Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Frank . . . I'd like to have seen some of your cars from the past. I know that you are skilled at reconditioning cars.
My cousin Bill is in his mid 60's. When he was 14 he bought his first car, a 49 Mercury. My uncle was a skilled mechanic and built hot rods for a hobby, and he helped his son build this one slowly over the years. When Bill was in the Marine Corp. and serving in Viet Nam, he'd send home his money to his mother who would save it for him. When he was discharged, he put the money into the Merc. To this day, he still has that car. Bill lives in Arizona today, and a few years ago when I was living in Az. I visited Bill and saw the car for the first time in decades. Man, it's beautiful. I think you'd like it.

-Rick

Rick...I didn't "recondition" my car per se, I would buy old cars because that all I could afford at the time, I would just lower, paint and put chrome wheel covers on those old cars,we used to buy those cars for $50-150 each back in the early '50's, I sure as hell wish I had'em now. My favorite was my first car, a '38 4 door Chevy that I bought with my dad's help when I had just turn 15, spent a good year working on it, when I was able to drive it at age 16 just about everything on it was new, I was a big guy with the girls in high school, well not me but my car.....LOL!!

Frank, you were da man.

No Rick, it was DA CAR...lol!!

[kikibalt]

1938 4 door Chevy

[Rick Farris]

No Rick, it was DA CAR...lol!!
-----------------------------------

OK, Frank. But does this have anything to do with the "kept man" status?
I mean, do I need to get another car? Remember, I seek the "kept man" status myself.

[Rick Farris]

1938 4 door Chevy

Nice!

[kikibalt]

No Rick, it was DA CAR...lol!!
-----------------------------------

OK, Frank. But does this have anything to do with the "kept man" status?
I mean, do I need to get another car? Remember, I seek the "kept man" status myself.

Yes Rick, you do have to have the "ride" to gain "Kept man" status....lol!

[raylawpc]

L.A. THEN AND NOW

The city that loves the car was slow to pay for parking
Meters gobbling a nickel an hour made their first appearance in 1949.



METER'S RUNNING: The Times ran this photo on June 10, 1949, with this caption: "Mrs. Barbara Steele and daughter get a warning tag from Officer Harvey Bauler for overtime parking in a newly established parking meter area on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Beginning Monday, citations will be given." (Los Angeles Times)


By Steve Harvey

March 21, 2010

Los Angeles lays claim to being the birthplace of such phenomena as drive-in church services (Emmanuel Lutheran, North Hollywood, 1949), hang-gliding (Dockweiler State Beach, about 1960) and the Cobb salad (the Brown Derby, 1937).

But the city was no pacesetter in the category of parking meters. Oklahoma City was the first to install the coin confiscators in 1935, and more than 60 other municipalities followed before Los Angeles joined the crowd in 1949. Even Fairbanks, Alaska, beat L.A.

Three times -- in 1940, 1942 and 1946 -- the City Council rejected the notion, much to the delight of The Times, which scoffed that it would be "just as fair to install turnstiles for sidewalk pedestrians."

When a nickel-an-hour rate was first talked about in 1936, The Times warned ominously that "the autoist using the space for only a few minutes would have to pay as much as he who uses it for the full period."

The newspaper also asserted that the number of parking spaces would be reduced because they "must all be long enough for cars with the largest wheelbase."

And what of the technological challenge facing autoists?

"Can a stranger, or even a forgetful homebody, be mulcted for a fine if he doesn't know how to work the contraption?" asked Times columnist Chapin Hall in 1940. "Even the mechanics of dropping a nickel in a slot is a major problem for some."

But others pushed for the gadgets, including council members searching for new sources of revenue, lobbyists for the meter manufacturers and merchants who wanted to eliminate that early 20th century villain known as the "parking hog."

Finally, in 1949, the City Council gave in and installed 400 of the 5-cents-an-hour devices on an experimental basis on Lankershim Boulevard near the present site of the Metro Red Line station in North Hollywood.

"Meters Ready for Fine Nickel Nursing Trade," a Times headline said.

Six months later, a survey showed that the meters were generating "considerable profit" and "little complaint."

Although meters reduced the number of parking hogs, they gave rise to another pest: the parking tamperer.

In late 1949, The Times reported that a Sherman Oaks man pleaded guilty to "slapping a parking meter vigorously in a successful effort to show a woman how to get the meter to register without inserting a coin."

The defendant saved the woman 5 cents, The Times observed, "but it cost him $50." She was not implicated in the scheme.

