Toluca Lake, CA. Then and Now
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- The Map used in this video was created by the Los Angeles Times. The map is: Toluca Lake boundaries as drawn by the Los Angeles Times.
To see a photo of Bela Lugosi in front of his then home, go to:
belalugosi.com...
and scroll down about a page.
Since I lived in a house once owned by Bela Lugosi, I thought of making a video about him. The video could have included material about the 1931 movie Dracula, Maila Numri, Ed Wood, Plan 9 From Outer Space... But the idea never gained momentum.
To see a photo of ground breaking for Universal Star Market, go to:
calisphere.org...
(Steve and his father, Louie Golden, are in the photo.)
At Rio Vista elementary school, in 1970, part of an episode of Adam-12 was filmed there. The episode was "Log 55 Missing Girl." It starred a 7 -year-old Jodie Foster.
Sally Baker of the Hobo Kelly show lived in a house on the east side Denny Ave., between Whipple St. and Valley Spring Lane. This was in the mid- to late 1960s. (It was one of three small houses mid-block. I can't remember which one, but I'm pretty sure it was either the most northerly one or the middle one.)
The Far East Terrace restaurant was located at 4223 Lankershim Blvd. They moved to this location from their original location, about a block to the north. I last ate there in 1984. Cliff Robertson was having dinner there that night, so my guess is that he lived in Toluca Lake. The restaurant does not exist anymore. To see it, go to:
www.facebook.c...
If you want to see a 1959 video on taking a drive through Toluca Lake go here: • Driving from Burbank t...
At 1:27 you can see the International House of Pancakes; at 1:39 the Kings Arms; at 2:05 Patys. (At 2:15 the video loses sound.)
Marie Callender's restaurant was located at 10050 W. Riverside Dr. Toluca Lake. The restaurant closed its doors on January 2, 2012. In its place now is Chase Bank. I remember going to dinner there in 1978. Larry Wilcox was picking up a to-go order, so I guess he lived nearby. I remember he wore Indian moccasins that came up to just below the knee. CHiPs ran for six seasons beginning in 1977. If I recall correctly, Larry Wilcox was supposed to be the star of the series, but Eric Estrada stole the show.
The International House of Pancakes was founded in 1958 by Jerry Lapin and his brother Al Lapin, Jr. The first restaurant opened on July 7, 1958, in Toluca Lake, California. The restaurant was right across from Bob's (across Rose St.) This restaurant closed in the 1990s. Here's a photo of the restaurant:
/ 449117381212769
The Hot Dog Show was a restaurant in Toluca Lake, kitty-corner to Bob's big Boy. It opened in 1949 (the same years as Bob's), and closed in 2011. The Veggiegrill now occupies the site. Here are some photos of The Hot Dog Show:
ellenbloom.blo...
Ernie's Taco House in North Hollywood opened on June 17, 1952. Other sources confirm this, including The Museum of the San Fernando Valley , but I've seen one reference to the restaurant opening in 1946. When Ernest U. Cruz purchased the property to open the North Hollywood Ernie's there was apparently a Mexican restaurant already there; see comments:
museumsanferna...
From the 1950s and -60s: Topo Gigio:
• Topo Gigio on The Ed S...
Alvin and the Chipmunks:
• Alvin and the chipmunk...
Monster Mash: • Bobby "Boris" Pickett ...
José Jiménez:
• Ed Sullivan / First ma...
The Purple People Eater: • Sheb Wooley "The Purpl...
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! • Hello Muddah, Hello Fa...
Telstar: m.youtube.com/...
Caste Your Fate To The Wind: • Vince Guaraldi Trio - ...
Love Is Blue was a song that became a number-one hit in the USA for five weeks in February and March 1968. But like Caste Your Fate To The Wind, I haven't heard this song once on the air in the past 50 years. Here is a link to the song performed on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1968. And although the music is appealing the performance has the worst choreography I have ever seen:
• Paul Mauriat "Love Is ...
Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport: • 1963 HITS ARCHIVE: Tie...
@bradbell3744
1 hour ago
If you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing. In the Description there's more content.
I enjoyed. I also grew up close by, in North Hollywood, on Cahuenga blvd. Thanks. I subscribed 👍
The Toluca Lake Smokehouse was a customer of mine from 1975-1985.I sold processing and packaging equipment to the kitchen.
I loved calling on them at lunch time because the chef would walk be through the restaurant saying hello to everyone as we passed by a table. I've seen Bob Hope and Deloris a few times there and others who came from the studios that was right across the street.
What a great place that was then.
Closing next year and likely to become one more condo complex.
@@vintagemotelguest gonna have to hit it before then. Thanks for the update
Oh dear, I knew this day was coming at some point. I was last in there on New Year's Eve in 2009. There was a wonderful young lounge singer, Luca Nelson, who was channeling Frank Sinatra. If you closed your eyes, it was like Frank from 1956 was singing right there in front of you. Our designated driver, Eddie, didn't drink that night in anticipation of road blocks and random breath checks by the local cops. They did not disappoint. It took us awhile to get home to Northridge. I've got to get back there before they close, one last time.
