotel proper was attached to the mansion which became its annex. (Peter Antheil - Security Pacific National Bank Collection)

[undated] A corner view from across the street on Bunker Hill of two Victorian style hotels on the 100 block of S. Grand Ave., the Richelieu (at 142) on the corner and the Hotel Melrose (at 130) to its left. (Los Angeles Public Library Legacy Collection)

[2024] Google Maps

Memories of El Monte, 1910-1978

“Memories of El Monte”

So, I’ve been re-listening to a lot of my old Zappa albums recently. I think I have 40 of the canonical 62, plus some of the posthumous compilations, so it’s a lot. For the most part, I’ve spared the more normal amongst you from my deep love for his weirdness, but his song “Memories of El Monte” has now been stuck in my head for days, so I’ve put together a collection of historic shots of El Monte (and South El Monte) to pair it with.

Frank was just 22 when he co-wrote the song with Ray Collins for The Penguins in 1963, and it was a favorite of Art Laboe, who would frequently play it on his show, but I’m using the more recently-released version of Frank performing it at The Whisky with The Mothers in 1968.

-

Photos:

1. The El Monte Drive-In, taken by Elisa Leonelli 1978

2. El Monte’s famous Legion Stadium, open from 1927 to 1974, when it was torn down.

3. Simon’s Drive-In, El Monte location, 1940s

4. A young woman at Gay’s Lion Farm, late 1920s

5. El Monte Theatre on Main, 1948

6. Main Street near Center,, ca. 1952

7. Clyde Beatty’s circus comes to town, 1950

8. “Moooo!!!” ca. 1952

9. Tumbleweed Theatre, 1939 - was at 11918 Garvey

10. El Monte Union High School, 1910

11. Unspecified neighborhood in El Monte, 1952

12. Postcard view of Crawford’s Village Store, 1950s

13. Flooding on Foothill near Valley, 1952

14. Starlite Drive-In, taken by Leonelli in 1978

15. Microtech Plant, taken by Julius Shulman in 1960. Was at 1201 N. Arden Dr. - address no longer exists.

16. Pitkin Bros. Richfield Station, 1936, taken by Shulman

17. El Monte Airport (now San Gabriel Airport), 1971

18. 700 tons of scrap tire stock at the Pacific R&H Chemical Corporation, looks 1920s.

19. P&J Motors on Garvey, taken 1977 by John Margolies

20. An RTD bus cruises past rush hour on the 10

—

Claremont Colleges - 1,14

Pasadena Star News - 2

Huntington - 3

LAPL - 4,7,17

LA Theatres Blog - 5

USC - 6,8,11,13,19

UCLA - 9,20

CA State Library - 10

Crawford’s Blog - 12

Getty - 15,16

Library of Congress - 18

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbZTYosDw8_/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Will never forget the kids and adults from the old Duarte neighborhood, kids like Sean Moore, Kevin Moore, Eriq Bergquist, Keith Larsen, Lenny and Kenny Baca, Randy Reagan, Kevin Williams from Duarte with whom I ran Cross Country, Stuart Greene who was a great friend to me after high school.  He'd invite me out to shoot pool locally.  He was very good.  He even invited me to work a few days with him on a construction site.  I didn't have the knack like he did.  He did everything with excellence from construction to shooting pool to throwing an insane curveball.  His brother, Marc, was a fierce competitor in Cross Country.  Not sure if Marc participated in any other sports.  

But I learned this morning that Cecil Tom Moore, Sean's father, died the same year as Kevin, 2011.  Tom passed in July, 2011, whereas Kevin passed in May, probably leaving his siblings, mom and dad inconsolable.  

Kevin Moore, 1957-2011.

I met Debbie at Tom's funeral, and distraught myself over what to say, flubbed some awkward condolence.  Hugs generally help but maybe not in this case.  

"Pancho & Lefty," 1983

"Pancho met his match, you know 

On the deserts down in Mexico"

"Pancho & Lefty," 1983.  

Living on the road my friend
Is gonna keep you free and clean
Now you wear your skin like iron
Your breath as hard as kerosene
You weren't your mama's only boy
But her favorite one, it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
And sank into your dreams

Pancho was a bandit, boys
His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel
Pancho met his match, you know
On the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dying words
Ah, but that's the way it goes

An all the federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him hang around
Out of kindness, I suppose

Lefty, he can't sing the blues
All night long like he used to
The dust that Pancho bit down south
Ended up in lefty's mouth
The day they laid poor Pancho low
Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go
There ain't nobody knows

An all the federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him slip away
Out of kindness, I suppose

The poets tell how Pancho fell
And Lefty's living in cheap hotels
The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold
So the story ends, we're told
Pancho needs your prayers, it's true
Save a few for Lefty too
He just did what he had to do
And now he's growing old

A few great federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him go so long
Out of kindness, I suppose

A few great federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him go so long
Out of kindness, I suppose

Jason Williams played streetball in the NBA, 1998-2011.

