<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>Back to the Future – THROUGH THE EYES OF JEFFERSON</title> <atom:link href="https://eyesofjefferson.com/tag/back-to-the-future/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://eyesofjefferson.com</link> <description>Presidential site adventures as told by a bobble head</description> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 13 Oct 2024 13:38:58 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1</generator> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">167670250</site> <item> <title>89: THAT’S THE WAY WE BECAME THE BRADY BUNCH</title> <link>https://eyesofjefferson.com/89-thats-the-way-we-became-toms-brady-bunch/</link> <comments>https://eyesofjefferson.com/89-thats-the-way-we-became-toms-brady-bunch/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Thomas Watson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2020 17:03:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Back to the Future]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blazing Saddles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Capitol Records]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chateau Marmont]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Clark and Ellen Griswold]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Clark Griswold house]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dolby Theater]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Family Truckster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Graumans Chinese Theater]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Harvey Levin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hedley Lamarr]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HGTV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jefferson bobble head]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Julia Roberts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Las Palmas Hotel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Laugh Factory]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marilyn Monroe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marty McFly home]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mel Brooks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[National Lampoons Vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pretty Woman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Queen's Walk of Fame star]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ritchie Valens Walk of Fame star]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rusty Mullet]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Brady Bunch]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Brady Bunch house]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comedy Store]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Grove]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Troubadour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thomas Jefferson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TMZ Celebrity Tour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Van Nuys High School]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whisky a Go Go]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://eyesofjefferson.com/?p=4847</guid> <description><![CDATA[My photographer and his wife were up early on Wednesday August 8, 2018 and after they enjoyed a small breakfast and a large conversation with Tom and Rhonda Currier, the three of us were headed for Hollywood. Although the traffic…]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">My photographer and his wife were up early on Wednesday August 8, 2018 and after they enjoyed a small breakfast and a large conversation with Tom and Rhonda Currier, the three of us were headed for Hollywood. Although the traffic had been tolerable for us during our visit to Southern California, that fact changed as soon as we merged onto the freeway in Tustin. At first, the bumper-to-bumper congestion was backed up further than the eye could see. But thankfully, after about twenty minutes, we picked up some steam and most of the 42-mile drive to Los Feliz wasn’t as bad as the first five miles.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/01-TRAFFIC.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4849" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/01-TRAFFIC.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/01-TRAFFIC.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/01-TRAFFIC.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/01-TRAFFIC.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/01-TRAFFIC.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/01-TRAFFIC.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The traffic was an issue as we headed towards Los Angeles from Tustin on the morning of August 8, 2018. </figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">While Tom and Vicki were nearing the end of their 2018 vacation, our first stop was where the most famous vacation in movie history began in 1983. In the film ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’, the Griswold’s home was in Chicago. But in reality, the house where Clark, Ellen, Rusty, and Audrey Griswold first boarded the Family Truckster for their cross-country trip to Walley World was located in Los Feliz, California. With no place to park along North Vermont Avenue, Vicki stayed with the Mustang as she blocked the north driveway entrance to the famous two-story house. My photographer carried me to the southern driveway gate where he took a countless number of photos of the Griswold’s place – in each image he tried to match up with a scene in the movie. I was surprised by the fact that the house looked nearly unchanged since Clark backed the Truckster out of the garage 35 years ago.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="800" height="572" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C572&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4851" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=5057&ssl=1 5057w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C215&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C549&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C732&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Located in Los Feliz, California, this house served as the Chicago residence of Clark W. Griswold and his family in ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="800" height="376" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE3-1.jpg?resize=800%2C376&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4853" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE3-1.jpg?w=1350&ssl=1 1350w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE3-1.jpg?resize=300%2C141&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE3-1.jpg?resize=768%2C361&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE3-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C482&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The moment when Clark first brought the new Wagon Queen Family Truckster home from the dealership. “I thought you were going to get the little Sports thing?” “Oh no, the Sportswagon’s much too small. Besides, I got a great deal on this one.”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/04-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4854" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/04-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/04-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/04-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/04-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/04-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/04-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer got creative and held the camera above the privacy wall for an image directly in front of the house.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="649" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/06-GRISWOLD-HOUSE-1.jpg?resize=800%2C649&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4858" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/06-GRISWOLD-HOUSE-1.jpg?w=883&ssl=1 883w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/06-GRISWOLD-HOUSE-1.jpg?resize=300%2C243&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/06-GRISWOLD-HOUSE-1.jpg?resize=768%2C623&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As I looked at the front door of the house, it was as though I could see Clark and Ellen as they discussed the new Truckster.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="446" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE7.jpg?resize=800%2C446&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4855" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE7.jpg?w=1350&ssl=1 1350w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE7.jpg?resize=300%2C167&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE7.jpg?resize=768%2C428&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE7.jpg?resize=1024%2C571&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“You may think you hate it now, honey, but wait until you drive it.”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="512" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/05-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C512&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4856" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/05-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=2085&ssl=1 2085w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/05-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C192&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/05-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C492&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/05-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C656&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/05-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In my mind’s eye, I could see Ellen Griswold as she locked the front door and headed to the garage with her neighbor.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="429" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE4.jpg?resize=800%2C429&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4859" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE4.jpg?w=1357&ssl=1 1357w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE4.jpg?resize=300%2C161&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE4.jpg?resize=768%2C411&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE4.jpg?resize=1024%2C549&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“I turned off the water, the stove, the heat, and the air. Locked the door, notified the police, stopped the newspapers. I called to get the grass cut. Did I put the timers on the living room lights?”<br></figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="578" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/07-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C578&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4860" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/07-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=2108&ssl=1 2108w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/07-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C217&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/07-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C555&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/07-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C739&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/07-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Griswold’s garage where the family vacation got off to a rough start.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="421" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE8.jpg?resize=800%2C421&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4861" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE8.jpg?w=1355&ssl=1 1355w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE8.jpg?resize=300%2C158&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE8.jpg?resize=768%2C404&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE8.jpg?resize=1024%2C539&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Walley World, here we come!”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="745" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/03-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C745&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4862" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/03-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=2358&ssl=1 2358w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/03-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C280&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/03-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C716&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/03-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C954&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/03-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The area in front of the Griswold’s home seemed almost unchanged in the last 35 years. It was as though I could see Clark as he drove the Wagon Queen Family Truckster into the driveway after he returned from the dealership.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="384" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=800%2C384&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4863" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE2.jpg?w=1353&ssl=1 1353w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=300%2C144&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=768%2C369&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GRISWOLD-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=1024%2C492&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Clark and Rusty arrive home from the dealership on the day before their family vacation.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="500" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MUSTANG-AT-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C500&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4865" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MUSTANG-AT-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=5303&ssl=1 5303w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MUSTANG-AT-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C187&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MUSTANG-AT-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C480&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MUSTANG-AT-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C640&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MUSTANG-AT-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MUSTANG-AT-GRISWOLD-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vicki not only parked the Mustang near the driveway entrance to the Griswold’s home, she also found a place to park in the shade.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">When my photographer and I got back into the Mustang, I wondered if I would hear Lindsay Buckingham’s ‘Holiday Road’ playing as we headed to our next site, but the only words that popped into my head was: “Here’s the story, of a man named Brady; who was busy with three boys of his own. They were four men, living all together; now we’re in front of their home.” When Vicki parked the car across the street from the iconic ranch-style split-level house, there was no mistaking why we were there – it was the house used for the exterior scenes for ‘The Brady Bunch’ television show. Ironically, a few days earlier, my companions saw on TV that the house was purchased by HGTV for $3.5 million. The home-improvement reality cable network had outbid NSYNC’s Lance Bass and immediately planned to renovate the house to the way it appeared on the show in the ’70s. With me watching from an opening at the top of the camera case, my photographer carried me to the sidewalk directly in front of the famous house. While the three of us stood there watching for a thrown football to hit Marcia Brady in the nose, it was cool to see the huge smile on Vicki’s face as she posed near the home’s entryway. It was obvious that some of her favorite childhood memories had flooded back; her thoughts of Greg, Marcia, Bobby, Jan, Peter, and Cindy were from the times when the world seemed so innocent.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4867" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">‘The Brady Bunch’ house, on Studio City’s Dilling Street, had just been purchased by HGTV a few days earlier.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="450" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4868" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-HOUSE2.jpg?w=800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The house was only used for brief exterior scenes during ‘The Brady Bunch’ television show. The interior scenes were filmed on a sound studio.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4869" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The front of ‘The Brady Bunch’ house that would soon be transformed by some of the renovation stars from HGTV.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="765" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C765&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4870" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=2030&ssl=1 2030w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C287&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C735&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C980&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The front entrance to the iconic Brady house. To me, it would’ve been more exciting had the place been the Tom Brady house.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="450" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MARCIA-MARCIA-MARCIA.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4871" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MARCIA-MARCIA-MARCIA.jpg?w=1000&ssl=1 1000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MARCIA-MARCIA-MARCIA.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MARCIA-MARCIA-MARCIA.jpg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Maureen McCormick, who played Marcia Brady on the show, was interviewed in front of the Brady house before the HGTV renovation had started.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="558" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C558&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4872" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=4808&ssl=1 4808w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C209&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C535&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C714&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13-BRADY-BUNCH-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Here’s a story, of a gal named Vicki; who for years had admired a Brady. Was it a Brady from the TV sitcom; or just a QB known as Tom? </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="433" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-BUNCH-BUNCH.jpg?resize=768%2C433&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4875" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-BUNCH-BUNCH.jpg?w=768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-BUNCH-BUNCH.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">‘The Brady Bunch’ kids and the HGTV stars posed in front of the Brady house. Why couldn’t I have been in front of that house when Lara Spencer was there?</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="602" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-BRADY-FRONT.jpg?resize=800%2C602&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4880" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-BRADY-FRONT.jpg?w=1660&ssl=1 1660w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-BRADY-FRONT.jpg?resize=300%2C226&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-BRADY-FRONT.jpg?resize=768%2C578&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-BRADY-FRONT.jpg?resize=1024%2C770&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-BRADY-FRONT.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-BRADY-FRONT.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Who could’ve predicted that only a couple of months after this photo was taken, all six Brady kids posed there?</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="575" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-KIDS.png?resize=800%2C575&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4878" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-KIDS.png?w=860&ssl=1 860w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-KIDS.png?resize=300%2C216&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BRADY-KIDS.png?resize=768%2C552&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pictured from left was Christopher Knight (Bobby), Maureen McCormick (Marcia), Susan Olsen (Cindy), Barry Williams (Greg), Eve Plumb (Jan) and Mike Lookinland (Peter). Those six actors were known as the Brady Bunch.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">The neighborhood around ‘The Brady Bunch’ house was quiet and tranquil; and we were somewhat subdued to leave a place where time seemed to stand still. With Vicki behind the wheel of the Mustang, we headed north for nearly ten miles until she parked the car in front of the famous Van Nuys High School – a school where times weren’t so slow; at least in the movies. As the three of us walked towards the front of the building, there was no mistaking where we had seen it before – it was the school used in the 1982 movie ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’. I could see the joy in my photographer’s face as he snapped images of the famous school as ‘Fast Times’ was one of his all-time favorite movies. Although we couldn’t enter the building, it was almost as though we could hear history teacher Mr. Hand as he wrote the words “I don’t know” on the chalk board. “I don’t know, that’s nice. Mr. Hand, will I pass this class? Gee Mr. Spicoli, I don’t know. That’s nice, I really like that. You know what I’m gonna do? I’m going to leave your words on my board for all my classes to enjoy, giving you full credit of course, Mr. Spicoli.” After which Jeff Spicoli replied: “All right!”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16-RIGDEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4885" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16-RIGDEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16-RIGDEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16-RIGDEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16-RIGDEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16-RIGDEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16-RIGDEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Van Nuys High School that was used in the movie ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="450" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH1.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4886" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH1.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH1.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH1.jpg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH1.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The façade of Ridgemont High School made its first appearance near the beginning of the movie.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C576&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4887" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=5504&ssl=1 5504w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C216&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C553&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C738&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">There were a handful of famous graduates of Van Nuys High School, including Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Don Drysdale, Robert Redford, Natalie Wood, Paula Abdul, and Tony Dow who played Wally on ‘Leave It To Beaver’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/15-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4888" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/15-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/15-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/15-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/15-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/15-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/15-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer did his best to stand in the footsteps of Mike Damone.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="414" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH4-1.jpg?resize=800%2C414&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4895" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH4-1.jpg?w=1355&ssl=1 1355w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH4-1.jpg?resize=300%2C155&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH4-1.jpg?resize=768%2C398&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RIDGEMONT-HIGH4-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C531&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mike Damone and Stacy Hamilton as they left school for the day. The pair ended up at Stacy’s house and into her pool changing area for a romp in the hay.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="516" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/17-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C516&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4891" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/17-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=5645&ssl=1 5645w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/17-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C193&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/17-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C495&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/17-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C660&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/17-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/17-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Painted murals on a block wall that was located across the street from the school were not only shown in the movie, they were still there in 2018.