;:<:".:" -~.

:,
" .... -.
i '.,"

A Western Magazine Published at

from. Knott's Berry Plaee,

Ghost Town Village Buena Park, {;alif.

_uOml~_e_28
.-----U+:J:
N
V
!
- -------1 Un BUENA PARK, DECEMBER, 1942
c: _ _---:

I
i
I
I
I
!
!
I
I
I
I
I -~-~ ~1II/, /
I ---~--~:>--~~~ ~ jf - ­
I ~~
,

~I ~~~~
_
! ~~~
I
J i
I \ i
II I

I
,

I
-
__I:

I
I I
f
I
I
I

f
iL.___._.___ ~ !ltrry C!!qristmus 19'42 ~_.___.__.J
,!II
Page 2
~---- .. ----...- - - . - . -..- .. --~---.---------------;------
The Ghost Town News
Western Magazine
Publish<!d bi-monthly at Knott'. Berry Place, Buena
Park. California. Single copies 10 cents. Annual
subscription (six i••ue.) 50 cents. Two years (12
issues) One Dollar_ Postage paid anywhere in the
U.S. A.
matter is
NICHOLS FIELD WILSON • • • • Editor
Address all communications and make all remit­
tances payable to Ghost Town New.. Buena Park,
California.
Vol. 2 Decembu. 1942 No.8
Copyright 1942
VICTORY
Every man, woman and child prays for
an early Victory and a return to conditions
of peace. Many are doing big things to
hasten the winning of the war and many
more are eager to do something but need
a bit of advice or some practical sugges­
tion on how to get started.
WaIter Knott has an idea and is acting
upon it. In the next issue of this magazine
he will tell you in plain simple words what
you can do to help win the war and also
help yourself. It is for all America-men,
women and children. Any boy or girl, ten
years of age, or older will be able to read
and understand the sound suggestions and
plan-a plan for you to help in the mighty
effort of all ages.
Secretary Wickard has told us that
"food will win the war" and history tells
us how hUnger has lost other great wars.
Already in this land of plenty we are, feel­
ing the effects of food shortages in some
products-shortages caused by the exi­
gences of war. Many other things will
GHOST TOWN NEWS
be scarce, hard to get and very expensive
-and rationing of various commodities is
under way.
Every family that grows and produces
a part of the food they eat contributes di­
rectly to the winning of the war-yes, if
you only produce a few crates of carrots
or a few rows of potatoes you help win
the war! If you think vegetables and things
to eat are expensive and hard to get now­
just imagine how you are going to get
the fresh vegetables, the fruit. the berries
and the farm products you crave-say this
time next year.
In our next issue you may learn how
you may have a great plenty of good
things to eat for your own table-how pos­
sibly you can help out a neighbor and
how you can do vour bit in contributing
to Winning a qUicker victory.
Walter Knott isn't simply going to tell
you how. Down at Knott's Berry Place for
twenty-two years vegetables and berries
have been produced-successfully-so suc­
cessfully that from a small patch of rented
land an establishment has grown up that
is famed all over the land: Surely this is
the best proof of practical experience.
There are a lot of people that have splen­
did ideas of how a Victory Garden can
be helpful to any family. Many have ac­
tually done a great job in getting Victory
Gardens started but today you who would
like to have a garden want information
and knowledge of a very practical nature.
You want 'to avoid the mistakes that result
in failure. ' You. want your Victory Garden
to successfully produce some good things
to eat on your table and to help win the
war.
Forty years ago Walter Knott, then a
school boy in Pomona started growing
vegetables to get pocket money. He went
to neighbors and made a deal to "weed"
their vacant lots as rent for the use of the
land. He planted vegetables. He grew and
sold vegetables-and he has been growing
and marketing vegetables ever since. What
Walter Knott tells you about growing
vegetables is knowledge obtained the hard
way-the experience of forty years of
successful production.
Down at Knott's Berry Place on High­
way No. 39, two miles south of Buena
Park ( out Manchester-Firestone, east on
Highway 101. 22 miles from Los Angeles),
Mr. Knott will early in the coming season
plant a typical Victory Garden on a piece
of land 20 x 30 feet-just the size fot al­
most any back yard. It will be an actual
demonstration. No theory. No guess work.
You can duplicate this very Victory Gar­
den in your own back yard.
If you haven't the room on your own
lot, or if you don't own a lot, there is
probably one or more vacant lots in your
immediate neighborhood that you can get
the use of in exchange for a small part of
the vegetables and berries you grow.
In the next issue of Ghost Town News
will be an article written by Mr, Knott
telling you about this Victory Garden and
giving you the benefit of forty years ex­
perience in growing vegetables. Mr. Knott
will give you facts and figures ,and the in­
formation should be of priceless value to
those planning a Victory Garden.
The Knott Nursery will issue a new
folder telling you what to plant, how to
plant, when to plant ,and illustrate it with
pictures and diagrams. Other nurseries and
seed houses will this year include in their
cataloQ pictures and descriptions of Vic­
tory Gardens and· also furnish priceless
information to those who would succeed
with a Victory Garden of their own. You
can obtain a copy of the Knott Nursery
folder by writing Knott's Berry Place,
Buena Park, California. All of the leading
seed and nursery houses also issue cat­
alogs that will give you helpful informa­
tion and excellent ideas on Victory Gar­
dens. Among others, Armstrong Nurseries
of 12908 Magnolia Blvd., North Holly­
wood and Germain· Seed and Plant Com­
pany, 625 South Hill Street, Los Angeles.
Mr. Knott figures that he can help in
the war effort best bv helping thousands
to help themselves and help the war effort
by producing what Secretary Wickard says
will win the war-food.
No matter how busy you are, a Victory
Garden is yours if you want it, and Ghost
Town News will tell you how and the
demonstration at Knott's Berry Place will
sbow you how. You can obtain much help
and learn about plants -and seeds through
the catalogs of either Knott's, ,Germain's
or Armstrong's, and those of other seed
companies and nurseries.
Here's a thing everyone can do. Interest
the children. Your own or someone else's
boys and girls. Tell them how they can
help win the war. Help them to find a
bit of land on which to start their garden.
Give them your aid and advice. Arrange
to get nursery and seed company catalogs
with the pictures and illustrations in their
hands. Lend them a bit of encouragement,
Direct their youthful enthusiasm into this
channel where the)' .. have fun -and good
healthful exercise. Work that is play and
work that will help them all through their
lives-and let these young growing Ameri­
cans Snd their way to help bring about
Victory. The number one demonstration
will be at Knott's Berry .Place--who will
start the number two?
-N.F.W.
 '( .. -~ - ,,,,,. ~""
I Knew Bidwell
Mine is indeed a rich heritage. Exalted
among my many privileges as a native
Californian, son of pioneer parents. has
been the personal acquaintance with a
goodly number of pioneer commonwealth
builders. For this blessing I am profoundly
grateful.
Among all the early Californians I have
known-and I may add. among all I have
come to know about - I hold none in
higher record or deeper veneration than
John Bidwell, pioneer of 1841. It is now
almost half a century since. as a young
teacher of history. I met him personally.
A contemplation of his long and active
life. supplemented by that personal asso­
ciation for which there is no substitute,
has been a well-spring of inspiration
through these many years. I wish now
'that all the youth of California might be­
come acquainted with his character; for to
know him as he was cannot but be en#
nob ling. He was a man of whom the
Golden State may always be justly proud.
,For intimate glimpses into the life of
John Bidwell the man there is no more
valuable source than his own personal
diaries. kept with remarkable fidelity
through a number of decades of his ab­
sorbingly busy career. The diaries consti­
tute an invaluable part of the Bidwelliana
to be found in the State Library, at Sac-,
ramento.
True to his chosen farmer occupation,
he never failed to note the state of the
weather. record the date of the first ripe
cherries and other fruits and berries. enter
the purchase of a pure-bred bull or blooded
horse. As a citizen he has preserved for
us innumerable events of little and (lreat
consequence--about "Good Roads Asso­
ciation meetings," anti-debris conventions.
trustee actions of Chico Normal School.
and so on. As a politician his entries are
brief and explicit but always modest from
a personal standTlOint. One learns much
about his chief interests in religion and
church activities. He was the leading mem­
ber and supporter of the local Presbyte­
rian Church. in which. among other activi­
ties. he regularly taught a Sunday School
class for vears. An intriguing feature tells
of the almost constant stream of guests at
the Bidwell mansion, for the General and
Mrs. Bidwell were entertainers par ex­
cellence. Guests included persons of dis­
tinction. like 'President Hayes. John Muir.
and Sir Joseph Hooker. but also many of
humble station.
It gave me a little thrill of pride to find.
one day not long ago. after the lapse of
forty years. that Bidwell had recorded my
own visits to Rancho Chico. For Decem­
ber 27. 1897, I came upon this entry:
"R.R. Station to meet Prof. R. D. Hunt."
The entry for the evening of the 28th'
brought back vivid and happy memories:
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By ROCKWELL D. HUNT
i uting to each, always eager to learn from
John BidweU
"Indian Christmas tonight at Rancheria.
Prof. Hunt and I went-great crowd
there." My visit in June, 1898. was for me
a gala occasion, for it afforded me a very
unusual opportunity. But first. a little side­
light for June 10: "Pavilion to see Dog
and Pony Show this evening and 4 to 6
P.M. drove. wife and Prof. Hunt with me,
to see grain fields." It was the 21st when
the (to me) memorable camping trip into
the Sierra Nevada began: "Wife, Reuben
and Mr. Reeves with me, also Prof. R. D.
Hunt-Had two wagons and tent. Camped
in usual places." That short camping trip
with the General and his "Precious" was
a never-to~be-forgotten 'experience. How
could I ever forget Bidwell's keen interest
in the many flowers and plants. whose
botanical names he had carefully mastered.
or his remarkable facility in quoting the
Psalms of David or lines from one of the
great nature poets! I have never ceased
to derive pleasure from this memory; the
experience afforded me real acquaintance
with the man I have called "Prince of
California Pioneers" and with his charm­
ing, devoted wife. California's noblewoman,
Annie Kennedy Bidwell.
Another valued experience was that of
sitting pencil in hand in the spacious
veranda of the mansion, alone with Gen­
eral Bidwell. while he talked of early days
in California. I had read books and arti­
cles and reports, but here history itself
was made audible-what a' treat it was to
Page 3
sit there taking notes while a leading par­
ticipant in our glamourous history in per­
son told of the kaleidoscopic life of which
he was a part! And rest assured I priz~
to this day the pages of notes I took dur­
ing those precious hours.
John Bidwell was a pioneer of pioneers.
On the 19th of May, 1941. the grateful
people of Chico celebrated, with a beauti­
ful pageant and other events, the cen­
tenary of his leaving Sapling Grove with
"The First Emigrant Train to California"
on the Big Trek. That trek deserves to be
a classic in American History. After al­
most six months he arrived at "Doctor"
Marsh's ranch, near the base of Mt. Diablo.
Within a short time he gained prominence
and won the solid respect of his contem­
poraries. native Californians and Ameri­
cans alike.
Thus he figured in the respective phases
of California history, generously contrib­
the swift current of events. He saw life
in the Arcadian days of the "Splendid Idle
Forties," and all his subsequent life was
influenced thereby. He served as an officer
under Fremont in the California Battalion
during the American conquest. He prompt­
ly learned of Marshall's discovery of gold
-in fact, he narrowly missed making a
prior discovery himself, and he did mine
a large amount of gold at Bidwell Bar,
now one of the northern ghost cities. He
was chosen a delegate to the Monterey
Convention of 1849 (though he did not
actually serve), and was a leading mem­
ber of the first state senate. In Wash­
ington he espoused the cause of Califor­
nia's admission into the Union as the six­
teenth free state.
Few indeed have been the men who
have contributed more generously to the
upbuilding of the Empire State of the Pa­
cific from that fateful mid-century year,
1850, to the beginning of the twentieth
century. The "Father of Chico" was Cali­
fornia's chief agriculturist; in the' political
arena he served with honor in the coun­
cils of both state and nation; as philan­
thropist he made uncounted individuals and
institutions recipients of his gifts; as ex­
emplar of the qualities of noble manhood
he has bequeathed to us an unsullied name
and a heritage of which nothing can rob us.
To record the life story of such a pio­
neer many-sided. versatile, possessing
withal the chastity of honor, embodying
the dignity and worth of true Christian
manhood-is in truth an exalted privilege,
a fascinating labor of love.
(Rockwell D. Hunt's new book. John
Bidwell: Prince of California Pioneers
($3.50) published by Caxton Printers. will
be on sale December. 1942.)
 • a.-.
I Knew Bidwell
Mine is indeed a rich heritage. Exalted
among my many privileges as a native
Californian. son of pioneer parents. has
been the personal acquaintance with a
goodly number of pioneer commonwealth
builders. For this blessing I am profoundly
grateful.
Among all the early Californians I have
known-and I may add. among all I have
come to know about - I hold none in
higher record or deeper veneration than
John Bidwell. pioneer of 1841. It is now
almost half a century since. as a young
teacher of history. I met him personally.
A contemplation of his long and active
life. supplemented by that personal asso­
ciation for which there is no substitute.
has been a well-spring of inspiration
through these many years. I wish now
that all the youth of California might be­
come acquainted with his character; for to
know him as he was cannot but be en­
nobling. He was a man of whom the
Golden State may always be justly proud.
For intimate glimpses into the life of
John Bidwell the man there is no more
valuable source than his own personal
diaries. kept with remarkable fidelity
through a number of decades of his ab­
sorbingly busy career. The diaries consti­
tute an invaluable part of the Bidwelliana
to be found in the State Library. at Sac-,
ramento.
True to his chosen farmer occupation,
he never failed to note the state of the
weather. record the date of the nrst ripe
cherries and other fruits and berries, enter
the purchase of a pure-bred bull or blooded
horse. As a citizen he has preserved for
us innumerable events of little and great
consequence-about "Good Roads Asso­
ciation meetings." anti-debris conventions.
trustee actions of Chico Normal School.
and so on. As a politician his entries are
brief and explicit but always modest from
a personal stand1'>Oint. One learns much
about his chief interests in religion and
church activities. He was the leading mem­
ber and supporter of the local Presbyte­
rian Church. in which. among other activi­
ties. he regularly taught a Sunday School
class for years. An intriguing feature tells
of the almost constant stream of guests at
the Bidwell mansion. for the General and
Mrs. Bidwell were entertainers par ex­
cellence. Guests· included persons of dis­
tinction. like -President Hayes. John Muir.
and Sir Joseph Hooker. but also many of
humble station.
It gave me a little thrill of pride to find,
one day not long ago. after the lapse of
forty years. that Bidwell had recorded my
own visits to Rancho Chico. For Decem­
ber 27. 1897. I came upon this entry:
·'R.R. Station to meet Prof. R. D. Hunt."
The entry for the evening of the 28th ~
brought back vivid and happy memories:
•
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By ROCKWELL D. HUNT
John Bidwell
"Indian Christmas tonight at Rancheria.
Prof. Hunt and I went-great crowd
there." My visit in June. 1898. was for me
a gala occasion. for it afforded me a very
unusual opportunity. But nrst. a little side­
light for June 10: "Pavilion to see Dog
and Pony Show this evening and 4 to 6
P.M. drove. wife and Prof. Hunt with me.
to see grain fields." It was the 21st when
the (to me) memorable camping trip into
the Sierra Nevada began: "Wife. Reuben
and Mr. Reeves with me, also Prof. R. D.
Hunt~Had two wagons and tent. Camped
in usual places." That short camping trip
with the General and his "Precious" was
a never-to-be#forgotten experience. How
could I ever forget Bidwell's keen interest
in the many Howers and plants. whose
botanical names he had carefully mastered,
or his remarkable facility in quoting the
Psalms of David or lines from one of the
great nature poets! I have never ceased
to derive pleasure from this memory: the
experience afforded me real acquaintance
with the man I have called "Prince of
California Pioneers" and with his charm~
ing. devoted wife. California's noblewoman.
Annie Kennedy Bidwell.
Another valued experience was that of
sitting pencil in hand - in the spacious
veranda of the mansion. alone with Gen­
eral Bidwell. while he talked of early days
in California. I had read books and arti­
cles and reports. but here history itself
was made audible-what a' treat it was to
Page 3
sit there taking notes while a leading par­
ticipant in our glamourous history in per­
son told of the kaleidoscopic life of which
he was a part! And rest assured I prize
to this day the pages of notes I took dur­
ing those precious hours.
John Bidwell was a pioneer of pioneers.
On the 19th of May. 1941. the grateful
people of Chico celebrated. with a beauti­
ful pageant and other events. the cen­
tenary of his leaving Sapling Grove with
"The First Emigrant Train to California"
on the Big Trek. That trek deserves to be
a classic in American History. After al­
most six months he arrived at "Doctor"
Marsh's ranch. near the base of Mt. Diablo.
Within a short time he gained prominence
and won the solid respect of his contem­
poraries. native Californians and Ameri­
cans alike.
Thus he figured in the respective phases
of California history, generously contrib­
uting to each. always eager to learn from
the swift current of events. He saw life
in the Arcadian days of the "Splendid Idle
Forties." and all his subsequent life was
inHuenced thereby. He served as an officer
under Fremont in the California Battalion
during the American conquest. He prompt­
ly learned of Marshall's discovery of gold
-in fact. he narrowly missed making a
prior discovery himself. and he did mine
a large amount of gold at Bidwell Bar,
now one of the northern ghost cities. He
was chosen a delegate to the Monterey
Convention of 1849 (though he did not
actually serve), and was a leading mem­
ber of the first state senate. In Wash­
ington he espoused the cause of Califor­
nia's admission into the Union as the six­
teenth free state.
Few indeed have been the men who
have contributed more generously to the
upbuilding of the Empire State of the Pa­
cific from that fateful mid-century year.
1850, to the beginning of the twentieth
century. The "Father of Chico" was Cali­
fornia's chief agriculturist; in the' political
arena he served with honor, in the coun­
cils of both state and nation; as philan­
thropist he made uncounted individuals and
institutions recipients of his gifts; as ex­
emplar of the qualities of noble manhood
he has bequeathed to us an unsullied name
and a heritage of which nothing can rob us.
To record the life story of such a pio­
neer - many-sided. versatile. possessing
withal the chastity of honor. embodYing
the dignity and worth of true Christian
manhood-is in truth an exalted privilege,
a fascinating labor of love.
(Rockwell D. Hant's new book. John
Bidwell: Prince ot California Pioneers
($3.50) published by Caxton Printers. will
be on sale December, 1942,)
Page 4
A Solid Meal
If a proprietor has been out among the
Ghost Towns, searching for a lead, and he
is hollow clear down to his boots, and
hC;nkering for a platter of ham and eggs
wIth a stack of bucks and Java, he dis­
likes to go into an eating-house and be
seated at an old pine table and served
with a lot of uncooked victuals that are
hard as a rock, and stone cold.
Ordinarily, he will get up and march out
in a huff, but if this sort of thing happens
to him at "My Office" in Randsburg he
is apt to push back his chair and offer
Kent S. Knowlton a hundred or two for
the privilege of scooping up the food and
taking it home with him. There will be no
rationing of food at "My Office" for the
period of the war, for Kent's food supply
is inexhaustible. He serves the only in­
destructible meal obtainable in California.
Hundreds. even thousands. will bear
testimony that it is the rockiest meal ever
set before them, It reminds one of the
sign in a short order house over near
Gila Bend, which says: "If you can't
wrastle our steaks, don't bend 'em all out
of shape; mebbe somebody else could do
something with them'"
The rocky meal that Kent shoves across
the festal board may not be the tenderest
and juiciest in the West, but it will stay
with you for a long, long while if you
succeed in tuckin' it under your belt, and
speakin' "Of biological chemistry, it con­
tains all the minerals essential to human
sustenance. This meal is a product of the
fabulous Mojave Desert. and deserves to
be listed among "Other Good Places to
Eat" for the all sl}1llcient reason that it
is unique and entirely out of the ordinary.
Kent got the inspiration for it after
poking around into all the nooks and cor­
ners of the Mojave. For u.,wards of 20
years he was an indefatigable mineral
collector. His associates will tell you he
picked up in the highways and byways not
less than 20.000 mineral specimens. Many
of them were among the finest to be seen
Kent S. Knowlton of Randsburg tackles his "Rocky Meal," out on the porch
at "My Office," even though the food is stone cold and uncooked.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By HOWARD KEGLEY
in Southern California private collections.
This fellow Kent Knowlton is a big
town chap who went back to the mines,
He was quite somebody years ago in
Bakersfield. After a long pull in commercia. I
life he slipped into Randsburg and opened
"My Office", a central clearing-house for
human activities, where they have some
pool tables. a bar where hard and soft
pine mingle with hard and soft drinks, a
counter where you can get something sub­
stantial for the inner man, a case where
you can buy tobacco, gum and candy, And
all this is surrounded by Kent and his min­
eral collection. and Swannee. who is chef
de cuisine.
Peop,le in all walks of life throng "My
Office', and on Sundays it is the leading
tourist attraction in the famous old mining
camp. Visitors pour in frQm every point
of the compass to have a glimpse of this
odd little human rendezvous and the droll,
philosophical business man who guides its
destinies, Visitors are interrupted by fel­
lows who want to know where they can
pick up a mine lease. how to hold a bil­
liard cue. or what he thinks an assayer
would find in an are specimen from one
of their pockets. I
Kent, by the way, was one of the first
mineral collectors in Southern California to
purchase a fluorescent lamp and install it
in his place of business for the edification
of visitors, As soon as the room is reason­
ably well filled with visitors. and after
everyone has been limbered up with a few
of Kent's favorite Ghost Town stories,
he leads the crowd over into a corner.
where he has had one of the waiters serve
his famous Rocky Meal.
It graces a table with a checkered ging­
ham cloth. He seats one visitor in a rick­
ety kitchen chair, and points to a Sizzling
T-bone steak-sizzling because it is mid·
summer in Randsburg.
On that table is a seven-course meaL
Everything on it is the exact counterpart
of the food it is supposed to represent.
Five feet away you'd swear the celery and
olives and the marble cake were real
The steak looks good enough to eat. The
potatoes are placer rock from Galer Can­
yon. The Trona Cauliflower is a limestone
formation from Miracle City. The baked
Hubbard squash is a rhyolite formation
from the Rand district. Italian squash and
turnips are concretions from Mojave Des­
ert. Inyokern desert clams on the halfshell
are Mojave Desert clam fossils. Head
cheese is sardonyx from the EI Paso Moun­
tains. Pig's knuckles are rhyolite samples
from Summit Diggin's. Peanut candy is
quartz are from Atolia. Rademacher's gin­
ger cake is a lime formation from Rade­
macher. Cantil salad and schmierkase ·are
inclusions in clay from Cantil. Piccalilli
sauce is chalcedony opal and rhyolite from
Johannesburg, Celery and olives are Kern~
ite and obsidian from Kramer. Potato chips
are oyster shells from ancient desert
beaches. After dinner mints are discs of
colored sands from Red Mountain. Pepper
is black sand, salt is from Searles Lake.
Marble cake is lime onyx from Walker
Pass. Cream puffs are geodes from Death
Valley. Mint jelly is colored borax. The
pie is gold are with lime crystals.
Like as not the famished tourist will push
back his chair and exclaim: "I can't eat
that stuff; ifs stone cold and hard as a
rock'" Up steps Kent, then. and pointing
to a showcase against the wall, he directs
attention to several molars from a petrified
mastodon, which were picked up in Jaw­
bone Canyon.
"Wearin' store teeth. huh?" says Kent.
"Well, if your teeth are too poor to mas­
ticate that meal. I'll rent you a set'"

