Lakewood...tomorrow's city today - Beyond Tiki

S Shipwreckjoey Member San Diego, CA Joined: Nov 29, 2002 Posts: 1794	S Shipwreckjoey Posted posted on Thu, May 20, 2004 4:10 PM I just picked up a book this week "Southern California in the '50's" by Charles Phoenix. On page 36 is a picture of my hometown shopping mall - Lakewood Center. I quote: "the centerpiece of the world's largest tract home development...the giant yellow neon M's (refering to May Co.) that marked the building on four sides were each 19 ft tall & visible from every street in town". The best things about Lakewood Center that I remember though was going to Clifton's Cafeteria with my granparents & Wallach's Music City (across the street) where I could listen to new LP's in "listening booths" andI bought my 1st bass guitar.
T Tiki_Bong Member Huntington Beach, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: -16	T Tiki_Bong Posted posted on Thu, May 20, 2004 5:00 PM And for all you local government freaks (and I KNOW you're out there!)- The City of Lakewood was the first city to contract out it's police and fire services to the County. This as opposed to having their own Police and Fire Departments. (Did I ever tell you all about my only stab at organized sports? It was in 1968 and I played little league for the (big music) West Lakewood Little League. Basically I was shit as a baseball player, but on our last game, and we were tied for last place with some other team, I managed to (somehow) get on second base. It was 2 outs and 1 stike, bottom of the 9th inning. The pitcher just threw the 2nd strike, the catcher returns the ball but the pitcher misses it. Little Bong steps off the base and picks it up (as a nice gesture I thought) and throws it to the pitcher. I remember the stands erupting in laughter as I had just caused the last out. At that very moment, I decided a career in sports probably wasn't in my future. I begged my mom for a guitar and began practicing every day cause all the other kids were playing some sort of sport)

And for all you local government freaks (and I KNOW you're out there!)-

The City of Lakewood was the first city to contract out it's police and fire services to the County. This as opposed to having their own Police and Fire Departments.

(Did I ever tell you all about my only stab at organized sports? It was in 1968 and I played little league for the (big music) West Lakewood Little League.

Basically I was shit as a baseball player, but on our last game, and we were tied for last place with some other team, I managed to (somehow) get on second base.

It was 2 outs and 1 stike, bottom of the 9th inning. The pitcher just threw the 2nd strike, the catcher returns the ball but the pitcher misses it. Little Bong steps off the base and picks it up (as a nice gesture I thought) and throws it to the pitcher. I remember the stands erupting in laughter as I had just caused the last out.

At that very moment, I decided a career in sports probably wasn't in my future. I begged my mom for a guitar and began practicing every day cause all the other kids were playing some sort of sport)