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="497" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DAMONE-WALKS-ACROSS-STREET.jpg?resize=800%2C497&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4897" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DAMONE-WALKS-ACROSS-STREET.jpg?w=1036&ssl=1 1036w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DAMONE-WALKS-ACROSS-STREET.jpg?resize=300%2C186&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DAMONE-WALKS-ACROSS-STREET.jpg?resize=768%2C477&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DAMONE-WALKS-ACROSS-STREET.jpg?resize=1024%2C637&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mike Damone walked with Stacy across the street after leaving school. The murals on the block wall could easily be seen in the background.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="603" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C603&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4893" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=4269&ssl=1 4269w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C226&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C579&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C772&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The murals shown in the movie were located across Cedros Avenue from Van Nuys High School.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4894" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-RIDGEMONT-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This view showed the proximity of the murals with Van Nuys High School.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">During our time in Southern California, we’ve been able to find several filming locations that featured Marty McFly from ‘Back to the Future’. Once the three of us had returned to the Mustang and the flux capacitor was activated, we traveled to 1985 where we arrived in front of the McFly residence on Roslyndale Avenue in Arleta. While my photographer took numerous pictures of the house and street at various angles, I envisioned Marty McFly and his girlfriend Jennifer as they walked out of the garage to greet Doc Brown who had arrived in his DeLorean time machine. After Tom was finished capturing images of the famous McFly home, my photographer once again asked his wife to get the car up to 88 miles per hour, even though he didn’t think the road was long enough to hit that speed. Then I thought to myself: “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!” </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="633" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C633&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4898" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=4618&ssl=1 4618w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C237&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C608&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C810&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The 1985 McFly home in the movie ‘Back to the Future’ and the driveway that was used when Doc Brown arrived from the future in his DeLorean.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="416" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?resize=800%2C416&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4909" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?w=1349&ssl=1 1349w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?resize=300%2C156&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?resize=768%2C400&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C533&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Doc Brown arrived from the future in his DeLorean time machine that came to a halt in the McFly’s driveway.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="926" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-REAL-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C926&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4902" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-REAL-HOUSE.jpg?w=829&ssl=1 829w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-REAL-HOUSE.jpg?resize=259%2C300&ssl=1 259w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-REAL-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C889&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The front door to the McFly house.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="429" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE-3.jpg?resize=800%2C429&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4903" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE-3.jpg?w=1343&ssl=1 1343w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE-3.jpg?resize=300%2C161&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE-3.jpg?resize=768%2C412&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C550&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">George and Lorraine McFly in their doorway as they watch Marty leave with Jennifer.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-MCFLY-HOUSE-1.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4900" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-MCFLY-HOUSE-1.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-MCFLY-HOUSE-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-MCFLY-HOUSE-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-MCFLY-HOUSE-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-MCFLY-HOUSE-1.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-MCFLY-HOUSE-1.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As my photographer and I stood in the middle of Roslyndale Avenue, it was as though nothing had changed since 1985. As a matter of fact, I waited for Doc Brown to back the DeLorean out of McFly’s driveway.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="384" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE.jpg?resize=800%2C384&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4901" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE.jpg?w=1336&ssl=1 1336w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE.jpg?resize=300%2C144&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE.jpg?resize=768%2C369&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE.jpg?resize=1024%2C492&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After Doc Brown picked up Marty and Jennifer in the DeLorean time machine, they prepared to go Back to the Future.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="610" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C610&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4904" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=4912&ssl=1 4912w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C229&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C586&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C781&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Once again Vicki tried to get the Mustang up to 88 mph, but on that street there wasn’t enough room.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="389" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=800%2C389&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4906" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE2.jpg?w=1351&ssl=1 1351w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=300%2C146&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=768%2C373&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCFLY-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=1024%2C498&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">It turned out that Doc’s future time machine didn’t need roads.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="413" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-4-1.jpg?resize=800%2C413&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4907" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-4-1.jpg?w=1338&ssl=1 1338w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-4-1.jpg?resize=300%2C155&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-4-1.jpg?resize=768%2C396&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-4-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C528&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="548" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C548&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4908" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=5807&ssl=1 5807w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C205&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C526&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C701&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Doc Brown didn’t need roads, but the three of us did – at least to get to Hollywood.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">It turned out that we did need roads to get to Hollywood – 12.8 miles of roads to be exact. My photographer had a few goals while we were in Tinseltown: he wanted his wife to see the hotel used in the movie ‘Pretty Woman’; to visit the Chinese Theater where a scene of ‘Blazing Saddles’ was filmed; and Tom wanted to photograph the sidewalk stars of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. It was roughly 12:15pm when we were parked a block away from Hollywood Boulevard and were walking to the hotel where Julia Roberts said to Richard Gere: “She rescues him right back”. Tom had left the top of the camera case open so I could see the sites of La-La Land and I nearly laughed out loud when the first star I saw on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated to “The Watson Family”. I didn’t realize that I belonged to a famous family, but there it was and it was located one block from the ‘Pretty Woman’ hotel.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="741" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=800%2C741&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4911" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?w=2954&ssl=1 2954w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=300%2C278&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=768%2C712&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=1024%2C949&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An ironic beginning to our day on Hollywood Boulevard as the first Walk of Fame star we saw was dedicated to The Watson Family in 1999.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size"> One block from The Watson Family star, we arrived at the Las Palmas Hotel which was located in an area that seemed “sketchy” – at least at first. The Las Palmas was the hotel used for Vivian and Kit’s apartment in the movie ‘Pretty Woman’. As we stood across the street where Tom snapped a bunch of images of the famed hotel, it was as though I could see a white limousine as it approached with Richard Gere standing through the sunroof while Julia Roberts waited on the building’s fire escape. The only thing missing was the opera music. Perhaps the most memorable and iconic part of the hotel that was still in place was the fire escape ladder that Richard Gere pulled down with his umbrella.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="562" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C562&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4912" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=5667&ssl=1 5667w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C211&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C540&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C720&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Las Palmas Hotel in Hollywood was used as Julia Roberts’ apartment in the 1990 movie ‘Pretty Woman’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="460" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-3.jpg?resize=800%2C460&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4915" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-3.jpg?w=1289&ssl=1 1289w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-3.jpg?resize=300%2C172&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-3.jpg?resize=768%2C441&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C589&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">With opera music blaring from the limo’s speakers, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) returned to Vivian’s apartment to take her away on his white stallion.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="546" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/33-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C546&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4919" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/33-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=2945&ssl=1 2945w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/33-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C205&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/33-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C524&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/33-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C699&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/33-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/33-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The famous ‘Pretty Woman’ fire escape of the Las Palmas Hotel.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="450" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-5.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4916" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-5.jpg?w=1284&ssl=1 1284w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-5.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-5.jpg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-5.jpg?resize=1024%2C577&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Edward and Vivian embrace on the fire escape in the final scene of ‘Pretty Woman’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="869" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/31-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C869&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4918" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/31-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=3159&ssl=1 3159w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/31-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=276%2C300&ssl=1 276w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/31-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C834&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/31-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=943%2C1024&ssl=1 943w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/31-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/31-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The moveable ladder of the Las Palmas fire escape.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="417" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-1.jpg?resize=800%2C417&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4920" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-1.jpg?w=1347&ssl=1 1347w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-1.jpg?resize=300%2C156&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-1.jpg?resize=768%2C400&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C534&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Edward Lewis used his umbrella to pull the fire escape’s ladder down.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="701" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C701&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4922" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=3980&ssl=1 3980w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C263&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C673&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C897&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">During the movie, Richard Gere had difficulty walking on this platform due to his fear of heights.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="459" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-4.jpg?resize=800%2C459&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4923" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-4.jpg?w=1283&ssl=1 1283w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-4.jpg?resize=300%2C172&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-4.jpg?resize=768%2C441&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRETTY-WOMAN-4.jpg?resize=1024%2C587&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard Gere, with roses clenched in his teeth, clung to the wall because of his fear of heights. </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4924" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vivian Ward and Kit De Luca’s apartment building in the movie ‘Pretty Woman’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="803" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C803&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4925" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=3603&ssl=1 3603w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C771&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1020%2C1024&ssl=1 1020w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/34-PRETTY-WOMAN-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While Vicki posed in front of the Las Palmas Hotel, it was almost as though I could hear Roy Orbison singing his signature song: “Pretty woman walking down the street; Pretty woman, the kind I’d like to meet. Pretty woman, I don’t believe you, you’re not the truth. No one could look as good as you. Mercy!”<br></figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">My photographer’s wife loved posing in front of the Las Palmas Hotel, even though she knew there was no chance that Richard Gere would drive up in a white limousine. She was stuck with the chubby guy with the camera hung around his neck and the good-looking bobble head in his hand. It was lunch time and when my companions approached Hollywood Boulevard, they saw an unusual-looking diner called ‘Rusty Mullet’. The interior was interesting as it reminded me of a garage sale that sold food and drink. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="526" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=800%2C526&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4928" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=5883&ssl=1 5883w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=300%2C197&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=768%2C505&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=1024%2C674&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The ‘Rusty Mullet’ was located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue and it was the place where my photographer and his wife had lunch in Hollywood.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4929" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The gaudy, yet cool, interior of the ‘Rusty Mullet’. </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1120" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35.5-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=800%2C1120&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4930" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35.5-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=2845&ssl=1 2845w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35.5-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=214%2C300&ssl=1 214w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35.5-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=768%2C1075&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35.5-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?resize=731%2C1024&ssl=1 731w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35.5-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35.5-RUSTY-MULLET.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer, who once again wore a signature KISS concert shirt, posed in the ‘Rusty Mullet’ before his lunch arrived.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">At roughly 1:30pm, the three of us were ready for our walk along the famous Hollywood Boulevard – which wasn’t a glamourous as I would’ve guessed. We saw hundreds of stars in the Walk of Fame, and we stopped to admire the front of the Dolby Theater. The downside was the number of tourists that clogged the entre sidewalk and it seemed there were a lot of people begging for a handout. Some of the beggars were dressed as famous characters, while others were dressed as not-so-famous homeless people. It was sad to see, but at the same time the mooching became a bit annoying – at least for me. By the time we made our way to the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater, thousands of people were packed in front as they admired the concrete blocks in the forecourt that featured signatures, footprints and handprints of celebrities from the 1920s to present day.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="671" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/37-VALENS-STAR.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4931" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/37-VALENS-STAR.jpg?w=4112&ssl=1 4112w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/37-VALENS-STAR.jpg?resize=300%2C252&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/37-VALENS-STAR.jpg?resize=768%2C644&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/37-VALENS-STAR.jpg?resize=1024%2C859&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/37-VALENS-STAR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/37-VALENS-STAR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">During our walk from the ‘Rusty Mullet’ to the Chinese Theater, my photographer found the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of Ritchie Valens.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="771" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/39-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=800%2C771&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4932" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/39-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?w=3382&ssl=1 3382w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/39-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=300%2C289&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/39-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=768%2C740&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/39-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?resize=1024%2C986&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/39-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/39-HOLLYWOOD.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Located in front of the Hollywood Wax Museum, we saw an impressive wax likeness of Marilyn Monroe. I had hoped that my photographer would set me alongside Marilyn’s right hand, but the museum’s security was too tight for that photo-op.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-DOLBY-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4933" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-DOLBY-THEATER.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-DOLBY-THEATER.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-DOLBY-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-DOLBY-THEATER.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-DOLBY-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-DOLBY-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Academy Awards have been held at the Dolby Theater since 2002 and it’s also the location for the live shows of ‘America’s Got Talent’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4934" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theater, which was opened as a theater on May 18, 1927. Since then, roughly 200 famous stars have signed concrete blocks that were embedded in the forecourt of the theater.</figcaption></figure></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="467" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C467&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4935" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=5187&ssl=1 5187w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=300%2C175&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C448&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=1024%2C597&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Arguably the most famous signed block at the Chinese Theater was that of Marilyn Monroe. The Blonde Bombshell put her signature, hand and foot prints into the sidewalk on June 26, 1953.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="669" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MARILYN.jpg?resize=500%2C669&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4936" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MARILYN.jpg?w=500&ssl=1 500w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MARILYN.jpg?resize=224%2C300&ssl=1 224w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marilyn Monroe prepared to sign her name into the wet concrete at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on June 26, 1953.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4937" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The side view of Grauman’s Chines Theater forecourt.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="416" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-4.jpg?resize=800%2C416&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4938" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-4.jpg?w=1331&ssl=1 1331w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-4.jpg?resize=300%2C156&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-4.jpg?resize=768%2C399&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-4.jpg?resize=1024%2C532&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sheriff Bart and The Waco Kid walked past Hedley Lamarr and into the Chinese Theater in Mel Brooks’ movie ‘Blazing Saddles’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1195" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C1195&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4939" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=3817&ssl=1 3817w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=201%2C300&ssl=1 201w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C1147&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=686%2C1024&ssl=1 686w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The signatures in the concrete in the forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="410" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-1.jpg?resize=800%2C410&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4940" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-1.jpg?w=1348&ssl=1 1348w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-1.jpg?resize=300%2C154&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-1.jpg?resize=768%2C394&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C525&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harvey Korman as Hedley Lamarr in the movie ‘Blazing Saddles’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="518" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C518&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4942" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=5401&ssl=1 5401w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=300%2C194&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C498&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=1024%2C664&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Although ‘Blazing Saddles’ was released in 1974, Mel Brooks added his signature forty years after Hedley Lamarr did – at least in the movie.