The Old CliIf House Bus
San Francisco 1895
Gasoline Go-Buggy
By CARL T. NUNAN
We're sitting in front of the open fire~ of San Francisco knew anything about the
place in the historic Cliff House, leisurely invention of Wilkins. not even the manu~
thumbing through an old scrap book. a
wistful souvenir of vanished times. We
give no heed to the gaiety \loing on about
us, except to enjoy the view of the sea
pounding Seal Rocks, for here is content~
ment, sweet and blissful-comfort in front
of the flickering flames, with a scrap book impression on the public mind-we can
on the knee, and a glass of soothing cheer
for sipping,
Only last night We had borrowed this
book of treasured items from Mrs, J, M.
Wilkins and the first item that attracted
our attention was one concerning her hus­
band, the late James M. Wilkins, whom
historians of early day San Francisco al­
ways refer to as "Mine Host Wilkins", for
Wilkins operated and managed the Cliff
House from 1885 to 1907. The item bore , its history. made notes of its peculiar mer~
the date mark of 1912 but gave no refer~
ence as to the publication. The caption
read:
"First Automobile was Constructed in
City by the Golden Gate".
And then the story went on to say that
although it is not generally known, San
Sharing in the changing moods,
Francisco enjoys the unique distinction of
being the pioneer of the automobile indus­
try in the United States, if not the world,
in that the first automobile used in this
,country was designed and constructed in
the City By the Golden Gate. Wilkins had
designed the self-propelled vehicle back in
1876 but not until he needed transportation
for his Cliff House patrons did he build it. from logical necessity. And still back in
And then it was built to give his guests
conveyance throunh Golden Gate Park, the
Presidio and other points of interest
throughout the city as well as to and from
all stations. And then the story continued:
"Strange it may seem but nobody outside
\
most identical. with those that graced the
shown alongside of Wilkins huge Cliff
facturers who were engaged in kindred
lines. although it ran steadily in the streets
of San Francisco as the Cliff House bus
from 1895 untfl 1906." That bus, put­
putting through the streets, must have been
a wonder yet it seemed to have made little
find no one among the oldtimers who re­
calls it.
A PERENNIAL OBJECT OF
INTEREST
Back in 1912, while visiting in San
FranCisco. Benjamin Briscoe. then president
of the United States Motor Company of
New York. saw the Cliff House bus. which
had been out of use for six years. learned
its and lost no time in possessing it for
his company. For it he gave Wilkins
$1200 cold cash and a new automobile to
boot. Freighted to New York it was placed
on exhibition as an object of perennial in­
terest.
MECHANICAL FEATURES
REMARKABLE
Briscoe stated at that time that the me~
chanical features of Wilkins Cliff House
bus were remarkable--that it was difficult
for him to understand how the automobile
makers had overlooked them for so many
years. ,developing them as they did finally
1912. "The peculiar thing about the Wil­
kins machine is that in some respects it is
thoroughly up to date and far ahead me­
chanically than the early models that were
later turned out by regular automobile
manufacturers. It doesn't furnish a glaring
contrast to machines of the present day
that are designed for a similar purpose,"
RUGGED AS SEAL ROCKS
We're still in 1912. "Those buses that
run from Times Square. New York.-the
ones that have seats on the level, as dis~
tinguished from the rubber neck wagons
whnse seats are graduated like those of
a theater, are almost identical in appear­
ance with the old Cliff House bus." Wil­
kins built his bus rugged like the famed
Seal Rocks, for his machine was more
cumbersome and much heavier than those
of equal size which trundled the streets in
1912. Its wheels were as big as wagon
wheels on a horse drawn truck and tired
with solid rubber. The whole wheel was
of tremendous weight. but the old power
was there under the hood to get 'er up and
down the hills of San Francisco.-the hood.
too, unlike those of early models was al~
market of 1912.
In the auto show held in New York.
1912. a little Columbia runabout-the first
ever turned out in this country-was
House bus. In comparison. the little auto~
mobile looked more like an experimental
play toy boasting bicycle wheels than it
did like a desirable go buggy. In fact. in
that show ,the American Express Com­
pany's exhibit of a great truck van. ca­
pable of carrying a load of ten tons, only
overshadowed our Cliff House bus in
luster and finish.
And with that we snapped shut the
scrap book-sat and watched the flames
licking the chimney and within us felt a
pang of regret in that this first automobile.
cradled at the Cliff House, isn't now avail­
able for placing in the interesting collec­
tion of early San Francisco relics displayed
in this famous California landmark, the
Cliff House.
•••
The Desert and I
By BERT MOREHOUSE
The Desert and I
Are simple friends,
Frank. sincere in all we do;
We have tound each other true.
The Desert and I
Are cordial friends
Koowing each the other's ways,
We forget all else' to give
Peaceful fellowship the praise.
T he Desert and I
Are faithful friends,
Pledging neither fame nor fate;
Ours a bond so true and deep,
None would care to violate.
"" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ","""'''1114
Page 5
f
•
Page 6
A Church Beyond The Pale
D1\ring a sojourn in the large town of
Silver City, New Mexico, more than three
decades ago, I gathered a number of leg­
ends and stories; some pitiful, some jocose.
some grim to nerve-tingling. Of the con­
siderable list, these two impressed me the
most unforgettably-
The diminutive church on the hill which
never knew aught of clerical prayer or
sermon;
The doleful legend lof erring Sister Rita
and the "Kneeling Nun of the Santa Rita
Mountains."
Juanna Concepcion Ruiz (the name may
be wrong, for memory is not too secure)
was the builder of a church unto the Lord
of her Faith; but the tiny adobe, as I
heard the story, was destined never to be
dedicated by the Church. never to be en­
tered, nor blessed nor consecrated by a
priest of the Faith.
In response to my questioning, the peo­
ple of Silver City told me the tale va­
'riously; some coarsely, sneeringly, some
with moist-eyed pity, almost deifying the
sturdy builder.
For Juanna, alas, had been a courtezan
of the scattered frontier camps. Beautiful,
she was, and her conquests were many,
usually - involving important personages.
Sordidness was not for her. And she was
a woman of business ability. In time her
bank accounts and property investments
were considerable.
Came a day when Juanna Concepcion
Ruiz forsook her age-old vocation and
turned to the Church for solace. Rather,
she sought to tum, but, to her surprise and
chagrin, the Church, as there represented,
would have naught of her.
As I heard the story, baptism was stern­
iy refused with the self-same admonition
which staggered the "Rich Young Man":
"Go sell what thou hast and give to the
poor." The test of contrition was too se­
vere. Juanna could not comply. Instead she
bought a small plot of ground just outside
the city and bUilt her own church.
The chapel was of adobe, sturdy of
cross, strongly roofed, neatly painted as to
the wood-work; but so small that to enter
seemed like entering a shortened Pullman
coach. But all of the churchly trappings
were complete-handsome altar, and chan­
cel, candles ready for the lighting, urns for
the holy water, gated pews with kneeling
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By EDMUND G. KINYON
cushions. Back of the chancel stood the
Christ in portraiture. Pedestaled Madonnas,
there were.
Having completed her church to the last
loving touch, Juanna Concepcion besought
the Bishop of the Diocese to direct its
dedication, or, at least, to give his blessing.
But again the stern edict! So, as it turned
out, Juanna was the only worshipper and
her supplications were ever beyond the
pale of the Church.
It is my recollection that a year or two
before my stay in Silver City the dis­
traught Magdalene had died-of broken
heart, so it was said-and that kind neigh­
bors had in reverence carried her body to
the church of her building and thence to
the cemetery.
If so, the act and whatever of service
must have been purely informal; for it ap­
pears that the Church never lifted its ban
of disapproval-that no one of authority
ever stood forth to ask who was qualified
to cast the first stone. It was so written,
the law!
During my stay I walked often with a
friend of Sunday afternoons to the little
church on the hill. It was then in semi­
abandonment, somewhat weather-beaten,
door unlocked. windows ajar. But from
pilfering or desecration, the little outpost
of a lonely faith appeared immune.
During the intervening years I have
thought often of Juanna Concepcion Ruiz
and of the church which she builded for
the atonement which was not to be. Un­
orthodoxly, I have wondered if the rev­
erence and devotion thus symbolized might
not, after all. have constituted a more valid
passport to the Elysium which she visioned
than would have the empty ritualistic forms'
denied her.
THE LEGEND OF THE KNEELING
NUN
In the Santa Rita mountains, eastward
of Silver City, stands a huge monolith
characterized by lines in which fanciful
persons. standing at a distance, may de­
scribe the form of a woman kneeling in
prayer.
The associated legend goes back three
centuries to the time when the Spanish
Conquistadors forced their will and rule
upon the Aztecs of Mexico. Gold was their
lust; and when, out of the Far North. came
rumors of mines of extraordinary richness,
Cortez sent an expedition to explore and
profit.
Across a thousand miles of sands and
chapparel traveled the armed soldiers of
the Spanish Monarch, and witb them went
strange. black-clothed, oddly-hatted figures;
prayer book in hand. chanting their lit~
anies-the Soldiers of the Cross. In the
Santa Ritas, while the 'military invaders
sought (not wholly in vain. it is believed)
for gold, the Godly men and women estab­
lished a mission or cloister. When the sol­
diers departed, they remained.
The legend is that Sister Rita of the
Order of Nuns. having broken her vows.
was summoned before the austere Abbess
and ordered to disclose the name of her
accomplice in infamy. Beautiful. drab~clad
Rita said no word. "The dungeon till she
speaks." That was the cruel verdict.
About sixty years ago Frank Gamblos­
a faro dealer of Silver City-but a grad#
uate of Yale and talented. hrlaginative,
wrote a long topical poem based upon the
legendary fragments of the incident handed
down from one generation to another. With
much of circumstance, it describes the
events leading to the immolation of Rita
and her sufferings as she langUished long
in that dreadful dungeon . . . and her un­
breakable silence.
But came a mighty cataclysm of nature.
The heavens were rent, the earth con­
vulsed. As the cloistered band supplicated
in terror, a sympathizing priest slipped
away to burst the dungeon door and free
Sister Rita. They fled together just as the
mountain toppled to entomb the frenzied
worshippers.
Would that it were possible to repro­
duce Frank Gamblos's classical poem,
over-long hidden from public view, but my
space limit forbids. However, the denoue­
ment of the tale is contained in these lines:
The mountain groan'd, heav'd, and reefd;
The vault of heaven rift and clashed
In thunder tones; the lightning flash'd
A stream of living {ire; the priest
Told o'er his beads; the storm increased
Its fury; through air rolling on
Came globes of {ire; they struck the dome:
"Come, Rita, haste! Let us away­
Death's around us-we must obey!"
There came a voice as though from heaven
"Rest in peace, thou art forgiven,"
Around her form his arms did clasp---­
"'Twas stone he held within his grasp!"
It is a tradition that markings -of mines
believed to have been worked by the Con~
qUistadors exist in Southwestern -New Mex­
ico. Moreover, that, in the course of ex­
ploration of one such locality. an arched
tomb containing many human skeletons
was disclosed.

Lady Sourdough
By FRANCES ELLA FITZ
At my lec­
tures I'm always
asked to talk
about my latest
book . . . LADY
SOURDOUGH ...
and as to when
a new book will
be out, just as
if I were a real
author and had
been turning
books out all
my life. It took
Frances Ella Fitz me four years
to write LADY
Author of
Thanksgiving. Christmas and New Years.
lady Sourdouoh
SOURDOUGH and
one year to
have it edited and published. and as I am
seventy~six. it naturally is problematical as
to future results.
I have a great admiration for those
writers who can create their characters,
place in the imaginary background. the
romance and tragedy and 'everything to
make an interesting piece of fiction. But
my characters were alive very much
alive. Thirty thousand souls landed on the
beach at Nome in the spring of 1900 and
out of this crowd came my associates and
companions during my six years in Alaska.
Although most of them are gone I have
brought them to life again in LADY SOUR­
DOUGH,-and Faust. too.-the little cocker
spaniel. who trotted so faithfully by my
side through all those harroWing experi~
ences; starved and froze with me and
went on to prosperity with me. In one
wav I believe that he was more fortunate
than I-no. I'll say more comfortable--for
there were no Heas in Alaska and there
was a strength of vermin which had a
habit of finding me.
I'm asked why did I go to Alaska. The
answer is GOLD. Alaska spelled nothing
but gold in those days. Just as the Gay
Nineties melted into nineteen hundred. I
read an exciting article in a New York
Sunday paper. stating how you could pick
gold right out of the sand along the beach
at Nome. Gold is a fascinating word at
any time and when one is desperately in
need of money. such a condition is allur­
ing. I decided immediately that I would
go. I would take a bag. fill it up with
gold and return on the next steamer. Just
as easy as that. Then I could get for my
dainty mother. the luxuries that had so
long been denied her and that would make
me happy. It was two years before I ever
touched gold, and I went through drastic
hardships to get it.
It was 7000 miles to my destination. I
had only $25 available and it would take
$500. I tried to raise this but my relatives
and friends believed me crazy and would
not . e ncourage me in this spirit of adven­
ture. I took the $25 and depOSited it with
the Great Northern R.R. for a reservation
on the S.s. Santa Ana. sailing for Nome
May 30th from Seattle. Three days before
I had to take the train to connect with this
steamer I did not have the money nor did
I get it. but I did land in Nome on June
12th. 1900 and not on the Santa Ana.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
Now visualize--Ianding on the beach at
Nome--a young woman that appeared not
to be over eighteen. five feet two. weigh­
ing 106 pounds. wearing a 5Y2 glove and
a 3Y2 shoe. born in Boston. cultured. dainty
and finicky. especially about food.
There were a few prosperous months
tvpewriting in a law office in Nome. then
the hardships started; trips. starvation.
blizzards. Hoods. freezing. vermin. every­
thing to make life unbearable. A trip from
Nome to Council. 100 miles away. in
weather from 25 to 50 below. was to take
seven days with comfortable quarters at
night. We were 52 days which included
tell them something. The boys called to
him to come on. but he would not move.
We had taken the wrong trail. I did not
have my clothes off in that time. There
were five men. Faust. and I; a trail that
never before or since has been travelled
in the winter. During a blizzard we lay in
the snow in an 8xlO tent for four days
without any fire. Toward the end of this
trip we had no food at a1l for days and
I would reach out for a handful of snow
to try and satisfy the hunger. and faithful
Faust looked up at me and wondered at
it all. When we reached our destination at
the mining camp. I was compelled to sleep
for five months in a bunk made of spruce
poles laid lengthWise. and no mattress. I
rolled up in my blankets.-in fact I did not
sleep in a bed for fourteen months. I was
either on the Hoor. in a bunk. or in the
snow. For months I had nothing to eat
but whole-wheat Hour. beans. tea. and salt.
and many. many times no food at all for
days. We had twenty hours of darkness
and some of the time no lights at all. and
at. other times only a rig dipped in rancid
grease. but there was always the thought
of the gold that I must get and I pushed
on and on. In time I became U. S. Deputy
Recorder of the Council District. I owned
the most northerly newspaper in the world;
financed the most northerly telephone line.
--one hundred miles.-running from Nome
to Council. I had moved into a dear little
old log cabin for a home, the picture of
which has been in many magazines and
books. titled "Home Sweet Home in
Alaska". Then I acquired some rich claims,
worked them with 35 men and a super­
Alaska Cabin of Lady Sourdough.
Page 7
intendent. and there was the thrill of the
first cleanup!
Cold? Yes. it is cold in Alaska! For
instance: In our party there was Ed.
Barrie. and a man we called Pop Charles.
much older than the boys. They were
obliged to cross the country in the early
Winter of 1900. They found Solomen river
running high and the water ice cold. They
took off their clothes and placed the bun­
dles on their heads. When the boys
reached the further side they turned and
saw that Pop Charles-the water up to
his neck-was standing in the middle of
the wide river. qesticulating and tryinll to
Barry turned back into the icy water and
waded out to him. Pop Charles had shiv~
ered so that he had shivered his false teeth
out and they lay at the bottom of the river.
If he moved he would be unable to locate
them. If he went down for them his clothes
would be soaked. so Barry dived to the
bottom and brought them up. He certainly
could not have secured another set in
Alaska at that time. In the winter of 190 I
it cost me one hundred dollars to have a
small front cavity filled and it was so
badly done that I nearly lost the tooth.
I t is difficult to stop writing about
Alaska. There were many perilous trips.­
days of hunger and privations. and days of
prosperity. Then there were the beautiful
Springs with the Rowers that peeped up
through the melting snow; the wonderful
Falls with the foliage resembling gorgeous
oriental rugs.
Would I do it again? I surely would.
When I pick up a paper and read of a
new gold strike. somewhere.-anywhere.­
I want to pack my little sack and go. How
I long to go-but you can't do that at
seventy~six.
(NOTE: Frances Ella Fitz graciously
contributes this original article for readers
of Ghost Town News and it will un~
doubtedly cause many to read the splendid
book LADY SOURDOUGH by this author pub­
lished by The Macmillan Company. New
York. 'You will enjoy this factual tale of
life in Alaska during the boom days.­
EDITOR.)
Page 8
Sarah Brown Cooper: Altruist
When she met her tragic end. the San
Francisco papers gave over their entire
first pages to her story. Few persons have
done more to help their fellow-beings. And
yet today I doubt if there are twenty per­
sons in San Francisco. let alone elsewhere.
who have ever heard her name.
Sarah Brown Ingersoll was born in
Cazenovia. New York. on December 12.
1836. Her father. Captain Samuel Clark
Ingersoll, was the brother of the father of
the great Free Thinker, Colonel Robert G.
Ingersoll, who once wrote to his cousin, on
the By-leaf of on€\ of his books. "If all
Christians were like you, this book would
never have been written."
Her mother died when she was a small
child, and she was reared by an old great­
aunt. Growing up among adults. the pre­
cocious little girl soon felt herself to be
as old as any of them. In 1853 she was
graduated from Cazenovia Seminary. one
of the earlier co-educational secondary
schools. but before that time she had al­
ready had experience as a teacher. She
was only Ii: when she took over the school
at Eagle Village. near Cazenovia. and
when a committeeman told her she was a
good teacher. but - to go home and
lengthen her skirts! Nevertheless, she said
afterwards that this was the best teaching
she had ever done; and it was there. in the
schoolhouse, . that she organized her first
adult Sunday School. After the seminary.
she had a term in Emma Willard's Troy
Female Seminary, and then. in 1855, at 19,
she married Halsey Fenimore Cooper. who
had been a professor at Cazenovia when
she was a pupil there, and later was owner
and editor of the Chattanooga Advertiser.
As his name indicates. he was a collateral
relative of Cooper, the novelist.
Though husband and wife had first met
in New York State. when they were mar­
ried they were both in the south, for
young Sarah had become governess in the
family of Governor Schley of Georgia.
Characteristically. she had also taken over
the religious instruction of the 500 slaves
on his plantation. Before their marriage,
Mr. Cooper had become a government
official in Atlanta. where they were mar­
ried.
Both the Coopers were ardent Aboli­
tionists. and with the outbreak of the
Civil War they returned North. When'
Memphis was taken by the Union forces,
Mr. Cooper was named as assessor of in­
ternal revenue there. By this time they
had four children. two boys and two girls.
But busy as she was, Mrs. Cooper started
a Bible class for Federal soldiers, and or­
ganized the Society for the Protection of
Refugees. An epidemic of smallpox broke
out. and Mrs. Cooper at once volunteered
as II nurse. The first of the many trage­
d!es of her life followed: she brought the
dIsease home to her family. both her sons
and one daughter died of it. and the re­
maining daughter. Harriet, was partially
disfigured.
They were glad enough to be able to
move away from the scene of their grief
In 1869 and to go to San Francisco.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By MIRIAM ALLEN deFORD
I dergarten teaching. (One of her best­
Sarah Brown Cooper
where Mr.'Cooper had been transferred to
a position in the Custom House. The rest
of Mrs. Cooper's story belongs to that
city. She had hardly settled in her new
home and joined the Howard Preshyterian
Church than she started a Bible Class
which grew into a large religious open
forum, When she changed her member­
ship to the Calvary Presbyterian Church
she took the class with her-she was prin­
Cipal speaker as well as organizer. and in
those days when women were supposed
to be silent in meetin(ls she was already
recognized as a born orator.
Up to this time Mrs. Cooper had been
a devout and orthodox Presbyterian. But
her altruism and tender-heartedness were
as wide as the world, and ill consequence,
in 1881. she found herself the center of a
heresy trial, because she could not bring
herself to believe in. infant damnation and
eternal punishment. She was formally ex­
p~lled from the church, but her only re­
JOinder was to taKe her Bible Class with
her to the more liberal First Congrega­
tionalist Church. There it soon grew into
a weekly meeting of several hundred men
and women of all creeds •. including Roman
Catholics and Jews.
But long before this. in her very earliest
days in San Francisco. Mrs. Cooper had
inaugurated the other work which made
her name known to every progressive edu~
cator of that era. She did not establish
the first free kindergartens in San Fran­
cisco-that was done by Felix Adler-but
she did organize the Golden Gate Kin­
dergarten Association in 1875, founded H
kindergartens through which in her life­
time passed some 18,000 poor children
from two to six years old, and made the
first large-scale attempt at training for kin-
k?own associates was Kate Douglas Wig­
gin, afterwards famous as author of "Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.") Mrs.
Cooper raised an endowment fund of
$300,000 for the kindergartens, worked
and talked indefatigably' for their organiza­
tion in other cities, ana when the Interna­
tional Kindergarten Union was organized
in 1892, in Saratoga. New York. was
elected the first president.
These early kindergartens were, of
course. quite unlike the nursery schools of
today. They were regarded as a charity
for neglected children, gave an elemen­
tary training to prepare children for the
"arts and trades," and, in Mrs. Cooper's
words, were intended to be "a remedy for
hoodlumism" and "to lay the foundations
for a better national character:' How­
ever outmoded their curriculum and tech­
nique might seem now. however, the spirit
of sympathy and loving kindness was
there, and the children loved their "Mother
Cooper." Incidentally, during her heresy
trial the kindergartens were one of the
accusations brought against her; they were
condemned as "godless" because they were
not under church supervision.
In 1885 came the second blow to this
frail, sensitive, sweet-natured little woman
whose whole life was a dedication to
others. Her husband committed suicide by
taking poison. Today we do not talk so
much about "hereditary mania" as they did
fifty years ago, nor do we take it for
granted that suicide is an· indication of
Insanity: however. it is true that four of
his close relatives had also killed them­
selves. and later events showed that there
was certainly a mental taint in his family.
His widow wore mourning for the rest
of her life; she closed the room in their
home.on Vallejo Street where he had died;
but she went on qUietly with her career
of service to her fellow-men-thenceforth
in close association with her surviving
daughter. Harriet, who gave up her piano­
teaching to be her assistant, and who be­
came the center of her emotional life.
The kindergartens and her Bible Class
were not enough for this tireless worker,
even though her heart was giving out and
her doctor had warned her to take better
care of herself, A pioneer suffragist, she
was president of the California Amend­
ment Campaign Committee-which did not
secure its object until 13 years after she
had died. At one time she calculated that
she was an officer in 19 charitable socie­
ties of various kinds. She was one of five
women elected to the Pan-Republican Con­
gress of the Chicago World's Fair. was
president of the Pacific Coast Women's
Press Association. treasurer of the World's
Federation of Women's Clubs. helped to
or!lanize the Women's Congress. and for
two years was its preSident. All her money
outside of the barest necessaries went to
her work. principally to the kindergartens;
as one commentator said: "a bowl of por­
ridge in the morning, a couple of chops at
night. a plain gown, such as a servant
(G::mtinued on Page 31)