The Smokehouse BBQ restaurant in Burbank is closing. Not the Toluca Lake Smokehouse.
@@bradbell3744 Thank you for the clarification.
Thanks for this video!
I now live in Northern California, but I was born and raised in the SF Valley, and saw many changes while living there. My dad worked for CBS on many of the TV shows during the 50s-70s. I remember when I was a kid there were still Orange groves, olive groves, and many empty fields that us kids would spend the day playing in. I watched them all get gobbled up by development. Now the Valley is all traffic, homes, malls, used car lots etc. I visited my old high school, James Monroe High, a few years back, and was shocked as it became a trashy place full of litter, and tagging. It used to be a clean place, and I have many memories of going to school there.
Thanks for sharing your story.
I was also raised in Granada Hills and went to that high school and Porter Junior high. The 405 was an orange grove right down the block from us before it was the 405. Nice to hear from a fellow Valley Guy.
Wunderbar still living here luckily but never had a chance to photograph the Lake only from Cahuenga Pass i could see it .. Thank You !
Your welcome. I'm really pleased that I could get lake footage.
Thank you for this. I am a Burbank native who grew up in the house my grandmother purchased in 1942 and my mother still lives in today.
@cary creynolds👋🏻🌸Hi Cary I grew up in The Valley by Chatsworth we still have our Family home My Brother was Born in The Living Room no joke 😊
Now it’s rented out none of us want to live there the neighborhood turn so trashy The Yards look terrible so many cars in their driveway broke down crap
We use to live in a Leave it to Beaver neighborhood now come Sunset we don’t walk or really go out it So Sad But we have Our Beautiful Memories
The freeway carved a swath through. It ran parallel to Riverside drive. I remember the abandoned houses and the laying down of the freeway.
Abounded...or that imment domain cities do when want
The noise from the 134 is unbearable, a constant loud grating intrusion
I remember Toluca Lake very well as a kid. Much of the places are now gone- The China Trader restaurant, The Dog Show, Alfonso’s restaurant and The Tick Tock, as well as The Money Tree restaurant.
It’s not what it used to be. That’s for sure. I was down there a few years ago and my childhood home at Riverside and Ledge was a big hole in the ground - soon to be a mega apartment building.The Toluca Lake Market and Five and Dime store were great. All changed now for the worse in my opinion.
My goodness Brad...how Delightful and so Carefully made piece...I was reminded rather forcibly of Rowan & Martin's recurring 'Welcome to Beautuful Downtown Burbank' with tongues firmly in their cheeks at the time!...please do some more of L A areas...perhaps Westlake and Silverlake...thank you so much...dgp/uk
I used to work in Toluca Lake and would often take my breaks walking through the neighborhood to stretch my legs and enjoy the beautiful homes. BUT I never saw the lake! Thank you for adding that to your video. I’m glad you know how to access it!!
Good presentation Brad, and I'm sure that's your engaging voice is yours I hope and not AI like so many of these videos...
I stayed with a friend in Toluca Lake for a few months on Hood Avenue in 1976, later moving up the street to Lakeside Apartments on 401 Pass Avenue....
I worked on many TV shows that shot in the area, it was like an extended backlot for Universal, Warners and Disney.
Thanks for the compliment, and yes, it’s my voice. I was very close to your old apartment on the two occasions I shot video of the Smoke House. (The second shoot was to clean up and add to the first shoot.)
I lived in Toluca lake on Moorpark Street for a brief moment in time in 2012. I walked and rode my bicycle all over that area. Thank you for rerunning my memory!
I remember my mom driving my brothers and I past Bob Hope's home, at Moorpark and Ledge, a few times. Was the George Putnam that Amelia was referring to, the same one that I remember that was a news anchor on KTTV TV for many years? I remember my mom taking me to eat at Ernie's taco house, many times, as she worked at Universal studios for several years. Your affection for the valley shows through, in your recollections. I remember, as a kid, going to George Barris' car place. Thanks for the history of the Bob's Big Boy Restaurant, as well.
Thanks for the compliment. George Putnam was a very prominent news anchor in Los Angeles in the 60s and 70s who passed away in 2008. George P. Putnam was a publisher and writer who was married to Amelia Earhart. He passed away in 1950.
@@bradbell3744 Thank you for clarifying that, about George Putnam, you are a great valley historian. Did you attend North Hollywood High School, or did you attend one of the many catholic high schools in the valley? I graduated from Granada Hills High school, class of 1975. I have a plat map from the State of California, from 1959, where they show the future routing of the 405 San Diego Freeway. My dad had a ranch house on 1 acre, that he purchased new in 1956,and they (the state) took about half-an-acre to build the southbound lanes of the freeway, just north of Roscoe Blvd. I still have a picture that my grandmother took of me, at age 6, standing along the freeway fence in 1963, right after the freeway opened. You can look up in the pic, and see the sign for the Roscoe Blvd. exit. I would go out in the backyard, look up and draw pictures of the cars and trucks driving on the freeway. I still have some of those pictures. Thank you for evoking such fond memories of growing up in the valley, by your Vlogs!