<br></figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="410" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-2.jpg?resize=800%2C410&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4943" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-2.jpg?w=1337&ssl=1 1337w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-2.jpg?resize=300%2C154&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-2.jpg?resize=768%2C394&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C525&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hedley Lamarr after he was shot and killed in ‘Blazing Saddles’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4944" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=5833&ssl=1 5833w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Thousands of tourists flocked to the front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="393" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-3.jpg?resize=800%2C393&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4945" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-3.jpg?w=1338&ssl=1 1338w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-3.jpg?resize=300%2C148&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-3.jpg?resize=768%2C378&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BLAZING-SADDLES-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C504&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Grauman’s Chinese Theater as it looked in ‘Blazing Saddles’.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Our time in Hollywood had gone perfectly; my photographer and his wife had enjoyed the sites that Tom had planned on the three of us seeing. But then it happened. As they stood across the street from the Chinese Theater, the two of them saw a TMZ tour bus go past – which peaked their interest. As fans of the television show by the same name, Tom and Vicki decided to buy a pair of tickets for the 3:00pm tour. They had hoped that they would see some famous Hollywood homes, as well as some infamous Hollywood sites; and maybe even a celebrity or two, but they were left very disappointed. While the two-hour TMZ shuttle bus ride through parts of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Sunset Strip were filled with so-called “hot spots” from their TV show, it seemed like we heard the Kardashian’s and Kanye West mentioned a lot, which I knew irked my photographer. I’ve heard Tom say in the past that he could never understand how people like them could make so much money with so little, or no, talent. There was one site that we passed, however, that did spark my cameraman’s interest – Doug Weston’s Troubadour. On August 25, 1970, Elton John performed in America for the first time at the Troubadour in front of 300 fans packed into the small West Hollywood club. After beginning his set with ‘Your Song’, the 23-year old piano-pounding Rocketman was launched into Rock and Roll history. The Troubadour, at least in my photographer’s mind, was a historical landmark and unfortunately it was barely mentioned on the TMZ tour. When we returned to Hollywood Boulevard and the TMZ Tour building where our two-hours of misery had begun, I heard Tom say to his wife: “That was a complete waste of money and two hours of our lives that we’ll never get back. I think I’ll puke if I hear Kim Kardashian’s name mentioned again.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="655" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=800%2C655&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4948" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=3799&ssl=1 3799w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=300%2C246&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=768%2C629&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?resize=1024%2C838&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-CHINESE-THEATER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">When my photographer and his wife saw this bus travel past the Chinese Theater, they were hooked – the two of them decided to go on a TMZ Celebrity Tour.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="571" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C571&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4949" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=5346&ssl=1 5346w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C214&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C548&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C731&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vicki holds the two tickets for their ride into the depths of the ‘Thirty Mile Zone’. It ended up being two hours of agony in the Twilight Zone!</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="494" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C494&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4950" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=4359&ssl=1 4359w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C185&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C474&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C632&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While our tour guide was enthusiastic, the material that she had been provided had left us wanting more. “Keep an eye out for celebrities. If you identify a celebrity on this tour, you will be featured on one of our shows with that star.” The only stars that we saw were embedded into the sidewalk.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/58-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4953" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/58-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/58-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/58-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/58-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/58-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/58-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Laugh Factory on Sunset Boulevard was the site of Michael Richards’ (Kramer on Seinfeld) racist outburst during his stand-up routine on November 17, 2006 – a routine that ruined his career.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="544" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/59-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C544&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4952" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/59-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=5261&ssl=1 5261w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/59-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C204&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/59-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C522&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/59-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C696&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/59-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/59-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As we sped along Sunset Boulevard, we got a quick glimpse of Chateau Marmont. It was in that hotel’s Bungalow 3 where John Belushi died of a drug overdose on March 5, 1982.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="562" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C562&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4954" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=5295&ssl=1 5295w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C211&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C539&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C719&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some of my photographer’s favorite comedians have performed at The Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard – including George Carlin, Jim Carrey, Rodney Dangerfield, and Jerry Seinfeld.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/64-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4955" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/64-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/64-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/64-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/64-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/64-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/64-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">During our ride along Sunset Boulevard we briefly got a glimpse of Whisky a Go Go where The Doors were a house band for a while. Alice Cooper, The Byrds, KISS and others also used the place as a launching pad.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="561" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C561&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4956" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=5315&ssl=1 5315w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C210&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C539&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C718&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elton John made his U.S. debut on August 25, 1970 which launched him into superstardom. Less than two months later, on October 3, 1970, Janis Joplin partied at the Troubadour and was found dead of a heroin overdose the following day at the Landmark Hotel.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4957" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=4575&ssl=1 4575w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/74-TMZ-TOUR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A few times during our tour, TMZ founder Harvey Levin was shown on the small monitor as he talked about a site we were seeing. </figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">While there were no celebrity sightings on the TMZ Celebrity Tour, I thought maybe we would run into a famous person during our walk to our final Hollywood site – Capitol Records. My photographer was not only excited to see the famous circular building up close because some of his favorite artists had recorded there, he also knew that Buddy Holly’s Walk of Fame star was situated in front of the building. When we arrived at Capitol Records, Tom was able to capture images of the building that was designed to resemble a stack of records on a turntable, but the sidewalk in front of the structure was closed. After an attempt at seeing Buddy Holly’s star was stopped by security who had blockaded the entire sidewalk in front of Capitol Records, we headed for the car. It turned out later that Paul McCartney was at the recording studio where he was presented an award and also participated in an interview. Our Cricket encounter was squashed because of a Beatle. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="730" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/79-QUEEN-STAR.jpg?resize=800%2C730&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4961" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/79-QUEEN-STAR.jpg?w=4363&ssl=1 4363w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/79-QUEEN-STAR.jpg?resize=300%2C274&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/79-QUEEN-STAR.jpg?resize=768%2C700&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/79-QUEEN-STAR.jpg?resize=1024%2C934&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/79-QUEEN-STAR.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/79-QUEEN-STAR.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">We saw Queen’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that the band was awarded on October 18, 2002. Brian May and Roger Taylor had attended the ceremony.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/80-HOLLYWOOD-SIGN.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4962" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/80-HOLLYWOOD-SIGN.jpg?w=5603&ssl=1 5603w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/80-HOLLYWOOD-SIGN.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/80-HOLLYWOOD-SIGN.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/80-HOLLYWOOD-SIGN.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/80-HOLLYWOOD-SIGN.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/80-HOLLYWOOD-SIGN.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">During our walk to Capitol Records, we saw the famous Hollywood sign from Hollywood Boulevard.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/81-CAPITAL-RECORDS.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4960" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/81-CAPITAL-RECORDS.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/81-CAPITAL-RECORDS.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/81-CAPITAL-RECORDS.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/81-CAPITAL-RECORDS.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/81-CAPITAL-RECORDS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/81-CAPITAL-RECORDS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Little did we know that Paul McCartney was inside the Capitol Records building while Tom was photographing the historic structure.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1110" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/83-GROVE-1.jpg?resize=800%2C1110&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4966" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/83-GROVE-1.jpg?w=3973&ssl=1 3973w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/83-GROVE-1.jpg?resize=216%2C300&ssl=1 216w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/83-GROVE-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1065&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/83-GROVE-1.jpg?resize=738%2C1024&ssl=1 738w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/83-GROVE-1.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/83-GROVE-1.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">When my photographer and his wife arrived at The Grove, they were disappointed in what they saw there. It was only an outdoor shopping mall with no celebrities.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Once we made our way back to the Mustang at 6:15pm, my photographer and his wife decided to visit The Grove where they thought they might see a celebrity or two. Not only was The Grove a trendy place to shop, it was also the site where the tabloid television show ‘Extra’ was broadcast from in 2010 to 2013. But when we walked around the overrated outdoor mall, we didn’t see any famous people – at least none that we recognized.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">After Tom and Vicki took about a half-hour to decide what they wanted for dinner at The Grove, they sat and “people watched” while they ate. Once again, not one celebrity that they recognized walked past; and luckily a Kardashian didn’t wander by. Disappointed, the pair went back to the car and headed for Tustin where they knew a local celebrity legend lived – Mr. Plumber. We arrived at the Currier’s around 9:30pm and we sat on their patio for about an hour discussing the day’s adventure with Tom and Rhonda. When I was placed back on the shelf for the night, I knew that my photographer was as excited as I was about the following day. Tom had tickets to meet Ace Frehley after the former KISS guitarist’s concert at a small venue just north of San Diego. Even though we had been groovin’ in California for the past two weeks, it was almost time to New York Groove with Ace! </p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://eyesofjefferson.com/89-thats-the-way-we-became-toms-brady-bunch/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">4847</post-id> </item> <item> <title>88: BACK TO NIXON’S FUTURE IN WHITTIER</title> <link>https://eyesofjefferson.com/88-back-to-nixons-future-in-whittier/</link> <comments>https://eyesofjefferson.com/88-back-to-nixons-future-in-whittier/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Thomas Watson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2020 14:13:16 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Albert Pujols]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Anaheim Angels]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Angels Stadium]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Back to the Future]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brad Williams]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Christie Brinkley]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Clark Griswold]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DeLorean Time Machine]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Detroit Tigers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Doc Brown]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Excelsior High School]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Grease]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Heidi Martin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hill Valley High School]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jefferson bobble head]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marty McFly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mike Trout]]></category> <category><![CDATA[National Lampoons Vacation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Nick Castellanos]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Puente Hills Mall]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rhonda Currier]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Richard and Pat Nixon first home]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Richard Nixon]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Richard Nixon boyhood home]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Richard Nixon law office]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ron Nickerson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rydell High]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shohei Ohtani]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Stoody Home Whittier]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thomas Jefferson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tom Currier]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tony Maupin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Twin Pines Mall]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whittier California]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whittier College]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whittier High School]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://eyesofjefferson.com/?p=4757</guid> <description><![CDATA[My photographer and his wife got out of bed around 7:00am and their plan for the first part of Tuesday August 7, 2018 was to visit a handful of movie and Presidential sites that were located east of Los Angeles.…]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">My photographer and his wife got out of bed around 7:00am and their plan for the first part of Tuesday August 7, 2018 was to visit a handful of movie and Presidential sites that were located east of Los Angeles. Later in the day, they were scheduled to meet up with their California friends for a baseball game at Angels Stadium.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">The freeway traffic was heavy, but manageable, during our 20-mile ride from Tustin to Norwalk, California. At roughly 9:40am, Vicki parked the Mustang in a parking lot alongside Excelsior High School; the school that Tom thought was used for the Rydell High exterior shots in the 1978 movie ‘Grease’. But, for once, my photographer was wrong. It turned out that Excelsior High was used four years later in ‘Grease 2’ – which sucked; especially when the sequel was compared to the original. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="557" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C557&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4758" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=5716&ssl=1 5716w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=300%2C209&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C535&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C713&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Excelsior High School in Norwalk, California was used as Rydell High in the movie ‘Grease 2’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4759" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard Nixon’s wife, Pat Ryan, graduated from Excelsior High in the Class of 1929.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="342" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C342&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4760" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1351&ssl=1 1351w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=300%2C128&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C329&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C438&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Frenchy Facciano walks with English exchange student Michael Carrington on his first day at Rydell High in ‘Grease 2’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="339" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL-2.jpg?resize=800%2C339&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4761" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL-2.jpg?w=1328&ssl=1 1328w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL-2.jpg?resize=300%2C127&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL-2.jpg?resize=768%2C325&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREASE-2-SCHOOL-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C433&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Secretary Blanche Hodel (left) and Principal Greta McGee at the Rydell flagpole before the first day of the 1961 school year.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="531" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C531&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4762" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=5492&ssl=1 5492w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C510&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C680&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05-GREASE-SCHOOL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rydell High School in the movie ‘Grease 2’.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">When we were finished at the wrong Grease school, there was no mistaking our next movie site – the motel swimming pool used in the 1983 classic ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’. It took less than ten minutes to make our way from Excelsior High to the Guesthouse Hotel in Norwalk, which was known as the Saddleback Inn when Clark Griswold and the Girl in the Ferrari took an after-hours dip in the pool. I remained in the camera bag as my photographer and his wife made their way to the famous swimming pool, which was one of two outdoor pools that the hotel offered. Even though it was only 10:15am, there were a lot of hotel guests using the pool, which made my camera guy a bit apprehensive of snapping photos. Although he wanted to capture images of where Chevy Chase and Christie Brinkley had skinny-dipped in the movie, Tom didn’t want to be perceived as a ‘creepy stalker’; so, he tried to remain inconspicuous. After he captured images of the famous pool from ground level as well as from the second level of the hotel, my photographer noticed the door to one of the upper rooms was open as it was in the process of being cleaned. After obtaining permission from the hotel cleaning staff member, Tom entered the room for an additional photo or two. Was that particular room used in the movie? Doubtful; but there was no way we could tell for sure. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="569" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C569&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4764" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=5167&ssl=1 5167w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C214&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C547&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C729&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The exterior of the Guesthouse Hotel, which was known as the Saddleback Inn during the filming of the 1983 movie ‘Vacation’. </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4765" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The swimming pool used by Chevy Chase and Christie Brinkley during the skinny-dipping scene in ‘Vacation’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="397" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL4.jpg?resize=800%2C397&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4766" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL4.jpg?w=1294&ssl=1 1294w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL4.jpg?resize=300%2C149&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL4.jpg?resize=768%2C381&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL4.jpg?resize=1024%2C508&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Clark W. Griswold was stunned as the Ferrari mystery girl began to strip.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="740" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C740&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4767" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=1974&ssl=1 1974w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C277&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C710&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C947&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">I thought it was cool that the upper level safety railing was the same as it was in 1983.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="437" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL-5.jpg?resize=800%2C437&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4768" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL-5.jpg?w=1317&ssl=1 1317w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL-5.jpg?resize=300%2C164&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL-5.jpg?resize=768%2C420&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL-5.jpg?resize=1024%2C560&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Clark? What are you doing?” “Uh, swimming. Yeah, my back was killing me and I thought I’d get a hot swim to loosen up the muscles. Why go to the car and get the bathing suits? Jump right in!”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4769" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The view of the famous pool from the second level of the hotel.