A Salute For Achievement
How many California business concerns
have continuously served the public for the
past fifty years, or more?
As the traditional magazine of the tradi~
tional West, GHOST TOWN NEWS has been
seeking the answer to that question for the
past several months.
Any business concern that has served
the California public for a half~century or
more is an outstanding establishment. It
The only information we require is:
represents honorable management. It de~
serves the confidence, respect and patron­
of Establishment.
age of all California.
Out of the pains of our labor we hope
These concerns have weathered booms,
depressions and panics. They have emerged,
the business concerns of California. Con­
scarred but triumphant. from the ravages
of earthquakes. fires, floods and the shifting
panorama of the political scene.
They have served through wars and the
rumors of wars.
ness establishments which have served
Through "hell and high water." to use
them.
the homespun vernacular of the pioneers.
these concerns have held aloft the sacred
tion of commercial desires. It is a reHec­
precepts of a liberty which holds free enter­
prise to be the cornerstone of its whole
economy.
In the near future GHOST TOWN NEWS
will publish a list of the names, type of
business and location of the concerns which
are qualified for this California Business
thousand agonies, the amiable partner in a
Roll of Honor. Personalized historical data
will be added whenever possible.
The list will not be complete, but it will
be as complete and accurate as human
frailty allows. The magnitude of the task
purchase an oil lamp of a certain type for
has grown more impressive with each day
of research. Only through the tedious
process of trial, error. elimination and addi­
tion will it be possible to evolve a complete
directory, approximately correct.
Such information is important to every­
border of California, I entered a store more
one in california. It is a matter of inter­
est to all. And the publication of such data
was near.
is a tribute to every concern that can
qualify.
An old gentleman with a shock of snow
At the same time. no advertising or pro­
was almost afraid to make my request
motional aspect will be permitted to enter
the scene. We want the roster to be just
as complete as possible and every qualified
concern, small or large. will be given ample
space.
Here is a sample of the Roll of Honor:
lamp I was seeking and placed it lovingly
KRUCKEBERG PRESS - 340 South
in my hands.
San Pedro st.. L. A. Established in 1893
by Henry W. Kruckeberg who came west
"My grandfather bought them forty
in 1881 and is now living in South Pasa­
dena where he has resided since 1894.
here to buy the best."
Arthur W. Kruckeberg is second son of
Henry and is carrying on the family tradi­
tion. The Kruckeberg Press has specialized
in horticultural printing and publishing
throughout its fifty years and has some
"Fifty year customers" of its own. Among
them are: R. M. Teague (Nurseries), San
Dimas. Calif.; G. M. Grant (Beacon Lum­
ber Yard) ,6th and Main, L. A.; Armstrong
Nurseries, Ontario. Calif. , Many of you know of one or more busi­
Readers of GHOST TOWN NEWS can help
in the completion of the roster and the
short articles to accompany the names.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By JAMES GLANVILLE
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
OF CALIFORNIA FIRMS
I-How many California business
concerns have continuously served
the public for the past fifty years,
or more?
More than 1000................................
Fewer than fifty ............................... .
Well over 500.................: .............. ..
Exactly 897................. ,..................... .
2-What class of business is most
numerous in the Fifty Year Club?
Banks................................................. ..
Newspapers................................. .
Groceries............................................ .
Hotels................................................. .
3-Two California newspapers
now being published date back to
1841. They represent the cities of-
Ukiah and Tulare ............................
Visalia and Willows........................
Bridgeport and Chico.................... ..
Sacramento and San Jose .............. ..
4-In what year did the Southern
Pacific ( then the Central Pacific),
build its great transcontinental line
over the Sierras to the Coast?
1891.....................................................
1869.................................................... .
1853.....................................................
1904.....................................................
5-How many stage-coaches did
Wells Fargo and Company employ
at the high point of this phase of
their history?
More than 10,000............................. .
1243.....................................................
Fewer than 100 .................. _............. .
Close to 17,000................................ .
(Two correct answers out of the
five is fair; three is good; four is
excellent, and five is Superman
stuff. )
Answers on Page 31.
ness concerns which qualify for the Honor
Roll---eoncerns which we may well have
overlooked. If you can furnish historical
data regarding these concerns so much
Page 9
the better. But the only primary require­
ment is that they must have been in exist­
enc(!, for fifty years or more.
If you do know of any, won't you please
write and tell us about them? Since this
is not a commercial venture we can't pay
you for the information but you will de­
rive a lot of satisfaction out of seeing old
friends memorialized in this manner.
Name; Kind of Business: Location; Date
to evolve a real "Who's Who?" among
cerns which are justly' entitled to celehrate
their "Golden Jubilee ..
The history of a state. a nation. a people.
is oft best told in the history of the busi­
For business is far more than a reHec­
tion of the moods. the needs, the fortunes
and convictions of a thousand varying
communities.
It is a mirror of a whole people's hopes
and fears. the backdrop of fiestas and
funerals. the sympathetic spectator of a
million laughs.
It is Life!
Some years ago 1 had a commission to
use at' a memorial banquet. Little knowing
to what a task I had set my hand I combed
a great city without success. People looked
at me with the mild pity reserved for
morons when I made my strange request.
Finally. in a tiny town near the northern
in desperation than hope. The deadline
white hair asked if he could serve me. I
against the glittering array of modern
stoves and hardware with which the place
was stocked. But his face lighted up when
I did so.
From a top shelf he took down the very
years ago," he told me. "It's a tradition
In that simple statement I think he ex~
pressed the whole formula that has made
America great. Honor, loyalty, love, cour­
age. grit, gentleness and perseverance­
they are all there. Read it again and see.
That's why GHOST TOWN NBWS is proud
to announce this forthcoming tribute to the
men and women of business who qualify
for the Fifty Year Book.
The warp and woof of their lives is an
integral part of all the traditions we hold
dear.
Let's Salute Achievement!
Page 10
As Expressed In Age and Service
Age is the essence of durability, the proof of quality and character, the crowning achievement of a long life. To be old is a mark
of distinction; but to be old and yet youthful at one and the same time is the capstone of success..
"ENTRE ES SU CASA,
AMIGO" (Enter, friend,
this is your house.)
FQr mQre than sixty years this beautiful
Spanish greeting has been far mQre than an
empty phrase at the wQrld-famed MissiQn
Inn at Riverside. CalifQrnia.
FrQm humble beginnings, deep rooted in
the rQmantic past Qf the DQns, the padres,
the missiQns, f1ashing~eyed senQritas and
plQdding Indians, the MissiQn Inn has
grQwn to' an institutiQn Qf supreme IO'veli~
ness and sincere traditiO'n.
It cO'ntains all that is best Qf a rO'mantic
and gallant civilizatiO'n; it cO'mbines the
essence O'f gO'O'd living with the CO'IO'rful
atmO'sphere O'f the true CalifQrnia in a most
inimitable style.
Irving Bacheller wrote: "It is a halfway
hQuse between antiquity and dreamland ...
leading to' the fQur gO'lden gates Qf Para~
dise."
Three generatiQns Qf guests have ac­
claimed his judgment.
Like the wQrld-famed fO'under O'f the
MissiO'n Inn, belO'ved Frank Miller, his
sO'n~in-Iaw, Managing DirectQr DeWitt V.
Hutchings, and members Qf the Miller­
Hutchings family cQntinue to' make friends
fO'r CalifQrnia and create prestige fQr the
splendid hO'tel establishments that have
dO'ne sO' much fO'r the state.
A GREAT PAPER GROWS
"On July 30, 1917. it became its sad
WITH A GREAT CITY
duty to' print in its CQlumns the news of
Excerpts frO'm the HistQry Qf the L. A.
from the struggling little wayfarer Qf 1882
Times, as tQld by
to the great newspaper it had becQme .. ,
ED AINSWORTH
General HarrisO'n Gray Otis, 80 years. 5
"The fQrefather Qf The Times was the
Weekly MirrO'r, the first issue Qf which
came Qut February 1. 1873. It hardly de­
served the name Qf a newspaper at all.••.
The first issue Qf The Times, December 4,
1881. was as neat and appealing as type
faces O'f that day permitted. It was a
seven-cO'lumn, fQur-page paper, abO'ut 21
by 15 inches. The lead stO'ry in Qne CO'I­
umn was headed 'The Golden Gate.' . , .
This news was Qnly three davs O'ld, being
dated December 1.
"SQme Qf the advertisements were ilIu~
trated. The Clty Meat Market at 45
Spring St. illumined its paid matter with
a picture Qf an emaciated-IO'O'king pig
abQut half an inch IQng.
"The Times. as nQted. had been bQm,
but it tQQk cQnsiderable spanking Qn the
bQttQm and artificial respiratiQn to' keep it
alive. CoIQnel Otis, when he acquired the
Santa Barbara Press. thO'ught the Channel
City was destined to' becQme the metrQPQlis
of the Pacific Coast. Had he stayed there"
it might have been. . At least Qne venerable resident Qf MQ­
"UpO'n becO'ming editQr he immediately
began to' put pep intO' The Times. He was
a bQrn fighter, he had a cO'mpelling style
O'f writing and a keen sense Qf news values.
"The big news Qf the day was the ad­
vent bf the Santa Fe RailrO'ad. The SQuth­
ern Pacific had already Qpened up its trans~
'CQntinental line . . . tQwns were springing
up all over SQuthern, CalifQrnia as fast as
the traditiQnal mushroom. Twenty~six were
'~c "_~-"~_, ",·
laid Qut in Qne 26~milestretch between Los
Angeles and ClaremQnt. .
..
.......--0..........._
GHOST TOWN
"In 1885 a new circulatiO'n man jQined
the staff. His name was Harry Chandler
. . . attracted to' CalifQrnia by the sun~
shine and the prQmise Qf renewed health.
He displayed a vitality and ability to' get
things dQne which gained the nQtice Qf
CoIQnel Otis.
"ColQnel Otis ~as always ready to'
.launch a new campaign if he thQught it
was in a gQod cause. (Despite the 1887
panic) The Times was leading anQther
crusad~that fQr a 'free harbQr'-free frQm
the dQminatiQn Qf private interests.
"VictQry at last was WQn by The Times
... In March, 1897, Army engineers gave
their apprQval to' the site Qf a breakwater
at San PedrO' . , • O'n April 27. 1899. a
tremendQus celebratiO'n called 'Free HarbQr
Jubilee' tQQk place at San Pe&Q.
"After 1910 The Times entered UPQn a
new era Qf success and cQmmunity service,
with Harry Chandler taking a mQre and
mQre active part in the leadership . . . . He
saw a magnificent future fQr SQuthern
CalifQrnia and devQted himself ardently to'
the twQ-sided job Qf building up The Times
and the cQmmunity.
"The Times nQW champiQned a cQIQssal
new project-watt!r. With the backing Qf
The Times, LO'S Angeles undertook the
daring plan Qf bringing water frQm Owens
Valley, a distance Qf 238 miles. The CQm~
pletiQn Qf this great engineering feat was
fQlIQwed by an unprecedented grO'wth in
PQPulatiQn and new industries.
I
the death Qf the man whO' had built it up
Started in 1892 by I. Asher Qf Teha­
,
I
mQnths and 20 days of age, died after hav~
ing been busy at the helm almQst to' the
very last.
"IntO' his place there stepped Harry
Chandler."
(EditQr's NQte-The modern histQry Qf
The Times is nO't unfamiliar to' practically
everyQne in the great SQuthwest. In pre­
senting the fQregO'ing excerpts frQm its
struggles Qf the early days GHOST TOWN
NEWS pays tribute to a great institutiQn.
The Times Qf tQday, QPulent and mighty.
is still a vital cQmmunity fQrce ... standing
fQur~square fO'r the CQnstructive measures
affecting Los Angeles, CalifQrnia and the
natiQn.... Its soul is still Qne with that Qf
"The struggling little wayfarer Qf 1882:'
whQse flickering breath was fanned intO'
flaming life through the herQic efforts Qf
General HarrisQn Gray Otis, Harry Chan­
dler and hundreds Qf Qthers.-N. F. W.)
PACIFIC RURAL PRESS
DATES BACK TO 1870
GQld started flQwing frQm the hills Qt
CalifQrnia almQst Qne hundred years agO'.
but true wealth frQm the SQiI is Qf mQre
recent date. PrQspectO'rs and their sons
became planters and dropped seeds into
the abundantly fertile earth nQt far from
the PQckets left by nuggets. Their riches
came green instead O'f yellQw, Qutstripped
the metal in value, and a perennial wealth
of bQuntiful harvests was bQrn.
" """'.......:.....................................'....""
, *...'............"'-..........
NEWS
Midwife at the event was the Pacific
Rural Press which today traces its being,
issue by issue. seventy-twO' years intO' the
past.
Oldest. as well as larqest, Qf its kind in
the West. the Pacific Rural Press makes
use Qf its influence by clucking reprQvingly
at mistaken friends of agriculture. while
presenting in a printed record the thQught
and trend Qf modem farming. In cham~
piQning the farmers' cause. it also attempts
to' center all grQwers' effQrts on the prQb~
lems cQnfrQnting CalifQrnia agriculture.
Editor JQhn E. Pickett attributes the
dQminant positiQn Qf the Pacific Rural
Press, indicated by its 82,000 circulation.
to' this PO'licy rather than to' the individual
style Qf its editQrial and news cQlumns.
The publishers are prQud Qf the Press fQr
its service rather than its age. The latter.
they PQint Qut. will change frQm year to'
year, but the service to' farmers is depend­ ~I
ably CQnstant. .~
BANK OF TEHACHAPI ~
',\'
MARKS GOLDEN JUBILEE t
A half-century Qf distinguished CQmmu­
nity service was rQunded Qut by the Bank
Qf Tehachapi Qn OctQber 10. 1942. The
rQster Qf financial CQncerns which have
1 .• 1
"~
served the public in CalifQrnia cQntinu­
Qusly fQr fifty years Qr mQre is nQt ex~
tensive. i
·tS.~i
SQme O'f these CQncerns have balance
sheets running intO' the hundreds Qf mil~
liO'ns O'f dQllars, but none have a mQre
SO'lid recO'rd O'f hQmespun achievement than
the small Kern County bank. • I
chapi. H. A. Blodgett and H. Hirschfield
of Bakersfield, L. Harris of LQS Angeles
and Albert Ancker Qf San BernardinO'. it is 'I
indeed nQteworthy that the same Albert
Ancker, vigQrous and YQuthful despite his
years. is nQW president Qf the institutiQn.
How greatly, humanly and with what
intelligence and understanding the Bank of
Tehachapi has served its community is at~
tested by the recQrd-Qnly twO' fQreclQsures
in fifty years Qf banking.
THE NEWSPAPER AND
THE PONY EXPRESS
The Tehachapi News is nO' stripling,
even as newspapers gO'. In prQper Qrder
its files gO' back fQr 55 years. It was O'nce
knQwn as the Tehachapi Tomahawk, and
Qf this. GeQrge Wilson. publisher, says, "I
am sorry the name was ever changed."
(SQme scalps he'd like to' take, nO' dO'ubt.)
But the MQjave RecQrd. alsO' under Wil~
sO'n management. might well be the daddy
Qf the TQmahawk; seventy years Qld. ac­
cQrding to traditiQn.
jave CQunty is living tQday whO' swears
that the first editiQns of The Record were
pulled Qff Qn an ancient hand-press,
"brQught 'rQund the HQrn," and tacked up
Qn the walls O'f PQny express depQts SO'
that all whO' rQde might read.
The stQry is nQt substantiated, but it
makes interesting reading. It is partial i
,,1
prQQf. at least, Qf what every enlightened :i
person knQws today-that the newspaper !
~i Ii *;O-J'I~
and the march Qf civilizatiQn gO' hand in
hand.
............................................... f" ... ...·

 ~~-- '----------~
Westways, and The Automobile Club
Some day in the future when historians
or sociologists attempt to put together th'e
story of the effects of World War II on
the American people they could do no bet­
ter than to turn to the magazines to gain
a comprehensive picture. The newspapers
would tell the story of the spot news, the
shattering events, but the magazines would
best reflect the gradual changes brought
about in the lives of 'the people as one
month of war followed the other.
Here in Southern California we have a
local magazine, WESTWAYS, that serves
as an example to illustrate our point. As
official publication of the Automobile Club
of Southern California it has mirrored the
evolution of the automobile from the sput­
tering luxury of yesterday to the stream­
lined necessity of today. It has pictured
the transformation of sticky adobe ruts to
the wide paved boulevards of 19"1:2 that
have shrunken the vast distances of the
West. It has been dedicated to a faith­
ful recording of the past. present and future
of California.
WESTWAYS has changed. Before De­
cember 7 it conSistently spread the story
of the joys of (Toing places and seeing
things. It was responsible for sending thou­
sands, even millions, of motorists out on
the open highway to the mountains. the
desert, the entire West and into Canada.
Mexico and the Atlantic seaboard. Today
it has made an editorial "about-face" and
is telling the story of automobile conserva­
tion. tire and mileage budgeting, and
preaching the doctrine of the pleasures to
be found close at home. The automobile of
19"1:2 had to be geared to the all-out war
'effort.
Every industry has its romance. but few
can surpass the romance and color of the
automobile industry; few can equal its his­
tory of growth and changes over the span
of a few years. It has made profound
changes in the life of every American.
especially here in Southern California. the
motoring capital of the world. Back in
1900 the average Californian stayed close
to home. The chances are that he had
never seen such beauty spots as Yosemite,
Sequoia, or the High Sierra. A trip to
Pomona was an adventure never to be for­
gotten. Before the rubber shortage and
gasoline rationing. he thought nothing of
driving from one end of the State to an­
other on a week's vacation. The auto­
mobile has made it possible and the Auto­
mobile Club of Southern California has
done much to make it a reality.
When the Automobile Club of Southern
California was first founded back in 1900.
it had a total membership of "1:6 motoring
pioneers. OstenSibly it was a social or­
ganiZation, but if the truth were known
they probably banded together for mutual
protection, for in addition to lack of roads.
touring information, and the unreliability
of the machines. they had to face a hos­
tile public every time they drove their
smoke-belching "chug buggies" on the
streets. As late as 1902 The Los Angeles
Times editorially begged its readers to "re­
frain from throwing rocks at the motorists
out of respect for the American ideal of
fair play!'
By 1905. however. the automobile had
become an accepted fact and tho:oe who
GHOST TOWN NEWS
owned cars had begun to admit it without
embarrassment. The long dusters. enor­
mous gauntlets. and frightful looking gog~
gles that had disguised the motorist, as well
as aided him. began to disappear, and the
motorist and car alike took on more re­
spectable appearance. Stone throwing di­
minished. and the problem of the motorist
became one of finding a place to drive.
The enormous speed of the cars which
enabled the driver to cover as much as
twelve miles in a single hour made him
cry out for elbow room, The roads were
terrible. general information was worse.
Each week members of the Club compared
notes on their trips and gradually it be­
came a clearing house for touring infor­
mation. This brought about a change in
the organization, so instead of remaining a
social club. the Automobile Club of South­
ern California was organized. on a small
scale, along the lines it is today. a club
giving every possible Service to the car
owner. From that humble beginning it
grew until today the Club is one of the
outstanding automobile clubs of the world
with a membership of approximately
142,000.
Every foot of the way the men who
guided the destinies of the Club had to
pioneer and the "firsts" inaugurated by the
organization are too numerous to cover in
this account. Probably the most interest­
ing is the work done in sign posting. In
1902. directors of the Club signed the road
to Pomona, using wooden signs, nailed to
trees and fence posts. Mileages were figured
by tying a rag to the spokes of a wagon
wheel and counting the revolutions. In
1913 the work expanded and the Club
posted the National Old Trails Road as
far east as Kansas City. This was fol­
lowed by signing the Lincoln Highway to
Omaha and the Dixie Trail from San
Diego to Texas. Today the motorists' or­
ganization has more than 225,000 signs
posted in Southern California. Plain direc­
tion signs. temporary signs, and school
The First Tour, 1903 Endurance Contest to Pomona, SpolUioroo by The Automobile
Club of Southern California.
Page 11
zone, fire and hospital signs are furnished,
installed and maintained in cities and coun­
ties by the Club without charge, State
highway signs are furnished at cost and
installed without charge. Wartime has
brought about changes in the activities of
the signposting crews also. Since Decem~
bel' 7 Club crews have been busy posting
dimout warning signs and erecting sabo­
teur warning posters along the Southern
California beaches.
Through its engineering department, the
Club has materially aided in living up to
its slogan, "Good Roads." since 1900. To
facilitate travel between Los Angeles and
San Diego it built an iron bridge across
the Santa Marguerita river back in the
early 1900's, Among its more notable
achievements have been its work in bring­
ing about the construction of the All-Year
Highway into Yosemite. the Distributor
Highway around the Los Angeles Metro~
politan area. the recently constructed di­
vided highway north of the Grapevine. and
the Arroyo Seco Parkway. The Interna­
tional Pacific Highway. eventually to link
Alaska and the Argentine. and its Los An­
geles Motorways plan are other projects
engaging Qub engineers.
Westways. the magazine, has been
one of the really important factors in the
growth of The Automobile Club of South~
ern California and great credit is due
Editor Phil Townsend Hanna. known for
his many contributions to the literature of
the west. and California in particular.
Westways is more than the official publi­
cation of the Automobile Club and is rec­
ognized as one of the best magazines ever
published in California. Credit for the ex­
cellence of each issue of this interesting
California magazine must also go to Wil­
liam K. Baxter. Managing Editor. Not
the least of the Automobile Club's service
to California and the west is the magazine
Westways sponsored by them--a maga­
zine that has done splendid work for the
Club with profit and pleasure to the public.
 The Sage of 49 Flat

By JOHN W. WINKLEY

In the chapar­ I old homestead two modern automobiles

ral covered foot
hills of Amador
Co u n t y, be­
tween Fiddle­
town and Vol­
cano. lies "For­
ty-nine F I at,"
the cabin site
and mineral
claim of Hart
Barker. an old­
time mining en­
gineer. Recent­
ly I had occa­
sion to be in this
Hart Baker (left),
region and took
HThe Sage of 49 .. Flat" the opportunity
to visit the old­
timer at his cabin. went by way of
Fiddletown. and stopped at the ancient
"Fiddlers Hotel" to inquire my way. Here
in typical gold-town fashion a group of
old men were seated on the side-walk en­
joying the cool shade of the old stone
structure on this hot autumn day. Hav­
ing secured! proper directions, I soon left
the place. traveling over a narrow, rough
and winding road which brought ever­
changing vistas of loveliness to view.
Many sharp contrasts also met the eye.
Here a miner's cabin was surrounded with
the brilliant blossoms of a well-watered
Hower garden; beyond ,it stood an old
house crumbling to ruin and a barn lean­
ed drunkenly to a fall. And at another
Ha.o:gm.an's Tree in Ghost Town Village
at Knott's Berry Place. It has not yet been
seen by Sad Eye Joe, but the grapevine
word has reached him in his, one-man jaU,
and Andy Anderson, the "Whittling Art#
ist," may have to make a wooden kimona
for his creation, as Joe has' the jitters.
stood beside some ancient vehicles, seem­
ing to flout the elder models of transpor­
tation.
Beyond Dry Creek crossing I came to
the lane which led down to "Forty-nine
Flat"-a narrow lane with many sharp
dips and turns which demanded a brisk
handling of the driver's wheel. A lady
visitor here recently missed one of the turns
and her car stood in the brush for some­
time until a way could be cleared back
to the road. I parked my car in the dry
stream bed, and climbed the rise to a flat
bench above. where stood Barker's cabin
and out-door kitchen. Here under an ar­
bor was a long table with bench seats,
and beside it an ancient fire-place. only
remnant of the original loghouse that oc­
cupied this place.
As I aproached, Mr. Barker arose from
among some guests at the table and came
to meet me, and when I told him that
I brought greetings from an oldtime friend.
he beamed with pleasure, and showed me
the utmost courtesy and hospitality. He
seated me among his guests and insisted
that I have a share of his picnic dinner Original Hangman's Tree opposite Bret Harte's
of fried chicken. vegetable salad. maca~ Cabin' on the Mother Lode recendy served as a
rani and other good food. warning to the Japanese.
Hart Barker is an interesting person.
picturesque and distinctive. His eyes are
hair and a long beard." "Oh. you mean
bright, clear, and sparkle with interest; his Jesus Christ," said the other, "yes. I know
countenance is frank. fearless, and highly him. he lives down the road there." It
intelligent; his face is kindly and sensitive; seemed that the Italians thought he looked.
his neatly trimmed hair and vandyke beard like their pictures of Christ. and they know
are turning gray; his voice is soft and musi­
him only by that name.
cal; and his speech is incisive. well-phras­
On another occasion. follOWing a pro­
ed and cultured. A gold-miner through
cession in Sutter Creek, in which Barker
all his life, he has ranged pretty much all
over the Sierras. He joined the rush to had taken part. he was standing by the
curb combing his long hair. and a friend
the Klondike and camped beside Robert
stepped up behind him saying, "Barker,
W. Service. the poet of the Yukon, and
you're a blank old sissy." Barker wheel­
Jack London. the novelist. Now in his
ed around with fight in his eyes, but
old age. he chooses to live amid these
mellowed into hilarity when he saw his
romantic hills. free and untrammelled, and
old friend. This old mining engineer is
content to dwell apart from the disorders
typical of the gold-mining fraternity. cour­
of our human world. Suns come and go.
teous and hospitable to a fault. but adam­
The changing seasons sift a mellow glow
antine in resistance to any affront of his
down upon his head. The lure of gold
person. or presumption upon his right or
still burns in his veins. Above his cabin dignity.
a long lava-capped ridge covers an an­
cienf river bed and into its auriferous As I arose to take my departure, Mr.
gravels. Barker has pushed a two thous­ Barker insisted on shOWing me his mine,
and foot tunnel. A cold stream of water and led me to the mouth of his tunnel in
runs from the mouth of the tunnel and the hill-side. Then learning that I was in­
flows down by his dinner table. Song­ terested in minerals and rocks. he gathered
birds sing in the trees over head, and up some specimens of are and gravel and
wild-flowers bloom on every side. carried them down to my car. Here he
waited while I turned my car. and as I
Hart Barker often takes part in the started up the lane. he waved me a gra­
pageants of "The Gold Rush Days," as­ cious farewell. In all of this he had play­
suming the roll of James Marshall. Kit ed the perfect host. for he had created
Carson or other ancient worthy. the impression that my visit to his cabin
And for this purpose he let his hair had conferred a distinct honor upon him.
grow long and abundant. Once. it is said, Whereas the pleasure and honor had all
a stranger was inquiring for him. and been mine. On my homeward way, the
asked an Italian neighbor if he knew varied elements of this visit to the "Sage
Barker. "No, never heard of him." re­ of Forty-nine Flat" kept turning over in
plied the miner. "Oh, you must know my mind, while the gracious spirit of the
him." insisted the stranger, "he wears long man clung to me like a benediction.