@@carloscarpinteyro332 I attended Notre Dame High School, but I'm not catholic. Since you went to Granada Hills High School, do you remember Dana Potter? I used to be a real estate agent in the same office as him back in the '80s.
Great story about your home and the 405 freeway.
@@bradbell3744 As I recall, he was a friend of my older brother Ralph, (2 years older than I), and I think that I trained him on a pool route in the mid 70's. He seemed to be extremely ambitious. Ever here of Marc Stephen Garrison? He wrote several books about real estate. I do remember when the J.Claire Hallack real estate office opened on Reseda Blvd. about 1966, in Northridge. it had the architecture of a castle. It then became the Matadors Federal Credit Union in the 1980's. Have you visited the Valley Relics Museum, west side of the Van Nuys Airport?
These videos are some of your best Brad imho. It's startling to see the historical change that's happened there over a relatively very short period of time and also to be reminded of what lies behind that change. 👍
Many memories. Sorrentino's ah yes, and China Trader, The Money Tree, Carriage House/Chadney's, Sardo's, Now Yoyager, and I'm probably missing some. I'm very happy the SmokeHouse is still in operation. I've had many good cocktails and meals there. I lived in Burbank from 1971 to 1978.... Lot's of good times.
Do you remember the entertainer that worked at Chadneys around ‘84? He used to work at Reubens on Cahuanga in 1973 (just east of Lankershim and Ventura). His first name was Lee if I’m not mistaken.
@@bradbell3744 Sorry, No I don't. I was in NorCal from 1979 until about 1987.
Yep...lot's of good times partying and cruising for chicks at those places!
@@carlupthegrove4201 Well, it's been bugging me that I couldn't remember this singer's name. I had a vague recollection that Lee was his first name, but I could find nothing online to confirm his identity. Rubens and Chadney's are now closed. Then, today, the last name of Dresser just stumbled into my thinking. Sure enough, the singer was Lee Dresser:
www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/kansas-city-mo/lee-dresser-5944323
In 1973 Dresser was the entertainment at Rubens. I remember him performing his song El Camino Real: ruclips.net/video/_ol2N6A_Uts/видео.html
At Rubens there was an attractive cocktail waitress named Claire Cox. She lost her life in a motorcycle accident on Sept. 27, 1973 when the motorcycle she was riding on was hit by the car of a drunk driver. The actor James Stacy was the driver of the motorcycle and he lost his left arm and leg. A very tragic story.
Rubens was a great restaurant and bar. I spent part of my 30th birthday at Rubens.
Donte”s was a jazz club , the miniature golf course was called, Bartmus.
Dante’s was just a bar in the 60s. I remember when the jazz entertainment was popular later on.
Regarding the miniature golf location, I don’t recall its name, but I liked the arcade, especially the game where you shot a rifle at targets, and if you hit them all you got a bonus round with moving targets. 10 cents. I think they even had ping pong tables at the very east end the location. I can still remember some of the golf holes vividly.
Regarding Ernie's Mexican Food, I first went there in 1960. The building you show is not the original building. The original building was a little brick hut directly next door to the South, on the northeast corner of Lankershim Blvd. and Moorpark Streets, kitty corner from St. Charles Borromeo Church. Part of that brick hut remained 14 years ago, when I went to Ernie's for old times sake. It was an auto parts store. It may still be there. Some remodeling may have happened to the "new" Ernie's building, opened by 1964. I went there regularly in 1964, but I no longer remember if it went through different incarnations. When I ate there in 2010, it was exactly as I remembered it.
My recollection is different. And I contacted management to find out if I was mistaken and got this response by e-mail:
"Hi Brad,
Thanks for sharing this video!
From what I know, the original building from 1946 is exactly what you mentioned in the video- the right side of the restaurant, which used to be all booth seating, even towards the back, which is what now is our refrigerator hallway and employee bathrooms..."
******
Hopefully they will send me some photos. I had asked if they have any to share and they said they would try to send me some.
Ernie's Taco House is one of 9 Ernie's restaurants owned and created by Ernest U. Cruz. This restaurant in N. Hollywood is #3. Ernest U. Cruz passed away in 1978.
@@bradbell3744 What can I say? I was at the little brick building in 1961 (which was definitely Ernie's) and at the new one next door by 1963 or 1964. All I know is what I remember from my own experience.
Ernie was actually a name derived from "URQUIDEZ" the Greek surname of the man who began the chain in 1950's downtown LA. He was of Mexican & Greek heritage. He pioneered the use of HEAT LAMPS to keep food warm and as a plus...with the Mexican touch...sprinkled queso which melted and created a unique treat for the time.
His oldest son retained some of the restaurants post-divorce. The rest split between his other kids. His youngest son George lived above the restaurant in the 70's/early 80's in the Ernie's office. We spent many a night there getting 'toasted', enjoying Margaritas and reading The Encyclopedia Britanica.
Thanks for reminiscing 'bout the old neighborhood Mr. Bell!
Brad, I enjoyed this video of Toluca Lake. Some of the locations were visited by me and family (Bob's Big Boy, the studios). I was glad you discussed some of the famous people and their homes. But I especially enjoyed the statue of Amelia Earhart. We have a picture of our daughter, taken when she was young, standing in front of the statue. We also went to the beautiful library, many times. I believe it was a regional library.
