About, but not limited to, Van Nuys, CA.
In the archives of the Los Angeles Public Library are many old photographs from defunct newspapers such as the Valley Times and the Herald Examiner.
Thanksgiving is always a holiday where family, togetherness, food, and feeding the hungry are foremost.
The old ways of thinking about this holiday are on display in some of the images below, taken in the 1950s and 60s.
“Vacant apartments in the Valley are scarce, rents are heading toward all-time highs, and observers expect little change for the next three years.”-LA Times 8/24/1969
Most of the new apartments will be large, luxury, high-rent operations because land is so expensive.
Landlords are choosey and many refuse to rent to tenants who have pets or children. Only 25% will allow pets or kids.
In North Hollywood, only 3.8% are vacant, in Van Nuys, 2.5% and in Northridge, 2.7%.
Ten and 12-unit buildings were once common, but now land costs and materials are pushing builders to put up 40, 60 or even 80-unit structures.
The average tenant in the San Fernando Valley, incidentally, is 27-years-old and cannot afford the high rents.
And some of the rents that are being asked are quite shocking.
Furnished and unfurnished bachelor apartments are going for $85-$95 a month ($90=$657 in 2018); one bedrooms are averaging around $115 ($115=$796.42 in 2018); and two bedrooms for $175 ($175=$1,211 in 2018).
Walt Taylor of Van Nuys, who is the new president of Valley Apartment House Owners’ Association, fears that if the trend continues only large corporations will become landlords, or even worse, the government.
Where have you gone
The girl who passed by
Where have you gone?
I think of you all the time
She walked along the road,
50 years ago
I was a boy,
inside a shop,
looking out a window,
at her.
It was spring
I think
The sun was still faint
I remember
The breeze brought a chill
But not for you
Life was about to begin
For me
Where have you gone
The girl that I knew?
Where have you gone?
The seasons and dreams?
Her hair was blonde
and blew in the wind
She was young
And free
And alive
And unreal
She was a vision
I still hold
An ideal
Kept fresh
In my heart
Her legs were long,
her skirt was short,
she went past me and smiled,
I ran outside
But she was gone
only the scent of roses remained
the scent she wore
it soon went away
So where have you gone?
The girl who passed by
You were to me
the essence of free
you were the girl
I wanted to see
you were the one,
Where have you gone?
Tell me please.
If you know.
Where have you gone?
-Andrew B. Hurvitz
Poème en français
Où es tu allé
La fille qui est passée
Où es tu allé?
je pense à toi tout le temps
Elle a marché le long de la route,
il y a 50 ans
J'étais un garçon,
à l'intérieur d'un magasin,
regardant par la fenêtre,
chez elle.
C'était le printemps
je pense
Le soleil était encore faible
Je me souviens
La brise a apporté un froid
Mais pas pour toi
La vie allait commencer
Pour moi
Où es tu allé
La fille que je connaissais?
Où es tu allé?
Les saisons et les rêves?
Ses cheveux étaient blonds
et soufflé dans le vent
Elle était jeune
Et libre
Et vivant
Et irréel
Elle était une vision
Je tiens toujours
Un idéal
Conservé frais
Dans mon coeur
Ses jambes étaient longues,
sa jupe était courte,
elle est passée devant moi et a souri,
J'ai couru dehors
Mais elle était partie
seul le parfum des roses est resté
l'odeur qu'elle portait
il est bientôt parti
Alors où es-tu parti?
La fille qui est passée
Tu étais pour moi
l'essence de libre
tu étais la fille
je voulais voir
Vous étiez le seul,
Où es tu allé?
Dis-moi s'il te plaît.
Si tu sais.
Où es tu allé?
¿Dónde has ido?
Dónde has ido
La chica que pasó por
¿Dónde has ido?
pienso en ti todo el tiempo
Ella caminó a lo largo del camino,
Hace 50 años
Yo era un chico,
dentro de una tienda,
mirando por una ventana,
a ella.
Era primavera
creo
El sol todavía estaba débil
recuerdo
La brisa trajo un escalofrío
Pero no para ti
La vida estaba por comenzar
Para mi
Dónde has ido
La chica que yo conocía?
¿Dónde has ido?
Las estaciones y los sueños?
Su cabello era rubio
y sopló en el viento
Ella era joven
Y gratis
Y vivo
E irreal
Ella era una visión
Todavía sostengo
Un ideal
Mantenido fresco
En mi corazón
Sus piernas eran largas,
su falda era corta,
ella pasó junto a mí y sonrió,
Corrí afuera
Pero ella se había ido
solo el aroma de rosas permaneció
el aroma que ella usaba
pronto se fue
Entonces, ¿dónde has ido?
La chica que pasó por
Tú eras para mí
la esencia de la libertad
tú eras la niña
quería ver
Tú eras el único
¿Dónde has ido?
Dime por favor.
Si usted sabe.
¿Dónde has ido?
This writer and three others will have their short stories read aloud at the Annenberg Community Beach House on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 6:30pm.
My story, “The Bright Shop”, concerns a European refugee who designs a new life in 1960s Los Angeles only to see it crumble on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Actor Deborah Geffner will perform it.
Carey Wilson, now of Lakewood, Ohio, has started a new blog called, “Van Nuys Boomers”.
He writes, in a brief autobiography:
About Me
My arrival in Van Nuys began in 1960 at the age of 5. I was raised in Van Nuys and have spent about 43 of my 52 years in the Valley. When I was 5 years old we lived about 1 block from the notorious gangster Mickey Cohen. During the 1970’s we lived in an apartment building owned by the actress Jane Russell. Yes she did live at the building during out time there. Mayor Sam Yorty once complained to the police about the noise from our band practice. My Dad worked for Flying Tiger Line and I once flew with the top WW2 ace of the Flying Tigers, Duke Hedman. Please forgive the gratuitous name dropping but I hate talking about myself. I suppose I sound more like Forrest Gump then myself. But everyone in L.A. rubs elbows with celebrities. I will elaborate on some of these stories as the days go by.
Check out his work. He has some great photos too.
Here in Van Nuys 
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