Page 12

--~-----------
Vest Pocket Farming
lie printed by special Pf'rmission of (The Country Book)
''I'm g~tting set for the next depression,"
said a Long Beach friend of mine. ''I'm
making good money in the shipyards and
I've got my eye on 5 acres of land and
a house. We'll stock the place with a few
chickens, a cow. some fruit trees and a
garden, and if hard times come we'll at
least eat regularly."
He represents a. trend that started along
the West Coast during the depression and
has gained impetus since Pearl Harbor,
The movement has good sound logic as
well as a myriad of pitfalls and mistakes
to trap the beginner in vest pocket farm­
ing.
There are three distinct types of farm­
ing conducted on small acreages of from
half an acre to 20 acres. First is the "Small
Farm Home," which is simply a house on
a small, productive acreage from half an
acre to an acre in extent. Crops are grown
solely for home consumption, Southern
California has thousands of these small
farm homes.
Second is the "Part-Time Farm," which
may vary in size from a half acre to a
100 acres depending on the enterprises and
the operator. Products are grown not only
for home consumption but also for sale.
though the operator derives his chief in­
come from other work. Income from his
part-time farm may run from just a few
dollars to $1.000 or more.
Third is the "Small Farm," where the
operator's whole income is gotten off his
plot of land. This type of farming takes
an exceptional manager and business man
to make it a success,
Let's run the gamut of small farm home
owners in one town in Orange County,
California. Just about every type is rep­
resented. Nell Murbarger. one of our local
newshawks. and her parents own two town
lots, On one lot is their home, garage,
outbuildings. shade trees, flowers, grape ar­
bor and lawn. On the other are fruit
trees. berries and a garden. The Mur­
bargers all have jobs. so all the work on
their small farm must be done before and
after work or on Saturday afternoons. Be­
I
sides accumulating a priceless California
tan last summer and fall. they raised
enough potatoes to see them through the
summer and half the winter.
1 "In addition to giving away basketfuls
of produce to our friends we canned and
preserved more than 400 quarts of fruits
and vegetables." Nell told me. "The canned
good& included more than 50 quarts of to­
matoes, 65 quarts of cucumber pickles. 42
quarts of string beans, 25 pints of beet
pickles, 15 quarts of cauliflower, 25 pints
of blackberry jam, 70 pints of grape juice.
22 pints of grape jelly. 16 quarts of plum
preserves, and the balance was made up
of 30 other varieties."
The farm home's big advantage is in
savings rather than earnings. Savings in
the grocery bill alone range in most cases
from 50-70 per cent in this part of the
GHOST TOWN
By HORACE PARKER
country. Studies show that a family of
four can save around $200 net.
That may not seem very important to
some people, but for many families a 50
per cent reduction in food costs means a
much higher standard of living. Less money
for groceries means more for clothing,
transportation, improvements. and whatnot.
Now let's look at the "Part Time Farm."
Their average size was about 10 acres
for northern California and about 4 acres
for southern California, with the majority
under 20 acres at the time of the 1930
census.
Bob Beach, a student of mine. lives on
such a farm. What a variety of enterprises
can be conducted on one commercial acre
is shown by the follOWing partial list of
what the Beach family raised last year:
They had 30 doe rabbits from which they
realized an income in meat, breeding stock,
pets, buck service, fertilizer and rabbit
pelts. The cow furnished milk, butter,
cottage cheese, and buttermilk for the fam­
ily of 6 in addition to raising 7 calves
which they bought and later sold for veal.
As a sideline the boys fed out two Here­
fords for baby beef. One purebred Hamp­
shire sow raised two litters of 10 pigs
each. They had 1.000 chickens from which
they sold hatching eggs, commercial eggs
and meat. They raised two crops of vege­
tables in addition to berries, the crop of
Land .................................................................................................. $1.000.00 $600.00
Poultry housing and equipmenL..................................................... 175.00
Poultry stock (15 pullets 8 weeks old)........................................
Planting stock (exclusive of ornamentals)..................................
Tools. piping, fencing and incidental........................................... 200.00
TotaL.................................. ,... __ ............. ,............................ ,... $1.435.00
5 fruit trees, grape vines, flowers and bees
-all this on one acre!
There are six in the family. Mr. Beach
works in a factory. The children are in
school. So it is spare time work for all
of them. The part-time farm has its spe­
cial problems because when everything is
done on such a small scale, your unit cost
of production is high. A fine spirit of co­
operation between all the members of the
family. plenty of enthusiasm and patient
study. have helped the Beaches to make
a success of it.
Now let's see what the third type or
"Small Farm." looks like. There is BiII's
one-acre poultry ranch, for instance. About
15 years ago. when he was working in the
oil fields in Huntington Beach, he bought
one acre of land for a home and planted
half of it to oranges. Bill had had some
experience with poultry and began brood~
ing a fmv chicks. When Bill was "laid
off" during the depression it was natural
that he turned· to the poultry business for
livelihood. For the past 10 years he and
his wife have made a comfortable living
and last year"with about 1.500 laying hens
and a few hundred fryers brooded out. at
NEWS Page 13
odd times. they showed a net income of
nearly $200 per month.
The first fundamental of sUCCess on any
vest pocket farm is this: The entire fam­
ily must have a love and a desire for a
rural or semi~rural way of life. Many of
these small farms fail simply because the
wife. the husband. or the children do not
really want to live in the country
Next thing to decide is: How much time
can I or do I want to devote to work
on the farm? The small farm home re­
quires about 20~30 hours of labor per week.
A part~time farm will take an average of
about 1.500 hours per year and a small
farm will take 2,500 hours or more.
In selecting your vest pocket farm. ke~p
a number of things in mind. For a small
farm home or a part-time farm you need a
locality not too far from your place of
business. We usually figure an average
driving distance is about 10 miles on a
good road.
Should I buy or should I rent? For the
beginner, I believe in renting. I'd also
recomme.nd that he start on. say, half· an
acre or an acre with the small farm home
idea in mind and with a minimum number
of enterprises. For the part-time farmer 5
to 10 acres is a good average size. Don't
pay any more rent than you did for your
city dwelling. In general terms $25 to 50
is about the range. The following table of
costs for establishing a small farm home
in Los Angeles County (dwelling not in­
cluded) should give you some idea as to
costs:
HALF ACRE ACRE
High Low High Low
$1,600.00 $750.00
125.00 175.00 125.00
15.00 8.00 15.00 8.00
45.00 25.00 60.00 35.00
65.00 250.00 80.00
$823.00 $2,100.00 $998.00
Usually one-third or one-fourth of the
total is paid down with the balance in
monthly payments. The purchase prices of
138 part-time farms show a range of $1.200
to $10,000 or over; average cost about
$7.500.
High land values in this type of farming
are not so much a result of the agricul­
tural value of the land as its residential
desirability. You want a home which is
livable. in a desirable community, with
adequate and good water supply, with utili­
ties (particularly electricity) • and with
churches and schools within easy reach.
Both dwelling and farm structures are
important. During the next few years con­
struction costs will be high. In many areas
new building is almost at a standstill, A
storage shed. small barn, and poultry
house are almost necessary for vest pocket
farming.
Last. but probably the most important,
is a productive soil free of pests. It should
be deep and tillable. The California ideal
is ? sandy loam. Depth can be checked
with a soil auger, but fertility can he
checked by one criterion only-will plants
grow on it? With all due respect to soil
analyses, a good dirt farmer can tell you
 ",.,
,\-/P
'--~
--,"==-"
r'
, Page 14
plenty about the soil's fertility. Your
county farm advisor is a good man to
contact.
Now let's see what the food requirements
for a family of four in Southern Califor­
nia would be:
FRUIT
Fresh or canned .. " ... " .... "" ............ H... 32 lbs.
Dried fruit ........................... "...............
Nuts (unshelled) ................................
VEGETABLES
Leafy, green and yellow.....,... "............
13 lb•. 678 lb•.
Totamoes ....... ". .............................
4 Ibs. 208 lbs. ft. garden
Potatoes ..................................................
9 Ibs. 468 lbs. ~pace.
Others ..................................................".
II Ibs. 560 lb •.
EGGS ....................................................
28 1.456 15 hens
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Milk
Butter .. _.........~~
.. ~." .......
w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ • • • • • •
Buttermilk and cheese ­
MEAT
Poultry
Rabbit
TotaL................................ " .............................................. .
12,010 sq. ft.
Success depends on planning, manage­
ment, and marketing. Before you embark,
plan, and then plan some more. The buga­
boo of many has been the marketing prob­
lem. Analyze your potential markets as
carefully as you do your production prac­
tices. Besides keeping your cost of pro­
duction low it is important that your mar­
ket price be as high as possible.
Your vest pocket farm pays out not
o.:1ly in cash income or cash saving. Its
main product is human happiness. .
The road Harry and Bill are traveling
is full of pitfalls. It is littered with the
failures of those who went in half-pre­
pared. But once you get a few, highly
important facts straight, it can be the road
to better Jiving for hundreds of thousands
of low-to-middle income families.
First, be master of your transportati?n
problem, You need to know how you re
going to get back and forth to work. Dur­
ing the emergency, most of us probably
will have to depend on bus lines and rail­
roads. Where neighbors own cars, and
there's gas to be had, it's a lot cheaper
if several men ride into town together,
each paying a small amount to the man
who drives his car. Don't get stuck away
off on a side road. A cheap and depend­
able way of getting to town and back
may be the pivot of your success as a
part-time farmer. ,
Second, get enough land. With wages
high and plenty of work, vou may be one
of those who think: "All I want is a good
garden]" But the time mav come when
you'll be thankful for a cow and land
enough to raise her hay, grain, and mangel
wurzels; for a Hock of chickens and a big
grassy yard; for a woodlot to keep you
warm through a long. hard winter.
So beware of the cute little bungalow
and its acre l'Ot] Go out two or three
miles farther; get three to six or eigbt
acres. A half acre of strawberries, a half
acre of raspberries. or any other cash crop
means land.
Howard Rawlings put the case suc­
cinctly, He and Dot were married in the
spring of '33. Both had low paying jobs
in a factory in a town 11 miles from us.
They bought a couple of acres' of land
covered with hardwood, cleared out half
an acre, and built a three-room cabin.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
"We found that the garden wasn't
enough, Of course it helped. But you need
more than just a garden for home use.
You need a couple of cows, a hundred
chickens, a pig or two, and besides that,
maybe an acre of strawberries and an
Minimum
How Space
Amt. Wk, Amt. Year Provided Required
t t678 1bs. 10·16 fruit trees, 9.000 sq. ft.
I lb. 52 lb•. -t.-6 grape vi nes,
2 Ib,. 104 lbs. 30~40 berry vines.
2,500- 5.000 sq. 2.500 sq. ft. wholesale, you're licked before you're
Part-time farmers earn more and en­
190 sq. ft.
jov life more when they diversify. Raise
21 qls. 2.280 Ibs. One fair cow or 300 sQ. ft. two or three cash crops, keep a few hens.
2 ~oats.
3 lb,. 3.120 lb,. (whole milk)
3 lbs. 156 Ib,. 80 chicks raised, (see egj(') ries and small fruits, tryout several kinds
15 pullet. kept,
rest eaten.
10 Ibs. 78 lbs. 2 does (100 lb•. 20 sq. ft.
live weight)
acre of asparagus. So we gave up that
place.
"Here on our new place we have a cow
and chickens. We raise all the feed for
the cow and some for the hens. Dot and
I are both working and we're saving money
so farming isn't the main thing now. But
in the next depression we'll be set. At
auctions we've picked up farm machinery,
We're going to put in a bathroom, run­
ning water, and an oil burner. But if we
have to, we can heat again by wood. Four
acres of woodlot will last a long time.
And we can raise a lot on six acres of
tillable land."
Now let's consider buildings. You don't
need or want too bia a house; the more
cubic feet in it the bigger the fuel bill.
If you build, build a good cellar, be­
cause a good cellar storage room. sena­
rated from the furnace. is essential. Re­
member a shed, barn, or garage in which
to store all the things one accumulates on
a farm. It doesn't cost much to build a
good-Sized shed-type storage space against
your garage. barn. or chicken coop.
The foundation of all successful fann­
ing is good soil. A good loam sqil is a
cornerstone for success. As a part-time
farmer you need good soil just as much
as the full-time fanner. You're asking the
same work of it. Get your county agent
or some local banker to check the quality
of the soil for you.
After soil, consider water. This may not
seem important if all you have had to do
to get water is turn a faucet! But, water
is vital on a country place. A good well
or spring is one of. the most valuable parts
of any farm property. You can get along
very decently on a farm without a. bath­
room or electric lights. But you can't \let
anywhere without water! You need it for
household use, livestock and for the family
garden. It's almost worth its weight in
gold for irrigation on strawberries. melons,
and such crops. Irrigation increases berry
yield about 50,%, year in and year out.
The most successful part-time farmers go
at things on a modest scale in the begin­
ning and do a good deal of experimenting.
Jim' and Eva Scully did exactly what
so many beginners do. They went into
the chicken business! If one could make
two dollars profit per hen, simple iilrith­
metic pro,.-ed that 500 hens meant $1.000!
But every single bit of food had to be
bought and Eva discovered that taking
care of this number of layers meant giv­
ing most of her time to poultry. "When
you write about part-time farming. tell
people for me that the best way to suc­
ceess is to forget this chicken business!"
she exploded to me the other day. "Jim
and I have seen a dozen other families
get the 'chicken fever: Ten 'em that if
you buy grain at retail. and sell eggs at
started. That's Just common sensei"
and: a cow. and have a big garden. If
the location and soil seem suited 'to ber­
on a modest scale. Start with a small
flock of hens and keep exact records of
out-go and income before you plan an
increase. Soil tests are not an iron-clad
nuarantee that certain crops will do welL
On the writer's farm. the soil seems suit­
ed for all general vegetables; but carrots.
for example, in spite of various soil treat­
ments. are bitter.
After you learn what crops pay the
biggest and steadiest income year after
year, speCialize in those. Sometimes a
specialty crop can be sold at a roadside
stand; more often part-time farmers get
in touch with a good wholesale outlet.
It is often better to take a wholesale price
from one high-quality outlet. than to try
retailing.
The most successful part-time farmers
plan a series of crops from spring to
fall: asparagus, strawberries, blackberries.
sweet corn, melons. and perhaps potatoes.
A large majority keep a flock of 50 to 150.
or 200 hens, and: have a special outlet
for the eggs at retail prices, among their
fellow workers in town or at a high-class
store or market.
Finally, the secret of organizing and
handling a part-time farm depends a good
deal on making it fit the work of the head
of the family. Men whose work is sea­
sonal can sometimes plan to go in heavily
for cash crops. Others may want the
part-time farm to play its role by fur­
nishing more for the household.
The success of part-time farming is
closely related to the amount of invest­
ment. The happiest and most successful
families are those where the monthly car­
rying charges are around $25 to $35 a
month. The common sense angle of this
is apparent. If you can get your "rent"
within the $25 to $35 range. and in ad­
dition get a good share of your food out
of your place, you're certainly better off
than you would be paying $35 or $50 in
some urban community.
Man has learned to build great cities.
He has learned how it feels to live crowd­
ed together in a human beehive. Now he
is beginning to rebel against that kind of
existence. Our nation of the future will
be different; cities will be deaner. roomier.
filled with parks and play spaces. Sur­
rounding areas will be filled with small
rural farmsteads where families will know
security and happiness. As we learn to
devote our energies to the art of Ii'ring.
the part-time farm will play an important
role in our economic and social pattern.
.i
~'(i

- - - - - - .. _-_ _ . _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
..
A Page froln the Desert
Today, I am turning back
the pages of an album, an al~
bum filled with mental pic~
tures of some of the happen­
ings that occurred when I
first came up to Yucca Val~
ley a little over ten years
ago. Even in this remote
part of the country, civiliza­
tion and progress have moved steadily on,
but it all depends on one's point of view
whether he likes the changes that so subtly
have crept upon him. At that time, the
days of early fall were one continuous
outing. It was at this season we went up
into the hills to gather our winter's sup­
ply of wood for the kitchen range and
the friendly open fireplace.
To haul the wood, we used an old
red truck (I think it was of mongrel
breed) that could go any place; neither
salld nor rocky slopes discouraged its
progress. In its bed, we carried a box 'With
the day's supply of food and water, and,
of course, the inevitable smoke~seasoned
coffee pot. Joshua National Monument
was, as yet, unheard of, and we were free
to wander about for our wood as unham­
pered as the wild game that lived amongst
the pine and boulders.
Turning another page in this mental
album, I am back to the days when we
gathered the rock for the foundation and
fireplace of the new cabin. We scouted
the countryside for these rocks for they
had. of necessity, to be strong and sturdy.
Even in my dreams. those days, I'd be
making a choice of rocks. Granite. onyx,
quartz-rocks of many sizes and colors­
went into their respective places. Now
and again, we would stop our work to
admire a rock of special beauty. For rocks,
you would find, have a real personality
when you take time to study them.
In retrospect, I cannot help being sorry
that our way of life is becoming what
some people would call more civilized.
And I am sorry that there are many peo­
ole who have no time, nor inclination,
to leave their city homes for a while
and spend some time in the open coun­
try. So few. comparatively, have known
the joy that can come when, alone in
some quiet, isolated place, he becomes
better acquainted with the beauties 01'.. na­
ture. For when one takes time to learn
from nature, he is apt to learn more of
God.
The holiday season is drawing near,
and you who are in the city will be
shopping for your Christmas decorations.
Up here in the desert. we. too, shall be
GHOST TOWN NEWS
- - - - -..- -...- - ...----.-..
By JUNE LeMERT PAXTON
shopping around for our decorations, but
not in a store, as you will. We shall go
directly to nature for our holiday trim­
mings.
We find that small branches of the
pinon pine are dressy and make a fes~
tive background. This type of pine tree
is found growing in this section of the
Mojave at an elevation of about 4000
feet. Then most of us are fortunate
enough to get a few sprays of Desert Hol­
ly, though this lovely silver gray shrub
is fast disappearing and we desert peo­
ple try to use it sparingly. The mistletoe,
--===*==-­
THE GUIDING STAR
Shepherds were watching their sheep
by night;
Wise men were following a. gleam
of light
That brightly shone o'er the lowly
shed;
For here were Mary, and the
manger bed.
Here was the Christ that had corne
to bless;
Here was the Christ to relieve
distress;
And the angels sang o'er Judea
Hill-
Sang peace on ea.th to men <of
good will.
Though we may wandel' away, and
far,
Losing sight of that GUIDING STAR,
Yet we seek. at Christmas, Judea
Hill.
Longing for peace, and towards
men, good will.
Page 15
-~----
however, is more plentiful and. being a
parasite, is not so carefully protected.
The oak. the manzanita, and juniper share
honors in our decorative plans.
A number of the ladies in our valley
make not only their own Christmas
wreaths. but some to use as gifts. Of all
that I have seen, I think those of my
friend, Ann Bull, should have the blue
ribbon. Into these wreaths go bits of man­
zanita, mountain holly. oak cones, and
twigs of Juniper laden with their blue ber­
ries. Ann paints some of these berries a
bright red. which lends a striking Yule­
tide appearance.
Down in Morongo Valley, Mary Young.
a small granddaughter of the Countess
Matzene, has made her own Christmas
tree. On a small evergreen, she has tied
disks and various jingling ornaments. A
breeze. putting into motion the metallic
pieces. helps to simulate the coming of
Saint Nick.
For snow? Well, while' we bask here
in the sunshine, we look over the nearer
hills and see on the distant mountain tops
of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio enough
of snow to assure us that it is nearing
the Christmas season.
The flames from the log in the open
grate flare up in the semi-darkness of
the room; the wall of a lone coyote has
been joined by the howl of the pack. To­
night these prairie wolves seem to come
right up to my cabin door. The breeze,
which has been gentle all day, has turn­
ed into a dismal dirge; low moans that
creep in around the corners, lend a lone­
ly sound to the night. All forms of na­
ture, it seems, respond to vibrations about
them. and tonight the predominating feel­
ing is one of restlessness.
Instead of sitting here in the flickering
firelight. perhaps I should light the faith­
ful Aladdin lamp. I should place it so
that its light will give gUidance and en­
cOllragement to some stranger driving down
there on the highway. A bright light can
have a wonderfully uplifting effect on a
dark night.
We read that out in the great world
of Spirit-the world that you and I know
so little about-there wages a conflict; a
conflict between good and evil forces. Can
it be that the vibrations from these forces
reach out even to the earth-plane. and
we, unaware of the cause, grow restless
and uneasy? Can it be that the world­
wide disturbances that fill our newspapers
are a reflection or result of that unseen
conflict?
If the light from the Aladdin lamp by
the cabin windows would help a strang­
er down on the highway, how much more
would not the Light from our windows
of love and understanding, help another
in these restless and fearsome days!

On January 12. 1910. Louis Paulhan, famous French ace, soared into the
sunset a mile high above Dominguez Field. Los Angeles. His barograph recorded
more than 4.000 feet; ground observers offiCially credited the flight with a mile
altitude.
It was the first time in world history that such a height had been reached in
a heavier than air machine. Puny as the achievement seems today. it was a
highly significant milepost in man's conquest of the air.
Paulhan's machine was an all-white Farman biplane; a model never before
flown in the United States.
In one of the most remarkable aviation pictures ever made the photog­
rapher has captured the glory, the romance and the drama of early flight.
The CONDOR
By GEORGE STERLING
A mote upon the day's immeasr.u:ed dome,
He holds unshared the silence of the sky.
Far down his bleak relentless eyes descr,y
The eagle's empire and the falcon's home-­
Far down, the galleons of sunset roam:
His hazards ,on the sea of morning lie:
Aloof, he hears the broken tempest sigh
Where cold Sierras gleam like scattered foam.
And least of all he :holds the human swarm­
Unwitting now that envying men prepare
To make their dream and its fulfillment one,
When, poised above the cauldrons of the storm.
Their hearts, contemptuous of death, shall dare
His roads between the thunder and the sun.
Page 16
.. ,,:..
They Grea
III,
By NICHOLS
os Angeles. city of destiny. be­
came the world center of aviation
on January 10. 1910. Far Sighted
civic leaders. headed by the late
D. A. Hamburger. chairman of the com­
mittee. had worked unceasingly to bring
the first international aviation meet held in
the United States to Los Angeles.
That the work of the committee must
have been good was attested later by a
newspaper report which said: "All of the
arrangements were carried out with the
smoothness of a well organized theatre
program."
The Great Plain of the old Dominguez
Rancho. roughly located half-way between
Los Angeles and Long Beach was the site
of the grand doings. By almost super­
human effort. grandstand and runways
were rushed to completion before the open­
ing date.
It was the second international meet in
world history. The first had been held at
Rheims. France. in August of 1909. Des­
pite the brilliant efforts of French flyers
the Grand Prize had been wrested from
them by a young American. Glenn Cur­
tiss.
France was not disposed to forget her
early recognition of the Wright brothers,
nor many Significant chapters in her own
aerial history. She thirsted for revenge and
sent a scintillating galaxy of flyers to op­
pose the American team.
Maisson, Paulhan, Miscarol and Garros
were among the greater of the French aces;
worthy foes to meet the formidable Ameri­
can team composed of Curtiss. Hoxsey.
Latham. Willard. Hamilton and others.
The Los Angeles of that day was little
more than a sprawling hacienda. despite
its boasted population of 319.000. Small
though it was, it was an air-minded popula­
tion. During the ten days of the meet some
200.000 persons wended their way to Do­
minguez field. They came. on foot and
on horseback. They came in great wagons.
drawn by mules and horses. They rode
bicycles. They came in smart surreys and
carry-ails, properly attended by footmen
and coachmen. Tens of thousands crowded
the Pacific Electric cars to the junction
1
and trudged uphill through ankle deep dust
to the field. They wheezed to the scene in
the weird automobiles of the day and not
a few of these gratefully accepted a ride
home in a horse drawn wagon. They came
and came.
One of the earliest practical pusher planes;
at the Domin ,z
y Dared The story of the First International Aviation Meet ever held in the United States;
and of the Intrepid Early Bird-Men whose Blood Nurtured the Seeds
of American Air Power.