My hood!!!
I travel all around LA, but love love love my neighborhood!! Thanks for the details I never knew I needed.
I used to live in North Hollywood, near Lankershim & Victory, 1983-1993. I was in the video equipment business so that whole area was home turf. I definitely remembered the Smoke House, this was the unofficial NBC restaurant, and I was trying to remember if I had ever actually eaten there. And then you mentioned the garlic bread, and BOOM, suddenly I remembered eating there a few times! I don't know if you can have world-renowned garlic bread, but if you can, it's served there! I always wanted to live in Toluca Lake, but it was and still is pretty pricey. By the time I was making enough money to maybe move there, an opportunity to sell my cruddy No Hollywood house and move to the Westside came up and I went for the ocean breezes.
Yes, it's the best garlic bread I have ever eaten by far. It's good you got a house with more moderate summertime temperatures.
Thank You so much for the Awesome Video what great History it still looks Beautiful there nice Houses Stores and Restaurants look very kept up Bob’s Big Boy
O the memories hanging out as a teenager what great fun we had Plus The Hamburgers are like no others so good There was a Bob Big Boy in Canoga Park
On Sherman Way had the Car Hop I don’t know if it’s still there I Hope to see more of your videos Take Care and God Bless
Thank you for this treasure!
I lived in Toluca Lake from 1954 until 1980, when I went to Japan “for a year” (I’m still there).
My brother, who recently commented, sent me your link and a flood of memories came roaring back. My brother and I grew up at 10358 Riverside Dr. on the corner of Ledge Ave., a block away from Bob Hope’s house. When I was eight years old, he threw a huge party. My little friends and I were curious and were peeking through his front gate. His brother came to the gate and let us into the party! I remember looking up at a red haired lady who was looking down at me…Lucille Ball!!!
I’m especially interested that you lived in Bella Lugosi’s house, because for about 3 years I lived in one of the houses next to Bela Lugosi’s house on Whipple Ave.
When I lived there, there was a hunting lodge and 5 or 6 Black Forest style cottages in a half circle around many pine trees. It was such a magical place. The couple who owned it told me that the original owner, Fred Cyriacks, was a fervent supporter of Hitler and died after Germany lost the war. He had many mistresses and when he tired of one, he would build a house for her nearby. There were at least 3 or 4 similar houses in the neighborhood occupied by elegant old ladies.
I have a few photos of my cottage but don’t know how to post them here. The husband became sick and they had to sell the place. They didn't tell us until the last minute. I was very sorry to leave that place and wish I’d taken many more photos. It was all torn down in October 1980 and replaced by typical ugly stucco buildings.
Down the street, I had a stained glass shop, “The Light Through Yonder Window” on Lankershim, a block away from Dante’s Jazz Club. When I was in college I worked at the glass studio of Roger Darricarrere and we made lots of stained glass windows for Bob’s Big Boy restaurants and also Barone’s Italian Restaurant in Toluca Lake. The stained glass was top quality hand blown glass from The Blenko Glass Company in West Virginia. I wonder what ever happened to those windows? I hope they weren’t trashed.
I have so many memories of my life in Toluca Lake, but I’d better stop for the time being.
Thanks again for all your research!
Kristin Newton
It was great to read your post. The Simonian's were the owner of the Black Forest style cottages and they had their own home home on the property. Yes, it was built by Fred Cyriacks as was my house (the former Bela Lugosi home). Do you remember Mr. Powell? He lived in the most southwesterly of the cottages. I used to help him with his grocery shopping and such. Do you remember Mrs. Sunnenberg? She live upstairs in the most westerly of the two apartment buildings.
Sheryl and Mike were the two Simonian children. Haig and Marguerite were the mother and father.
Hi Brad, I lived there in the late ‘70’s but I don’t remember the people you mentioned. There was Fred, an artist, and his girlfriend who was a teacher. There was a Vietnam vet who had suffered terribly in the war. There was a Gypsy who had been in the Nazi concentration camps and had his number tattooed on his arm. It was an unusual community. My mother moved into the front apartment building but a year later, we were informed we all had to leave. It was quite upsetting. I’ll send you the few photos I have by email.
@@rbrkristin Thank you for your responses. They got me to thinking. I found out the builder of the Lugosi home (and Simonian home) was Fred R. Cyriacks. That is apparently how his name is spelled. You can see more on the Lugosi house here: museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com/2011/01/cyriacks-house-lost-toluca-lake.html
And Mr. Powell passed away before your time at the Whipple St. address. If you'd like to see some great photos of the Simonian house, e-mail me. My address is in "About." I look forward to your e-mail.
@rbrkristin I have not yet received your e-mail. bradbell212000@yahoo.com
Absolutely Amazing. I grew up in all those areas. Thank you so much. Where is my Most Favorite Pizza in the Whole World? Been going there since 1968 Large Pepperoni & Garlic Well Done 👍 Please 🙏. I go there at least once every 2 weeks. Cheers 🥂. Thank You Sir.
