: : stumbled onto this website while trying to find a photo of The Big Donut,
: : which I remember to have been in Van Nuys, somewhere near Victory
: : maybe?
: : Memories are flooding back! Thanks, Larry the Duck!
You are quite Welcome there CPHS1966 …
There was one “BiG DoNut” in Van Nuys on the Southwest corner of Kester Avenue and Sherman Way. When I was attending Fulton Jr. High in the late 50s the “BiG DoNut"t was one of my favorite haunts. The other "BiG DoNut” in “The Valley” was located in North Hollywood on the Northwest corner of Laurel Canyon Blvd. and Magnolia Blvd. For some interesting info on who started the “Big Donut” drive-in chain in addition to the Pup n' Taco chain go to the following link and scroll down (there’s a picture there also):
Here’s a great photo of the second original “BiG DoNut” renamed Randy’s Donuts on 805 W. Mancester Blvd. at La Cienega Blvd. in Inglewood just east of Los Angeles International airport.
To my knowledge there are only three of these structures left in Southern California. Randy’s, Kindle’s Donuts, (the first Wendell’s BiG DoNut) on South Normandie Avenue and West Century Boulevard in LA and Donut King: 2214 West El Segundo Boulevard, Gardena.
The TinyUrl link will give you a view of the River Power House, built in 1917. Originally, the building was located in Studio City on Coldwater Canyon (originally Diaz Street) at the Los Angeles River. It was on the property that is now the firehouse and the rear parking lot of the Sportsman Lodge.
This is what the San Fernando Valley was like right after I was born in 1946. This view is looking northeast. Van Nuys Blvd. runs diagonally in the lower-left 1/3 of the photo with the railroad tracks from left to right just below the plant. Panorama City and Arleta are just above the plant – with Pacoima, the City of San Fernando and Sylmar off in the distance against the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
And just so as to stay on topic… The Sunland Drive In Theater; circa 1950
Today there isn’t much left on Van Nuys Blvd. that would remind you of the days of cruising. Beginning at the north — heading south… No Chi Chi’s Pizza. No Broadway Store. No Mike’s Pizza. No GM Plant. No Nick’s Fine Food’s at Blythe. No Chandler Lumber. No Earl Schieb’s. No Oscar’s Drive-in. No Safeway at Sherman Way. No Thrifty’s at Vanowen. No See’s Candies at Victory. No Wilhoyt’s Super Service at Oxnard. No Pontiac dealer at Hatteras. No Bigboy. No June Ellen’s.
I was born in Van Nuys in 1946. My lovely wife of 35 years and I have lived in North Hollywood since ‘69. We have been active participating members of the local live theater community for over 30 years (Anteus Company??). We only have to walk 2 minutes to the Redline Subway for a seamless 3 minute trip to Universal, a 10 minute trip to the movies in Hollywood and concerts at the Bowl and the Ford Theater (Pilgrimage Theater??), or a 20 minute trip to the Wiltern. I don’t doubt that there will be some form of film theater built in the new development currently ongoing around the North Hollywood subway platform. What goes around comes around…
.
I was born in Van Nuys in 1946 on a small ranch on the South side of Roscoe Blvd. at Kester Ave. directly east of the old Van Nuys Drive-in that was built in 1948.
After the old Fox Theater in Van Nuys closed it’s doors, the western wear outfit by the name of “King’s Western Wear” was located there for many years. King’s has since moved to a new location on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.
The Fox location is still a Latino swap-meet style business. Moviemanforever mentioned Cupid’s Hot Dogs in this thread. Unfortunately Cupids is no longer in business. The business closed and there is a small strip mini-mall at that location now. Same for the old Chris & Pitts Bar-B-Que on Victory Blvd. and Fulton.
Someone mentioned cruising. I met my wife while cruising Van Nuys Blvd. and we have been together now over 35 years. The days of Oscar’s drive-thru, The A&W, Brunswick Bowl, June Ellen Donuts and Bob’s Big Boy-Van Nuys are a distant memory. Although one can still get carhop service at the Toluca Bob’s Big Boy on Riverside Drive just west of Pass Avenue. And, the Panorama Bowling alley is still in operation. The old Panorama walk-in theater at Van Nuys Blvd. and Nordoff Street presents Latin films but the front of the theater has changed very little since it’s opening. Chi’s Chi’s Pizza is no longer there either and Mike’s Pizza on Van Nuys south of Roscoe closed right after the owner Paul Green passed away. My first job was working for Paul Green and his brother Harold as a back kitchen setup cook and front kitchen Friday/Saturday cook.
In closing — I really love this site. Thanks to who/whomever set it up and keeps it going.
CPHS1966 wrote:
: : stumbled onto this website while trying to find a photo of The Big Donut,
: : which I remember to have been in Van Nuys, somewhere near Victory
: : maybe?
: : Memories are flooding back! Thanks, Larry the Duck!