ILSON

"early 35,000 persons cheered Glenn Cur­
I as he soared above the Dominguez Field
achers on January H, 1910. Curtiss WtlS
der of the American flying team.
Lincoln Beachy's famous biplane and a later model of the Baldwin airplane,
"California Arrow," in which Beachy flew to early fame at St, Louis in 1901.
Hard luck dogged Beachy at the Dominguez meet and he made no records. This
plane later carried him to his death in San Francisco Bay. The man in the fore­
ground is believed to be the beloved Thaddeus S. C. Lowe. founder of the Lowe
observatory, and for many years an aviation enthusiast and researcher. Photo from
the Historical CoUection, Security First-National Bank, Los Angeles.

It was a carnival atmosphere. The mile
long road to the top of the plateau was
lined on either side with the tents and
shacks of concession aries. A reporter of
the day, (who .might have been having
trouble with his expense account.) recorded
somewhat bitterly that "a concessionaire
is a person who charges you a dime for a
five cent cup of coffee that isn't worth a
penny."
A vendor of dark glasses had a spiel
that scared the daylights out of people as
he forecast almost instant blindness to any
who dared to view the flying without bene­
fit of his "specs."
Dancing girls, hot dogs. fortune tellers.
fancy canes, peep shows and clam chowd­
er stands, all clamored for public atten­
tion and cash.
Half way up the hill was one tent that
made no bid for public attention and per­
versely. received a lot of it. Soldiers stood
guard at its portals. monotonously waving
the throngs along. One fellow. who seem­
ed to lack a proper respect for the United
States army. insisted on a look-see.
"Go ahead, mister." the sentry said.
wearily. "We're making hydrogen gas in
there and if it explodes it'll blow us all to
hell, anyway."
1910. This plane made a short Hight
d meet.
But all of this hurdy-gurdy was merely
the comic back-drop to a great show. Most
of the famous American and European
flyers of that day flew at Dominguez and
they were not there solely for fun.
Most of them were living on borrowed
time and knew it. Most of them were
killed within a few months. One, who is
internationally famous and important to­
day, still Iives~president of the second
largest aircraft factory in the world. That
man is Glenn L. Martin, whose planes By
over every battlefront of the world.
Mishaps were many at the Dominguez
meet, but it was not stalked by tragedy, as
were most of the early events. The tempo
of accidents at the field was set before the
meet started when a workman, named
Erickson. suffered a wrenched back and
lacerated fingers in unloading the Curtiss
biplane from a freight car.
Planes were smashed in the days that
followed. backs and legs and arms were
broken, but there were fe;w fatalities.
Woeful though it is. it must be recorded
that the sun did not shine every day.
Planes soared into dark and dismal skies,
rain dampened the crowds, but not their
enthusiasm.
Almost from the first day, the French
ace, Louis Paulhan, "stole the show." The
Los Angeles Times of January 11. 19m,
has this to say:
"From early afternoon until dark yester­
day gaunt. jaundiced buzzard-like machine­
birds. gUided by famous aviators like Glenn
Curtiss, Paulhan. Hamilton and Willard
soared over the old Dominguez Rancho,
which had a place in the history of the
early days and now finds a front rank
in the history of the newest new.
"The hero of the day was· Paulhan, the
jaunty, nonchalant little French aviator.
The others flew with a skill almost un­
believable. but little Paulhan had frolics
in mid-air.
"Round and round he skimmed with the
speed of a carrier pigeon; he soared like
a restless chicken hawk; swooped down
to scare people in the infield like a facetious
falcon; skimmed over heads in the stands;
mocked the slow dirigibles in their majes­
tic Hight and waved blase greetings to
all.
"A throng estimated by President Ham­
burger at 20.000. and which included the
most prominent business men and society
women witnessed the flights and went
home. wild over aviation."
That early day Times reporter wrote
with a prophetic vision far greater than he
dared to hope. The populace of Los An­
geles remained "wild over aviation"
through the years and in this friendly at­
mosphere the infant industry grew to a
position of first importance.
Los Angeles saw the aeronautical begin­
nings of Martin. Day, Patterson and Larry
Bell, builder of the famous Airacobra.
Donald Douglas. president of Douglas Air­
craft; Dutch Kindleberger. president of
North American: Lincoln Beachy. Amelia
Earhart. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith. Ed­
die Musick; all these and scores of others
of the Early Birds calledl Los Angeles
"home."
Most of them died "with their boots on."
Only a few have won their way through
to deserved fame and fortune. And these
few are the first to say that the others
have not died at all.
Somewhere. in limitless space. they are
flying yet. Freedom blazed in their hearts
and the torch they tossed from tiring
hands burns brighter than ever today.
They gave the airplane to the world as
an investment of liberty, peace and pros­
perity. Free men around the globe will yet
find a way to justify their faith.
To do less would be treason.
Treason to the memory of aviation's
martyrs; the men and women who:
"Greatly dared their fledgling wings to
try
'Twixt storm and sunshine. sod and
sky."

Page 17
 The story of the First International Aviation Meet ever held in the United States;
and of the Intrepid Early Bird-Men whose Blood Nurtured the Seeds
of American Air Power.

Nearly 35,000 persons cheered Glenn Cur­
tiss as he soared above the Dominguez Field
bleachers on January 14, 1910. Curtiss was
leader of the American flying team.
Lincoln· Beachy's famous biplane and a later model of the Baldwin airplane.
"California Arrow," in which Beachy flew to early fame at St. Louis in 1904.
Hard luck dogged Beachy at the Dominguez meet and he made no records. This
plane later carried him to his death in San Francisco Bay, The man in the fore­
ground is believed to be the beloved Thaddeus S, C, Lowe. founder of the Lowe
observatory. and for many years an aviation enthusiast and researcher. Photo from
the Historical Collection. Security First-National Bank. Los Angeles,

It was a carnival atmosphere. The mile
long road to the top of the plateau was
lined on either side with the tents and
shacks of concessionaries. A reporter of
the day, (who .might have been having
trouble with his expense account.) recorded
somewhat bitterly that "a concessionaire
is a person who charges you a dime for a
five cent cup of coffee that isn't worth a
penny."
A vendor of dark glasses had a spiel
that scared the daylights out of people as
he forecast almost instant blindness to any
who dared to view the flying without bene­
fit of his "specs."
Dandng girls. hot dogs, fortune tellers,
fancy canes. peep shows and clam chowd­
er stands, alI clamored for public atten­
tion and cash.
Half way up the hill was one tent that
made no bid for public attention and per­
versely. received a lot of it. Soldiers stood
guard at its portals, monotonously waving
the throngs along. One fellow. who seem­
ed to lack a proper respect for the United
States army, insisted on a look-see.
"Go ahead, mister," the sentry said,
wearily. "We're making hydrogen gas in
there and if it explodes it'll blow us all to
But all of this hurdy-gurdy was merely
the comic back-drop to a great show. Most
of the famous American and European
fIyers of that day flew at Dominguez and
they were not there solely for fun.
Most of them were living on borrowed
time and knew it. Most of them were
killed within a few months. One. who is
internationally famous and important to­
day. still lives-president of the second
largest aircraft factory in the world. That
man is Glenn L. Martin. whose planes Hy
over every battlefront of the world.
Mishaps were many at the Dominguez
meet. but it was not stalked by tragedy. as
were most of the early events. The tempo
of acddents at the field was set before the
meet started when a workman. named
Erickson. suffered a wrenched back and
lacerated fingers in unloading the Curtiss
biplane from a freight car.
Planes were smashed in the days that
followed, backs and legs and arms were
broken. but there were few fatalities.
Woeful though it is. it must be recorded
that the sun did not shine every day.
Planes soared into dark and dismal skies.
rain dampened the crowds. but not their
enthusiasm.
a restless chicken hawk; swooped down
to scare people in the infield like a facetious
falcon; skimmed over heads in the stands;
mocked the slow dirigibles in their majes­
tic Hight and waved blase greetings to
all.
"A throng estimated by President Ham­
burger at 20,000, and which included the
most prominent business men and society
women witnessed the flights and went
home. wild; over aviation."
That early day Times reporter wrote
with a prophetic vision far greater than he
dared to hope. The populace of Los An~
geles remained "wild over aviation"
through the years and in this friendly at~
mosphere the infant industry grew to a
position of first importance.
Los Angeles saw the aeronautical begin­
nings of Martin. Day, Patterson and Larry
Bell. builder of the famous Airacobra.
Donald Douglas. president of Douglas Air­
craft; Dutch Kindleberger. president of
North American; Lincoln Beachy. Amelia
Earhart. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith. Ed­
die Musick; all these and scores of others
of the Early Birds called Los Angeles
"home."
Most of them died "with their boots on,"
Only a few have won their way through

L
hell. anyway." Almost from the first day. the French
ace, Louis Paulhan, "stole the show." The
Los Angeles Times of January 11. 19fO.
iss. 1910. This plane made a short Hight has this to say:
ez Field meet.
"From early afternoon until dark yester­
day gaunt, jaundiced buzzard-like machine­
birds, gUided by famous aviators like Glenn
Curtiss. Paulhan. Hamilton and Willard
soared over the old Dominguez Rancho,
which had a place in the history of the
early days and now finds a front rank
in the history of the newest new.
"The hero of the day was· Paulhan. the
j;aunty, nonchalant little French aviator.
The others flew with a skill almost un­
believable, but little Paulhan had frolics
in mid-air,
"Round and round he skimmed with the
speed of a carrier .pigeon; he soared like
to deserved fame and fortune. And these
few are the first to say that the others
have not died at all.
Somewhere, in limitless space, they are
flying yet. Freedom blazed in their hearts
and the torch they tossed from tiring
hands burns brighter than ever today.
They gave the airplane to the world as
an investment of liberty, peace and pros­
perity. Free men around the globe will yet
find a way to justify their faith.
To do less would be treason.
Treason to the memory of aviation's
martyrs; the men and women who:
"Greatly dared their fledgling wings to
try
'Twixt storm and sunshine. sod and
sky."

Page 17
Page 18
being transferred to Luke Field.
For more than ten years Gene Autry
1. Sergeant Gene Autry
Gene Autry. Public Cowboy Number
One. has acquired a new title-Sergeant
Gene Autry.
Gene is now a Technical Sergeant in
the United States Army Air Force. sta­
tioned-at least for the time being-at Luke
Field. Phoenix. Arizona.
Just as in the case of hundreds of thou­
sands of other Americans. joining the Unit­
ed States Army brought about many
changes in the life of Sergeant Autry.
In six short years. Gene rose from an
Oklahoma farm to become an American
idol-at least in the eyes of millions of
teen age boys and girls. He became the
first star of western pictures to ever
invade the so-called "First Ten." For five
straight years he was named the Number
One Western Box Office Attraction. He
became a top recording star. owner of
his own rodeo-the largest ever form­
ed. He became a veritable one-man cor­
poration.
However. fundamentally Autry did not
change during those years. He was born
a cowboy. and he remained one. To have
reached the heights that he did. and still
remain 'on the level of those who put him
there. was his greatest achievement. And.
when the time came to join. he joined.
Let's take a look at a few of the changes
this brought about.
Two years ago. Autry started to build
his own Flying A Ranch Rodeo. At a
cost of more than a quarter of a million
dollars. he purchased a two-thousand acre
ranch in Oklahoma. 278 head of the finest
bucking stock in the world; the largest
individual herd of Texas Longhorn steers
in existence; 75 head of Brahma bulls;
hundreds of young roping calves; and in­
numerable trucks. wagons. and other neces­
sities. He built stables. barns. and houses
on the Oklahoma property. He leased
a 16-car special freigh t train from the
Santa Fe railroad. The Gene Autry Fly­
in~ A Ranch Rodeo became the largest
investment the famous cowboy ever at­
tempted. And it was the pride and joy
of his heart.
GHOST TOWN
Public Cowboy No.1
Now the Flying A Ranch at Gene
Autry. Oklahoma (the town of Berwyn.
Oklahoma. where the ranch is located.
changed its name to Gene Autry at the
time of the purchase) is deserted. except
for a caretaker and a few head of horses.
steers. and cattle. The rodeo itself. while
still owned by Autry. is now under the
management of Everett Colburn, producer
of the Madison Square Gardens Rodeo.
Melody Ranch. Autry's San Fernando.
California home. is closed down for the
duration. and Mrs. Autry has moved to
Phoenix. to be near her husband. The
upkeep of both places goes on-but their
2. Cowboy Gene Autry
usefulness is over. for the duration.
The Sunday afternoon Melody Ranch
radio program. which has starred Gene
for two and a half years. is no longer.
In its place,is heard Sergeant Gene Autry
-produced and directed under the direct
supervision of the United States army.
There is no longer a commercial aspect to
the program; nor is it a western show. al­
though Wrigley's Doublemint gum still
pays for the air time for Autry's serv­
ices. Autry. however, receives nothing for
the program except his regular Sergeant's
pay. The army uses the rest in whatever
way it sees fit. The program itself drama­
tizes actual events which have occurred
during World War II.
Autry's last rodeo appearance was made
in Chicago at Soldier Field from July
23 through July 29. He was inducted
into the air force on his radio program
Sunday. July 26. Immediately following
the Chicago closing he reported to the
air base at Santa Ana, California. where
he was stationed for' four weeks before
,. -------.~--- --....::-~~~..:,---~-
NEWS
By MADGE KELLY
had not worn a pair of low-heeled shoes.
His high-heeled cowboy boots had been
part and j>arcel of his western wardrobe.
This. to Gene. was a major change in his
life. When he donned his G-I shoes he
felt as though he were falling over back­
wards. It was strange. too. to walk down
the street in his uniform without being
recognized by anyone. This. however. was
in many ways a relief to the man who had
worn the big white hat for so many
years.
Republic Studios. as well as hundreds
of people who worked in the Autry pic­
tures. have felt the effects of his enlist­
ment. In all probability he will be un­
able to make any more pictures for the
duration. and certainly not anything like
his regular eight pictures per year.
Many people have wondered what
Autry's income will be while he is a mem­
ber of the armed forces. It is just what
any other Technical Sergeant's is-$87.50
per month. And that is all. Others have
asked if any differentation is made be­
tween him and other cadets. None at
all. Monday through Friday he is a regu­
lar member of the corps. On Saturday
he makes appearances at recruiting of­
fices. or wherever he is needed. Sunday
is used to rehearse and broadcast his radio
program, Monday morning he is back with
the corps. And he loves it.
At the present time. during his regular
leisure hours. he is taking private flying
lessons. attempting to build 'up his Hying
hours to the point where he will be eli­
gible for an instructor's rating. He is be­
yond the age limit of a cadet-flyer.
Gene Autry went into his country's
armed forces for the same reason that
every other American does-because he
felt he was needed. He did not wait to be
called. He enlisted while still classified at
3-A. and with very little chance of being
called for another year. And he is not
sorry.
His reasoning is-The Quicker You're
In. The Quicker We'll Win. He figures
there is plenty of time left to make pic­
tures. own rodeos. make records. and per­
sonal appearances. It's more important.
he believes. to make certain that he'll have
a country in which to do those things­
after the war.
--- ---~. ---------=~--~----

His Luck Turned on Friday the 13th
In those days. there were no "Okies."
If so. Fred Forrest would have been one.
and the Los Angeles cops might have
stopped him before he moved into town
with his family, in an old car. and camp­
ed on a vacant lot.
They were Joads, all right, though orig­
inally starting out from Arkansas. not
Oklahoma. But they got here early-Fri­
day, October 13. 1913. Fred thinks that
if Columbus had waited a day later, and
discovered America on the 13th instead of
12th, he would have had more luck him­
self-America has had enough luck.
Thirteen is Fred's lucky number.
Fred tried to get himself some kind of
a job, but then, as since, California had
six job hunters for every possible place
on a payroll. So. he planted vegetables
"I did keep one book for myself, but
on the vacant lot, and looked around the
somebody stole it."
neighborhood for odd bits of tinkering,
mowed lawns, repaired lawn-mowers, car­
pet sweepers-
Those were lean days, no vacuum
cleaners, radios, mechanical refrigerators­
practically no modern comforts.
Among other tinkering jobs. he repair­
ed cook stoves. in the days when gas was
not as much used In the kitchen. To do that
kind of job. he had to get stove parts•.
often sent away to distant manufacturers.
and made it the rule that when he got
a certain part. he would order a dozen,
on the chance that somebody else would
have the same kind of stove needing a
new grate. a new leg. a couple of new
lids-
Well. like many other Joad families.
this one is here yet, and down on Ver­
mont avenue. at 36th street. you will find
the Forrest Stove Works. with millions
of parts for every kind of stove under
the sun.
"We've been accumulating them for
thirty years." Fred says. "have sixty-five
thousand different ones. and no matter how
old your stove, or how late a model. you'll
be sure to find parts here to fix it yourself,
or we'll fix it for you."
That's quite a business. to start from
a vacant lot, but besides employing a
large force of people to repair stoves.
Fred Forrest has become a radio perform­
er. the "Stove Poker Philosopher." and is
well known to thousands of Southern Cali­
fornia listeners who may, or may not.
have patronized his stove emporium-or
will get around to it some day. especial­
ly now. in war times, when they may have
to make the old range do for the dura­
tion.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By JAMES H. COLLINS
ed "Country Jane," to sandwich his talks.
Fred Forrest-the Stove Poker
Philosopher
Fred got into radio early. a dozen years
ago. He had the idea that a program would
be good advertising. and took a fifteen­
minute spot on a local station, but didn't
like his own program. The radio people
got it up for him. music sandwiched in
with "plugs." The music was nothing
much. and the plugs were--terrible! Too
professional, too grammatical. too an­
nouncery,
He thought that if he could stand up
there himself, on his own hind legs. and
just talk into the microphone to people,
without any music, he could do a better
job, The radio experts tried to head him
off, but he was paying for that time. and
insisted on trying his kind of program­
and ever since, on and off, once a week,
twice a week, he has been talking like
himself, to listeners who must like him,
otherwise they would tune out. Talking
mostly about himself and his business,
And the way the business has grown in
those dozen years proves that somebody
must listen.
He talks in a slow, easy, chuckling.
Bob Burns sort of way, and maybe will
ask the women to go away and let the
men listen, while he asks them what sort
of a cook they've got, what kind of pies
and biscuits Maw makes, How long has she
had that old stove? Is one leg gone,
and that corner propped up on a brick?
When she lights it, does she have to
make a qUick getaway to a bomb shelter
to keep her eyebrows? Man, are you so
proud of the way she bakes and fries
on that old relic, that you think her cook­
ing would go to pot if you bought her a
new stove, or had the old one fixed up?
For a while, he had a hymn singer, call­
Page 19
but when she retired, he went it alone,
"Nothing but chin music," he says, "and
discovered that the program had more
listeners during the winter than In sum­
mer-I think people just couldn't stand for
my kind of talk in hot weather."
However. enough listeners stood for it
to justify the publication of a book, "On
My! Way," made up of Fred Forrest radio
talks. giving an account of his rolling-stone
life. The listeners asked for it, wouldn't
be happy till they got it, paid a dollar per
copy for an edition of 15,OOO-and today
Fred Forrest doesn't own a copy him­
self.
In the telephone book, he has had himself
listed in three different ways, because peo­
ple from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and
over into the Imperial Valley, are always
saying. "Maw. what was the name of that
~eller that fixes stoves-you know, the
one on the radio, that invites you to come
and see his place?" If they remember
"Forrest," they might spell it with one
"r," so he's in with both spellings. "Why
seems tel' me his name was Fred-but I
don't know Fred what?" Okee-doke--the
Fred Forrest Stove Works is in there.
too.
The other day, a customer drove by
Fred's place and went in to see what the
war had done to him-and it had done a
plenty!
Imagine everybody hustling scrap metal;
no more stoves for the duration; here's a
fellow with maybe 10.000,000 stove parts;
people need them; many couldn't be re­
placed in 'Peace times-the stove makers
are out of business.
"We had to go self-serve," Fred ex­
plained. "The draft and the war factories
took our help, Now we say to customers,
'Just look around like you would in the
supermarket. find what you want; maybe
one of us will find time to help you by
and by:
"Well, do you know. the nice thing
about this business is the thollsands of
decent people who came in, And with
new help comin' in, when we can hire or
hi-jack anybody, like as not some of tbe
customers who know more about our stock
than we do, will find time to help our
help!"
 Thanks to Mrs. Forbes
By JULIETTE LAINE
Among the many attractions which are
peculiarly California's own. there are per­
haps none of greater interest to the tourist
than her fine old Spanish Missions.
To reach them we glide leisurely over
highways which are veritable answers to
prayer. and when the weather happens to
be the sort the Chamber of Commerce
boasts about.-which is nearly always.­
the delighted traveler is apt to take it
all pretty much for granted. Everything
is so exactly as he had expected it to
be that he cannot imagine the scene hav­
ing ever been otherwise.
- Yet there was a time. not so many
years ago. when the Missions were prac­
tically inaccessible. For a period of fifty
years these ancient landmarks and the his­
toric old road "EI Camino Real."-the
Royal Road.-which connected them. had
been abandoned. Overgrown with brush
and a jungle-like growth of weeds and
cactus. the road had become so nearly
lost that only the oldest settlers remem­
bered that there had ever been such a
road at all.
Incredible as it now seems. both the
Missions and the road were completely
overlooked by such civic organizations and
public-spirited individuals as might have
done something toward their restoration.
Instead. it remained for an Easterner. a
Quaker lady of Philadelphia. to discover
the deplorable state of affairs and to do
something about it.
The lady was Mrs. A. S. C. P'orbes.
Small. fragile. gentle-mannered as the
heroine of a Victorian novel. Mrs. Forbes
does not remotely suggest that formidable
personage. the Woman With A Cause.
But appearances are deceptive. for behind
that gentle exterior is a steamroller deter­
mination.
Consequently. when she appointed her­
self a committee of one to attend to this
matter of the Missions. she did so with a
thoroughness that got results.
At first Mrs. Forbes worked Rlone in
her public works project.
"To find the various Missions I had
first to discover the road which had orig­
inally connected them." she explains.
"And to find this road seemed to call
for the combined talents of a corps of
civil engineers. some local historians. and
possibly a good clairvoyant or two. As
such assistance was beyond my meager
means I had to go at it alone.
"By endless questioning I learned that
some of the priests who had traveled the
original road were still living. as were
several old Spanish families who recalled
Page 20
)"' .,' nit tc· , . -, 'd
its route. I went from one person to an­
other. consulted old records of the church
and state. made innumerable notes and
maps. and finally. armed with these. set
out to find it. My husband accompanied
me on these horse-and-buggy journeys and
sha(ed my enthusiasm completely. A few
short stretches of the road were easy to
locate. but most of it was so overgrown
that we had to make our way on foot.
and sometimes on hands and knees. Some
portions were completely obliterated. in
which instances we would have to discov-
Mrs. A. S. C. Forbes
er the next stretch and connect it as ac­
curately as possible. marking it out with
stakes.
"But finding the road and restoring it
were two different problems. To effect
its restoration it was necessary to arouse
public interest and secure the co-operation
of persons who could help in a material
way. It was a long drawn out process.
but success came in 1904. when the 'EI
Camino Real Association' was formed and
a state bond issue of $18.000.000 was vot­
ed for the restoration. I believe that day
was the happiest. and certainly the proud­
est of -my life. With this money the
entire road and fourteen of the original
twenty-one Missions were completely re­
stored."
Directly the road-making was under
way. Mrs. Forbes designed a new and
characteristic guide-post for it. Her design.
familiar to everyone who has motored in
Southern California. is that of a tall metal
standard. from whose curved top is sus-
ido
A corner of Mrs. Forbes' work shop, displaying
various styles and kinds of bells.
pended a Mission bell with the inscription
"EI Camino Rea!." At the center of the
standard is a sign telling the direction and
distance to the nearest Mission. There
are four hundred of these - guide-posts.
placed one mile apart. and they are main­
tained by the two Automobile Clubs of
California.
The good we do comes back to us. al­
ways. invariably. Therefore it is not sur­
prising to learn that some years later Mrs.
Forbes. now widowed and needing to earn
her own living found unexpected help via
the Missions she had once saved from
oblivion. "I wanted to do some kind of
work that I could do at home. for with
my lack of business training and the fact
that I was no longer young. I knew I
could do little in the business world. Often
I had thought of making something that
our gift shops could sell. some little
souvenir that would be distinctly Cali­
fornian in character." says Mrs. Forbes,
"To me nothing seemed more appropriate
than a miniature Mission bell.
"At first I experimented in just a small
way. at home. I began by fashioning small
replicas of the bells which hang at Santa
Barbara and San Juan Capistrano. and
with each bell I enclosed a leaflet giving
the history of the Mission.
"The bells were an instantaneous suc­
cess. The idea caught the public imagina­
tion and I was soon making them in larg­
er. practical sizes as well as in miniature.
That was ten years ago. Today I fill
orders for garden and patio bells. for desk
and table bells, and for sets of chimes.
from every corner of the globe. So far
as I know. I am the only bell-maker of
my sex in the world. An old line of work.
perhaps. but I enjoy it. To me a bell is
a musical instrument. romantic, charming
-not just a piece of inanimate metal!"