Bob Hope bought the property that contained Corriganville wild west entertainment and movie filming venue , yhat was started by movie stutman "Crash" Corrigan . Went there with my freind and his dad and bros. in 1960 at 10 y.o. We had a ball watching the gunfights etc. and went horseback riding up into the rock and boulder terrain that was seen on countless western movies and tv shows 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Ray Corrigan had a difficult married life. Read about it here and scroll down to Corriganville:
obscurehollywood.net/ray-crash-corrigan.html
I also grew up in the Valley at that time. Simi Valley was the location for all B westerns. Remember Spahn Ranch.
I lived in Toluca Woods for 20 wonderful years.
❤
I live out of state and have never been to Toluca Lake, but have always heard of it. Thanks for the interesting and informative video--would love to visit some time and see the historical sights.
I read years ago that Rudy Valee's home had a turntable for his cars . 👍
Now that’s a name from the past. I didn’t know he had lived in Toluca Lake,
what a beautiful place on earth, if I could choose, I would like to live there...
Bob's is still a great place to eat. The Big Boy chain tried to restart, but made the mistake of restarting around 2006 as the housing crash was beginning. The Bob's in Toluca Lake is completely unaffiliated with the Big Boy chain and has been for decades.
Very fascinating brad, really enjoyed learning about Toluca Lake
Enjoy driving through the neighborhood and ending up at Bob's Big Boy !
Years ago, I worked at a Mobile gas station. That was across the street from the Smoke House. I also cleaned pools, in the area. One was right on the lake. A friend of mines girlfriend worked as a car hop at Bobs Richard Nixon held me, as a baby, Here in Burbank.
As I recall all the car hops wore roller skates.
@@bradbell3744 I went to Bob's Drive-In from 1949 until I went away to college in 1966 and I don't ever remember carhops wearing roller skates.
Maybe I’m thinking of the Bob’s on Van Nuys Blvd. Not sure.
@@bradbell3744 This one had them on roller skates.
Lived in Los Angeles area since 1965,, thanks for the amazing video,,as this is my first trip there...
I went to St Charles Parochial School. Yakel and Goss department store was on Lankershim Blvd. Nudies western wear and an army surplus store. I went to Rio Vista School for the 6th grade and would walk by Bella Lugosi’s house. Got caught trying to dine and dash at Ernies Restaurant. There was a cheese shop on Lankershim with cheeses hanging in the window. Thanks for the video. My former apartment at Riverside and Ledge Ave was a big hole in the ground when I was down that way in 2021 or 22. Saw Tuesday Weld at that miniature golf sometime in the 60s.
Reading your comment prompted me to do a little searching and I found this link that concerns the miniature golf course. Scroll down for some photos!
skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170279&page=2371
I enjoy your videos🎉 would you ever consider doing a video on the Shakespeare bridge?
I have not considered it, but I’m aware of it. A beautiful structure. I used to have a girlfriend that lived a few blocks away on Rowena Avenue. There's not much of a story behind the bridge, as I understand it.
What a great video. I have lived in the West end of the SFV. Thanks for giving a great presentation of another part of our Valley.
I bicycle delivered the Mirror News in Toluca Lake south of Camarillo St. I delivered to Frank Sinatra who lived at the end to Vally Spring Ln. right on the Lake. I delivered to Bob Hope also to Bing Crosby on Camarillo St. I lived on Camarillo St. From 1948-1963. That was in 1958-60 Pass Blvd on the East to Cahuenga on the West side.
After delivering papers, I sold papers directly to car traffic on Riverside Dr in front of the Lakeside Drugstore. I had both the Herald Examiner and Mirror News.
I created a classroom reunion for my 6th grade Toluca Lake Elementary School 1960 grads on Cahuenga Blvd. after 35 years. We used the Smoke House.
Imagine a reunion of people you were in 3rd grade with! 2 classes total 60 original, 4 had died already by the time we were 35 years old and I found only 1/3 of them. So maybe 8 had died.
Barris Custom City was on Riverside Dr. The Batmobile was parked on the corner outside for at least 2 years.
Where is the Little Hot Dog House?
I never got to see the Lake. Thank you!
I knew Victor McLeod who wrote the first Batman movie. I had 110 newspapers.
Toluca Lake must be thick with writers and film people. I past Earhart’s house 5 days a week! Maybe I threw a paper at her door!
Toluca Lake was a safe area where kids played and bicycled. I was one of them. In 1958 I was 10 years old.
Thanks for the memories!
Wasn’t the Hot Dog House kitty corner to Bob’s? There was a Marie Calendar near there too on the south side of Riverside Dr.
@@bradbell3744
Yes the Hot Dog House was across the street from Bob’s. It was near the Lakeside Drug Store.
The downtown architecture back in the 50s was more alike and it created sort of a village feel. But now, the architecture styles are all mixed without any rhyme or reason. This sort of chaos would never happen in the towns in northern California.
@@timberrr1126 Oh yes it does! Are you familiar with Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley as it was 50 years ago? Have you seen it now!?
