I don't think there are too many people who grew up around here in the 60's or 70's that didn't cruise Whittier Blvd at least once, on either the low-rider side in East L.A. or the hot-rod side in Whittier.

Did you go to Monte Vista Jim?

 

Cool thread

 

Drew? Good to see you, it's been years!

 

Steve.. How are you?

 

Doin' OK. You still have Black Chrome?

 

I cruised the hot rod side in Whittier, I went to Sierra HS, on Painter, across from the DMV.

Jim

 

Ah, OK...Monte Vista is the other one that closed, down on Telegraph Rd & Colima. I think it's some kind of LASD facility.

 

Still have him.

 

Yeah, Monte Vista is a Sheriff facility now, that school was actually closer to my house, but I never went there. Did my 4 years at Sierra.

Jim

 

Recognize this?

 

Olympic Auditorium?

 

Here's another shot of it. This place should have been saved. It would've made a perfect "Rock N Roll" Museum.

 

Olympic Auditorium extant, but it's no longer known by this name. Was purchased by a Korean church, who painted out the murals of the boxers.

 

This is the legendary El Monte Legion Stadium in El Monte, California. Photographed here in the early 1970s, just before it was razed. In the late '50s and up through the '60s it was the venue for Art Laboe's dances and shows. Top west coast performers and groups were featured. In the days preceding a show local radio would feature loud commercials trumpeting the event. "Hello, I'm Art Laboe" was the usual intro, followed by a recitation of the featured performers. Near the end listeners were admonished to "Be there, or be square". And finally there was this warning: "And remember, no khakis or capris please", a not so subtle reminder that gang attire was frowned on. This last bit was perfectly understandable as one has only to look at this picture to realize that EMLS was a really classy place!

 

You left out one thing from the radio ad:

"Old boyfriends will be there,
old girlfriends will be there,
you be there, too!"

That was followed by the line:
"Be there or be square".

And I remember it as:
"No Levis or Capris, Please"!

Days gone by, just a haze......

Pop