"The Great Gildersleeve"
, When Captain Jose
Focha sailed his wind­
jammer through the
Straits of Magellan
and up the Califor­
nia coast to settle in
the neighborhood of
San Francisco during the gold rush days,
it was impossible for him to realize that
one day his great grandson would be enter­
taining millions of people merely by talk­
ing through a little tin gadget.
But it came to pass and today Hal Peary.
descendant of early California pioneer
stock, is known to millions of American
people for his characterization of "The
Great Gildersleeve" both in motion pictures
and radio.
Peary's real name is Harrold Ooz-Ther
Pereira deFaria, one of the few Portuguese
actors in radio. Peary comes from one of
California's oldest families who settled on a
huge land grant in the northern part of
California given them for "services render­
ed."
His maternal great grandfather, William
Dabner, is the man for whom Dabner
Street is named in San Leandro, Calif..
where Peary was born in 1905. Peary went
to school in the San Francisco district and
at an early age. was playing in stock.
He made his first radio appearance In
1925 over an Oakland station. As an actor
and singer, he quickly achieved popularity
among Pacific Coast listeners.
FmST AID TO THE CHAMPAGNE INDUSTRY!
By BEATRICE TRESSELT
Next time your host offers you cham­
pagne you might propose a toast to one
Senora Prado. of Claremont. Calif.
The lady really rates it, for if it were
not for her this country would be facing
a serious shortage of this celebrated bev­
erage. A wine shortage can be just as
serious as a shortage of other commodi­
ties; not merely from the standpoint of
the persons who buy it. but from that of
the thousands of persons whose livelihood
is dependent upon its manufacture.
Not that the vintners of this country
cannot make good champagne,-they both
can and do,--but we have never before
been able to make our own fllter cloth,
and the latter is highly important. With­
out the right kind of fllter cloth cham­
pagne just isn't champagne, no matter who
makes it.
Consequently, when the supply of fllter
cloth, imported from France, recently be­
came exhausted. the wine-growers of Cali­
fornia not only viewed the situation with
alarm but became downright panicky. The
unusual double texture of the material is
such that it cannot be made on the textile
machinery found in our own weaving
plants. and until Mr. Hitler stops hittling
there is slight chance of getting the cloth
from France.
Just when it looked as though we'd
have to go back to beer someone learned
that out at the Padua Hills Theatre there
was a young Mexican woman who in ad­
dition to being an excellent actress could
GHOST TOWN NEWS Page 21
By NEIL McDONALD
In 1935. Peary left for Chicago to ex­
plore the radio fleld there and in the next
four years was heard on many trans-con­
tinental shows. Peary's. trademark-"The
Gildersleeve giggle"-is actually about ten
years old. Peary first. used it when he
played the villain in the "mellerdramas"on
the "Spotlight Review." He forgot about
it for seven years until a personal appear­
ance he was making with Fibber McGee
at the Palace Theater in 1938.
Climax of the act was Fibber's attempt to
sell Peary a pair of suspenders. Just as
Fibber closed the sale, his own trousers
slipped to the floor, revealing the comic in
a pair of red flannels. Peary's stint was a
triple-take, laughing at three distinct inter­
vals.
To vary the three, Peary remembered the
"villain" laugh. The audience howled.
Don Quinn, who writes the "Fibber Mc­
Gee and Molly" strips, happened to catch
the show and immediately realized the val­
ue of the laugh. Peary and Quinn went
into a huddle and "Throckmorton P. Gild­
ersleeve," a pompous, crusty individual,
was the result.
Peary's portrayal of the character be­
came so popular on the "McGee" show
that Peary moved into his own show. "The
Great Gildersleeve," in August, 1941. The
Hal Peary-the Great Gildersleeve show has risen in popularity until now it
is rated among the first fifteen shows on
the air.
do some remarkably fancy weaving on a a second loom. This is manned by her
hand-loom. The theatre is one of those husband, and both work long hours, daily.
very art-y "little" theatres which specialize Some idea of the skill required to weave
in the folk-plays of Early California, and this special ty!Je of doth may be gathered
its cast is comprised of young native from Senora Prado's statement that "there
players of Spanish and Mexican descent are 1500 strings, or threads. to the warp
who. as a sideline, supply the delighted of a 48-inch width."
tourists with handmade jewelry, pottery, Nice work,-and she's got it!
lace, jumping-beans and what-not.
As every Californian knows this, no one
was surprised to hear that Senora PradO'
could work miracles with a hand~loom.
Maybe she was the answer to their
prayersl So, hopefully, anxiously, they
called upon her and explained what was
wanted.
The Senora listened sympathetically,
smiled, and assured them that their trou­
bles were over. Certainly she could dupli­
cate their fllter-cloth. If they would step
into her work~room she would show them
very quickly.
Incredulously they watched her.-but the
lady knew what she was doing. Her very
first attempt was so successful that when
tests were made of her material it showed
exactly the same amount of shrinkage as
that of the best grade of imported cloth.
In all other respects as well, the hand­
woven material was found to be fully as
effective as that which had always previ­
viously been imported from France.
Needless to say that since that day. a
few weeks, ago. Senora Prado has done
no emoting for the audiences at the Padua
Hills Theatre. Instead. she has such dif­
flculty in keeping her supply of ftlter-cloth
equal to the demand that she has installed
Maria Prado at Her Hand Loom
 Page 22
No Black.. out for Santa Claus
"That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into
the world." St. John, 1:19.
Dear Editor:-I am eight years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no
Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in
the Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth
-is there a Santa Claus? (Signed) Vir~
ginia O'Hanlon.
Dear Virginia: Your little friends are
wrong. They have been affected by the
skepticism of a skeptical aQe. They do not
believe except they see. They think that
nothing can be which is not comprehen~
sible to their little minds. All minds, Vir~
ginia, whether they be men's or children's,
are little. In this great universe of ours
man is a mere insect. an ant, in his intel~
lect, a~ compared with the boundless world
about him. and measured by the inteIli~
gence capable of grasping the whole truth
and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia. there is a Santa Claus!
He exists as certainly as love and gen~
erosity and devotion exist, and you know
they abound and give to your life its
highest beauty and joy. Alas, how dreary
the world would be if there were no Santa
Claus! It would be as dreary as if there
were no Virginias. There would be no
childlike faith then. no poetry. no romance.
to make tolerable this existence. We
should have no enjoyment except in sense
and sight. The eternal light with which
childhood fills the world would be extin~
guished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might
as well not believe in fairies! You might
get your papa to hire men to watch all
the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch
Santa Claus. but even if they did not see
Santa Claus coming down, what would
that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but
that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus.
The most real things in the world are
those that neither children nor men can
see.
Did you ever see the fairies dancing on
the lawn? Of course not, but THAT'S
no proof that they are not there. Nobody
can conceive or imagine all the wonders
that are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see
what makes the noise inside. but there is
a veil covering the unseen world which
the strongest man, nor even the united
strength of all the strongest men that ever
lived. could tear apart. Only faith, fancy,
poetry. love and romance. can push aside
the curtain and view and picture the super~
HUNTINGTON BEACH of­
fered one of the world's
most unique Yuletide
effects. creati ng scenes
like this as part of
tbe ooastline decorations
called "Forty Miles of
Christmas SmHes#" Kris
Kringle's reindeers,
mounted on the walk­
iIlg beams of oil wells,
galloped. gaily through
tbe flight.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
nal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all
real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there
is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus?
Thank God he lives, and he lives for­
ever. A thousand years from now, Vir~
ginia. nay, ten times ten thousand years
from now. he will continue to make glad
the heart of childhood.
EDITOR'S NOTE - The foregoing article
first appeared in the New York Sun on
September 22. 1897. Francis P. Church
was the author. The great Charles Dana
was the guiding spirit of the Sun at that
time, and of this editorial he wrote: "Real
literature. It will be read and reread for
years to come. Might be a good idea to
reprint it every Christmas-yes, and even
tell who wrote it."
Dana did not err. Few pieces of English
literature have been more widely reprinted,
nor more richly deserving.
Written on the spur of the moment in
answer to an actual letter, Church's great
classic caught the true spirit of Christmas.
His words have brought joy, hope. comfort
and peace to countless thousands through~
out the world; both to the little "Virginlas"
and to the grown~ups, whose need has of~
times been more urgent.
The years have not dealt too easily with
the original Virginia. At a late date she
was still living with her parents at 121
West 95th Street, New York City; three
doors from the home where she wrote the
letter that inspired Church's editorial.
She is Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas now.
Her one marriage ended unhappily, al~
though it brought her a beautiful daughter.
Laura.
She has spent the greater part of her
adult life as a school~teacher. toiling among
the underprivileged masses of New York's
teeming Harlem and Lower East Side.
It is safe to assume that the girlish illu~
sions she was so reluctant to part with
have long since been crushed beneath the
heartaches and responsibilities of a mate~
rialistic world.
But it is also safe to assume that the
faith which prompted her letter as a child
of eight still burns in a heart more mature
and understanding. Only recently she
wrote, as a foreword to a book: "Dear
'Children of Yesterday.' Won't you try
to seek out these trusting children of to­
day, and make sure that their letters may
The lights of Christmastide burn dim
this year.
Past glories of the season. like Altadena's
mile-long lane of illumined, eighty-foot
deodars, will not be seen.
And with this dimming of the lights there
may come some of the dimming of the faith
which caused little Virginia O'Hanlon.
aged eight. to pen her naive letter to the
editor of the New York Sun.
The sacrifice of beauty, whether it be
of childhood's innocent illusions, or the
gentle pleasures of a peace-loving people.
is to be regretted. But it is not significant.
The only important thing is to know
that there will never be a black~out for
Santa Claus.
For the good saint exemplifies that "true
Light" of which John wrote-a Light which
burns unquenched. undimmed and uncon­
quered in the hearts of free men and
women-and good little children. every­
where,
In the deathless words of the accom~
panying editorial written in 1897 by Fran­
cis P, Church for the New York Sun:
"Thank God he lives. and he lives for­
ever."
in some way reach Santa Claus. so that
he will continue 'to make glad the heart
of childhood'? That. I think, is the best
way of proving that there is a Santa Claus,
both for ourselves and others,"
Francis P, Church did not write in vain.
The glory of his vision marches down the
~corridors of time and untold millions will
soon be reaffirming with him the age~ld
message:
There IS a Santa Claus!
N.F.W,

The Idaho Book Publisher
Last February I had the pleasure of
meeting and visiting with J. H. Gipson.
President of The Caxton Printers, Ltd.,
the most important book publishing house
in all the west.
Gipson. and the name is pronounced like
Gibson but with a o. was in Los Angeles
on a little trip around the country and our
visit with him was extremely interesting.
So many of our important western books
and so many of our .really good western
authors have had their books published by
The Caxton Printers that an interview with
the man responsible for these things pro­
vided a great thrill.
Of the seventy-eight successful. recog­
nized book publishers in the United States.
one is located west of the Mississippi. That
one is The Caxton Press, Ltd., of Cald­
well. Idaho, a little town of about seven
thousand population.
At the time of Mr. Gipson's visit, Chapin
Hall of the Los Angeles Times interviewed
him and from Mr. Hall's' article we quote.
"J. H. Gipson of Caldwell. Idaho, week­
ended in Los Angeles.
So what? A couple of million other
good Americans did the same. But this
man Gipson is different. Enough differenil:
to rate a spot in the personal column. He
is a very unusual individual. and the head
of a business which takes an unusual
twist. He knows more people worth know­
ing than a hotel reporter and has made
more unknown writers "known" than any
other publisher of books,
"His hobby is the discovery and unveil­
ing of talent. a hobby in which his com­
pany invests most of the profits it makes
in the ordinary course of its 'legitimate'
business, which. by the way. are consider­
able.
"If a writer with something to say and
who says it with a modicum of genius is
uncovered. The Caxton Printers, apter
than not, up and print the tome regard­
less of profit, and if the gentle reader thinks
that is not a swell way to get into the red­
ink division, the said g.r. doesn't know
much about the printing trade.
"'What Goes On' had heard of this
farmer-printer from the wide open spaces
of Idaho, and of the enterprise which he
built out of a shoestring; of his accom­
plishments and his philanthropiC outlook on
the possibilities now and then resulting
from giving a boost to talented authors
struggling for a toehold on the ladder to
fame.
"When some day 'What Goes On' is
able to visit Caldwell. Idaho, the little town
with a big man in the role of her leading
citizen, we want to meet his mother-90
years young-alert to the moving pano­
rama of world-stirring events, a keen ob­
server and commentator, and rightly proud
of her 'Who's Who' sons."
GHOST TOWN NEWS
J. H. GIPSON
Almost all of us have read some of the
books published by The Caxton Printers
and will be interested in what Mr. Gipson
told us about his business. He says:
"There are. it is believed, many sound
reasons why the decentralization of pub­
lishing would be advantageous in America,
but probably none of these reasons
weighed very heavily with us when, along
in 1927, we first began to consider the
establishing of a real publishing house.
"It would be difficult to say just why
we ventured into this most hazardous of
commercial enterprises. Probably, the real
reason was that all of us love books. and
wanted to have some part in making them.
"As enterprises of our sort have a way
of developing by the trial and error
method. we had expanded a country print­
ing office which started in 1903 with a
sack full of type worn down to the second
nick. a wheezy gas engine to furnish mo­
tor power, and a broken-down job press,
into a rather sizeable-that is for Idaho-­
industry.
"Formed originally to publish a farm
paper for Idaho farmers, which venture
didn't Drove remunerative by the way. the
original inventory of $118 had grown to
one of a quarter of a million. In addition
to being printers and binders, we were
doing something in the stationery and office
equipment line. had a thriving school sup­
ply business. and acted as the state text­
book depository, in addition to having spe­
cial departments devoted to the sale of
calendars and advertising novelties and a
salesman who contacted the court house
trade, selling everything from office forms
to jail fixtures.
"We had. like almost every country
printing house with equipment anywhere
near adequate to produce a decent job of
pamphlet work, done a few books. pri­
vately printed for aspiring authors. mostly
paper bound. As a matter of fact. among
our first customers was a Basque sheep­
herder who wrote dramas, and we printed
several for him until he concluded that he
must achieve in other fields than letters.
"Probably our first real publishing ven­
ture was a textbook for Idaho schools:
Luken's Idaho Citizen. We first privately
printed it for the author, and then took
over the forms and publishing rights. and
really made something of a commercial
success of it. as it eventually got on the
state adopted list of textbooks and has
enjoyed a steady sale. The Idaho Citizen
was first printed in 1925. .
"In 1928 and 1929 we published five
books each year. In 1931-2-3. we brought
out either 10 or 11 each year. In 1934 the
number went up to 16. For 1935 the num­
ber was?7, with 31 to be brought out in
1936--too many for our rewurces.
"In March of 1937 our plant and build­
ing were entirely destroyed by fire. so the
Page 23
number of books for that year was reduced
to 21. Probably from now on the number
will not exceed 26 in anyone year.
"Up to 1938 we had published a total
of 151 titles which were still in print clas­
sified as follows: /
Americana. 34 History. 4
Juveniles. 18 Miscellaneous, 20
. Education. 7 Serious Fiction, 19
Light Fiction. 17 Verse. 32
"Probably it would not be accurate to
state that we benan to consider the estab­
lishment of a publishing house in 1927.
Rather. we drifted into publishing.
"It seemed to us that America should
have at least one house that might be
classified as non-commercial. By that we
meant a publisher not depending upon reve­
nue from his publishing venture for its
support.
"About 1928 we found ourselves mak­
ing more money than we' really needed for
our modest wants . One of our principals
has some authors in his immediate family
and knows how really hard it has always
been for new writers, particularly new
writers from the West, to find publishers,
even when they seem to be doing worth.
while work.
"It was with the idea of giving such
writers such limited assistance as could be
given. Through printing their books and
distributinq them to the reviewers we flrst
began to publish. We hadn't any idea that
the venture would be profitable and it
hasn't. As a matter of fact, we have sus­
tained a loss on almost every title we
have published. for while many of our
books have gotten splendid presses. we
don't know enough about the problems of
sales to bring the sales report figures up
to even the modest few thousand necessary
to show a profit on our moderate set-up.
"The thing that we really enjoy most
is serious fiction books in which the
authors really come to grips with life­
books which are honest and frank in deal­
ing with all phases of life. Weare really
very proud of the titles we have published
under this classification and while the sales
have been deplorably small, we do helieve
that among them may be found at least a
book or two which has a fair chance of
taking its place in the permanent literature
of our country.
"We like our Americana. of course.
Many of these books are reminiscences of
the old-timers who made the West and
some of them, although without formal edu­
cation, can really write. Authenticity is
the distinguishing characteristic of these
titles. and if they are not great books,
they may proVide the material upon which
great books of the future are based."
 you are invited to visit Ghost Town Village
and roam around to your heart's content. To
reach Knott's Berry Place and Ghost Town
Village simply drive out east on Manchester­
Firestone on Highway No. 101 from Los An~
geles 22 miles to Buena Park. Tum right at
Buena Park on Highway No. 39 and drive two
miles to what has become known as "The most
famous roadside inn in America."

TRAIL TO GHOST TOWN

Just back of the dining rooms at Knott's
GHOST TOWN

Berry Place you will recognize the trail to

Ghost Town from the picture above. On a By EDYTHE HOPE GENEE
single day more than 10,000 men. women and
children have found interest and entertaniruent The lingering shafts of the parching desert sun

here in the reconstructed Ghost Town which is C/ist eerie shadows on the crumbling walls;

really a composite picture of the old towns and And air of brooding stillness hovers close,

gold camps of the early days in the West and Unbroken by a sound or voice of man;

the Gold Rush to California in '49, A door bangs loosely on a rusty hinge,

As dusk creeps forward through the purple sage,

You are invited to visit Ghost Town any And high Sierras, etched in saffron mist,

day or evening and there is no charge. Ghost Press nearer to the mouldy parapets.

Town is the hobby of Walter Knott and is the

tribute he pays to our early-day pioneers. It is
meant to perpetuate. among other things, cus­ a song of ages past-is this the clay

toms common to the day when his mother. That once was Angels Camp and Rhyolite?

then a three-year-old girl. came across the When wine Hower free---when lips and laughing eyes

desert to California in a wagon train. A huge Flashed through these dusty desert corridors?

oil painting 20x60 feet entitled "Courage," and Where are they now-the feet that walked these streets?

dramatized by a 2-minute recording, tells the Do paths of gold still lure them farther on.

story of the desert crossing in '68 and thrills Or stay their steps beneath the burning sky,

the thousands who view it. This work of art To a muted silence in this painted sand?