@@lemorab1 I remember Berkeley from 1967. I live in San Francisco. Pop culture, businesses leaving, have made big changes. And now, COVID!
FANTASTIC and enjoyable. It was a pleasant return to my childhood. So many familiar places and I was hoping you would show more but it would result in a never-ending video.
Thanks you for the compliment. I did add some content in the Description.
Great video! My office is in the old Red Car line substation building at Riverside and Vineland one block up from Twin Castle. I love seeing and learning the history of the area. Thanks!
Yes Brad that’s the one, sorry to see the hotdog show had closed . Thanks for sharing
@@henryarn I used to have lunch at Hot Dog Show 👍🙏
Watched entire video looking forward to hearing about it
My father was the original founder of The International House of Pancakes. My father Albert Kallis along with his partner Al Lapin opened the very first restaurant across from Bobs Big Boy 1958. In fact my dad passed away July 8th 2024 and written up in LASunday Times August 18th just two days ago
Sorry to hear about the passing of your father. Many of us in the neighborhood enjoyed going to the International House of Pancakes. Pigs in A Blanket was one of my favorites.
I ate at your dad's first House of Pancakes in 1961. My friend Jamie's mom used to take a group of us there at 7:30 a.m. before school started. I LOVED the pancakes covered in whipped cream with fresh strawberries on top. I'm sorry about your dad's passing. My dad passed in 2010, mom went in 2008, and every time I think of Bob's in the Valley, I miss my parents and the old days.
Very cool 😎 Brad !
Fascinating!
Ok you got some cred with me because you remembered the mini golf course.
There was also a very large Asian restaurant on the same side of Lankershim it had a portico where you would pull in and a huge budah
@bradbell3744
2 minutes ago
I’ve added a lot of content in the Description, including mention of Far East Terrace: m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150283658854463&set=a.386637014462
(You might have to click on ok, and Close the page to see the photo of the restaurant. I think the first location of the restaurant a block north had the Buddha.)
@@bradbell3744 thanks!
I lived at 10855 Whipple and have been in your house a couple of times in the mid sixties. Didn't you have a brother named Scott? I also went to Rio Vista and was in the Cub Scouts . I remember the Goldens owned Universal Star Market and lived right down the street. Nice walk in the past ,thank you.
Hello, neighbor. Yes, my bother's name was Scott.
W.C. Fields, the goose poop, and the Nine Iron...(although some claim it was a 3 wood) is a famous Toluca Lake story that's worth a Google. Also, the macabre Hollywood tale of the "borrowing" of John Barrymore's post mortem body by some of his friends for "one last drink" was held in Toluca Lake also at the Field's house...
Good times in old Hollywood.
I’ve heard the story about John Barrymore’s corpse, but heard the location where the body was taken was Errol Flynn’s house. It’s all kind of shaded in mystery: www.mentalfloss.com/article/629690/john-barrymore-stolen-corpse-prank-legend
@@bradbell3744 Errol Flynn's house is always the story I have read. In his memoir, David Niven doubted the veracity of that story, e.g. Raoul Walsh bribing someone at Pierce Brothers Mortuary to release the body for a few hours. But, it could've happened.
I read Bring On The Empty Horses. Very good book. But I wasn’t as pleased with The Moon Is A Balloon.
1:40
I grew up in an apartment on Riverside Dr. and Ledge Ave. I remember when the 134 freeway went in. All the houses in the way had to be moved. Then a huge pile of dirt went in which I used to play on. After the freeway opened, the upstairs neighbors always told me I should go and play on the freeway.
I remember when the 134 was built too. At the point where the 134 converged with the 170, right where Riverside Drive starts heading to the northwest, just west of Vineland, the freeway just stopped in mid air. For some reason there was a delay in construction for about a year.
@@bradbell3744 This construction halt began when Jerry Brown was elected Governor of CA, in 1975. Stalled projects eventually cost the taxpayers a whole lot more money, when they were eventually completed under a new regime. Adriana Gianturco, a Brown appointee, was in charge of all freeway construction and it all ground to a halt for several years, all over the state. The 118 stopped at Tampa and Rinaldi. You had to exit at Reseda and Rinaldi Blvds. Anything west of the Tampa Ave./Rinaldi intersection was open, undeveloped country. Eventually, the 118 construction started up again and it was completed, running through the Santa Susana mountains out to Simi Valley, sometime in the 1980's. There is a Behemoth Shopping Center along the north side of Rinaldi Blvd., which was also extended west for another 2 miles or so.
@@robertjohannnewton7489 Little Toni's Pizza is at that location and is still there today. Are you talking about where Cahuenga Blvd. and Lankershim Blvd. meet? Because there was a small burger joint there for years until it was eventually torn down. It was actually on the west side of Lankershim just north of the L.A. River wash.
@robertjohannnewton7489 replied: "@bradbell3744Do you remember Toddy’s hamburger joint at the southern tip of where Lankershim & Vineland crossed?"
(I think I inadvertently deleted this comment--the one I responded to above.)