Maybe the most entertaining point guard to ever watch.

He play streetball in the NBA #jasonwilliams #NBA #basketball #tiktokcam... https://t.co/0KQAQfSspo via @YouTube

— Mike Walgenbach (@Walgenbach82743) July 6, 2026

Jason Williams, born 1975.   

"How Soon Is Now?" 1984

Heard this song, "How Soon Is Now?", 1984, in a Starbucks this afternoon.  Reminded me of the early 80s.  Here are the lyrics.  The Smiths are terrific and so is the great Morrissey.

 

I probably heard the remastered version since the song went on forever, meaning 7 minutes.

Huffy Bicycles Factory, Foothill Blvd., Azusa, 1962

This was interesting.  Now if I could only find the location and the name of that bike shop in Baldwin Park on south Ramona.  

Thank you to Jerry Tuckness @ Azusa Buzz.  I don't recall ever stepping foot into the factory.  I am sure that I drove past it more than a dozen times. 

Glendora used to be home to many military academies . . .

The pictures below depict Harding Military Academy......they closed their doors in 1972......due to a major drop in enrollment..........

"Glendora used to be home to many military academies, which have since been converted into either churches or private school facilities. These academies included Brown Military Academy, now St. Lucy's Priory High School and Church of the Open Door on Sierra Madre, and Harding Military Academy, whose property is now home to North Glendora Private, a prestigious private community adjacent to Easly Canyon atop Glendora Avenue." Per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendora,_California

The pictures below depict Harding Military Academy......they closed their doors in 1972......due to a major drop in enrollment..........

Supertramp's "Dreamer," 1974 and 1990.

Back in the late 1970s, early 1980s, Supertramp was for me such a fresh sound on the music scene followed by Alan Parsons Band, Jethro Tull, Styx, But this 1974 song, "Dreamer," is not so optimistic, dreamy, or hopeful but rather an indictment against unproductive minds. 

When "Dreamer" had been released in 1974, its B-side "Bloody Well Right" was more popular in North America. 

Decent analysis of the lyrics.  

The lyrics.  The lyrics sound more like a mom or dad scolding a child who is lost. 

Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well, can you put your hands in your head? Oh no
I said, "Dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer"
Well, can you put your hands in your head? Oh no

I said, "Far out, what a day, a year, a life it is"
You know, well you know you had it comin' to you
Now there's not a lot I can do

Dreamer, you stupid little dreamer
So now you put your head in your hands, oh no

I said, "Far out, what a day, a year, a life this is"
You know, well you know you had it comin' to you
Now there's not a lot I can do

If I could see something
You can see anything you want, boy
If I could be someone
You can be anyone, celebrate, boy

Well, if I can do something
You can do something
If I could do anything
But can you do something out of this world?

Take a dream on a Sunday
Take a life, take a holiday
Take a lie, take a dreamer
Dream (dream), dream (dream)
Dream (dream), deam (dream) along

Dreamer, dream, dream along
C'mon and dream and dream along
C'mon and dream and dream along
C'mon and dream and dream along

Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Can you put your hands in your head? Oh no
I said dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer
Can you put your hands in your head? Oh no, oh no.

"My Mother Says I Have Irish Eyes"

pic.twitter.com/jCdhIrdpt2

— The Center for Anti-White Studies. (CAWS.) (@TheWPCenter) June 16, 2026

I don’t listen to modern music anymore because instead of giving us talented and beautiful artists like this who sing wholesome songs to lift the people up they force lady Gaga on us with degenerate songs filled with pornographic demons.

Does anyone know who this is?? pic.twitter.com/jy4KVuMGUK

— Leonarda Jonie (@Leonardaisfunny) April 12, 2026

The gal above is Isabel Dumma.

"The Story Behind an Iconic Troubles' Photo," Dieter Reinisch, Wednesday, 21 Sep 2022. 

LA TIMES BUILDING: Looking east on First Street in downtown Los Angeles, 1940s

1940s.  Looking east on First Street in downtown Los Angeles, 1940s (Photo: Martin Turnbull).  Thanks to John Nelson.