was more than a year in the producing and is

housed in an old hotel building of '68.
This Ghost Town costs the visitor nothing to
see-although every visitor will agree that a Scene on Main Street in Ghost Town Village.
visit to it is worth an admission price.
Ghost Town Village is but one of many at­
tractions at Knott's Berry Place which has
received national fame as the home of the Boy­
senberry which Walter Knott introduced to the
world. Of course, for several years the chicken
dinner served at Knott's has been a leading
attraction and many thousands eat the fried
chicken, the hot biscuits, the Boysenberry pie,
and go away to rave over a real country fried
chicken dinner that is so good that on Sun­
days hundreds without reservations must be
turned away. Scarcely a Sunday when less
than 5,000 people enjoy dinner here. On week­
days there is ample room and excellent service
for all and no reservation is necessary. If you
ao-n t \i¥:e. crowds on a between
r GH 0
Chuckles
HOMESPUN
By CHARLES A. MOORE
During the recent salvage drive a comely
young lady in an abbreviated skirt won
first prize. It was easy for her. She just
walked down the street and four men
turned to rubber.
Trust American youth Jo use a pithy
phrase or a tantalizing title to decorate the
old jaloppy. In our neighborhood there is
one dilapidated and discouraged looking
bus which wears across its rump in white
paint: "The Reluctant Wagon."
A jealous wife called at her husband's
office. and looked his assistant over with a
b~leful eye. "You told me your secretary
was an old maid," she accused. The hus~
band was caught off guard. but finally
answered brightly: "Surely. my love, but
today she was ill, and sent her daughter in
her place."
He was showing his new friend a snap~
shot of his family. He said: "The girl in
the short dress is my grandmother. the
young fellow in the riding breeches is my
wife, and the woman in the teagown is
my little daughter who likes to dress up in
her great-grandmother's dresses."
The average boy wipes his mouth with
the back of his hand-because it is cleaner
than the front.
The rationing of castor oil will cause
some of the younger set to wonder if there
is not a bright side to the crop of short~
aqes. after all.
Until war is outlawed and overcome.
civilization is ever a precarious interlude
between catastrophes,-Herbert Spencer.
The gal who nicked me with her Ford
during the dimout the other night insisted
it was all my fault. for she was an ex­
perienced driver and had driven a car for
seven years. I thought of a good come~
back after I got home-I've been walking
for fifty~seven years.
First Golfer: "The traps on this course
are terribly annoying,"
Second Golfer (trying to putt): "They
wouldn't be so bad if you'd keep yours
closed."
There is a town in Orange County that
is so small they had to paint "Come Again"
on the back of the "Welcome" sign.
On The Bus
One of these fussy, overbearing women
who seem to think the world was made ex­
pressly for them. got on a bus and began
fuming noisily over being compelled to
stand. She rudely elbowed her way along,
finally coming to anchor in front of a
tired workman. Soon he tapped her on the
shoulder and said: "Madam, would you
mind getting off my foot1" She bristled
up and glared at him while she replied:
"Why don't you put your big foot where
it belongs?" With equal rudeness he
snapped back: "Don't tempt me, Madam,
don't tempt me."
ST Tow NNE W S
and then served in the brilliant adventures
PHILOSOPHY
of
The Hired Man
I That's the title page of a booklet dedi­
cated to the Alameda Chapter of The
American Red Cross-and thereby hangs
a tale.
For several years Harry Young, well­
known California newspaper man. has con­
ducted a column on the editorial page of
the Alameda Times-Star and each day
readers have enjoyed the writings of The
Hired Man and wondered about the little
fellow with the pitchfork. . life of the Mustangs .of the Mesas.
The very understanding members of the
Alameda Chapter of The Red Cross now
have in permanent form this booklet con­
taining Harry Young's inspiring editorials
and a large circulation is insured. Copies
of the booklet may be had by sending 25
cents (four for a dollar) to The Hired
Man, Times-Star. Alameda. California.
And here's a hint! Get your copy now,
before the first edition is eagerly bought up.
Mustangs of the
Mesa
By RUFUS STEELE
This book, dedicated to "All Horse
Lovers," is a masterly written history of
the beginnings, spread and disappearance
of the Wild Horse in the West. and in~
cludes some of' the author's well-known
wild horse stories that have appeared in
national publications.
The horse was unknown on this conti~
nent until such adventurers as Cortez. De
Soto and Coronado in the early sixteenth
century brought them to aid in their con~
quests and then turned them loose to roam
at will.
From that time on the mustang played
an important role in America for the In­
dian, for the explorer, for the pioneer settler
Page 25
who came to spy out and occupy the land
of the Pony Express.
The horse yielded and helped. But com­
plete conquest could never be made of the
wild horse. Today the desert mountains
of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico
and other states are the domain of the
proud stallions and their seraglios. The
story of the horse's assistance to man is a
noble one, but the story of his fight for
liberty, and his separate life is one of sheer
marvelous romance.
Here is a book that thrills with the epi­
sodes and fight between man and wild
horse - a horse with courage, strength,
agility, fleetness, resourcefulness and a
spirit that could go down to death un­
yielding.
This volume is not only of historical
value but contains some of Mr. Steele's
famous stories of wild horses such as "Scar
Neck-The Wonderful." It is a collection
of historical facts put into an interesting
form and some of his most popular stories.
Mr. Steele loved the open, and wild
animals of the Great West were a favorite
study. He has made an outstanding place
for himself with his stories of wild life and
has distinguished himself in many· other
fields of writing.
This book of 252 pages, profusely illus­
trated from actual photographs of the wild
horse country, is beautifully bound and de­
Signed. It is a volume any book lover will
be proud to add to his library.
A money order or check for $258 sent
to Mabel Walden Steele, 10847 Weburn
Ave., Los Angeles, California, will bring
you a copy of this complete record of the
A Sun Dal1ce
By MRS. J. C. DAVIS
Drunken with fire from the sky
The sage-brush route goes reeling
by,
Gaunt Dervish Yuccas, one by
one-
Keen lances lifted to the sun­
Whirl dizzily, and one by one.
Across the white~hot Hoar are spun!
And far away-far, far away,
Past leagues where furnace colors
burn-
Red of old Egypt, powdered gray
With ashes from the Desert's urn­
Beyond Earth's outmost glimmering
rim-
Translucent ranges, vast and dim.
In stately phalanx slowly turn.
Page 26
What's ina natne?
"Restaurant" was originally the name of
a soup! It is first mentioned in a book
published in France in 1557. Then only
rich people could afford soup. In 1765 a
tavern was established with the name of
"Restaurant" which served exclusively this
wonderful soup. Later on it became the
name of any eating house.-This Week.
As restaurants grew in number owners
began giving a name to their establish­
ment - and some of the names may be
called good. some bad. and some even gro­
tesque. A bit of research will show you
that when an owner used his own name to
designate his particular eating place it was
likely to be good. A man is proud of his
name and will do more to build a reputa­
tion for a place of business when it bears
his name. Of course. there are exceptions
and in many cases a better name is used.
SPLIT PEA SOUP
Forty-four miles northwest of Santa
Barbara several years ago a little roadside
inn was established and the owner bravely
placed his own name over the door. It
was a tiny establishment in those days, but
the owner had an idea. This man's name
is Anton Andersen. but so successful has
the business been, so famous has become
the specialty served by Anton Andersen,
that probably more people speak of it as
that "wonderful place on the coast where
you get the good split pea soup." But.
they'll usually add-"You know. Ander­
sen's Split Pea Soup." And most people
in this section of the country do know,
while the fame of Andersen's Split Pea
Soup has travelled all over the world.
Split Pea Soup is a very commonplace
dish. It is simple, plain. wholesome food
when properly prepared. Every housewife
and every eating place knows how to make
split pea soup. What sort of a dish was
this for a man to build a successful busi­
ness on and acquire fame and fortune?
Anton Andersen knew how to make good
pea soup and he put out his sign while
passing motorists. hungry. perhaps a bit
chilly. stopped for a bowl of soup. The
soup was excellent! Next time they passed
again they stopped. Folks passed the word
on to their friends. A business was estab­
lished and it grew and grew and continues
to grow. It has grown to the extent where
it takes more than a carload of split peas
every year-just to make soup! Grown to
the place where Anton's son. Robert, is
busy all the day long and where many per­
sons are given employment. Grown to the
extent that it can no longer be designated
as a roadside inn. but now known as
Andersen's Tavern. where you can find ex­
cellent hotel accommodations. excellent food
of all kinds-and Anton Andersen still
supervising the making of the coast's be­
loved pea soup. You may have to go into
the kitchen to find him. but I'll guarantee
GHOST TOWN NEWS
By NICHOLS FIELD WILSON
that he has never been sorry that he placed
his own name on the door of one of Cali­
fornia's successful and better-known tav­
erns. Located on -Highway No. 101. An­
dersen's is a good place to stop "going
or coming."
THE LOWLY HAMBURGER
Yes, I know there .are "Heavenly Ham­
burgers" and Hamburger Heavens and just
plain Hamburger Joints. Also. I know, as
you do. that many a man and woman have
pulled themselves out of the grasp of pov­
erty by establishing a Hamburger Stand.
Here in Southern California we have had
some notable examples of success and quick
riches made in serving hamburgers. One
of the bi~ quick success stories centers
around a man by the name of Hall who
came down from Oregon without funds,
established a tiny place on Wilshire and
soon was making profits compared with
the fabulous salary of a movie actor.
Many a one gets off to a good start. but
when you find a man that grows with his
business and continues to satisfy a fickle
public year after year. decade after
decade, that, my friend. is proof of the
fact that he "has something." Here is a
brief sketch of an establishment now in the
third decade of its life-serving hambur­
gers-and still going strong.
TWO .DECADES OF PROGRESS
TAM O' SHANTER INN
It was in 1922 that Lawrence L. Frank
and Walter Van de Camp, together with
Ralph Frank who soon joined them, estab­
lished the Tam O· Shanter Inn on Los
Feliz Boulevard (then Tropico Boulevard).
On this country road the immediate neigh­
bors were a Jap vegetable stand and the
Tropico Potteries (now Gladding, McBean
& Co,), and The Inn gained distinction as
the originator of Drive-in service; dining
boards were slipped door-to-door over the
laps of the motorists,
The Inn represents a quaint and dis­
tinctive landmark for that interesting area
just half a mile east of Griffith Park. It
was in the "Roaring 20's" that the Tam
0' ,shanter Inn was founded. a period
which time's perspective reveals as one of
lusty growth in these parts-a hell-bent.
gaudy, definitely-mad decade highlighted
by the spectacular rise of the motion pic­
ture industry. From the outset. the desti­
nies of the Inn were interwoven with those
of the movies; it was an ace M-G-M scenic
designer. Harry Oliver. who conceived the
quaint tumble-down architecture of the
original building and supervised its con­
struction by studio crews. (Harry Oliver
now owns the Trading Post across from
the Old Mission at San Juan Capistrano
where he has a marvelous collection of
the sort of things every westerner and
every artist revet in and a place that every
traveler will enjoy.)
When the Inn was completed it had al1
air of authentic antiquity. To achieve this
effect, all the wood for the building had
been tossed into fires. thoroughly charred.
then scraped with wire brushes-an early­
day trick of moving picture set builders.
Nearby. at Glendale Boulevard and
Fletcher Drive. was Mixville studio o~
Tom Mix; farther down the road were the
Mack Sennett studios from which Keystone
Kops frequently sallied forth in uproarious
chase. There were many other busy stu­
dios in the district, but the chief center of
activity was Griffith Park. where as many
as twelve companies "on location" would
be shooting simultaneously. Tam 0' Shanter
served hamburgers delicious. big. tasty
hamburgers served in a variety of ways,
and the word passed along brought be­
costumed. grease - painted lunch - hungry
movie players and ,crews on many occa­
sions, invariably without warning.
Included were nearly all the early-day
luminaries - Mary Pickford. Mabel Nor­
mand. John Gilbert. Valentine. William
Desmond. Mae Murray, Douglas Fair­
banks, Sr., Eric Von Stroheim, the Gish
sisters. Ben Turpin, Marie Dressler. Ruth
Roland, Pearl White. Wallace Reid. Theda
Bara. Pola Negri. Warner Baxter. Hobart
Bosworth. Geraldine Farrar, Henry B.
WalthaI. Gloria Swanson, Lawrence Gray.
to record only a few. Of course. the Tam
O· Shanter Inn is proud. too, that present­
day film favorites also find it a haven for
hamburgers, fine salads and other well­
prepared foods. No need to tell you that
the hamburgers at Tam O· Shanter are
good. Celebrities not alone in the film in­
dustry but in all fields will tell you that.
and they continue to go back for more.
while the newcomers have grown and
grown and expansion after expansion has
taken place in order to serve the ever­
increasing number of patrons.
Whether it's serving simple split pea
soup or just a hamburger. it's the estab­
lishment that does things a bit better. a
little different, and earns with good food
and service that desirable "word-of-mouth
advertising." which makes for a lasting
success.
"OLD-FASHIONED HOSPITALITY
AND GOOD CHEER"
That's the slogan of The Conestoga Grill
in the Hotel Onesto. Canton, Ohio. and
while I have never visited this hotel. oper­
ated by Francis A. Onesto, I have great
admiration for the things he is achieving
and-I like the man who names his estab­
lishment after himself! Before opening the
new and well-named grill Mr. Onesto em­
ployed Edgar Britton. well-known Chicago
artist, to paint two murals. paintings that
tell the story of the Conestoga wagon. all
familiar as the stage coach to oldtimers.
 GHOST TOWN NEWS Page 27
in eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland, on
the lower Susquehanna and at the head of
the Chesapeake bay. They were also better
known as the Susquehannas.

The Conestoga wagon was large and

usually covered by homespun cloth sup­
ported by hoops. I ts wheels were broad
to facilitate travel over soft soil and prai~
ries. In later years almost any heavy
wagon was called Conestoga but the true
Conestoga was unique in that the wagon
bed was bowed not only in the center of
its long length but laterally as well. There
was good reason for this design. The
wagons carried all kinds of freight over
mountainous country and the bowed bed
kept the freight centered as the wagons
lurched up and down mountain grades.

Peak of the hoops supporting the cover

were 11 feet above the ground and the
cover itself was often 24 feet long. The
wagon at its greatest span was 16 feet
long and the rear wheels were five or six
feet in diameter. When six heavy Cones~
toga horses were hitched, team and wagon
occupied sixty feet of road.

These great wagons linked the old east

with the new west. The drivers were usu­
ally husky men, rough In manner but of
incredible strength and endurance. Their
wagons loaded to the gunwales, the drivers
frequently walked most of the 20 miles or
so covered in a long day.

At sundown the wagons, often in cara~

Drivers of Conestoga wagon teams eat, drink. dance and make merry.
While the name of Mr. Onesto's hotel is
the Hotel Onesto. he very appropriately
named the grill room after the famous
Conestoga wagon and then proceeded to
make it interesting with these two story~
telling paintings-vivid reminders of the
robust days when American pioneers were
pushing their way over the eastern moun~
tains, into the Ohio country and the west.
Conestogas, often praised as the finest
wagon ever built, emerged as a distinctive
vehicle as early as 1750, reached a peak of
usefulness about 1830, and declined as rail~
roads took over more and more of the
commerce of a growing nation.
The very name Conestoga has a roman­
tic ring to it and goes back to a now
extinct tribe of American Indians. The
Conestogas, of Iroquoian stock, flourished
van, pulled into a tavern yard. The drivers
unhitched their teams, ate a hearty meal.
drank. danced and sang before they curled
up in 'blankets on the tavern floor. The
pictures produced herein give but a slight
idea 0.£ these two murals that decorate the
walls of Francis A. Onesto's Conestoga
Grill in the Hotel Onesto of Canton. Ohio.
and I want to see the originals. If you get
there before I do. tell Francis that I'm com~
ing after we have won Victory and a fel­
low can hit the road again.

WHERE TO EAT

Most readers of Ghost Town News have eaten the chicken dil1l1er at Knott's Berry luxury. charm, and restfulness make a stay
Place. In the old adobe building they have learned about "Other Good Places to Dine." here just what you would wish.
In :this room are displayed the menus of hundreds of good places to eat and from time SAN CARLOS CAFE, Tucson. Arizona. 158
to :time we make mention of some of these in the following columns. N. Stone Ave. The largest restaurant in

town, reasonable rates, and excellent food.

Because of limited space, we cannot list every good place to eat in each issue. That CALIFORNIA

seems unnecessary anyway, for most people have a copy of ADVENTURES IN GOOD ANDERSEN·S. Buellton. California. High·

EATING, by Duncan Hines. This is the Red Book that tells you where to eat. What the way 101. Mr. Anton Andersen years ago

Blue Book is to your sodal life the Red Book of Duncan Hines is to the il1l1er man. We established this popular restaurant, making

are happy to display the menus of "Other Good Places to Dine," and we are always glad split pea soup his specialty. Today his son,

:to receive recommendations from the patrons of Knott's Berry Place and from the Robert Andersen, still upholds the standard

readers of Ghost Town News. of high quality in food and service.

In the following columns we will In every issue publicize as many interesting good LAWRY·S. Beverly Hills. California. 150 N.

places to eat as we have space for. This service is for the benefit of our readers and it La Clenega Blvd. Roast beef and York­

has proved of benefi:t to many of those lisied who in turn have recommended Knott·s shire pudding are the speCialties of the

Berry Place and others listed herein to their pa:trons. In a lesser degree. it is the sort house. In cooking, the roasts are coated

of mutual ADMIRATION society which Duncan Hines has created among those fortunate with an inch layer of rock salt. Service

enough to be reeommended by him. from carts.

RICHLORS. Beverly Hills. California. 156 N.

ARIZONA Ings. The home cooking is of excellent La Cienega Blvd. This Is a new restaurant

quality. which specializes In Hamburger steaks of

PAINTED DESERT INN. Holbrook. Arizona. the very finest quality. Here guests dine in

2 miles North of Highway 66. While you SHEFFLER'S CAFE. Salome, Arizona. High­ an atmosphere that is smart and appealing

may be able to see the Painted Desert else­ ways 60 and 70. A unique place to eat serv­ with gracious service as a keynote. Prices

where, remember you'll get a closer view ing everything from the lowly hamburger reasonable.

here--and good food! to a double Porterhouse. Excellent modern BIG SUR LODGE. Big Sur. California. High­

CAMELBACK INN, Phoenix. Arizona. On motel rooms will also be found here. way 1. Located in the beautiful Redwoods.

Highways 60, 80 and 89. This Inn, 11 miles THE LODGE ON THE DESERT, Tucson. you will find Big Sur Lodge a most delight­

Arizona. 4 miles East on Alvernon Way. ful spot for relaxation and enjoyment. Mr.

N. E. of Phoenix, ls a paradise for the win­ This Lodge is a place delightfully different Raymond will see that you are served the

ter resort seeker. Here you can enjoy your from a guest ranch or a hoteL The atmos­ very best meals possible to find anywhere.

favorite sport and the beautiful surround- phere of a private home combined with They specialize in mountain trout dinners.

Page 28
CARLSBAD HOTEL, Cuisbad. Callfol'nia.
wedges of cake fresh from the oven and
Highway 101. "A luxurious seaside resort ho­
pies and serving on paper plates. Cherry
tel set in a floral wonderland." Inexpensive
crates were replaced by a few tables and
rates, deluxe service, and good food.
chairs. Little kitchens began opening for
TAM 0' SHANTER INN. Glendale. CaUfol'­
business serving chicken, meats of all kinds.
nia. 2980 Los Feliz Blvd. Their greatest
trout and good things of every description.
feature is the hamburger-presented in so
Now thousands of people travel to the
many deluxe forms, that lowly food is lifted
Farmer's Market every day for lunch.
to a high place indeed. Prices are mod­
GOOD FELLOWS GROTTO, Loa Anqeles,
erate.
CalifOl'nia. 341 South Main St. A visit to
VAN DE KAMP'S, Glendale an4 Pasadena,
interesting Main Street and a stop at Good
Callfol'nia. The meals here are simple, well
Fellows Grotto for a very delicious meal
prepared, and appetizingly served. Prices
will prove most fascinating. The oldest
are very reasonable.
restaurant in So. California., Famous for
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE TEA ROOM, Holly.
fish food. steaks for 36 years.
wood, California. 5604 DeLongpre Ave. This
Tea Room, located near movie studios, is a
LA PALMA CAFETERIA. Los Angeles, Cali­
veritable paradise to the movie fan. The
fornia. 615 S. Grand Ave. In a tropical
glamour of screen, society and radio per­
patio filled with plants, gay colored um­
meates the atmosphere. Waitresses are vol­
brellas and garden furniture, you will find
unteers from the ranks of debutantes and
the service and cuisine under your host
professional women, and hostesses are the
Mr. Manspeaker all you could wish. Re­
wives of famous executives and famous ac­
nowned for salads and pastries and huge
tors. The food is good.
Bavarian creams. No liquor.
COLONIAL INN. Hollywood. California.
MELODY LANE. Los Angeles. CalifOl'nia.
1966 North Vermont Ave. Those who are
5351 Wilshire Blvd. This restaurant Is oper­
planning a visit to this little inn may an­
ated by the Pig'n Whistle Corporation, and
tiCipate good, appetizing food with that
includes a cafe, cocktail room, and confec­
home-cooked flavor which is aChieved only
tionery. The reputation of this organization
by using the best and freshest ingredients.
has been built up through years of cour·
IVAR HOUSE, Hollywood. CaUfol'nla. 1737
teous service and fine food. Their menus
Ivar Ave. Because of its hospitality and
are comprehensive and their prices reason­
charm. the Ivar House has become one of
able.
Hollywood's most noted dining places. Sim­
J. W. ROBINSON'S TEA ROOM. Los An­
ple food cooked with the greatest of care
geles, CalifOl'nia. 600 W. 7th St. This Tea
is served.
Room is located on the seventh floor of
MUSSO AND FRANKS GRILL. Hollywood.
Robinson's department store and is of the
Califol'nia. 6667 Hollywood Blvd. Excellent
small, Intimate variety. Salads are served
cttisine and service at moderate prices
with sandwiches, and sandwich orders in­
Dinner is a la carte. .
clude little salads. There is a fashion show
BUENA VISTA. Indio, CalifOl'nia. Little tile
every day from 12-2 p.m.
roof bungalows with every comfort and
STEVENS NIKABOB, Loa Angeles, CaUfol"
convenience and kitchenettes completely
nia. 875 South Western Ave. Modern decor.
outfitted with dishes and cooking utensils
quiet atmosphere, an all-inClusive menu
make a stay here very enjoyable.
and an accomplished chef make the Nikabob
HOTEL INDIO, Indio, Califol'nla. Highway
a thoroughly charming and satisfactory
99. "The friendly inn on the desert" is a
most welcome stopping place for good food
and lodging for the night.
SUK'S TAVERN, King CUy, Califol'nia.
illghway 101. An exceptionally fine eating
place for so small a town. In very attrac­
tive surroundings. Mr. Suk prepares and
serves food that more than satisfies the
hungry traveler.
CHAMBERS LODGE, Lake Tahoe, Califol'­
nia. illghway 89. Chambers Lodge occu­
pies one of the most beautiful sites on
Lake Tahoe. The modernly equipped cot­
tages, the velvety lawns and well-kept flow­
ers. and the quiet surroundings make . this
lodge an ideal place to spend a summer
vacation. In the dining room only the most
carefullY prepared meals are served.
JUmASSADOR HOTEL. Loa Angeles. CaB­
fornla. Certainly, no one need be told by
us to visit the Ambassador. Located in the
heart of the Wilshire District, this great
hotel and its 22-acre park is a major South­
ern California attraction. with hotel and
dining room accommodations seldom
equalled and its Cocoanut Grove probably
the best known night spot in all Western
America.
BROWN DERBY RESTAURANTS: 3377 Wil­
shire Boulevard. Los Angeles; 1628 North
Vine Street. Hollywood; 4500 Los Feliz
Boulevard. Los Angeles; 9537 Wilshire
Boulevard. Beverly Hills. The Br9wn Derby
restaurants have long been internationally
famous because of their popularity with
the celebrities of the motion picture world.
They are one of the star-marked places on
the itinerary of Southern California visitors.
However, the prestige of the Brown Derby
restaurants is primarily based on the qual­
ity of their food and service. The newest
Brown Derby restaurant-the Los Feliz­
also has a Car Cafe.
CAROLINA PINES. Loa Angeles. California.
7315 Melrose Ave. The rich tantalizing fla­
vor of the South permeates the food placed
before you at this restaurant. The friendly
leisurely atmosphere is a welcome relief
from the hustle and bustle of modern living.
FARMER'S MARKET, Los Angeles, Califor­
nia. North East corner of Fairfax and Third
Streets. In this huge market a great restau­
rant grew up surrounded by eighty odd
farm and food shops. ACCidentally, one of
the world's largest restaurant businesses
grew here. It started by a woman buying
a slice of ham baked on the grounds and
a hot roll. She sat down on a cherry crate
and ate lunch. Her example was followed
by others and the merchants who were sell­
ing slices of baked ham began selling
GHOST TOWN NEWS
Kansas steer beef sliced per your request
rfght before your eyes.
MORGAN'S CAFETERIA. San Diego. CaB­
fOl'nia. 1049 6th St. Those who enjoy a
cafeteria will find this One of the best. At­
tractive surroundings and good food. Not
cheap.
CATHAY HOUSE, San Fl'anc:l.sco. Cal!fornia.
718 California St. If you haven't already
had the pleasure of meeting Johnny Kan
in his interesting restaurant, put the Cathay
House at the head of your list of stops in
San FranCisco. A large glass kitchen win­
dow is convenientlY placed so that you can
watch your food being ,prepared.
FAIRMONT HOTEL, San Francisc:o, Call­
fOl'nia. The Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill
in San Francisco is one of the world-famous
hotels that have given San Francisco its
reputation for grand hotels and fine living.
With its majestic setting and view of the
Golden Gate and Bay your visit here as a
guest enjoying fine accommodations, or as
a patron of the dining rooms will provide
a thrilling appreCiation of present-day San
Francisco.
POST STREET CAFETERIA, San Fl'anclac'o,
CalifOl'nia. 62 Post St. This is not the usual
type of cafeteria. Many fiowers and a quiet
atmosphere add to the enjoyment of a de­
licious meal.
DANIGER'S. Santa Ana, Califol'nia. High­
way 101, Second Floor of Santora Bldg. A
very nice restaurant serving horne-cooked
pastries, sweetbreads and chicken dinners.
A large menu with reasonable prices.
THE SAM:ARKAND HOTEL. Santa Bal'bal'a,
California. Highway 101. This beautiful
hotel, also situated on the shores of the Pa­
cific, overlooks nothing in contributing to
the pleasure and comfort of the discriminat­
ing traveler.
SANTA MARIA INN. Santa Mula, CalliOl'­
nia. Highway 101. This "Valley of the Gar­
dens" is a spot all nature lovers should
visit. The largest fiower gardens of the
piace to dine. world are to be found here, and an Inn that
will make your stay long to be remembered.
'LEVEN OAKS HOTEL, Monl'ovia, Califol'­
nia. Highway 66. '120 S. Myrtle Ave. A CHAT 'N CHEW CAFE, Sunland, Callfol'nia.
comfortable. family hotel where good food, 8203 Foothill Blvd. A small unpretentious
well served. attractively fUrnished rooms place specializing in steaks,· chops, and tur­
with excellent beds are offered guests. Rates key at reasonable prices. The surroundings
reasonable. are pleasant and the food good. Open Tues­
day to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
STAGG'S OLD CORRAL, Mountain View. VALERIE JEAN DATE SHOP, Thel'maL
CallfOl'nla. Bayshore Highway, 2 miles CeUfol'nla. 12 miles below Indio. This
north of Moffett Field. One of the most in­ Oasis on the Desert, while not an eating
teresting stoPS between San Francisco and place, rates a visit. Home of dates with a
Los Angeles. In addition to good food, here national mail order business. Originator of
is where the Old West lives again. You see the Date Milkshake that folks drive miles
with what the great pioneers brought civi­ to get. Interesting illustrated gift catalog
lization to our great State. You see guns mailed upon request.
used by Jesse James, "Wild Bill" Hickok,
guns that licked the British, French, Indians THE NUT TREE, Vacaville, Califol'l1la.
Highway 40. Simple but delicious food
and the Mexlcans--everything that ever trod
upon us-over 2,000 guns that paved the served in pleasant $urroundings. One of
their special features is Boneless Chicken
trails West with lead.
Tamales.
PLANTER'S DOCK, Oakland, CeUfornla. ST. GEORGE HOTEL, Volcano, CaBfol'nla.
Foot of Broadway, on pier. Not a fancy Those who are interested in the ghost towns
place, but it serves some mighty fine food. of California will find the historical gold
Unusual Chinese dishes are a speCialty. center of the Mother Lode in Amador Coun­
ty, Volcano, extremely fascinating. This is
DINAH'S SHACK, Palo AUo. California.
illghway 101. 4269 EI Camino Real. If you a tip to the visitor of old Volcano: when
want to be sure of your dinner here. It is here try a meal in the dining room of the
a good idea to make reservations. Their St. George Hotel, or better still, stay all
specialties are southern fried chicken, corn­ night at this old inn, erected in the '70's
fed steaks, and baked Virginia ham. and just recently reconditioned.
HILLCREST DINING ROOM, Pll8Ildena. CARSON INN, Willifs, California. Main St.
California. 3570 East Foothill Blvd. This es­ Situated on the Redwood Highway, this
tablishment was started in 1922 by Ray­ place serves delicious home-cooked meals
mond Summers, who then had only a route and offers comfortable rOoms for the night.
delivering milk and home-made ice cream. Their jams, jellies and pastries are prepared
From that small start we find an institution here.
that is well worthy of the good name that HOTEL WOODLAND, Woodland, CaUfol'nia.
it now has. Highway 99W, The best hotel in this vi­
VISTA DEL ARROYO HOTEL, Pasadena, cinity. Here importance is placed on good
Califol'nia. 125 S. Grand Ave. In this lovely food.
hotel one, may dine in elegance on such COLORADO
things as chicken, roast beef, and delight­ BROADMOOR HOTEL. Colol'ado Springs.
ful smorgasbord suppers on Sunday. Prices Colol'ado. South of City., At this beautiful
may be a little high, but you'll get your hotel, at the foot of Pike's Peak, you can
money's worth. enjoy any of your favorite sports. Attrac­
MISSION INN, Rlvel'alde, Califol'nia. High­ tions of special interest Include Will Rogers
ways 50, 395 and 18. Mission Inn is the pride Shrine of the Sun, and the Garden of the
of Southern California and. in fact. the en­ Gods. Cuisine of the Broadmoor is known
tire West. Important personages and cul­ the world around.
tured travelers from all over the world have
been attracted to this hotel for many years GOLDEN LANTERN INN, Denvel'. Colol'ado.
because of its charming setting in the gar­ 1265 Broadway. This "Steak House of the
den city of Riverside, and its true spirit of West" Is something you won't find every .
hospitality. Its superior accommodations day, so when you're in if$ vicinity, stop and
give yourself a real treat.
and excellent food adds, in no small way,
to the popularity of this delightful inn. KREYER'S RESTAURANT, Denvel'. Colo­
HART'S, Sacramento, California, 919 K I'ado. 410 17th St. This city restaurant serves
Street. Hart's is the oldest restaurant in a large variety of tasty dishes which in­
Sacramento, in continuous operation for cludes the best of meats and vegetables.
nearlY twenty-nine years. Huge corn fed Popular prices.