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="427" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL5.jpg?resize=800%2C427&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4770" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL5.jpg?w=1320&ssl=1 1320w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL5.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL5.jpg?resize=768%2C410&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VACATION-POOL5.jpg?resize=1024%2C547&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Christie Brinkley during one of the most famous swimming pool scenes in movie history.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4771" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer shot this image while inside an upper-floor room that overlooked the pool.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4772" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-VACATION-POOL-HOTEL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This section of the hotel’s upper level was likely where numerous hotel guests gathered after they heard Clark Griswold scream after he dove into the pool.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POOL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4773" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POOL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POOL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POOL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POOL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POOL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Before we left the hotel, we took one last look at the pool where Clark said he had ordered fish for Russ, Audrey and Ellen from the swimming waitress.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">After Tom had finished taking his photos of the pool, the three of us went to the hotel’s front desk where my photographer tried to get directions to the bar that was used in the movie. My cameraman wanted to photograph the lounge where Clark Griswold told Christie Brinkley that he owned the hotel and he was travelling around the country with his brother’s family. Unfortunately, the bar was closed, and Tom was told that it wouldn’t open until 4:00pm – which would have been a five-hour wait. It was at that moment I overheard my photographer mumble under his breath: “The next time we’re in this area, we are going to stay at this hotel; swim in the damn pool; and have a drink in that bar.” I only hoped that Tom didn’t plan on swimming naked in the pool.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">At roughly 10:30am, the three of us got into the Mustang where we headed about ten miles north into Whittier, California. We got lucky and Vicki found a parking spot along Philadelphia Street almost directly in front of the Whittier Union High School. Both Tom and I were excited to see that school as two important events happened there: Richard Nixon graduated from Whittier High School in the Class of 1930. The school was also used as Hill Valley High School in the 1985 blockbuster film ‘Back to the Future’ and its 1989 sequel ‘Back to the Future Part II’. While Vicki stayed in the Mustang, I was carried towards the front of the school – only to find a fence surrounded the property and the gate was locked; there was no way we could enter. I had hoped to pose closer to the school, but my photographer managed to capture a few images of me from our position on the public sidewalk outside of the barricade. As I was held aloft with the famous school in the background, I thought about Richard Nixon for a moment. The guy was smart – he graduated third in a class of 207 students; but when he ran for student body president, poor Dick lost to a more popular student. I laughed to myself when I wondered if that popular student’s last name was Kennedy. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4774" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=4320&ssl=1 4320w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-WHITTIER-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Future 37th President Richard M. Nixon graduated from Whittier High School third out of 207 students in the Class of 1930.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="896" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NIXON-PIC.jpg?resize=700%2C896&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4776" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NIXON-PIC.jpg?w=700&ssl=1 700w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NIXON-PIC.jpg?resize=234%2C300&ssl=1 234w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard Nixon’s yearbook photo from his senior year of 1930.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="430" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WHITTIER-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C430&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4775" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WHITTIER-HIGH.jpg?w=4099&ssl=1 4099w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WHITTIER-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C161&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WHITTIER-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C413&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WHITTIER-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C550&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WHITTIER-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WHITTIER-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Back to the Future’s Marty McFly went to Hill Valley High School and was more interested in his skateboard and his band The Pinheads.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="426" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL-4.jpg?resize=800%2C426&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4777" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL-4.jpg?w=1345&ssl=1 1345w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL-4.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL-4.jpg?resize=768%2C409&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL-4.jpg?resize=1024%2C546&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marty McFly arrived on his skateboard, but he was late for school.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="410" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL2.jpg?resize=800%2C410&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4778" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL2.jpg?w=1361&ssl=1 1361w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL2.jpg?resize=300%2C154&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL2.jpg?resize=768%2C394&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FUTURE-MCFLY-AT-SCHOOL2.jpg?resize=1024%2C525&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly as he waited for ‘Doc’ Brown in front of Hill Valley High School.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="463" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-AND-DOC-AT-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C463&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4779" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-AND-DOC-AT-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1286&ssl=1 1286w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-AND-DOC-AT-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=300%2C174&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-AND-DOC-AT-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C444&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-AND-DOC-AT-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C592&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Doc and Marty headed towards the entrance to the school to find Marty’s parents in ‘Back to the Future’.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">My photographer was disappointed that we couldn’t get closer to Whittier High, but at the end of the day Tom did manage to capture a few images of me with the famous building in the background. Back at the Mustang where Vicki waited for us, my position in the back seat was short-lived as our next Nixon site was less than a five-minute drive down Philadelphia Street. Once my cameraman’s wife parked the car around the corner from the National Bank of Whittier building, Tom carried me to a position in front of the historic Beaux Arts style structure that was built in 1923. After Richard Nixon returned to Whittier after graduating from Duke University Law School, the future President was admitted to the bar and his first law office was in that building. Tom carried me across the street where I had a great close-up look at the magnificent Whittier Village Clock that was mounted to the corner of the building. As I stood there staring up at the six stories, I thought about Nixon as he worked for the law firm Wingert and Bewley where he focused on commercial litigation and wills. Nixon was reluctant to work on divorce cases, however, as he disliked frank sexual talk from women – which kind of surprised me a bit. After I posed for a handful of exterior photos, I was carried inside where we saw the first and second floor of what’s now known as Nixon Plaza that featured trendy restaurants and upscale lounges. The only thing missing was Nixon’s law office, which meant I was forced to pose for one photo while I stood on the original mail chute in the lobby. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="662" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=800%2C662&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4781" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=3812&ssl=1 3812w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=300%2C248&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=768%2C635&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=1024%2C847&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/18-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard Nixon’s first law office was located in that six-story building in 1938.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4782" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=4320&ssl=1 4320w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While I posed just outside of the main entrance to Nixon Plaza, I had wondered how many times Attorney Richard Nixon had walked though that very doorway.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4783" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From my position on the window ledge of the historic building, I had a great view of the Whittier Village Clock.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="461" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=800%2C461&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4784" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=5894&ssl=1 5894w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=300%2C173&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=768%2C442&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=1024%2C590&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/28-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The view as we looked up the side of the National Bank of Whittier building.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4785" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29-NIXON-BANK.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29-NIXON-BANK.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer tried to find a cool place for me to stand while we were inside the bank building and he settled for the original mail box in the lobby.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">For some reason, Vicki once again remained in the Mustang as my photographer and I did our “thing” inside the former bank building. Once we returned to the car from our 20-minute excursion, our chauffeur drove us to the next site – which was the boyhood home of Richard Nixon that was located nearly two miles to the south. After Frank and Hannah Nixon moved their family from Yorba Linda to Whittier, they lived in the small Tudor-style home that sat directly in front of my photographer and me. The house remained in the Nixon family for three decades. Hannah deeded the house to Richard in 1965 and the President sold it for $85,000 on September 9, 1975. Shortly after the sale, the house was transformed into an antique shop.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="583" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C583&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4786" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?w=4235&ssl=1 4235w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C218&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C559&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C746&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard Nixon was nine years old when his family moved into this house in Whittier.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="408" height="361" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NIXON-AT-HOUSE.jpg?resize=408%2C361&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4787" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NIXON-AT-HOUSE.jpg?w=408&ssl=1 408w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NIXON-AT-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C265&ssl=1 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard and Pat Nixon with their daughter, Tricia, at the home on 15844 Whittier Boulevard in Whittier.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="581" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C581&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4788" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?w=3936&ssl=1 3936w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C218&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C557&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C743&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20-NIXON-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From my position near the driveway of the former Nixon home, I could easily see the place where Richard Nixon posed for a photo with his wife Pat and their daughter Tricia.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Although we were finished at Richard Nixon’s boyhood home, we weren’t done with Nixon sites in Whittier. Vicki navigated the Mustang a little over five miles north until we arrived in what seemed to be an upscale section of Whittier. Not only did the houses look nicer, the neighborhood was elevated onto a terraced hillside and some places had an amazing view of the valley below. But one house on Worsham Drive in particular was the place that my photographer had his sights set on. Known as the Stoody Home because it was built in 1926 by Shelley Stoody of Stoody Steel Company, Frank and Hannah Nixon purchased the uniquely designed home sometime in 1938 or ’39. The future President lived with his parents in that house up until his marriage to Pat Ryan on June 21, 1940. As a matter of fact, the Nixon newlyweds’ wedding reception was held in that house as well. While I posed near the historic home, I couldn’t help but gaze in amazement at the two-story tower on one side of the building. It turned out that the second story of the tower was an observatory that could rotate 360-degrees and was topped with a roof hatch that could open up to the sky. I wondered if the observatory was present when Richard Nixon lived there and whether or not he ever gazed up at the Moon through a telescope. Perhaps Nixon dreamed about sitting at his White House desk as he talked on the telephone to men standing on the lunar surface.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="611" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C611&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4790" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?w=4227&ssl=1 4227w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C229&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C586&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C782&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While I stood in awe at the Stoody Home, I thought it was vastly different than the mail-order kit that Frank Nixon had used to build Richard’s birth home in 1912.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="996" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C996&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4792" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?w=3944&ssl=1 3944w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=241%2C300&ssl=1 241w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C956&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?resize=823%2C1024&ssl=1 823w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/32-NIXON-RECEPTION-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While standing on the hedges at the Stoody Home, I had hoped that the owners would invite me in for a quick tour of the historic house. My curiosity was centered on whether or not there was a telescope positioned in the tower.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">For the next Richard Nixon site, it was all downhill – at least for about a half-mile until we arrived at Whittier College. While Vicki stayed with the Mustang that was parked a block or two from the school, Tom carried me onto the campus of Whittier College where he tried to find a few cool places for me to pose. After high school, Richard Nixon was offered a scholarship to Harvard, but his family couldn’t afford the travel and living expenses; so the future 37th President opted to attend the local college. While there, Nixon played basketball; he also tried out for the football team, but he lacked the size to play. During his Whittier days, young Richard became a great debater and a standout in college drama productions; he graduated in 1934 with a BA degree in history. Nixon had no way of knowing that he would make history just forty years later by becoming the only President to resign from office. Following his graduation from Whittier, Nixon received a full scholarship to Duke University Law School. After my photographer carried me aimlessly around a small section of the campus, he settled on me posing alongside the Lou Henry Hoover Memorial Hall – a building dedicated to the memory of President Herbert Hoover’s wife.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="614" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/23-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=800%2C614&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4793" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/23-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?w=4205&ssl=1 4205w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/23-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=300%2C230&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/23-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=768%2C589&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/23-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=1024%2C785&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/23-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/23-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Although it was cool to visit the college attended by Richard Nixon, I had imagined that a lot had changed in the past 84 years since he walked that campus.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="508" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=800%2C508&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4795" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?w=4277&ssl=1 4277w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=300%2C191&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=768%2C488&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?resize=1024%2C650&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25-NIXON-WHITTIER-COLLEGE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom found it difficult to find a great spot for me to pose, so we settled on a building with a familiar name.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">We had one final Nixon site to visit in Whittier and it was located about ten minutes north of the college. Although we didn’t save the best for last, we definitely saved the hardest to find for last. After we searched for the Nixon house for about ten minutes, Tom finally realized that the historic home sat back from Beverly Boulevard and was hidden by another house. Once my photographer’s wife found a place to park the car, Tom carried me down the long-paved driveway to the front of the second building. We had found it – we were standing in front of the house that Richard Nixon had bought after his marriage to Pat in 1940. The quaint one-story home was small and was likely a fixer-upper in the ’40s, but it was the first place that Richard and Pat could call their own. But not for long – after one year, the Nixon’s moved to Washington D.C. in January 1942 where the future President got a job at the Office of Price Administration. Richard hated that job and four months later he joined the United States Navy.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4797" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?w=4320&ssl=1 4320w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/26-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard and Pat Nixon bought this house in Whittier and moved there after their wedding on June 21, 1940. The Nixon’s lived there for only one year.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="545" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=800%2C545&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4798" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?w=3938&ssl=1 3938w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=300%2C205&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=768%2C524&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C698&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/27-NIXON-HOUSE-2.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tucked away behind another home and located down a long driveway off Beverly Boulevard, my photographer had difficulty finding this Nixon home.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">With me in tow, my photographer and his wife had travelled back in time to visit an era when Richard Nixon was just beginning to make a name for himself. He majored in history; and eventually he carved his own legacy into the history books. But when I thought about time travel, we were only 11 miles from where that concept had spawned on October 26, 1985. After driving for about 20 minutes in thick traffic, Vicki pulled the Mustang into the parking lot of Puente Hills Mall in the City of Industry; but she had no plans to shop there. Instead, we were there to go Back to the Future – in a sense. In that exact location in the southeast section of the mall parking lot, Emmett “Doc” Brown conducted the first successful time travel experiment with his modified DeLorean that was outfitted with a plutonium powered flux capacitor. Tom had a detailed map of the parking lot that showed the starting point of the DeLorean in the movie and the precise spot where the speeding car catapulted Brown’s dog, Einstein, into the future.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">With the map in hand, my photographer positioned Vicki and the Mustang into their launch area and he gave his wife precise instructions: “When I raise my hand, start driving in a straight line right towards me and try to get up to 88 miles per hour before you run me over.” His wife replied in a sarcastic tone: “I’m not going to drive 88 miles per hour in this parking lot. Are you nuts?” Ironically, I thought the same thing! After we walked about 50 yards or so to our location, my photographer raised his hand; the car Mustang began to roll; and Tom started capturing photos as Vicki sped towards us at a hair-raising speed of 30 miles per hour. Seconds before the Mustang ran us over, my photographer yelled as he jumped out of the way: “Are you kidding me right now? You just about killed me!” “I thought you wanted authenticity. I was waiting for the car to disappear just like in the movie,” she said. Then I heard the final response from my stunned photographer: “Well, it might have vanished had you driven 88 miles per hour like I had asked. Let’s get out of here – we’re ‘Outatime’.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="446" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-MALL.jpg?resize=800%2C446&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4804" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-MALL.jpg?w=4936&ssl=1 4936w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-MALL.jpg?resize=300%2C167&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-MALL.jpg?resize=768%2C428&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-MALL.jpg?resize=1024%2C571&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-MALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/THE-MALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Puente Hills Mall and the parking lot where time travel first occurred in the 1985 movie ‘Back to the Future’</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="575" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/38-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=800%2C575&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4805" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/38-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=5423&ssl=1 5423w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/38-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=300%2C216&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/38-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=768%2C552&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/38-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=1024%2C736&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/38-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/38-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In the movie, the DeLorean began it’s remote controlled journey from the striped area in front of the light post.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1110" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=800%2C1110&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4806" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=3981&ssl=1 3981w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=216%2C300&ssl=1 216w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=768%2C1066&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=738%2C1024&ssl=1 738w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/35-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">With Vicki behind the wheel of the Mustang, she drove the precise path that the DeLorean had travelled in ‘Back to the Future’. But at only 30 mph, there was no way she would experience temporal displacement into the future.