What a wonderful video! I only wish you had more old photos to compare with sites as they currently look. Do you get people offering to let you copy old photos of what was formerly there, after they've seen your video on RUclips? Could the San Fernando Historical Society possibly be of any help? I hope so!! Keep searching for old photos to make comparisons of Toluca Lake Then and Now, and keep editing your video to reflect new material. I hope you will do this. I wish I could help, but I only have my memories of Toluca Lake from 60-70 years ago, and my historic photos are from North Hollywood and Studio City.
I am an Old Valley Girl, and I was a kid before the freeways were built. Our house on Sarah St. was taken by the 101 in 1956, via Eminent Domain. Sarah St. in 1952 was Paradise: Mr. Sperks' horse ranch was to the North, over our back fence, the Hurds' Camellia farm was directly to the East, and Sarah was still a dirt road, washed out in the great flood of 1938. I watched all the pastoral beauty vanish, while growing up in the 1950's and 1960's, and the L.A. River became a soulless cement tube. My friend Irene Golden's father founded the Universal Star Market. I remember the Bela Lugosi house from 1961. I haven't heard those places referenced in years! My best friend Randi Olson grew up in her grandmother's childhood home, an 1890 farmhouse on the northwest corner of Magnolia Blvd. and Cortine Place. I remember when the Olsons' home was knocked down in 1959 to build the stucco apartment building that stands there today. I went to Bill Story's restaurant as a kid. I was in diapers the first time I went to Bob's Drive-In and DuPars in Studio City, when both opened in 1949. I could go on and on...... "Though nothing can bring back the hour, etc."
I wish you would go on and on! It’s nice to hear your reflections. I’ve known Irene Golden my whole life. She’s the one who gave me the photo of Universal Star Market. My guess is that the photo is from the late 70s.
@@bradbell3744 I met Irene Golden in the fall of 1961, when I began the eighth grade at Walter Reed Junior High School. I went to her house that fall and met her parents. They told me about trick-or-treating at Bela Lugosi's house, which I think we could see from the Goldens' house.
My parents were regulars at Bob Wian's first place in Glendale when there were only 6 counter stools and a line out the door. Already, his cheeseburgers were legendary. Carhops were at Bob's from 1949, when it first opened. The tile wall along the western and northern exterior was curved and undulating, pale aqua vertical rectangle shaped tiles. I never understood why those tiles were replaced with the deep yellow gold ones of a later remodeling of the building. The pale aqua ones were so much prettier, as was the undulating wall, which they replaced with a straight one. During the 1960's, dad played his accordion at private parties at the Wian house in Toluca Lake. I went to Cyndee Howard's birthday party at her family's home in 1959, right on the Lake. My 13th birthday party was held at the China Trader in 1961, on a southwest corner with Riverside Drive, a block from Bob's. It has been gone for years.
love the LA history.
Brad, thank you for this fantastic video of my neighborhood! As a resident of Auckland Avenue just east of Cahuenga, I found it fascinating to learn the history of so many familiar places. Keep up the excellent work-I’ve subscribed and liked the video. 👍
Thank you for the compliment, and I'm glad you liked the video.
I forgot to mention The Carriage Inn restaurant, right across from NBC. The Kings Arms restaurant- Riverside Drive was nothing but interesting looking restaurants when I was a kid. I’m sure there were even more, but my memory is getting a bit sketchy at this age.
Great video I really enjoyed it and appreciate it what a special place
My gosh. How many times I went to Bob's. '63
Then Vietnam '68 tet.
I'll try again: From the time Bob's Drive-In was first opened in 1949, until sometime in the 1970's, I think, the northern exterior and western exterior walls were tiled in pale aqua vertical rectangle-shaped tiles. The wall curved like an undulating wave. I thought it was so beautiful when I was growing up. On the western side, there was an entrance to the bathroom just off the lobby, so folks eating in cars didn't have to go through the lobby to get to the bathroom. Why, oh why they replaced those lovely aqua tiles with the ugly gold ones that were there the last time I was in there, about 20 years ago, I have no idea! And they straightened out the curved, undulating wall. It's just a straight wall now, and it was such a distinctive feature back then. My parents had been customers of Bob Wian's original burger place in Glendale, with six bar stools at the small counter, prior to the opening of Bob's in Burbank. My dad, an accordionist, played music at Bob Wian's private parties in Toluca Lake. I began going there almost from birth. Driving around the northern and eastern perimeter of the parking area, slowly inching along, anticipating my Bob's Big Boy, finally getting a space when someone left, is one of my earliest childhood memories. The house at the northeast corner had a hexagonal shaped window identical to one we had in the entry of our house. That window is long gone. I dimly remember sitting in the booster seat as a toddler still in diapers, barely able to reach the tray. You had a choice of a tray on the outside of your car window or on the inside. I think the outside was mainly for the driver, because of the steering wheel. Then there were the burgers. The Big Boy tasted like, well, imagine the very best thing you've ever tasted and that was it. I began my lifelong love of cheeseburgers at Bob's Drive-In. In the fifth grade, I went to Cyndee Howard's birthday party and her house was right on the lake. That's the only time I remember actually seeing the lake. I had my thirteenth birthday party at the China Trader in 1961. There was another restaurant, The Other Goose, further east on Riverside Drive. It was the "companion" restaurant of The Wild Goose, on Ventura in Sherman Oaks. I also remember the Tick Tock Restaurant, further west on Riverside. I was fascinated by all the coo coo clocks on the wall.