Another offbeat case involved two young drivers of midget automobiles who received citations in 1950 for parking two cars in one space and refusing to insert more than one nickel in the meter.

"Why did the cop cite both drivers?" The Times editorialized. "The nickel obviously cleared one of the cars, at least. Which one? . . . While the judge is about it, he might also rule on why a bald man must pay as much for a haircut as Nature Boy. Seems a similar principle is involved."

Alas, The Times never revealed how the midget-auto case was resolved. Then again, perhaps it's still in court.

The nickel-an-hour rate has, of course, gone the way of the nickel cigar.

On Lankershim Boulevard, home of the first meters, the charge is now $1 an hour, which is cheap compared with the $4 an hour assessed on Figueroa Street.

In retrospect, The Times columnist who warned in 1940 that Angelenos might have trouble using the devices had a point.

A survey of a five-block stretch of Lankershim last week found that 12 machines were out of order, including five that were covered with official red Department of Transportation bonnets, one with a trash bag and one with a note that said "Not working."

Two rusted meters that looked as though they had been there since 1949 were working, though.

Earlier this month, the city revealed that 10% to 12% of the city's 40,000 devices were malfunctioning. And several autoists, including a field deputy of Councilman Tom LaBonge, complained that they had been ticketed at failed meters.

The city claims it doesn't cite drivers at discombobulated meters.

But one Transportation Department official explained that broken machines sometimes snap back into operation, which could be why some Angelenos have been ticketed.

It sounds as though the city has found an ironclad alibi.

Perhaps a little vigorous slapping of the meters should be permitted, if only for motorists to vent their frustrations.

The parking meter was invented in Oklahoma City by a fellow named Macgee or McGee. The world's first installed parking meter was in Oklahoma City in 1935

[kikibalt]

You're right Tom, and it say so in the article....

[raylawpc]

You're right Tom, and it say so in the article....

I guess I should have read the article . . .

[THEHAMMER321]

Rick...I didn't "recondition" my car per se, I would buy old cars because that all I could afford at the time, I would just lower, paint and put chrome wheel covers on those old cars,we used to buy those cars for $50-150 each back in the early '50's, I sure as hell wish I had'em now. My favorite was my first car, a '38 4 door Chevy that I bought with my dad's help when I had just turn 15, spent a good year working on it, when I was able to drive it at age 16 just about everything on it was new, I was a big guy with the girls in high school, well not me but my car.....LOL!!

Frank, you were da man.

No Rick, it was DA CAR...lol!!

I remember when I was a teenager my friends and I would laugh at all these middle aged guys we have all seen them a pony tail going bald and an earring driving a corvette trying to score some young broads

[Rick Farris]

Johnny Flores and Jerry Quarry . . .

Just from my own observations between 1965-1971, I learned a lot about Jerry Quarry.
The guy who started Jerry out in boxing, beyond his father, was Johnny Flores.
Jerry started out in the same gym I would many years later. He was seven-years-old.

Frank was a part of the L.A. boxing scene at that time, as an amateur boxer, but I never asked if he remembers Quarry as Junior?
I didn't discover Jerry, or Johnny Flores before the 1965 Golden Gloves. But I saw Johnny's Gym repped in the televised finals.
I watched Quarry barely defeat Clay Hodges in the L.A. Golden Golden Gloves.
He then KOed five straight in Kansas City, Mo. to become the National Golden Gloves heavyweight champ.
It was twelve when I looked up Quarry's phone number and called him. He told me where I could start. The Johnny Flores Gym.

More to come on Johnny Flores. My goal is to share his life history here, parts, from his own writings, etc. Johnny was a true WW2 war hero. A Silver Star winner, he was up for the Congressional Medal of Honor, but was overlooked. Regardless, his boxing days, time with Joe Louis, being Joe's Hollywood matchmaker, CCC camps, Disabed American Veterans, so much. He had a backyard gym behind his garage in Pacoima. At times, Johnny would rent out his gym's ring to a promoter. We'd show up and find the ring gone for a few days, then suddenly it would be back. We did OK without the ring, we had the floor, what the hell, you need to be ready to fight under any conditions. Boxers know that. But his ring was usually in the gym, and it was a good one. Johnny built boxng rings. It was a side business that his son, John Flores Jr. runs to this day. Occasionally, I will work on a film production that requires a boxing ring in the set. More often than not, that ring will be supplied by John Flores Jr. and I'll often see him and his son Todd setting up the ring. We'll visit. I remember in the mid-60's when Todd was in diapers. Today's he's in his mid-40's. Damn

[Rick Farris]

No Rick, it was DA CAR...lol!!
-----------------------------------

OK, Frank. But does this have anything to do with the "kept man" status?
I mean, do I need to get another car? Remember, I seek the "kept man" status myself.