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="416" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL4.jpg?resize=800%2C416&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4807" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL4.jpg?w=1320&ssl=1 1320w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL4.jpg?resize=300%2C156&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL4.jpg?resize=768%2C399&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL4.jpg?resize=1024%2C532&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Doc” Brown and Marty McFly watch as the remote controlled DeLorean time machine sped towards them in the parking lot of Twin Pines Mall.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4811" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The final photo that Tom captured before he jumped to safety. Were we in the ‘line of fire’? You betcha!</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="401" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EINSTEIN-PERFECT.jpg?resize=800%2C401&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4812" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EINSTEIN-PERFECT.jpg?w=1298&ssl=1 1298w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EINSTEIN-PERFECT.jpg?resize=300%2C150&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EINSTEIN-PERFECT.jpg?resize=768%2C385&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EINSTEIN-PERFECT.jpg?resize=1024%2C514&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Einstein at the wheel of the DeLorean at the moment the car reached 88 miles per hour and activated the flux capacitor. </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="389" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MOMENT-OF-TRUTH.jpg?resize=800%2C389&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4813" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MOMENT-OF-TRUTH.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1 1290w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MOMENT-OF-TRUTH.jpg?resize=300%2C146&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MOMENT-OF-TRUTH.jpg?resize=768%2C373&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MOMENT-OF-TRUTH.jpg?resize=1024%2C498&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">At 1:21am on October 26, 1985, Einstein became the world’s first time traveler.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4808" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/36-FUTURE-MALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After my photographer pulled me to safety just as we were about to be run over, Tom captured a photo of the Mustang in the tracks of the DeLorean’s fire trail.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="435" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL5.jpg?resize=800%2C435&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4809" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL5.jpg?w=1335&ssl=1 1335w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL5.jpg?resize=300%2C163&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL5.jpg?resize=768%2C418&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FUTURE-MALL5.jpg?resize=1024%2C557&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“You disintegrated Einstein!” “Calm down, Marty, I didn’t disintegrate anything. The molecular structure of both Einstein and the car are completely intact! You see, Einstein just became the world’s first time traveler!”</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">At roughly 2:45pm, we left the Puente Hills Mall for our 27-mile ride back to Tustin. Although the afternoon traffic wasn’t horrendous, it still took us nearly 40 minutes to get back to the Currier’s home where we had a little over an hour to get ready for our next adventure – a MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and Anaheim Angels. When it was time to leave, my photographer packed me snuggly into the camera case for our nine-mile drive to the ballpark. From my closed case, I could tell that Rhonda Currier knew what she was doing as she navigated her Lexus 250S along Interstate 5 like a professional driver and had us safely in the parking lot by 5:45pm. As a bobble head, I’m not a huge baseball fan – but I was anxious to see what all the fuss was about with two Angels players named Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani was a rookie and was the talk of the league so far; and Trout has been the best player in baseball for the past six seasons – and as a bonus, it was Trout’s 27th birthday. In front of the stadium, our group met up with Umper, Heidi, and Tony. Our favorite meteorologist Dew Point Tony had gifted two tickets for Tom and Vicki so they not only could sit with the others; they didn’t have to pay to get inside. When I heard what Tony had done, I thought to myself: “Tony Maupin has to be the most generous, kindest, and loveable storm-chaser that I’ve ever known.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="801" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C801&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4816" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?w=3546&ssl=1 3546w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C769&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1022%2C1024&ssl=1 1022w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/41-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our friend and a huge Angels fan Tony Maupin met up with our group in front of the stadium.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="489" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C489&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4817" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-ANGELS.jpg?w=5967&ssl=1 5967w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C183&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C470&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C626&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/42-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer posed for a photo in front of the stadium. The large replica Angels hat above Tom’s right shoulder featured a 649 1/2 hat size tag on the inside sweat band.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="488" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C488&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4818" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-ANGELS.jpg?w=5971&ssl=1 5971w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C183&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C469&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C625&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/43-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The front entrance to Angels Stadium of Anaheim.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4819" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-ANGELS.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-ANGELS.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-ANGELS.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/44-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The exterior wall featured a large mural of birthday boy Mike Trout. That day, August 7th, was the 27th birthday for the player who wears number 27 for the Angels.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">For about 45 minutes before the game started, I was carried around Angels Stadium where Tom and I saw the ballpark from different vantage-points. What had set it apart from other stadiums, according to my photographer, was the decorative rockpile in left-center field known as the ‘California Spectacular’ that featured running water, waterfalls, and erupting geysers that shoot high into the air when an Angels player does something spectacular. When we finally got to our seats, which were in the first row of the second deck near home plate, I heard my photographer say out loud: “Ol’ Tornado Tony sure knows how to pick good seats!” </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="806" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C806&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4820" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?w=2571&ssl=1 2571w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?resize=298%2C300&ssl=1 298w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C774&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1016%2C1024&ssl=1 1016w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/45-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer was stunned when he saw the nachos in the baseball helmet. I heard him mutter to himself: “Heck, if I ate that helmet filled with nachos, I’d get a visit from a winged angel before the end of the game.”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4821" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-ANGELS.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/46-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From this spot in left field, we saw the grounds crew as they prepared the field for play.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="597" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C597&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4822" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?w=4682&ssl=1 4682w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C224&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C573&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C764&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/47-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As we checked out the California Spectacular rockpile, I figured the girls on the scoreboard saw me poke my head out of the camera case.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4823" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-ANGELS.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/48-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From high inside the ballpark, we had a great view of the 230-foot tall, 210-ton “Big A” that once served as a scoreboard inside the stadium. Smoke from the Holy Fire that started the day before can be seen in the distance.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="773" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/50-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C773&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4825" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/50-ANGELS.jpg?w=4118&ssl=1 4118w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/50-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C290&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/50-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C742&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/50-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C989&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/50-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/50-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Two of the most wonderful, friendly and amazing people on this planet had met us at our seats. My photographer and his wife are very proud to call Ron “Umper” Nickerson and Heidi Martin their friends.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1020" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C1020&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4826" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51-ANGELS.jpg?w=2621&ssl=1 2621w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51-ANGELS.jpg?resize=235%2C300&ssl=1 235w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C979&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51-ANGELS.jpg?resize=803%2C1024&ssl=1 803w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As he felt the water droplets from his Modelo beer can between his index finger and thumb, Tornado Tony could calculate the dew point inside the stadium.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="979" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C979&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4827" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-ANGELS.jpg?w=3955&ssl=1 3955w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-ANGELS.jpg?resize=245%2C300&ssl=1 245w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C939&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-ANGELS.jpg?resize=837%2C1024&ssl=1 837w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/52-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Even though he has lived in Southern California longer than he had resided in Michigan, “Mr. Plumber” Tom Currier still supported the Detroit Tigers.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4829" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-ANGELS.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/55-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">It was shortly after the National Anthem when we heard the bad news: Mike Trout was sidelined with a sore right wrist and would not play in the game on his birthday.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="856" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/56-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C856&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4832" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/56-ANGELS.jpg?w=958&ssl=1 958w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/56-ANGELS.jpg?resize=280%2C300&ssl=1 280w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/56-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C822&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/56-ANGELS.jpg?resize=957%2C1024&ssl=1 957w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Comedian and actor Brad Williams did “The Worm” on his way to pick up the baseball for his ceremonial first pitch.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="484" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/OPENING-PITCH.jpg?resize=800%2C484&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4833" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/OPENING-PITCH.jpg?w=2105&ssl=1 2105w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/OPENING-PITCH.jpg?resize=300%2C182&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/OPENING-PITCH.jpg?resize=768%2C465&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/OPENING-PITCH.jpg?resize=1024%2C620&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/OPENING-PITCH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brad Williams was born with achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism. He has appeared on dozens of television shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.<br></figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">The 2018 Detroit Tigers had begun their rebuilding process and had struggled through most of the season; they had already lost 66 games going into that night’s contest. My photographer and his wife didn’t expect their team to win, they only hoped their Motown Minor League Misfits didn’t embarrass them. After the Tigers batted in the top of the first inning and scored a pair of runs, it looked like my companion’s hopes might come true. That’s until the Angels batted in the bottom of the opening inning. With Kole Calhoun on second base and Justin Upton on first, rookie Shohei Ohtani blasted a homerun into the seats just to the left of the 390-foot sign in deep left-center field. That round-tripper was Ohtani’s 12th longball of his career and it set the stage for what was a long first inning for the Tigers. The first eight Angels hitters reached base before starting pitcher Jacob Turner could record a single out. When the smoke cleared, the Angels had a commanding lead over Detroit 7-2. The game seemed to crawl along as it lasted a shade over three hours. Some of the 35,824 spectators had left early to beat the traffic; which was fine with us. Even though our Tigers lost the game 11-5, it didn’t matter to us. We spent a great night with our California friends and nothing could have topped that.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="719" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/60-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C719&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4834" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/60-ANGELS.jpg?w=2015&ssl=1 2015w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/60-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C269&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/60-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C690&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/60-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C920&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/60-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Angels rookie designated hitter Shohei Ohtani connected on a three-run first inning homerun, which was the 12th of his young career. Brian McCann was Detroit’s catcher and the home plate umpire was Tom Woodring.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="621" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C621&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4835" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-ANGELS.jpg?w=1173&ssl=1 1173w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C233&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C596&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/61-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C795&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Third base coach Dino Ebel greeted Ohtani as he rounded third and headed home.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="808" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/63-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C808&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4836" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/63-ANGELS.jpg?w=1804&ssl=1 1804w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/63-ANGELS.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/63-ANGELS.jpg?resize=297%2C300&ssl=1 297w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/63-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C776&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/63-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1014%2C1024&ssl=1 1014w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/63-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Justin Upton (8) and Kole Calhoun (56) greeted Ohtani at home plate after the rookie’s first inning homerun. Upton had played for Detroit during the 2017 season until he was traded to Anaheim. </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="655" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/67-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C655&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4838" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/67-ANGELS.jpg?w=1699&ssl=1 1699w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/67-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C246&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/67-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C629&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/67-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C839&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/67-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In 2018, Nick Castellanos was Tom’s favorite Tiger and this swing summed-up the game for Detroit and for my photographer.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="697" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/69-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C697&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4839" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/69-ANGELS.jpg?w=2215&ssl=1 2215w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/69-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C261&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/69-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C669&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/69-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C892&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/69-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols lined a single to left-center off Detroit pitcher Buck Farmer in the game’s fourth inning.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="654" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/66-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C654&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4840" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/66-ANGELS.jpg?w=3425&ssl=1 3425w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/66-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C245&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/66-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C628&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/66-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C837&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/66-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/66-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After my photographer had moved to higher ground that featured more leg room, a few familiar faces had returned from the concession stand.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="485" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-ANGELS.jpg?resize=800%2C485&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4841" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-ANGELS.jpg?w=5751&ssl=1 5751w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-ANGELS.jpg?resize=300%2C182&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-ANGELS.jpg?resize=768%2C466&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-ANGELS.jpg?resize=1024%2C621&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-ANGELS.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/68-ANGELS.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A birds-eye view of Angels Stadium on Mike Trout’s 27th birthday.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Following the 11-5 drubbing of his Tigers, Tom sluggishly left the stadium; he waited for Angels’ fans to tease him since he was wearing a Verlander jersey, but that never happened. Outside of Angels Stadium, my photographer and his wife bid farewell to Tony, Heidi, and Umper – hoping someday their paths would cross again. The drive back to the Currier’s surprised Tom and Vicki because they were accustomed to how long it usually takes them to drive home from Comerica Park in Detroit. But on that night, with Rhonda Currier behind the wheel of her Lexus, we were back to their house in 15 minutes.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">After my photographer placed me back onto the bedroom shelf, I was somewhat sad. There were no more scheduled Presidential sites for me to see; but with only three full days left in California, I was okay with visiting television and movie sites. Perhaps we might run into a famous celebrity or movie star. I could only hope! </p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://eyesofjefferson.com/88-back-to-nixons-future-in-whittier/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">4757</post-id> </item> <item> <title>84: COME ON, LET’S GO TO RITCHIE’S PACOIMA</title> <link>https://eyesofjefferson.com/84-come-on-lets-go-to-ritchies-pacoima/</link> <comments>https://eyesofjefferson.com/84-come-on-lets-go-to-ritchies-pacoima/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Thomas Watson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2020 04:15:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Back to the Future]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bad News Bears]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bad News Bears baseball field]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Biff Tannen]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Donna Ludwig]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Emmett 'Doc' Brown]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gamble House]]></category> <category><![CDATA[George McFly house]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jackie Robinson statue]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jefferson bobble head]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lorraine McFly house]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marty McFly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mason Park]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mr. Plumber]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pacoima California]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pacoima Junior High School]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pasadena California]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ritchie Valens]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ritchie Valens grave]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ritchie Valens house]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rose Bowl tour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[San Fernando American Legion Post 176]]></category> <category><![CDATA[San Fernando High School]]></category> <category><![CDATA[San Fernando Mission Cemetery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tatum O'Neal]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Rose Bowl]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thomas Jefferson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tom Currier]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Walter Matthau]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://eyesofjefferson.com/?p=4443</guid> <description><![CDATA[My photographer and his wife woke to the alarm clock at 7:00am on Friday August 3, 2018 and as they got themselves ready for the day, I kept thinking to myself: “Come on, let’s go”. Tom had planned a very…]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">My photographer and his wife woke to the alarm clock at 7:00am on Friday August 3, 2018 and as they got themselves ready for the day, I kept thinking to myself: “Come on, let’s go”. Tom had planned a very ambitious day that was filled with movie sites, a football stadium, and a visit to Ritchie Valens’ hometown of Pacoima. Film locations are always cool with me and I was looking forward to seeing the Rose Bowl, but after having been to the Surf Ballroom and the plane crash site in Clear Lake, Iowa a few years back, I was busting at the seams to pay homage to the late, great Ritchie Valens.