Walter Cameron with Will Rogers in the good old days.
t now called 'chases', a term that in pictures
-The Screen s First Hero
When Walter Cameron answered the
call for his Last Round-Up a few weeks
ago. few persons outside his own circle of
acquaintances were aware of the interest­
ing fact that in his passing the screen had
lost its very first hero. His unique position sum in those days when $300 was all the
in film history unknown to present day
movie folk, he had for many years past
been making a comfortable. unspectacular
living not by acting. but by supplying
horses and "range critters" for motion pic­
ture productions.
But some thirty-nine years ago Walter
Cameron had the distinction - and the
fun-of playing the gun-toting sheriff in
the first story-telling picture ever made.
This, "The Great Train Robbery". was
the picture that started the film industry
on its way to million dollar productions
and its players to marble-lined swimming­
pools. Prior to this there had been various
little experimental films that were regarded
more or less as photographic curiosities,
but it was this trail blazing little crook
story that turned motion pictures from an
experimental novelty into a medium of
theatrical entertainment.
In those cinematically prehistoric days
no bona fide actors could be induced to
appear in them. Therefore, when this first
picture went into production Walter Cam­
eron was chosen to portray the sheriff for
two reasons: he was Willing to do it, and
he had actually been a deputy U. S. mar­
shal in Oklahoma Territory some years
before. The producer, Edwin S. Porter.
was also the author and director, and the
story was a simple little yarn of a hold-up
and a chase. The crook who did the hold­
ing up was a Mr. George Barns, and Cam­
eron did the chasing. The whole thing was
slightly on the feeble side, but being the
first of its kind, it was hailed by the public
with delight while the executives of the
Edison Company, of New York, who had
lent both moral and financial support
studied the public's reaction with keen in­
terest.
"For that picture I got $35," said Cam­
eron in an interview shortly before his
passing, "and it seemed like a pretty good
fee. Nowadays most of my horses make
that much in a single day. It took five days
to make that picture, but we wanted it to
be really good, not slap-dash. I remember
too that the cast not only acted but helped
set the stage, gathered ·props'. dragged the
camera around. and swept the Hoor. No
one was a 'glamour boy' in those days!
"That chase in our one reel 'Great Train
Robbery' was the forerunner of what are
Page 29
PRESENTING
Walter Cameron
means anything with lots of action. thrills
and suspense. Ed Porter talked the Lacka­
wanna Railroad into renting us a train that
ran on a narrow gauge road, over in New
Jersey. This cost $45 a day and sent the
picture's budget up to $2,OOO-a staggering
little experimental films had been costing.
"I remember that we took one shot of
the train crossing a bridge, and at the right
moment we tossed a dummy out of the
cab window. Boy. that was considered! sen­
sational! Then we went over to a park and
took shots of me and the posse chaSing
Barns. Most of our cast were impromptu
players whom we had picked up from the
park benches and who worked in the scene
just fOI1 fun. It was fun, too. but not being
regular actors or'stunt men most of them
kept falling off their horses, and the scene
had to be shot over and over. We finally
got it all done, though. and we used a
thrilling final shot, where the bandit chief
appeared at the very end in a big dose-up,
and fired point-blank at the audience. All
the kids and women screamed. 'cause it
was so realistic. Incidentally, I've heard of
some later directors who were credited
with inventing the idea of the dose-up. but
anyone who saw our 'Great Train Rob­
bery' knows that we did it long before the
rest of them thought of it.
"Well sir. the picture proved a sensa­
tion and made scads of money at rentals
of $75 per week. top. The price was based
on $10 per 100 feet, with a phonograph
thrown in for incidental music. It was the
Edison Company that made the picture and
I recall Mr. Edison himself telling me that
he had placed the very first order for mo­
tion picture film,-a strip one inch wide
Walter Cameron and Ingred Bergman
By JULIETTE LAINE
and fifty feet long.-with the Eastman
Kodak -Co.. and it had cost him $2.50."
FollOWing the "Great Train Robbery"
Cameron acted in and later directed over
200 other pictures. mostly Westerns. for
such pioneer companies as the old Than­
hauser, Biograph. and Vitagraph. "In those
early days." Cameron went on, "the movies
never announced their cast of characters
and it wasn't until Cecil De Mille took a
hand that the public was informed who
was who in the picture. This was in his
production of 'The Warrens. of Virginia'.
De Mille was also the first director to in­
sist upon make-up, and wigs of real hair
instead of wool or cotton makeshifts."
In 1922 Cameron was 55 years of age
and decided that he had had enough of
picture-making. Good horses and burros
were in constant demand bv the studios,
so he established his Ben-Hur Stables in
Culver City and let his mounts do his
acting for him. From "Ben~Hur" to "Gone
With the Wind" most of the screen horses
you've been seeing were Cameron's,
He was a life-long friend of Will Rog­
ers, Tom Mix and William S. Hart, and
the shady patio back of the stables heard
many a lazy 'afternoon's talkfest between
the three cronies. Of tranquil and cheer­
ful temperament, his 6nal illness did not
distress him. His principal anxiety was for
his own two horses. his personal favorites
which he never rented to anyone. and both
of whom were too old to work. Rather
than risk their falling into unfriendly hands
after his passing, he left orders that they
both be put to sleep by the veterinarian
who had cared for them in the past, and
his instructions were faithfully carried out.
His two dogs remain with Cameron's wid­
owed sister. Mrs. E. H. Briggs, of Culver
City.
It is interesting to note that though mo­
tion picture exhibitors 6rst presented their
full length stories in vacant stores and
other buildings which were called "Nickel­
odeons", the very first commercial motion
picture theatre in this country was the
"ElectriC Theatre", on Main Street, Los
Angeles. This blessed event took place on
April 2nd, 1902. Shortly thereafter a sim­
ilar theatre was opened in Newcastle. Pa.•
which was owned and operated by the
Warner Bros. Today there are over 17,­
000 motion picture theatres in the United
States. and an estimated 48.000 operating
in the rest of the world.
with a Cameron "actOl'''.
Page 30
Readers and Writers
HE KNEW BIDWELL
Rockwell D. Hunt is described by
"Who's Who" as an "eminent educator,
writer and editor. Regarded as one of the
foremost living authorities on California
history and political science."
Mr. Hunt is Dean of the Graduate
School of the University of Southern Cali~
fornia. Some of his books are known by
most California school and college grad­
uates.
You will enjoy his article in this issue,
"I Knew Bidwell:' and here is good news
for you. During this month of December
The Caxton Printers, Ltd.• will bring out
Mr. Hunt's latest work. John Bidwell:
Prince of California Pioneers.
Few men of California have embodied
in their lives so completely the three great
eras of its history as did John Bidwell.
Coming to the state in 1841, he knew for
eight years the Spanish pastoral life and
its traditions of hospitality and peaceful
prosperity. He was plunged with all other
men into the feverish gold days of 1849
and the mad years following them. In the
permanent development of the state which
followed the gold discoveries he was to be­
come one of its leading figures.
Founder of Chico, California, and per­
haps the greatest agriculturist of the state,
Bidwell represents the highest plane of
American character. He strove for good
roads, he made the first survey of county
lines, and he served as officer in the state
militia and in its legislative halls. As a pri­
vate citizen he led a life of exemplary
grace and service.
Rockwell D. Hunt's study of the man
preserves his ruggedness and indiViduality
in a portrait-biography that is as much the
story of a state as it is the life story of
one of its greatest men.
Illustrated with 33 halftones. Price $3.50.
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS
Let us all give a hand to artist Paul V.
Klieben for his contribution to both our
front and back cover of this issue. We
think the thought expressed in that 1856
picture of Christmas a very worthy one
and the sketch of the Nation's Christmas
Tree seems to us a masterpiece.
VEST POCKET FARMING
That article in this issue by Horace
Parker is well worth your reading. Per­
haps your immediate hopes are placed upon
a Victory Garden for 19-H and who knows
but what your Victory Garden may be but
a stepping stone to a place of your own
in the country.
Mr. Parker is vocation, agricultural
teacher in the Newport Harbor High
School of Orange County - work done
under the Federal Smith~Hughes Voca­
GHOST TOWN NEWS
tional Education Act. A graduate of the
University of California, class of 1935, he
also contributes a newspaper column en­
titled, "The Part-Time Farmer."
LETTERS FROM READERS
In this issue we have space to print but
just a few of the many received. One old
friend writes:
"E,,~ery year I send subscriptions to a popular
magazine to my friends as a Christmas gift. Som.,..
tim.. I find that they receive two and even three
subscriptions to the same magazine. This year 1
am sending gifts of GHOST TOWN ::-IEws because so
many do not know what a splendid magazine it is.
You have one advantage, tem(Xlrarily at least, in that
others may do this very thing and thus bring you
a lot of new subscribers. Unless I miss my guess, it
won't be long though until I'll have to discover
another good magazine for my Christmas offering••
because as GHOST TOWN NEWS becomes known to
the reading public everyone V\111 be after it."
"It is a dandy little magazine and is absolutely
unique and should have a great vogue. I think you
\"il1 make a great property of it. H
-ALBERT C. CAI,KINS.
HI also want to compliment you on the job you
are doing with the magazine. You are making it
very, interesting. Everything about Mr. Knott's
ranch his business are interesting. and you are
reaching out into a new field of interest in his
behal£."
-JOHN E. PICKETT, Editor
Pacific Rural Press.
"You certainly get out an interesting magazine. !I
-0. C. LIGHTNER, Editor
H abbies 111agtlz;ne,
"BoY. you're not going to try-you are building
a magazine-a magazine with a 'spark' that will
set a blaze of readers' interest in those who relish
historical data, retrospection and memories.. Who
delight in the revitalization of those men and
women who founded and built thi~ western empire
of ours. n
······('ARL T. NU"AN.
Dr. Eugene Paynter (University of Cali­
fornia), now of San Diego, writes:
"Inspired by your editorials in GHOST '1'OWN
NEWS, I have offered to donate to GHOST TOWN
a very old piano and have written Mr. Knott as
follows-'Handed down in our family, in its origi­
nal mahogany case, made by Behr Bros. of New
York City, in the late 60's or early 70's-the first
type of Upright Grand to be sold in San Francisco.
I do not know if it came around the Horn or not,
but from my earliest recollection it stood in the
drawing~room of our old salt~water brick home­
stead, corner of Jackson and Powell Streets in San
Francisco.
It 'Incidentally, the writer's father was a charter
member of the Society of California Pioneers. Ten
Mr. Wilson he might be interested in knowing that
I have seen the George Washington type of hand
press, my father having been the pioneer type
founder of the Pacific Coast, and the owner and
publisher of the San Francisco Directory and
Printer's Guide.
Ii I I f you care to have the piano picked up* we
will be happy to give it to you.' "
"There are more than 600 U. S. O. Clubs in the
United States and the reading rooms are popular with
tho soldiers and sailors. It would be a fine thing
if GHOST TOWN NEWS was on nle in each reading
room-<>r several copies. I enclose cheek for five
dollars to pay for ten annual subscriptions--one to
each of ten U. S. O. Clubs. Maybe some other
subscribers will join in this plan and send sub­
scriptions for a few-<>r many. GHOST TOWN NEWS
carries the stuff the boys will like--and pront from
reading,f'
-WALTER N. HOWES
SPanish American W't» Petcrall.
"I shall take advantage of every opportunity to
give the GHOST TOWN NEWS a boost as it is one of
the most educational and interesting magazines of
its kind that I have had the pleasure of reading."
-LoNNIE M. JONES
The R. M. Teague Nurseries
San Dimas, California.
"::-Iothing could be more commendable than your
effort toward a revival of the Mission Play. COuld
Mr. McGroarty acqui.,.ce in presenting it to the
public once more it w01ild be of untold value to the
'people of every faith.'
H
-JULIA G. GARDNER,
LADY SOURDOUGH
Frances Fitz Sanger, author of that ex~
cellent story of Alaska, Lady S.ourdough,
has contributed an original article 'for your
entertainment. While her book has actu~
ally made her famous as Lady Sourdough,
yet another achievement is just now bring­
ing great pleasure to her. In a recent letter
she tells of winning a blue ribbon prize in
New York State for the best piece of petit
point submitted.
Lady Sourdough had never made any~
thing of the kind before. She took a water
color (her father's crest), traced it with
carbon paper and went to work. She was
73 years old when she started. and it took
three years to finish. The size is 15 inches
by 18 inches, required 126,000 stitches and
23 colors of silk were used. The little pic­
ture above will give you an idea why
it has attracted such national attention
by press and radio. Lowell Thoma!;'; the
commentator, did not miss this, and it
might be a good subject for our good
friend, John Hix, in his feature, "Strange
As It Seems."

YOUR VICTORY GARDEN
In 1943 every family should plant a bit
of a garden and grow vegetables and ber­
ries for the family table-and thus aid in
the winning of the war. Down at Knott's
Berry Place early in the coming season a
demonstration Victory Garden will be
planted and artist Paul V. Klieben has
created a sketch to show what may be
grown on a plot of ground 20x30 feet.
Visitors at Knott's will be able to watch
the development of this demonstration Vic­
tory Garden and learn about growing vege­
tables from Mr. Knott who began as a
boy to produce and sell vegetables grown
on vacant lots. the rent of which he paid
by "weeding" them for owners.
VIRGINIA'S
GIFT SHOP
After dinner at Knott's Berry Place al­
most everyone visits Virginia's Gift Shop
where gifts for pocketbooks, large or
small. are displayed. Many friends make
a special trip just to obtain interesting and
attractive gifts which are not obtainable
elsewhere. Knott's Berry Place is on High­
way No. 39, two miles South of Buena
Park. 22 miles out of Los Angeles on
Highway No. 101 straight out Manchester
and Firestone.
HOLIDAY GIFT
SUGGESTIONS
The 1943 circular is now ready for dis­
tribution and a copy will be mailed upon
request. Each year more and more people
send Christmas Gifts in the way of jams.
jellies and good things sent direct from our
place by mail or express prepaid. A postal
card will bring you this year's offerings.
KNOTT'S BERRY PLACE
Buena Park California
GHOST TOWN NEWS Page 31
is world-famed. Also included in this offer
is a copy of the 36-page Souvenir Edition
which entertainingly tells the story of
Knott's Berry Place and Ghost Town. with
original sketches and pictures.
$1.00 per subscription (12 issues)
3-Same as Number Two Plus the
"LUCKY" YUCCA BINDER.
This binder is about 10 by 12 inches in
size and will hold a dozen copies of Ghost
Town News. It is a fine. well made. flex­
ible cover. This gift will delight anyone.
Two years subscription. (12 issues) . . .
binder. picture. greeting card and Souvenir
Edition; $2.00 complete.
Please write or print names and
addresses plainly.
Address, GHOST TOWN NEWS
Buena Park, California
SARAH BROWN
COOPER: ALTRUIST
(Continued from Page 8)
mipht wear. were all she asked of the
world in exchange for her lifework." She
Gift No.3
was as dedicated as a nun. and as self­
OUR MOST ACCEPTABLE
effacing. One of her last acts was to beg
GIFf PACK
that a chapel being built in a poor dis­
6·"
oz. Jams
(Wrapped in Cellophane)
trict of the city be not named the Cooper
Memorial Church. They disobeyed her re­
4 oz. Red Raspberry Jam quest when she was dead.
4 oz. Tangerine Marmalade For the last and greatest tragedy was
4 oz. Kumquat Marmalade upon her. Nowadays we would feel some­
4 oz. Boysenberry Jam thing unwholesome in the excessive devo­
4 oz. Lime Marmalade tion between mother and daughter: but the
4 oz. Strawberry Jam '90's were a sentimental period. and Har~
Prepaid Price-$t.60 riet was all that was left to fill the heart
of an affectionate. lonely woman. In re~
Back Issues Of turn. Harriet adored her mother. Gradually
(they called it inheritance in those days.
GHOST TOWN NEWS
but now we can see a highly emotional
Numbers one, four and six are entirely woman without normal outlet). Harriet
exhausted. A few copies of Numbers 2, 3, became a suicidal melancholiac. A church
5, and 7 are available. and will be sent scandal in which they were involved in
postpaid upon receipt of ten cents each. an accusation aQainst their pastor com­
GHOST TOWN NEWS pleted her mental breakdown. Mrs. Cooper
Buena Park. California resisted al1 advice to have her daughter
put away; she spent two weeks with her
:!J 1111II111II1II1111II1II1II111111111II11II1I1I11II1I1I13UIIIIIIIUI[111lUlIll!: in a sanitarium but found things only
Qrowing worse and took her home again.
;.5 ANSWERS TO QUIZ ON 1_== Once Harriet tried to throw herself off the
PAGE 10 Sausalito ferry. Then she became obsessed
=
B I-Well over 500. =
fi with the desire to take her mother with
i 2-Newspapers. ~
her. Twice she turned on the Qas and her
mother waked just in time. Mrs. Cooper
51 3--Sacramento and San Jose. E told only a few dose friends: for weeks
~ 4-1869. g she scarcely dared to sleep. Shielding her
~ 5-More than 10.000. ~ beloved daughter. she wrote: "If my
daughter should take my life. I want the
!5111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111II1II1II13n1l1RlIRH:11II11 ~ world to know that she was not to blame
. . . I would rather die than be separated
THE BEST WAY TO SAY from her."
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" On December II. 1896. the kindergar~
Here are some holiday gift suggestions tens were preparing to celebrate the 60th
which will outlast the holiday season by birthday of their guardian angel. The chil~
dren had decked her picture with laurel.
many months.
The laurel was changed to crepe. Worn
l-One Year Subscription to GHOST out. Mrs. Cooper had dropped into ex~
TOWN NEWS. hausted slumber. and then Harriet had
Commencing with this Christmas issue. risen stealthily. turned on the gas. and
We will send a special Christmas greeting crept back to bed to die with her. Their
card to each person on your list. notifying faithful Chinese servant discovered the
them that the magazine is being sent with bodies the next morning.
your compliments. The cost of Ghost Town Flags in San Francisco were at half~
News for a whole year is scarcely more mast. Mother and daughter were buried
than that of a suitable Christmas card. in one grave in the Masonic Cemetery.
50 cents per subscription (6 issues) beside the husband and father. Men and
2-Two Years Subscription to GHOST women of all creeds and of none wept to~
TOWN NEWS. gether for "the best beloved woman in San
In addition to the greeting card this offer Francisco," whose only weakness had been
includes a special four-color reproduction her "extravagant sensibility to pain and
of the famous painting. COURAGE. The suffering" and whose life and indeed
original oil-painting. 20 by 60 feet in size whose death - had been a sacrifice to the
is on display at Knott's Berry Place and needs of others.
 The

Nation's

Christmas

Tree

By GUY JOHNSON

Sketch by Paul V. Klieben

Grant Grove of the Kingsriver Na­

tional Park since the highway now
extends into the Kingsriver Canyon
and the larger park has been estab­
lished. If it were possible to decorate
the big tree it is estimated that it
would take over three and one-half
miles of trimmings· and tinsel; it would
require apprOXimately 3,000 electric
bulbs to cause any radiance from tbe
big tree to penetrate the darkness of
the mountain night on Christmas eve.
It would require the truck and ladder
companies of a dozen fire departments
to reach the lower limbs and the
bounty of a Carnegie to provide funds
for toys to hang on its branches, leav­
ing room at the base for an additional
toy pile as large of the New York
Library Building on Fiflth Avenue.
The Nation's Christmas Tree. Here
it stands in all its pre-historic glory,
undaunted by the ceI:\turies that have
passed over its head; uncontaminated
and unsullied by human contact, with ,
no thought of the ages to come. Here.
FIFTY~FOUR MILES east of Sanger. Fresno County. California, is located the weathering every storm of adversity. 1
General Grant Grove of big trees. The monarch of the grove was named General stands today the symbol of all that ;~
Grant by Mrs. Laurette P. Baker in August 1867. and General U. S. Grant himself Christianity and the birth of the
acknowledged the honor conferred upon him at that time in a fitting memorial. The Savior means to the human race. the
mighty forest giant is at an elevation of 6500 feet. It stands 267.1 feet high and Nation's Christmas Tree. It was hoary
measures, the perimeter at slope of ground, 107.6 feet. At 180 feet from the ground with age when Christ walked in Pal­
the mean diameter is 12.9 feet. It is 129.8 feet to the first large ·limb. The age is estine, it was two thoulland years old
when the wise men of the East fol­
estimated at more than 4.000 years. lowed the Star of Bethlehem to the
In 1925 the idea of re~dedicating this, one of the oldest of living things, as The manqer in which the Christ child was
Nation's Christmas Tree was conceived in the mind of Mr. Charles E. Lee (now born. It is indeed the grandest of the
deceased), secretary of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce. and the first of what has become an out~ Creator's living things and. it is alto­
standing pilgrimage and ceremony was held at high noon on Christmas day of that year. gether fitting and proper that this
"Simple. solemn, appropriate and reverent." These four words best describe the ceremonies held noble symbol of Eternity, as men
under this tree each and every year since the idea was inaugurated. During the first few years only measure time, should furnish the set­
the most hardy were able to attend as snow depth at the tree's elevation sometimes reaches the ting for that "simple. solemn, appro­
depth of twelve to twenty feet. Regardless of hardships or snow depth an interested group has made priate and reverent" ceremony at high
the trip and carried out the idea. Now with a new highway, kept open the year 'round, the trip is noon on each and every Christmas
a simple one from the valley Hoor. General Grant National Park is now known as the General Day.