Showing the way things were in 1939
Images: from brochure distributed at 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition.
“…in the past it has been impossible to detect certain kinds of imperfection by external appearance alone. Frost damage and granulations in oranges…leave no indications on the surface…”
“This X-ray inspection unit permits the operator to look right through the fruit instead of at its surface only.”
Excerpts from the brochure.
Image: 1939 newspaper ad from unidentified publication
Graham introduced a dramatically-styled line of cars in 1938 that continued for a few years. The ad above shows quite a few dealers in southern California.
A blogger speculates whether the “Sharknose” car inspired the Batmobile in period comics at http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/03/was-the-first-batmobile-a-coffin-nosed-cord-or-a-graham-sharknose-part-two/ . Be sure to click on the link to see photos that show the car from a variety of angles. The linked story includes the fascinating history of the company.
“Here’s the roundup, I mean, the lineup: ‘Stagecoach’ (April 5), ‘Destry Rides Again’ (April 12)…They screen at 6:30 p.m. at the [Ontario] library, 215 E. C St. in downtown Ontario [,C A]. [David Allen will] be there to introduce them. Admission is free, as is the popcorn.”
Excerpt and “Stagecoach” image from https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/03/31/wanted-folks-to-watch-westerns-in-ontario/ .
Newspaper columnist and author David Allen will be hosting the two classic 1939 westerns. See his column in the link above for more information, including brief descriptions of the films for those who aren’t already familiar with them.
John Wayne in “Stagecoach” and James Stewart in “Destry…”, were among other southern California resident actors. Many of the location shoots took place in southern California. See the links below for details.
“Stagecoach” — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031971/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt .
“Destry Rides Again” — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031225/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt .
“The annual swallow migration has received a lot of attention over the years. For instance, Leon Rene’s 1939 hit, When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano song lyrics are a tribute to the long migration.
“The amazing journey takes the swallows over 12,000 miles round-trip. They abandon their winter haven in Goya, Corrientes, Argentina and travel to southern California, arriving on St Joseph’s Day (March 19th)…”
Excerpt from http://www.arkanimals.com/capistrano-swallows/ .
1939 image at the San Gabriel mission: Frasher Foto via http://ravenjake.typepad.com/blog/2009/07/the-old-mother-grapevine-of-san-gabriel.html .
“The “Old Mother Grapevine” was planted in 1861… and is one of the most beloved plants in California. She’s kind of a celebrity and has been since the turn of the century. At one point she covered 10,000 square feet…”
Ravenjake (at link above) quotes Ken Payton, from Reign of Terroir, “…the historically important Mission grape is still being used in California for blends and even for 100% variety bottlings. About 1000 acres of Mission remain under cultivation here, roughly the same acreage as Petit Verdot! Though a far less distinguished grape than PV, nevermind Cabernet or Zinfandel, the other ‘founding’ California vine, the Mission grape possesses an unrivaled caché in the state.”
More from Ravenjake: “Here’s another wrinkle in the whole ‘how old is she?’ debate, and that is that Mission grapes were planted maybe as early as 1771 – that sign sayin’ 1775 is about right. Mother Grapevine is maybe 500 feet from the mission, and could have been from the original vineyard. ‘Could’ve been,’ not ‘was.’ Now apparently, the 1861 date was based on an affidavit that the vine was planted by someone named David Franklin Hall of the Michael White Ranch (aka the Mission yard) in that year. Well folks, I’m not entirely convinced! I’m gonna keep an open mind until some more information comes in. All this tells me is that the minimum planting date is 1861, and she might be older – almost 100 years older! If the real date is 1775, then the old girl is 234 years old.
“The San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce newsletter says that when she was at her productive peak (as opposed to the petite decorative mode she’s in now) she produced one ton of grapes per year – enough to make 400-600 barrels of wine. They also say that despite her advanced age, she’s low maintainence – just periodic prunings to keep her on the arbor.”
Read more about it at the link above.
Today’s date could be written 3/9 so it could be considered ’39 Day.
Manhattan Beach Boulevard at Ocean Drive looking west toward the pier.
Image from https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sylmar,_Los_Angeles .
Advertising for Sylmar olives on San Fernando Road, 1939.