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">We arrived at our first site of the day around 8:35am after a 14-mile ride from our motel in Simi Valley. As I was carried from the Mustang to the youth baseball field in Chatsworth, I was confused as to why we had stopped there. After listening to Tom talk about some of the movie characters, it dawned on me that we were at the field used in the filming of the 1976 movie ‘Bad News Bears’. The baseball field looked totally different than it did 42 years earlier when the movie was made. Gone were the wooden dugouts and the grass infield. There was no outfield fence or scoreboard; and the concession stand was missing as well. I was carried onto the field and as my photographer toed the pitching rubber, I thought to myself: “It was right here where Amanda Whurlitzer fired her blazing fastball”. We stood at home plate, which was where the cigarette smoking/motorcycle riding Kelly Leake blasted a few of his homeruns. Then we ventured into the third base dugout where Bears’ manager Morris Buttermaker said to his sad-sack benchwarmer Timmy Lupus: “Listen, Lupus, you didn’t come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did ya? Now get your ass out there and do the best you can.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4445" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-BASEBALL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-BASEBALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/01-BASEBALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mason Park in Chatsworth, California was the field used in the filming of the 1976 movie ‘Bad News Bears’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="597" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=800%2C597&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4446" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?w=5227&ssl=1 5227w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=300%2C224&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=768%2C573&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=1024%2C764&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-BASEBALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The third base, or home-team, dugout at Mason Park. Gone were the wooden dugouts used in the film. It was in that dugout where Coach Buttermaker inspired the Bears.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="408" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-1-1.jpg?resize=800%2C408&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4557" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-1-1.jpg?w=1324&ssl=1 1324w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-1-1.jpg?resize=300%2C153&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-1-1.jpg?resize=768%2C392&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-1-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C523&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O’Neal) soaked her pitching arm in Coach Morris Buttermaker’s (Walter Matthau) beer bucket.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1032" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/03-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=800%2C1032&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4448" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/03-BASEBALL.jpg?w=3627&ssl=1 3627w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/03-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=233%2C300&ssl=1 233w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/03-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=768%2C991&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/03-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=794%2C1024&ssl=1 794w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/03-BASEBALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/03-BASEBALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The view from pitcher’s mound towards home plate.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="427" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-2.jpg?resize=800%2C427&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4449" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-2.jpg?w=1342&ssl=1 1342w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-2.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-2.jpg?resize=768%2C410&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C547&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Yankees’ hurler Joey Turner (Brandon Cruz) fired a fastball towards batter Mike Engelberg (Gary Lee Cavagnaro) during the championship game. This was the last pitch of Turner’s Yankee career as he quit after Engelberg’s inside-the-park homerun.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1142" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=800%2C1142&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4450" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-BASEBALL.jpg?w=3726&ssl=1 3726w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=210%2C300&ssl=1 210w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=768%2C1096&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=718%2C1024&ssl=1 718w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-BASEBALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-BASEBALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Home plate and the infield of Mason Park.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="411" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-13.jpg?resize=800%2C411&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4451" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-13.jpg?w=1329&ssl=1 1329w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-13.jpg?resize=300%2C154&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-13.jpg?resize=768%2C395&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-13.jpg?resize=1024%2C526&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Coach Buttermaker instructs Engelberg during the Bears’ first practice.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4452" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-BASEBALL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-BASEBALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/06-BASEBALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Third base side of Mason Park.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4453" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-BASEBALL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-BASEBALL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-BASEBALL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/07-BASEBALL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The field where the Bears were beaten by the Yankees 7-6 in the championship game.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="361" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-14.jpg?resize=800%2C361&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4454" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-14.jpg?w=1324&ssl=1 1324w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-14.jpg?resize=300%2C135&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-14.jpg?resize=768%2C346&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-14.jpg?resize=1024%2C462&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Amanda Whurlitzer winds up during her first practice with the Bears.</figcaption></figure></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="450" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-8.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4456" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-8.jpg?w=853&ssl=1 853w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-8.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAD-NEWS-BEARS-8.jpg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">At the conclusion of the trophy presentation, Tanner Boyle yelled to the Yankees: “Hey Yankees, you can take your apology, and your trophy, and shove it straight up your ass!”</figcaption></figure> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">With the images of the Bears’ 11 and 12-year-old players guzzling beer after their season-ending loss to the Yankees still fresh in my mind, we got back into the Mustang for the short eight-mile drive to Mission Hills. While we had six Ritchie Valens sites to visit in the area, it was the first one – his gravesite – that would prove to be the saddest. Once we had driven through the entrance to San Fernando Mission Cemetery where Ritchie Valens had been laid to rest after his tragic death on February 3, 1959, Tom easily directed his wife to the singer’s gravesite. As I stood silently inside the camera case, I was carried to the polished black marble headstone that marked the final resting place of Richard Steven Valenzuela and his mother Concepcion. First, my photographer captured a handful of images of Valens’ grave. Then Tom pulled a large spoon out of a pocket in the camera case; he knelt alongside the singer’s headstone and scooped out a small bottle-full of dirt for his showcase. As a final tribute to Valens, who was 17 years old when he was killed in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson, Tom used his phone to play three songs near the gravesite. The first tune was called ‘Donna’, which was recorded on December 16, 1958 and was written for Ritchie’s girlfriend Donna Ludwig. That was followed by ‘Come On, Let’s Go’ – the tune that was inscribed on Ritchie’s tombstone. But it was the third song that Tom played, however, that tugged at my resin-filled heartstrings. As the words to Eddie Cochran’s ‘Three Stars’ filled the air, I envisioned Ritchie as he boarded the 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza in Mason City, Iowa. Less than five minutes after the plane left the ground as the musicians headed for Fargo, North Dakota, the small aircraft plummeted into a barren corn field – it cartwheeled across the frozen field for 540 feet before it came to rest against a fence line. All four occupants of the airplane were killed instantly. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4458" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/13-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">San Fernando Mission Cemetery was where a handful of famous performers had been buried. William Bendix, Walter Brennan, Chuck Connors, William Frawley, and Bob Hope all rest in that cemetery. My photographer had his sights set on one particular grave, however, and that was the resting place of singer Ritchie Valens.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="512" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=800%2C512&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4457" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=5467&ssl=1 5467w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=300%2C192&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=768%2C492&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=1024%2C655&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Buried on September 7, 1959, the dark granite slab marked the grave of Ritchie Valens.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="580" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=800%2C580&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4459" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=4719&ssl=1 4719w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=300%2C217&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=768%2C557&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=1024%2C742&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Born Richard Valenzuela, the singer was ‘Ritchie Valens’ for only about eight months before he was tragically killed at the age of 17.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1167" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=800%2C1167&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4460" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=3879&ssl=1 3879w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=206%2C300&ssl=1 206w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=768%2C1120&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=702%2C1024&ssl=1 702w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer proudly held the bottle filled with grave dirt that he planned on putting in his Winter Dance Party display case back in Michigan.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4461" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/10-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ritchie Valens’ grave with a section of San Fernando Mission Cemetery and the surrounding mountains in the background.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="538" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=800%2C538&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4462" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=5492&ssl=1 5492w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=300%2C202&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=768%2C517&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?resize=1024%2C689&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-RITCHIE-GRAVE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Look up in the sky, up towards the north; There are three new stars, brightly shining forth. They’re shining oh-so bright from heaven above; Gee, we’re gonna miss you, everybody sends their love.”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="534" height="600" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RITCHIE.jpg?resize=534%2C600&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4463" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RITCHIE.jpg?w=534&ssl=1 534w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RITCHIE.jpg?resize=267%2C300&ssl=1 267w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ritchie Valens 1941 – 1959</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="620" height="910" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RITCHIE-DEAD.jpg?resize=620%2C910&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4464" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RITCHIE-DEAD.jpg?w=620&ssl=1 620w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RITCHIE-DEAD.jpg?resize=204%2C300&ssl=1 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The horrific aftermath on February 3, 1959 as Ritchie Valens’ body laid near the wreckage of the Beechcraft Bonanza. It was truly “The Day The Music Died”.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">As we walked back to the Mustang, I could envision in my mind’s eye the plane wreckage outside of Clear Lake, Iowa as Ritchie’s body laid face down in the snow-covered corn field. Eddie Cochran’s song ‘Three Stars’ was still ringing in my resin-filled ears and if my painted eyes could have shed a tear that morning, it would have been for Ritchie Valens – a true rock and roll pioneer whose death robbed the world of true greatness. “Ritchie, you were just starting to realize your dreams; Everyone calls me a kid, but you were only seventeen. Now Almighty God has called you, from oh-so far away; Maybe it’s to save some boy or girl, who might have gone astray. And with your star shining through the dark and lonely night; To light the path and show the way, the way that’s right. Gee, we’re gonna miss you, everybody sends their love.” </p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Not too long after Richard Valenzuela became Ritchie Valens in May of 1958, the singer used some of his recording money to purchase a new house for his mother and his family. That home, located just over three miles from the cemetery, was where my photographer had Vicki drive for our next stop. When we parked on Remington Street across from the house, my cameraman carried me up to the white picket fence that surrounded the property. A couple of large orange trees concealed a portion of the home, but not enough to completely hinder our view. The Valenzuela’s owned the home for about thirty years after Ritchie bought it, but the singer’s tragic and sudden death made it difficult for Concepcion to live in the house and she moved in the mid-60s. As Tom was capturing a handful of images of the famous dwelling, I peeked out of the bag and envisioned the party that was held there just before Ritchie headed to Chicago for the start of the Winter Dance Party Tour. Little could the family have known that rock and roll’s young star was just a few weeks from falling from the sky.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="539" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C539&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4469" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=5665&ssl=1 5665w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C202&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C518&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C690&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ritchie Valens purchased this house for his mother and siblings in August 1958.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4470" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">When the Valenzuela’s held the going-away party for young Ritchie, his girlfriend Donna Ludwig was not allowed to attend. She did come to the house to console the singer’s sisters after learning of the plane crash on February 3, 1959.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="404" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DONNA.jpg?resize=500%2C404&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4471" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DONNA.jpg?w=500&ssl=1 500w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DONNA.jpg?resize=300%2C242&ssl=1 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shortly after the death of Ritchie Valens, Donna Ludwig visited his bedroom and posed with several of his guitars; including Ritchie’s Fender guitar that he used on the Winter Dance Party Tour.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/16-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4472" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/16-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/16-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/16-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/16-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/16-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/16-RITCHIE-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The “busy” front yard of the home once owned by Ritchie Valens’ family.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Located less than two miles from the home that Ritchie Valens had bought for his mother was the first of two schools that we visited that day. The San Fernando High School was once attended by Ritchie and throughout his high school career he would play his guitar for fellow students during assemblies and after-school parties. During his junior year at San Fernando High, Valenzuela joined a band called the Silhouettes and the group quickly became a local favorite. Vicki parked the Mustang along the street near the front of the high school; my photographer carried me in his camera case to an area near the entrance where he captured a few photos. Due to his popularity and recording demands, Valens dropped out of high school at the start of his senior year. Besides Ritchie Valens, a handful of other famous celebrities had attended San Fernando High. Those famous celebrities included comedians George Lopez and Cheech Marin; along with football star Charles White.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4474" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As my photographer and I stood near the front entrance to San Fernando High School, I envisioned Ritchie Valens as he walked through the school’s entrance carrying his guitar.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4476" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RITCHIE-HIGH-SCHOOL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">I imagined Ritchie as he walked along that hallway during his junior year of high school. As a new member of the Silhouettes, the shy Ritchie Valenzuela became quite popular with his fellow students – especially with Donna Ludwig.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">The two of us returned to the Mustang where Vicki drove us north for less than a mile where we found the San Fernando American Legion Post 176. It was at that American Legion Post where Richard Valenzuela was discovered. In January 1958, Ritchie’s band The Silhouettes was performing at the Post and they were taped by a talent scout who was working for Bob Keane. A few months later, Keane signed Ritchie to his newly formed Del-Fi record label; he changed Richard’s name, and the rest is rock and roll history. After he captured a couple of exterior images of the American Legion hall, Tom wanted to venture inside. He knocked on the locked door a few times, but with no success. My photographer’s goal was to get inside and find a veteran who could guide us to the location where Ritchie played in 1958. But on that day, we had to settle for exterior shots.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-RITCHIE-AMERICAN-LEGION.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4478" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-RITCHIE-AMERICAN-LEGION.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-RITCHIE-AMERICAN-LEGION.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-RITCHIE-AMERICAN-LEGION.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-RITCHIE-AMERICAN-LEGION.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-RITCHIE-AMERICAN-LEGION.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-RITCHIE-AMERICAN-LEGION.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard Valenzuela’s band The Silhouettes were recorded by a talent scout during a show in January 1958 at American Legion Post 176.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">We had one Ritchie Valens site left to visit in the area; one that was 2.5 miles from the American Legion Post. Both my photographer and I were excited to see the Pacoima Middle School because not only did Ritchie Valens attend school there, Tom had also made arrangements with staff member Dawn Greene to give us a tour of the campus. During our drive to the school, my photographer and his wife found an amazing mural that was painted onto the side of a building where R&R Auto Sound was located at 13433 Van Nuys Boulevard. The mural was called ‘The Day The Music Died’ and was created in November 2012 by talented artist Levi Ponce. From my position in the camera case, I heard my photographer say to his wife when we returned to the Mustang: “That’s the most amazing and lifelike mural I have ever seen in my life. The artist who created that masterpiece has some serious talent and it’s a great tribute to those who died in that plane crash.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21-RITCHIE-MURAL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4479" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21-RITCHIE-MURAL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21-RITCHIE-MURAL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21-RITCHIE-MURAL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21-RITCHIE-MURAL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21-RITCHIE-MURAL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21-RITCHIE-MURAL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Levi Ponce’s mural called ‘The Day The Music Died’ that featured Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, pilot Roger Peterson, and local star Ritchie Valens who all perished on February 3, 1959 when the airplane they were riding in crashed in a frozen Iowa cornfield.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">We arrived at the Pacoima Middle School around 10:15am and Vicki parked the Mustang on a side street near the school. After we entered the building, we searched for Dawn Greene who had agreed to take the three of us on a tour. Inside her office, Dawn showed us her personal record album that was recorded at the school’s auditorium on December 10, 1958. The album, which was released about two years after it was recorded, was called ‘Ritchie Valens in Concert at Pacoima Jr. High’ and was the only live performance of Valens ever recorded. Greene assured my photographer that he would see the auditorium where the concert was recorded during our tour.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/22-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4481" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/22-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/22-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/22-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/22-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/22-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/22-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The front entrance to Pacoima Junior High School where we met Dawn Greene.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="892" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C892&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4482" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=3538&ssl=1 3538w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=269%2C300&ssl=1 269w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C856&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=919%2C1024&ssl=1 919w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In the school’s office, Vicki posed with Dawn Greene’s personal framed copy of Ritchie’s album that was recorded on December 10, 1958 at the school.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/24-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4483" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/24-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/24-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/24-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/24-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/24-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/24-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This mural of Ritchie Valens was painted on June 15, 1985 by school alumnus Manuel Velasquez.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/25-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4484" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/25-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/25-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/25-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/25-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/25-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/25-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A closeup image of Pacoima Junior High alumnus Richard Valenzuela; who became Ritchie Valens in May 1958.