Yes Rick, you do have to have the "ride" to gain "Kept man" status....lol!

You know Frank, I usually had the ride, and usually had the babe. I was kinda kept once, but was never a "kept man".
Life has been good to me with regard to women, but your "Kept Man" status is the ultimate.

[kikibalt]

No Rick, it was DA CAR...lol!!
-----------------------------------

OK, Frank. But does this have anything to do with the "kept man" status?
I mean, do I need to get another car? Remember, I seek the "kept man" status myself.

Yes Rick, you do have to have the "ride" to gain "Kept man" status....lol!

You know Frank, I usually had the ride, and usually had the babe. I was kinda kept once, but was never a "kept man".
Life has been good to me with regard to women, but your "Kept Man" status is the ultimate.

Well Rick, all I can say is that every man should be a kept man at one time or other....

[Rick Farris]

I remember when I was a teenager my friends and I would laugh at all these middle aged guys we have all seen them a pony tail going bald and an earring driving a corvette trying to score some young broads
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catnip . . .

Those middle aged guys are now old guys, and we have a few at WBHOF events.
There is this one old guy, who was involved in boxing. He has dyed his thinning white hair an orange-red color.

This is a few years back, after the WBHOF banquet had ended, the guy is in the bar sitting next to Eva Futch.
He's wearing gold Elvis-style aviator glasses, and he's leaning right in on Eddie Futch's hot young widow.
Eva's like catnip to the oldsters that attend HOF functions, and our hero is taking his shot.

When I first see them they're talking normally, then an hour later he's leaning in, an hour later he's sweating buckets and trying to touch her.
Our friend was not the only man in the house. A dozen more geezers were hovering, sending her drinks, etc. Lots of pressure & stress.

As I approach the bar with a friend, I get a closer look at the sweating oldster and see that his hair dye is running down his face.
I'm serious, the orange dye was dripping in the sweat, making it look like the guy was rusting.
It reminded me of something I'd seen as a kid in the monster section of the Movieland Wax Museum.
I don't know Eva Futch, but she had to have nightmares after an evening with this guy.

[kikibalt]

Film star Jane Russell and her husband, Bob Waterfield, former quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, visited New Orleans to publicize the movie, Run for the Sun, which they produced. The photograph was taken for the Item on July 25, 1956.

[Randyman]

I remember when I was a teenager my friends and I would laugh at all these middle aged guys we have all seen them a pony tail going bald and an earring driving a corvette trying to score some young broads
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catnip . . .

Those middle aged guys are now old guys, and we have a few at WBHOF events.
There is this one old guy, who was involved in boxing. He has dyed his thinning white hair an orange-red color.

This is a few years back, after the WBHOF banquet had ended, the guy is in the bar sitting next to Eva Futch.
He's wearing gold Elvis-style aviator glasses, and he's leaning right in on Eddie Futch's hot young widow.
Eva's like catnip to the oldsters that attend HOF functions, and our hero is taking his shot.

When I first see them they're talking normally, then an hour later he's leaning in, an hour later he's sweating buckets and trying to touch her.
Our friend was not the only man in the house. A dozen more geezers were hovering, sending her drinks, etc. Lots of pressure & stress.

As I approach the bar with a friend, I get a closer look at the sweating oldster and see that his hair dye is running down his face.
I'm serious, the orange dye was dripping in the sweat, making it look like the guy was rusting.
It reminded me of something I'd seen as a kid in the monster section of the Movieland Wax Museum.
I don't know Eva Futch, but she had to have nightmares after an evening with this guy.

His initials wouldn't happen to be J.O., would they?

[Randyman]

Film star Jane Russell and her husband, Bob Waterfield, former quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, visited New Orleans to publicize the movie, Run for the Sun, which they produced. The photograph was taken for the Item on July 25, 1956.

[Randyman]

1938 4 door Chevy

Nice!

A sweet Ranfla!

[kikibalt]

I remember when I was a teenager my friends and I would laugh at all these middle aged guys we have all seen them a pony tail going bald and an earring driving a corvette trying to score some young broads
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catnip . . .

Those middle aged guys are now old guys, and we have a few at WBHOF events.
There is this one old guy, who was involved in boxing. He has dyed his thinning white hair an orange-red color.