Wikiwand says, "Los Angeles Times Building (1935–2018), street address 202 W. First Street, original structure on the southwest corner of 1st and Spring . . . ."  But that don't look like the "southwest corner."  It looks like the southeast corner of Broadway to me.

1985, Game 3 National Playoffs @ the Forum, Lakers vs. Celtics. Lakers were even, 1-1, coming back to LA for Game 3.

I post this, one, because I liked Larry Bird, thought he had talent, but when you're watching players play in your era you kind of take them for granted unless they earn a name and accolades for themselves the way Bird did, the way Kareem did, the way Jamaal Wilkes did, the way Magic Johnson did, and the way that Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlin, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Earl Monroe, James Worthy, Doctor Julius Erving did.  I especially liked Norm Nixon of the early 80s and late 70s.  Such a great field commander as point guard.  The Lakers and Celtic went at it in 3 consecutive championship playoffs.  

The younger generation never got to see Larry Bird move like this.. pic.twitter.com/rfV2qTXTpT

— Larry Legend☘️ (@LarryBirdDaily) June 4, 2026

The Lakers and Celtic went at it in 2 consecutive championship playoffs, 1984, 1985, 

The 1983 NBA playoffs ended with the Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–0 in the NBA Finals, with Moses Malone named Finals MVP. The 1984 NBA playoffs concluded with the Boston Celtics defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–3 in the NBA Finals, with Larry Bird named Finals MVP. The 1985 NBA playoffs ended with the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Boston Celtics 4–2 in the NBA Finals.

In 1982, the Lakers went to battle against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Magic Johnson was named Finals MVP in 1982 when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 4–2.

But for the 1985 series, I went to Game 3 at the Forum in the Lakers vs. Celtics. It was magical. I was invited to the game by a UPS coworker, Rick, who lived in Diamond Bar, lived in a nice townhome with his wife. It's odd. I recall one time during that season, he invited me over to his house to watch a Laker game, drink a few beer, and snack on chips and dip. I said, sure, I'll join you. It was fun. Just the two of us. Not much conversation, but we were both avid Laker, Magic, Kareen, and Worthy fans that we couldn't have been happier watching the game with a coworker. It was a few weeks later that Rick asked me to a playoff game at the Forum, Game 3. Hard to say no to that, so I went. It was a thrill of a lifetime. The Forum crowd was absolutely nuts. Lakers won and took a 2-1 lead in the championship. But a few months later, I was gathering my things in the lockers at UPS, and I saw two plain clothes detectives come in and handcuff Rick, and they took him away. Apparently, he was selling cocaine.

"Everywhere" by Fleetwood Mac, sung by Christine McVie, 1987

"Everywhere" by Fleetwood Mac, sung by Christine McVie

Banning Street in the industrial section near downtown Los Angeles, 1980.

1980, Banning Street in the industrial section near downtown Los Angeles. (William Reagh Collection).  Thank you to LAPL.

The Carpenters, "Yesterday Once More," 1973

"Yesterday Once More," 1973.  "Only Yesterday," 1975, another Carpenters' song.  The Beatles' "Yesterday" was released in 1965.  Too many songs about yesterday to get people to give up the present and the future and wallow in the past. 

This is a mildly painful song because it reminds me of my Dad who loved the Carpenters' voices, TV performances, and melodies.  When I hear them today, I love them, and in 1973 they remind me of my growing pains.  I was in my purposeless junior year of high school.  And my Dad was readying for retirement.  So as to careers, skills, and social reputation, he wanted nothing of it anymore, and he thoroughly enjoyed retirement, traveling with friends and family to Colorado, to Palm Springs, to Arizona, to Chicago and Indiana to see in person and live a Notre Dame vs. USC game.  O, and he maintained Frank and Marilyn's home in Glendale, cleaning their pool, vacuuming, dusting, and keeping the kitchen clean.  

For me, goals would have helped a lot instead of just letting time drift and waiting for others to pick me up.

Patti Smith, "Because the Night," 1978

Wow, seeing this I've performance makes me like Patti Smith a lot.  The song was written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith and was released in '77 and placed on her 1978 album.

Patti Smith - Because the Night (1978) pic.twitter.com/tFU049yf6M

— 🎼🌺Music Love♥️ (@ThoNg676733) May 19, 2026

Her song, "People Have the Power," from her 1988 album, Dream of Life, is pretty good.  Not great.  Maybe too melodic and not enough bite.  