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">During the first part of our school tour, we saw a mural that depicted the life of Ritchie Valens – the young singer who had begun to grow his professional talents at that junior high school. School alumnus and talented artist Manuel Velasquez painted the mural on June 15, 1985. From the area where the mural was located, Dawn led us to a field behind the school that played a huge part in the life of Ritchie Valens. On January 31, 1957, a DC-7B transport plane collided in mid-air with a Northrop F-89J Scorpion jet trainer plane and the debris fell to earth on the Pacoima Junior High School playground where about 220 boys were just ending their day’s athletic activities. Two boys, Ronnie Brann, 13, and Robert Zallan, 12, were struck and killed by the wreckage. A third gravely injured student, Evan Elsner, 12, died two days later in a local hospital. At least 75 other students were injured, but 15-year-old Ritchie Valens was attending his grandfather Frank Reyes’ funeral at the time of the disaster and was not at school. Since a few of his friends were injured or killed in the catastrophe, Ritchie developed a fear of flying – one that he had to outgrow at the outset of his professional career. As I was carried onto the athletic field behind Pacoima Junior High, it was as though I could see the smoldering debris scattered all around us. I became a bit nervous when a helicopter flew overhead; even though I knew lightning wouldn’t strike twice in the same place. Then again, stars don’t fall from the sky, either.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4485" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The basketball courts and playground of Pacoima Junior High School. On January 31, 1957, wreckage from two airplanes fell to earth and killed three students on this playground.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="584" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/27-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C584&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4486" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/27-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=4843&ssl=1 4843w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/27-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C219&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/27-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C561&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/27-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C747&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/27-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/27-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A helicopter flew over the school and for some reason I became nervous. From this location on the playground, it was as though I could see the airplane debris everywhere.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="512" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PACOIMA-CRASH2.jpg?resize=512%2C512&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4487" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PACOIMA-CRASH2.jpg?w=512&ssl=1 512w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PACOIMA-CRASH2.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PACOIMA-CRASH2.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PACOIMA-CRASH2.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Airplane debris from the mid-air crash over Pacoima Junior High on January 31, 1957. Three students were killed, as well as five airmen – and around 75 children were injured as well. It was the day that the music almost never began.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="774" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/helicopter.jpg?resize=800%2C774&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4558" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/helicopter.jpg?w=1486&ssl=1 1486w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/helicopter.jpg?resize=300%2C290&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/helicopter.jpg?resize=768%2C743&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/helicopter.jpg?resize=1024%2C990&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As the helicopter flew directly over Pacoima Junior High, I looked for other aircraft in the area.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Saving the best for last, Dawn Greene led the three of us from the playground to the auditorium where Ritchie Valens performed on December 10, 1958. When we walked into the building, I could easily see the stage on one end of the large room. Four wooden steps led up to the stage that was concealed with a purple curtain. As my photographer carried me up the steps, we got a close-up look at the wooden surface of the stage and there was no doubt everything was original to 1958 – which was also confirmed by Ms. Greene. </p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Ritchie had returned home following a tour of Hawaii when he gave his afternoon concert at his former school. The small show was emceed by Gail Smith, who also used her small portable tape recorder to record Valens’ show that featured Ritchie on guitar and Don Phillips on drums. Ritchie began the five-song set with ‘Come On, Let’s Go’, followed by ‘Donna’, ‘Summertime Blues’, ‘From Beyond’ and he ended the historic performance with his hit ‘La Bamba’. Once Dawn Greene opened the curtain, which revealed the school’s secret that the stage area was used for summer storage, Tom and I stood there and thought about Ritchie Valens – his life and his legacy. As we looked out towards the large near-empty room where Vicki and Dawn stood on the multi-colored tiled floor, it was almost as though I could hear Ritchie ending his set with ‘La Bamba’ as it echoed off the walls. Little did anyone know, as he walked off that stage for the last time, that their local hero had less than two months to live. Although Ritchie Valens packed a lot of living into 17 short years, it’s sad to think how one coin flip had robbed the world of pure musical genius. And that’s not intended to slight Tommy Allsup, the guitar player who was originally slated to fly with Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings. Allsup lost the coin flip to Ritchie, along with his seat on the plane, after their concert at the Surf Ballroom on February 2, 1959.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/29-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4489" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/29-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/29-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/29-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/29-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/29-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/29-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The original stage at Pacoima Junior High School where Ritchie Valens performed on December 10, 1958.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4490" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/31-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Once Dawn Greene opened the curtain, we could see that the stage was used for storage during the summer.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/32-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4491" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/32-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/32-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/32-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/32-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/32-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/32-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The original floor boards of the Pacoima Junior High stage. My photographer was awestruck by that stage, knowing that Ritchie Valens once walked and performed on those very boards.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/34-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4492" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/34-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/34-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/34-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/34-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/34-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/34-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom was honored to stand on the stage where the late great Ritchie Valens once stood. While Ritchie was larger than life, my photographer was larger than he should be.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/33-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4493" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/33-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/33-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/33-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/33-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/33-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/33-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">When Ritchie Valens performed there on December 10, 1958, the room was jam-packed with screaming fans. As Tom stood on the stage and looked out to the audience, he saw only his wife and Dawn Greene.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/35-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4495" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/35-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/35-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/35-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/35-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/35-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/35-RITCHIE-JR-HIGH.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After we left the auditorium, the three of us got one last look at Ritchie Valens at the end of the school’s outdoor corridor.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Dawn Greene was an amazing host who gave us her time as we toured Ritchie’s Pacoima Junior High School. It was an experience that I will never forget and I’m sure the visit is forever imbedded in my photographer’s mind as well. Three years ago, Tom and I stood on the stage at the Surf Ballroom and envisioned Buddy, Ritchie, and the Bopper as they played their final show. On that day in Pacoima, which was some 1,800 miles southwest of Clear Lake, Iowa, the two of us had the exact same feeling as we honored the memory of Ritchie Valens.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">When we returned to the Mustang, Tom set the car’s flux capacitor to 1955 for our journey Back to the Future. There were a handful of movie sites that the three of us wanted to see in South Pasadena before our scheduled 1:30pm tour of the Rose Bowl. I couldn’t understand why my photographer didn’t set the time machine for December 10, 1958 and he could’ve asked Ritchie Valens to call “tails” during his upcoming Surf Ballroom coin flip. After a 25-mile ride from Pacoima to South Pasadena, we found ourselves standing in front of George McFly’s house from the movie ‘Back to the Future’. While that house was cool, there was a site that was located a short distance from George’s house that played a huge part in the movie. It was the tree that “Peeping Tom” George McFly had fallen from as he watched Lorraine Baines change her clothes. As we stood alongside the famous tree that had one branch extending over Bushnell Avenue, I had hoped Tom would attempt to climb up onto the branch so we could get the same view that George had. But there was no way that my photographer was going to get his fat butt up into that tree, so we settled for the street view. That was okay as we still had a good view of the Baines’ house and we could easily see Lorraine’s second-story bedroom window where I envisioned, in my resin-mind’s eye, Marty’s future mother as she changed her clothes. At that moment I realized I must be a “Peeping Tom” too. There was one other movie site located on Bushnell Avenue that we had wanted to see – Biff Tannen’s grandmother’s house where the antagonizing bully had lived.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/37-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4498" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/37-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/37-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/37-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/37-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/37-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/37-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In the movie ‘Back to the Future’, George McFly lived with his parents in this house in 1955.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="396" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=750%2C396&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4499" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 750w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C158&ssl=1 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) talks with his future father George (Crispin Glover) in front of George’s parents home.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/36-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4500" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/36-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/36-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/36-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/36-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/36-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/36-GEORGE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The McFly house in South Pasadena was a private residence, which forced my photographer to capture his images from the sidewalk.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/39-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4501" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/39-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/39-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/39-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/39-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/39-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/39-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Located just two doors south of the McFly home, this house was where Lorraine Baines (Lea Thompson) lived in 1955 with her parents in the movie ‘Back to the Future’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/40-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4502" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/40-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/40-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/40-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/40-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/40-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/40-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">George McFly watched Lorraine undress in front of her second-story bedroom window from the overhanging branch of this tree.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="428" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY.jpg?resize=800%2C428&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4503" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY.jpg?resize=768%2C411&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY.jpg?resize=1024%2C548&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">When “future Marty” saw his dad watching his mother undress from his perch in the tree, Marty said: “He’s a Peeping Tom”.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/41-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4504" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/41-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/41-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/41-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/41-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/41-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/41-LORRAINE-MCFLY-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Unfortunately for my photographer and I, Lea Thompson was not behind the window on the right. Dang, maybe both of us are Peeping Tom’s!</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="952" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/87-TREE.jpg?resize=800%2C952&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4507" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/87-TREE.jpg?w=2488&ssl=1 2488w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/87-TREE.jpg?resize=252%2C300&ssl=1 252w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/87-TREE.jpg?resize=768%2C914&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/87-TREE.jpg?resize=860%2C1024&ssl=1 860w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/87-TREE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/87-TREE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The “Peeping Tom” tree from ‘Back to the Future’ which was located across the street from Loraine Baines’ parents house.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="421" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY-IN-TREE.jpg?resize=800%2C421&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4508" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY-IN-TREE.jpg?w=1010&ssl=1 1010w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY-IN-TREE.jpg?resize=300%2C158&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GEORGE-MCFLY-IN-TREE.jpg?resize=768%2C404&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">George McFly clung to the tree’s branch with one hand while he used his binoculars with his free hand. I bet at that moment George wished he had a third hand!</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1122" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/46-THE-TREE.jpg?resize=800%2C1122&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4505" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/46-THE-TREE.jpg?w=3983&ssl=1 3983w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/46-THE-TREE.jpg?resize=214%2C300&ssl=1 214w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/46-THE-TREE.jpg?resize=768%2C1077&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/46-THE-TREE.jpg?resize=730%2C1024&ssl=1 730w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/46-THE-TREE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/46-THE-TREE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">With little interest in the ‘Back to the Future’ movie sites, Vicki stayed in the air conditioning of our Mustang time machine.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="411" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?resize=800%2C411&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4506" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?w=1019&ssl=1 1019w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?resize=300%2C154&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE-2.jpg?resize=768%2C395&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marty McFly laid in the middle of Bushnell Avenue after being hit by Sam Baines’ car. Marty had saved his father from being hit after George had fallen from the tree into the street below.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="546" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/44-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C546&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4509" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/44-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=5569&ssl=1 5569w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/44-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C205&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/44-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C524&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/44-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C699&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/44-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/44-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Located three doors south of the Baines’ house was the home of Gertrude Tannen in the movie ‘Back to the Future II’. Biff lived there with his mean grandmother.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="433" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=800%2C433&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4510" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE2.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=300%2C162&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=768%2C416&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE2.jpg?resize=1024%2C554&ssl=1 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marty McFly spied on Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) in an effort to get the sports almanac, which was from the future, back from Biff.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/45-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4511" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/45-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/45-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/45-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/45-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/45-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/45-BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gertrude Tannen’s house from ‘Back to the Future II’, but we were disappointed that the hand-painted signage was missing.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="428" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C428&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4512" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C410&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C547&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BIFF-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Biff Tannen leaves his grandmothers house with the sports almanac book in hand.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">We had visited the homes of George McFly, Lorraine Baines, and Biff Tannen from ‘Back to the Future’ in South Pasadena. My photographer placed me in the back seat of the Mustang and we headed north to Pasadena where we found the home of arguably the greatest character in all of the ‘Back to the Future’ movies – Emmett “Doc” Brown. Since it was only a four-mile drive, there was no need to use the flux capacitor or to try and get the Mustang up to 88 mph. Once we arrived in the area of the Gamble House, it was hard to find a parking place close to the site; and we quickly found out why. While the other three houses that we had visited in South Pasadena were regular residences, movie director Robert Zemeckis decided to use the historic Gamble House for the exterior shots of “Doc” Brown’s house. The Gamble House was built in 1908 and was the home of David B. Gamble of Proctor and Gamble fame. The house remained in the Gamble family until 1966 when they turned it over to the city of Pasadena. The three-story, five bedroom home was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and was open for tours. Since we had only an hour before our Rose Bowl tour was scheduled to begin, there was no time to tour the Gamble House – which was okay with my photographer and me because only the exterior of the home was used in the movie anyways.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="539" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C539&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4516" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=5597&ssl=1 5597w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C202&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C518&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C690&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Gamble House in Pasadena was used for the exterior shots of Emmett “Doc” Brown’s house in the movie ‘Back to the Future’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="431" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C431&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4517" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C162&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C414&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C551&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marty McFly runs up the sidewalk leading to “Doc” Brown’s house in ‘Back to the Future’.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/48-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4518" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/48-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/48-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/48-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/48-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/48-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/48-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Built in 1908, this was the winter home of David and Mary Gamble until their deaths in 1923 and 1929, respectively. </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/50-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4520" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/50-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/50-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/50-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/50-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/50-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/50-DOC-HOUSE.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Theoretically, it was in this house where “Doc” Brown conceived the idea for the flux capacitor on November 5, 1955. Doc slipped on the edge of his toilet while hanging a clock in his bathroom and he hit his head on the sink. <br></figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">When we finished our exterior tour of “Doc” Brown’s house, we had less than one mile to get from 1955 to 2018 and the Rose Bowl. There was no way that my photographer wanted to be anywhere near the famed stadium in 1955 as that was the year the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the USC Trojans 20-7 on New Years Day. However, if the flux capacitor in the Mustang could’ve taken us to 1978, that would’ve been an entirely different story. It was on January 2, 1978 when my photographer, Bob Moldenhauer, and Bob Kreusel bought scalped tickets in front of the stadium; only to witness their Michigan Wolverines get upset by the Washington Huskies 27-20. So, for Tom, this was a reunion of sorts with the Rose Bowl – the last time he was here, my photographer was only 21 years old, and he had his entire adult life in front of him.