Great job! Love the history!
I grew up in North Hollywood not far from Toluca Lake. In my teens, my friend and I would ride our Schwinn Varsity 10 speed bikes to Cahuenga Peak to shoot our air rifles. We'd cut through Toluca Lake, pedaling past Bob Hope's house and then cut across the Toluca Lake Golf Course. One day, we heard whizzing sounds as we cruised along the lake to our left. On the right was the gold course. Some careless golfers were driving balls in our directions. Luckily they missed.
Beautiful old homes replaced by low end apartments....😮
Amelia got in her plane and made a bee-line for the island of Lesbos, never to be seen again.
lqtm: laughing quietly to myself
Fantastic.
The dome of the St. Charles Borromeo Church used to be gold plated. I see it’s painted white now. When did that happen?
There was a comment from someone that used to live on Toluca Estates Dr. and was an alter boy at Saint Charles Church. I was trying to respond to the comment and inadvertently deleted it. Apparently this can’t be reversed.
But I wanted to ask this person if he remembers Martin Manklin. Martin lived on that drive-about half way down on the west side of the drive.
And I know you probably knew the Miceli’s at the end of the drive.
ENJOYABLE !
I worked as a Bartender at Lakeside Golf Club from 1999 - 2002.
Yes this was an amazing piece of history here. I remember George Barris and the crazy cars . Looking into the window of course the bat mobile was there. I also remember the Chitty Chitty bang bang car. It too was quite impressive. I do have to ask about a old hot dog stand on a small corner side shopping center if it was still there? Anyway, great memories! thank you
The Hot Dog Show was kitty corner to Bob’s. It closed in 2011. I found photos online: ellenbloom.blogspot.com/2011/08/show-is-over.html?m=1
I like that you didn't show or tell people how to get to that path to the lake. So many places have been ruined by providing Too Much Information on the internet.
Well, let me just say, there is no public access path to the lake.
How did you get access to that path that leads to the lake?
My little secret.
Bob Hope is buried in Mission San Fernando.
Correction- si believe it was called “ The Knights Arms” restaurant.
It was the Kings Arms. In the Description there’s a link to a video where a car drives through Toluca Lake in 1959 and you can see the restaurant.
So this is the genisis for the team name of the "Toluca Lakers?🤔"
Brad I get a genuine kick out of your Toluca Tour as I genuinely love to see historic communities preserved... however you MUST understand???!! --- as I keep trying to get my politically-conservative Toluca friend to understand -- Californian's are born and bred to support massive development that always destroys their own history -- why even its "liberal" governor supports developers. And what a coincidence -- the conservative Koch brothers' long-time O.C. real estate lobby -- largest in the United States -- feeds him lots of $ even though he "is a Democrat." Just look at those who have flowed out of Pasadena for the past two decades - despite living there for generations, like all good genuine-working Californians they have been bred for obedience so left as soon as they were ordered to pay three-times their previous decade's rent. Your corrupt politicians were even able to destroy the Long Beach Naval campus where conservative war heroes left for the Pacific Theater!!!! And now the cities have new wealthy young citizens indoctrinated -- perfect because they don't care about local politics and have limitless spending power -- the perfect citizens! Bred like animals....
(love how all of the commenters on here are proving my point -- they "remember" but don't care that they can't "see" the massive change)
@@vintagemotelguest Speak for yourself! I despise Gavin Newson and everything he represents. I hated the massive change in 1955 at 7 years old, when my parents told me about the freeway that was going to take our house next year. The neighborhood had been fighting Eminent Domain. The 101 was originally scheduled to go along Riverside Drive, but the plan was changed to Sarah Street after escrow closed on our house in 1951 (or our realtor knew, but kept it to himself. I wouldn't put it past him.) I watched the entire Valley change into the Hell Hole that it is today. Yes, our block tried to fight the change, but we weren't multi-millionaires. My parents and our neighbors could not afford to keep a law firm on permanent retainer indefinitely, filing one writ after another to prolong the delay, like Beverly Hills did.
Delores Hope gave all of Bob's $$$ to that church.
@@yahwea Bob Hope is buried at Mission San Fernando
@@timberrr1126 So is William Frawley. I bet their ghosts keep each other company.
Not ALL his dough...she spread it around. My sister-in-law was a beneficiary of her generosity as a cloistered nun in the Chicago area.
@@LucaFinn4U Bob spread his love around so it was only appropriate that his wife spread his wealth around.
Erhart was bisexual .
So?
@@wanaraz I can offer a possible link to Toluca Lake. Earhart flew out of Lockheed Airport in Burbank often. Walter Reed Junior High School in North Hollywood was almost named Amelia Earhart Junior High School in 1939, which would've been much more appropriate. She had a presence in the Valley, whereas Walter Reed, an army surgeon who cured Yellow Fever, had none. But, a white male was going to trump a white female back in those days, when it came down to naming a public school.