Her better work comes when she goes full grunge or Lou Reed with a feminine twist, like her 1979 "Dancing Barefoot."

"Smell of Teen Spirit," released on April 17, 2007 as part of her album Twelve).  Patti Smith’s version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” often searched as “Smell of Teen Spirit” is a cover track on her 2007 album Twelve.

The Boys from Baldwin Park, 1980-1983

Well, I was in Azusa this morning getting a cup of coffee with the McDonald's at Azusa Avenue and Cypress and I was thinking of a memory, was thinking of the guys from UPS in Baldwin Park.  Two guys I worked with at night there were Dave Grinnell, Marty [can't think of his last name], and Roy Becerra.  These guys were friendly enough to host weekend parties.  Dave enjoyed drinking.  I attended one of his parties where instead of serving Coke & Rum, Dave served Meyers's Rum & Dr. Pepper.  Dee-licious.  There was another guy I liked too.  These guys could drink.  One buddy downed too many Long Island iced teas one night up at the bar at the City of Industry.  But the main guys were Roy, Marty, and Dave.  Roy used to invite us over to his place in City Terrace off of City Terrace Drive.  He's the one who introduced me to El Tepeyac's monster plates in East LA.  Afterwards, we'd go to his house on Evergreen, smoke a little pot, listen to music.  Someone gifted him with a pitbull puppy, a little "pitty."  Roy was a great guy, generous and kind.  He had good taste in music.  He liked Santana, of course, but he liked Rickie Lee Jones, too, so he enjoyed listening to her 1979 song "Chucky E's in Love." 

Roy was also enamored by Stevie Nicks. "Landslide" is from Fleetwood Mac's 1975 album, so I am sure that Roy may have been referring to it or another song on that album.  

Their 1977 album, Rumours, contained the terrific hit, "Go Your Own Way," released in 1976 before compilation on the album.  

The other song I remember falling in love with back in those days was The Clash's 1980 song "Charlie Don't Surf" from their Sandanista! [Nicaraguan communists] album.  "Charlie don't surf" is a line from the 1979 Apocalypse Now movie, starring Martin Sheen, Robert Duval, and Marlon Brando. 

With Dave Grinnell also, he had a bad back and he used to ask me like at least once or twice a night to crack his back for him, which meant that I had to lift him up off the ground.  He'd present his back to me, and I'd rap my arms around him and he'd hold his arms to his side and I'd lift him up, and you could hear the crack and his spine kind of falling into some alignment.  When I first met Dave, he was a sorter at the foot of the ramp, which was like 5 to 6 feet above me. And he'd insult me to get my attention.  I ignored him long enough before I started calling him gay and fagot.    That's how we got to know each other.  The 4 of us had fun because at least once a week, sometimes twice a week, we'd either go eat at Manny's in East LA, with a pitcher of beer, of course, and then maybe golfing at a 3-par.  One summer morning, we drove up Highway 39 in Azusa to go swimming in West Fork River.  And I recall that we saw one a snake swimming at the surface of the water.  Nature is always fun to observe.  So that was cool.  And, of course, we brought beer with us.  Marty was the biggest drinker in the group.  He was unfazed by alcohol.  Marty and Dave were the big drinkers. Roy not so much, and me even less.  I was a lightweight.

Ken Hathaway who I went skiing with at Wrightwood one Sunday.  He bought peppermint schnapps, carried it in one of those deerskin wine bags.  He was a good skier too, so we had fun doing that.  And we skied all night from 9pm to midnight, then drove to Baldwin Park to start our graveyard shift  at 1 am. 

Who else was there?  Mark Peterson.  He asked me if he could get a job at UPS, so I gave him the contact's name, I think Danny Macias. Danny did ask me if Mark was reliable, and I said yes.  I remember that Mark worked at Toys R Us in Rosemead right off the 10 Freeway.  To say "I got Mark Peterson a job" might be overstating it.  I vouched for him.  I don't know that "I got him a job," but I told him who to get in touch with.  This must have been 1983 because I wasn't around at Baldwin Park long enough because in April 1983, I was assigned a driving position im the Beverly Hills Hub at the Olympic Warehouse where I would later meet and reconnect with John Simpson, and get to know my supervisor Bruce, a light-skinned black man from Diamond Bar who loved playing basketball and invited me because I was tall.  

Mark and I were buddies at one time.  We spent a weekend in Santa Barbara once, slept in in back of my truck