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Vicki parked the car in the designated parking lot and we met our tour guide named Kathy a few minutes before our scheduled 1:30pm start time. We began our private VIP tour in an elevator that took us to the upper levels of the stadium where we toured luxury boxes, visited the press box, and then got our first glimpse of the field. At first, we were disappointed that the lines were missing from the grid-iron, and the goal posts were nowhere in sight; but we understood why they were missing as some sort of show was scheduled for that evening. After an elevator ride back to ground level, we toured the 1922 locker room, which had been turned into a small Rose Bowl Museum. Then we walked down the tunnel to field level where Kathy led the three of us out to the center of the football field. We spent roughly ten minutes standing on the 50-yard line before we headed for the present-day locker rooms. After an in-depth visit in the home and visitor locker rooms, we went out to the front of the stadium where my photographer and his wife posed beneath the famous Rose Bowl logo. The final segment of our tour was a visit to the Court of Champions that honored the participants of every Rose Bowl game – starting with the 1902 game when Michigan defeated Stanford 49-0. </p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">Vicki loved the tour of the Rose Bowl as it was her first time seeing the historic stadium in person. My photographer loved the tour as well, and at one point during our visit, Tom pointed out the approximate location where he sat during the 1978 game. At that moment, my photographer described to his wife and the tour guide his recollection of heartbreak when he saw Wolverines’ Quarterback Rick Leach’s pass bounce off Stanley Edwards’ helmet and into the hands of Huskies’ defender Michael Jackson with 1:28 left in the game. That play, which occurred on the three-yard line, sealed the 27-20 defeat for the two-touchdown favorite Michigan Wolverines. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4523" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">One of our first stops of the VIP tour was at the Acura Pavilion that was located high above the stadium seats.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/55-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4524" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/55-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/55-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/55-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/55-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/55-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/55-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our first glimpse of the Rose Bowl field was disappointing when we saw there were no goal posts and the field wasn’t marked.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4525" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer mentioned that one of those seats was where he sat for the 1978 Rose Bowl.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/56-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4526" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/56-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/56-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/56-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/56-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/56-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/56-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kathy, our tour guide, gave Vicki some facts about the stadium.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/58-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4528" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/58-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/58-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/58-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/58-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/58-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/58-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Media Center, high above the stadium, was where reporters did their job of writing about the game.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/57-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4527" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/57-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/57-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/57-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/57-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/57-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/57-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As we waited for the elevator ride down to field level, the four of us had a great look at Brookside Golf Club that was in the shadow of the Rose Bowl. I heard my photographer say to his wife: “Our son needs to play this course, especially since it’s right alongside the Rose Bowl. Hopefully someday he can play Pebble Beach and then come here to play Brookside.” </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/59-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4529" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/59-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/59-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/59-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/59-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/59-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/59-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">We arrived at the original 1922 Locker Room that had been transformed into a small Rose Bowl museum.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/61-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4530" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/61-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=5831&ssl=1 5831w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/61-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/61-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/61-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/61-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/61-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">One of the walls inside the 1922 Locker Room museum.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/60-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4531" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/60-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=3899&ssl=1 3899w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/60-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/60-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/60-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/60-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/60-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer found a solemn reminder of the game he had attended in 1978.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="923" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/62-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C923&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4532" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/62-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=3187&ssl=1 3187w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/62-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=260%2C300&ssl=1 260w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/62-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C886&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/62-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=888%2C1024&ssl=1 888w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/62-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/62-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After our visit in the original 1922 Locker Room, we headed down the original tunnel and onto the playing surface.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="594" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C594&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4533" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=5318&ssl=1 5318w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C223&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C570&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C760&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=120%2C90&ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/63-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My photographer and his wife stood at the 50-yard line in the middle of the Rose Bowl.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="636" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/64-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C636&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4534" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/64-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=4723&ssl=1 4723w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/64-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C238&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/64-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C610&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/64-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C814&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/64-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/64-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As Tom photographed his foot on the Rose Bowl’s 50-yard line, I heard him say under his breath: “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for a Michigan fan.”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1080" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/65-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C1080&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4535" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/65-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=3973&ssl=1 3973w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/65-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=222%2C300&ssl=1 222w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/65-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C1037&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/65-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=758%2C1024&ssl=1 758w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/65-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/65-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From the center of the Rose Bowl field, we had a great look at the scoreboard that resembled the original one.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="985" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/66-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C985&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4536" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/66-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=3772&ssl=1 3772w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/66-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=244%2C300&ssl=1 244w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/66-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C946&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/66-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=832%2C1024&ssl=1 832w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/66-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/66-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vicki stood near the tunnel as Tom once again pointed out the approximate location where he sat in 1978. He figured it was somewhere halfway up the end zone stands, just above the center concourse entryway. One thing for certain – he was one of the 105,312 fans at that game.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/71-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4540" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/71-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/71-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/71-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/71-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/71-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/71-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The UCLA locker room at the Rose Bowl also serves as the home-team locker room on New Years Day. It was likely in this locker room in 1978 when Bo Schembechler chewed-out his team for trailing Washington 17-0 at half-time.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/69-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4538" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/69-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=4000&ssl=1 4000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/69-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/69-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/69-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/69-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/69-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As Vicki walked into the shower room, she may have envisioned Tom Brady after Michigan’s 1998 Rose Bowl victory over Washington State. Brady likely didn’t need to shower, however, as he was the backup quarterback to Brian Griese and didn’t take a snap.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/70-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4539" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/70-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/70-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/70-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/70-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/70-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/70-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The home team’s shower room at the Rose Bowl.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/73-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4542" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/73-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/73-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/73-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/73-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/73-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/73-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The less-elaborate visitor’s locker room in the Rose Bowl.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="553" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/72-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C553&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4541" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/72-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=5198&ssl=1 5198w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/72-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C207&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/72-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C531&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/72-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C707&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/72-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/72-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">There were photos of past Rose Bowl legends that hung all around the visitor’s locker room. This particular photo of Bo resonated with my photographer. </figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1084" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/75-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C1084&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4543" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/75-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=3609&ssl=1 3609w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/75-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=221%2C300&ssl=1 221w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/75-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C1040&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/75-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=756%2C1024&ssl=1 756w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/75-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/75-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kathy led us outside to an area beneath the famous Rose Bowl logo.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/77-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4544" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/77-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/77-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/77-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/77-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/77-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/77-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The final stop on our VIP tour was at the Court of Champions.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/79-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C441&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4545" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/79-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=5443&ssl=1 5443w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/79-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C165&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/79-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C423&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/79-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C564&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/79-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/79-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The first entry in the Court of Champions was from the 1902 ass-kicking Michigan victory over Stanford.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/80-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4546" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/80-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/80-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/80-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/80-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/80-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/80-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom captured a very cool image of the Court of Champions.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/82-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4547" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/82-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=6000&ssl=1 6000w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/82-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/82-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/82-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/82-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/82-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom saw one last cool view of the Rose Bowl as we headed back to the Mustang.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1182" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/83-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C1182&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4548" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/83-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=3503&ssl=1 3503w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/83-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=203%2C300&ssl=1 203w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/83-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C1135&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/83-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=693%2C1024&ssl=1 693w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/83-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/83-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The statue of Jackie Robinson was unveiled in front of the Rose Bowl on November 29, 2017. Robinson was depicted in his #55 Pasadena Junior College uniform.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="778" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/robinson-statue-wife.jpg?resize=800%2C778&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4549" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/robinson-statue-wife.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/robinson-statue-wife.jpg?resize=300%2C292&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/robinson-statue-wife.jpg?resize=768%2C747&ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jackie’s widow Rachel Robinson, and his daughter Sharon, at the dedication ceremony outside of the Rose Bowl on November 29, 2017.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="542" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/84-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=800%2C542&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4550" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/84-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=5351&ssl=1 5351w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/84-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=300%2C203&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/84-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=768%2C520&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/84-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?resize=1024%2C693&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/84-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/84-ROSE-BOWL.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The beautiful and tranquil setting of Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.</figcaption></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">As the clock on the Mustang’s dashboard hit 4:00pm, I heard my photographer as he talked into his cell phone: “Siri, driving directions to 14522 Pepper Tree Circle, Tustin, California.” That was the home address of Tom and Vicki’s good friend Tom Currier who had invited the three of us to stay at his house while we were in Southern California. Although it was only a 48-mile drive to Tustin, the usual congested L.A. area Friday afternoon traffic caused the trip to take longer than we had hoped. Siri’s directions took us past Disneyland and Anaheim Stadium until we finally got to Tustin. Vicki parked the Mustang in front of Mr. Plumber’s house at about 5:45pm and we were greeted by Tom and his wife Rhonda; oh, and their dog Macy.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1028" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/85-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=800%2C1028&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4552" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/85-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?w=3967&ssl=1 3967w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/85-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=233%2C300&ssl=1 233w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/85-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=768%2C987&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/85-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=797%2C1024&ssl=1 797w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/85-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/85-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After a hard day of unplugging toilets that were filled with unruly turds, our favorite plumber and towel head Tom Currier greeted us with open arms.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="1043" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/86-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=800%2C1043&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4553" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/86-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?w=3534&ssl=1 3534w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/86-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=230%2C300&ssl=1 230w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/86-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=768%2C1001&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/86-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?resize=786%2C1024&ssl=1 786w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/86-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/86-TOM-CURRIER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">When Macy got her first look at us, it was as though she was thinking: “I wonder what that goofy-looking bobble head tastes like!”</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="946" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CURRIER.jpg?resize=800%2C946&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4554" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CURRIER.jpg?w=2919&ssl=1 2919w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CURRIER.jpg?resize=254%2C300&ssl=1 254w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CURRIER.jpg?resize=768%2C908&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CURRIER.jpg?resize=866%2C1024&ssl=1 866w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CURRIER.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CURRIER.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As we visited on Tom’s patio for the remainder of the evening, Currier did his best impersonation of the alien from the movie Alien.</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="642" height="856" src="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/alien.jpg?resize=642%2C856&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-4555" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/alien.jpg?w=642&ssl=1 642w, https://i0.wp.com/eyesofjefferson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/alien.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 642px) 100vw, 642px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">After we settled down in the Currier’s spare bedroom, I was placed on the wall shelf above the foot of the bed. It had been a long day, and I knew that my photographer and his wife were tired. For the past four months, Tom Currier had been planning a NASCAR party for the California members of the fantasy league that my photographer leads. The Road Hog Meet and Greet get-together was scheduled to begin at 3:00pm on Saturday and I knew that “my” Tom was anxious to meet the folks that he’s been writing about for the past three years. Hopefully they were equally as anxious to meet him – and maybe me, too!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://eyesofjefferson.com/84-come-on-lets-go-to-ritchies-pacoima/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">4443</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>