You are quite Welcome there CPHS1966 …
There was one “BiG DoNut” in Van Nuys on the Southwest corner of Kester Avenue and Sherman Way. When I was attending Fulton Jr. High in the late 50s the “BiG DoNut"t was one of my favorite haunts. The other "BiG DoNut” in “The Valley” was located in North Hollywood on the Northwest corner of Laurel Canyon Blvd. and Magnolia Blvd. For some interesting info on who started the “Big Donut” drive-in chain in addition to the Pup n' Taco chain go to the following link and scroll down (there’s a picture there also):
http://www.rogerwendell.com/pnt.html
Here’s a great photo of the second original “BiG DoNut” renamed Randy’s Donuts on 805 W. Mancester Blvd. at La Cienega Blvd. in Inglewood just east of Los Angeles International airport.
http://www.redhedpictures.com/LArandysdonuts.jpg
To my knowledge there are only three of these structures left in Southern California. Randy’s, Kindle’s Donuts, (the first Wendell’s BiG DoNut) on South Normandie Avenue and West Century Boulevard in LA and Donut King: 2214 West El Segundo Boulevard, Gardena.
Hope this helps with those memories.
.
Gerry:
Be it that you’re a big history nut: You may have already stumbled on to the following site.
These photos are from http://digital-library.csun.edu
Here’s a photo from your neighborhood from the old old days.
< http://tinyurl.com/4lrdk >
The TinyUrl link will give you a view of the River Power House, built in 1917. Originally, the building was located in Studio City on Coldwater Canyon (originally Diaz Street) at the Los Angeles River. It was on the property that is now the firehouse and the rear parking lot of the Sportsman Lodge.
GM Motors Plant 1948
< http://tinyurl.com/6ke3a >
This is what the San Fernando Valley was like right after I was born in 1946. This view is looking northeast. Van Nuys Blvd. runs diagonally in the lower-left 1/3 of the photo with the railroad tracks from left to right just below the plant. Panorama City and Arleta are just above the plant – with Pacoima, the City of San Fernando and Sylmar off in the distance against the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
And just so as to stay on topic… The Sunland Drive In Theater; circa 1950
< http://tinyurl.com/5uh2v >
…
Well Gerry… I am glad that I was able to help jog your memory. Did you grow up in Van Nuys and/or reside in the Valley?
Well actually the old Green Sheet and then the Daily News was located on Friar Street. Right across the street from the old Friar Lanes Bowling Alley.
“Copped” my first little “feel” in this theater in 1964…
Don’t worry, we’ve been married 35 years come May.
:)
Today there isn’t much left on Van Nuys Blvd. that would remind you of the days of cruising. Beginning at the north — heading south… No Chi Chi’s Pizza. No Broadway Store. No Mike’s Pizza. No GM Plant. No Nick’s Fine Food’s at Blythe. No Chandler Lumber. No Earl Schieb’s. No Oscar’s Drive-in. No Safeway at Sherman Way. No Thrifty’s at Vanowen. No See’s Candies at Victory. No Wilhoyt’s Super Service at Oxnard. No Pontiac dealer at Hatteras. No Bigboy. No June Ellen’s.
Hey Brian :
I was born in Van Nuys in 1946. My lovely wife of 35 years and I have lived in North Hollywood since ‘69. We have been active participating members of the local live theater community for over 30 years (Anteus Company??). We only have to walk 2 minutes to the Redline Subway for a seamless 3 minute trip to Universal, a 10 minute trip to the movies in Hollywood and concerts at the Bowl and the Ford Theater (Pilgrimage Theater??), or a 20 minute trip to the Wiltern. I don’t doubt that there will be some form of film theater built in the new development currently ongoing around the North Hollywood subway platform. What goes around comes around…
.
The area that this theater was/is located in wasn’t the cause of the decline nor the problems at this theater. Sorry to say…. The place was a dump!
.
I was born in Van Nuys in 1946 on a small ranch on the South side of Roscoe Blvd. at Kester Ave. directly east of the old Van Nuys Drive-in that was built in 1948.
After the old Fox Theater in Van Nuys closed it’s doors, the western wear outfit by the name of “King’s Western Wear” was located there for many years. King’s has since moved to a new location on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.
The Fox location is still a Latino swap-meet style business. Moviemanforever mentioned Cupid’s Hot Dogs in this thread. Unfortunately Cupids is no longer in business. The business closed and there is a small strip mini-mall at that location now. Same for the old Chris & Pitts Bar-B-Que on Victory Blvd. and Fulton.
Someone mentioned cruising. I met my wife while cruising Van Nuys Blvd. and we have been together now over 35 years. The days of Oscar’s drive-thru, The A&W, Brunswick Bowl, June Ellen Donuts and Bob’s Big Boy-Van Nuys are a distant memory. Although one can still get carhop service at the Toluca Bob’s Big Boy on Riverside Drive just west of Pass Avenue. And, the Panorama Bowling alley is still in operation. The old Panorama walk-in theater at Van Nuys Blvd. and Nordoff Street presents Latin films but the front of the theater has changed very little since it’s opening. Chi’s Chi’s Pizza is no longer there either and Mike’s Pizza on Van Nuys south of Roscoe closed right after the owner Paul Green passed away. My first job was working for Paul Green and his brother Harold as a back kitchen setup cook and front kitchen Friday/Saturday cook.
In closing — I really love this site. Thanks to who/whomever set it up and keeps it going.