This is a few years back, after the WBHOF banquet had ended, the guy is in the bar sitting next to Eva Futch.
He's wearing gold Elvis-style aviator glasses, and he's leaning right in on Eddie Futch's hot young widow.
Eva's like catnip to the oldsters that attend HOF functions, and our hero is taking his shot.

When I first see them they're talking normally, then an hour later he's leaning in, an hour later he's sweating buckets and trying to touch her.
Our friend was not the only man in the house. A dozen more geezers were hovering, sending her drinks, etc. Lots of pressure & stress.

As I approach the bar with a friend, I get a closer look at the sweating oldster and see that his hair dye is running down his face.
I'm serious, the orange dye was dripping in the sweat, making it look like the guy was rusting.
It reminded me of something I'd seen as a kid in the monster section of the Movieland Wax Museum.
I don't know Eva Futch, but she had to have nightmares after an evening with this guy.

Johnny Ortiz.....
Rick...Smile when you "geezers".....

[kikibalt]

Film star Jane Russell and her husband, Bob Waterfield, former quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, visited New Orleans to publicize the movie, Run for the Sun, which they produced. The photograph was taken for the Item on July 25, 1956.

Randy....I seen Waterfield play live in 1951....

[Randyman]

I remember when I was a teenager my friends and I would laugh at all these middle aged guys we have all seen them a pony tail going bald and an earring driving a corvette trying to score some young broads
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catnip . . .

Those middle aged guys are now old guys, and we have a few at WBHOF events.
There is this one old guy, who was involved in boxing. He has dyed his thinning white hair an orange-red color.

This is a few years back, after the WBHOF banquet had ended, the guy is in the bar sitting next to Eva Futch.
He's wearing gold Elvis-style aviator glasses, and he's leaning right in on Eddie Futch's hot young widow.
Eva's like catnip to the oldsters that attend HOF functions, and our hero is taking his shot.

When I first see them they're talking normally, then an hour later he's leaning in, an hour later he's sweating buckets and trying to touch her.
Our friend was not the only man in the house. A dozen more geezers were hovering, sending her drinks, etc. Lots of pressure & stress.

As I approach the bar with a friend, I get a closer look at the sweating oldster and see that his hair dye is running down his face.
I'm serious, the orange dye was dripping in the sweat, making it look like the guy was rusting.
It reminded me of something I'd seen as a kid in the monster section of the Movieland Wax Museum.
I don't know Eva Futch, but she had to have nightmares after an evening with this guy.

Johnny Ortiz.....

I thought so!

[kikibalt]

1938 4 door Chevy

Nice!

A sweet Ranfla!

Those were great ranflas Randy....

[Randyman]

Nice!

A sweet Ranfla!

Those were great ranflas Randy....

The kids today think they know cars but they don't know sh*t.
My first car was a 1966 Impala SS, grey with a black vinyl top. I paid $750.00 for it in 1973. My father went with me to K-Meirs on Whittier Bl the night I bought it. After I made the deal the guy walked away to go get the paperwork and I said to my dad "I only have 700.00 dollars, can I borrow 50.00 bucks?" It pissed him off that I waited til i was done negotiating with the sales guy before I said anything. Now that I am older I can see his point. He loaned me the 50.00 bucks. I wish I still had that car. I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere. If I can find it I'll post it here.

My car was similar to this one only it was grey. I had chrome rims with moon hub caps. never did get the Cragars I wanted.

[Rick Farris]

A sweet Ranfla!

Those were great ranflas Randy....

The kids today think they know cars but they don't know sh*t.
My first car was a 1966 Impala SS, grey with a black vinyl top. I paid $750.00 for it in 1973. My father went with me to K-Meirs on Whittier Bl the night I bought it. After I made the deal the guy walked away to go get the paperwork and I said to my dad "I only have 700.00 dollars, can I borrow 50.00 bucks?" It pissed him off that I waited til i was done negotiating with the sales guy before I said anything. Now that I am older I can see his point. He loaned me the 50.00 bucks. I wish I still had that car. I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere. If I can find it I'll post it here.

My car was similar to this one only it was grey. I had chrome rims with moon hub caps. never did get the Cragars I wanted.

[Randyman]

Check out this 66 Impala SS on youtube. Suddenly I feel like buying one just for old times sakes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1NM9ON4 ... r_embedded

[Rick Farris]

My first car was a '55 Ford pick-up. Paid $400 for it. 3-spd. column shift.
I put a 4/8-track Muntz tape stereo. Dent's. Got me to the gym and fights.