Name: Cal Kappen ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Feb 19, 2011, 10:50 am - HHS Time
Class: 1959
City & State: Oceanside CA

Message: I was a manager trainee at Thrifty Drug Stores Inc. That meant you were lower than whale poop! I scooped tons of ice cream. I had sticky on my tie, in my hair, on my white shirt and in my ears. To this day I dislike ice cream. I also worked at Aloha drugs and Bud's Drugs owned by Lou and Hazel Kholbrand. I was a pharmacist's assistant and delivery boy while I was at El Camino.

Name: Tom Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Feb 19, 2011, 10:38 am - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Beaumont, CA

Message: Wow, Food Giant! They used to run contests like 'how many marbles in the jar?', and you'd win something, I don't remember what. (No John Rout, it was not a bicycle. If I had won a bike, I would have picked it up.) Rheingold Beer had a contest; it may have been a beauty contest like 'Miss Rheingold' (with pictures, not real young ladies). Maybe someone remembers it. When I turned 21 yrs. old, I went into Thrifty to buy a 1/2 pint of 'firewater'. The clerk carded me, (CARDED ME??) I'd been buying booze since I was 14 and now he cards me?! Anyway, I was feeling pretty cool until he made some remark about my "just making it". That really took the wind out of my sails. Oh well, they really were some fun times.

Name: Anita Bell ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Feb 19, 2011, 9:25 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Harmon
Class: 1969
City & State: Fair Oaks, Ca

Message: I had an opportunity last night to meet Fabian Forte. Yes...THAT Fabian. His son Christian and his daughter in-law Mercedes have just opened up a wonderful little Italian Bistro here in Fair Oaks called "Fabian's". There were tastings from wonderful bruschetta all the way to little flourless chocolate cakes layered with chocolate mousse and covered in chocolate ganache. And the wines were just as wonderful. Anyway, couldn't pass up the opportunity to introduce myself and have my picture taken with him - although my image of him at 8 years old when he was 16 was a bit more than it was last night - it was still a fun evening.

Name: Judy Degrazia-blomsterberg ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Feb 19, 2011, 9:24 am - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Torrance CA

Message: Patty, back in the 60's and maybe the 50's, Thrifty also had the T.V. tube tester. I can still remember people showing up with a bag full of tubes to test (one by one) and so I think the rule of thumb was "test them all and surely you'll find the one that doesn't work ) which explains why all those T.V.s blew up. Ahhh, those were the good ol' days. BTW--tomorrow's VFW breakfast will also host the awards for Patriot's Pen and the Voice of Democracy.. (junior high and high school levels) I believe they start at 10:00. Very exciting for these kids.

Name: John Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Feb 19, 2011, 8:37 am - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Lomita

Message: Happy Happy Birthday to my good friend Jake. Have a great day man and hope Judi is feeling better.

Name: George Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Feb 19, 2011, 7:53 am - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Palm Desert, Ca

Message: Hey, John LOL; I always thought you looked good in Chiffons LOL. Jorge

Name: Patty Saville ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Feb 18, 2011, 8:32 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Valencia
Class: 1974
City & State: Laguna Beach, Ca

Message: Food Giant! I remember Food Giant. That was where I applied for a job as a food tester, but on the day of the interview I had my wisdom teeth pulled. I still don't understand why they wouldn't want a drugged-out, swollen faced, drooling teenager offering food samples to customers :) Also there is Thrifty's- remember the squared-off 5 cent ice cream scoops?

Name: Peter Nelson ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Feb 18, 2011, 6:50 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1957
City & State: corona california

Message: Bill Baker when I worked at the hawthorne post office my job was when the regular man on the beach boys route goes on a vacation I got to his route for 2 weeks I did that for 7 years, than I moved to corona, I worked 41 years as a mailman. The beach boys 5 biggest hits 1 good vibrations 2 I get around 3 help me rhonda 4 kokomo 5 barbara ann. the group was inducted into the rock an roll hall of fame. four beach boye songs hit number I on the top 40 5-23-64 1 get around-4-17-65-help me rhonda 10-22-66 good vibrations also was their biggest hit- 9-3 88-kokomo. 15 songs hit top 10. Dennis Wilson drowned on 12-28-1983 age 39-carl wilson died of cancer 2-6-1988 as of today 1 wear my beach boys red cap and my red t-shirt that reads hawthorne 1957 Cougars pete nelson of 1957

Name: Ernie Nixon ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Feb 18, 2011, 8:27 am - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: Jacksonville, Fla.

Message: Dennis Wilson was in a couple of my P.E. classes. I believe it was our sophomore year. Our class had to run the mile for time, some kind of state requirement. He knew I was getting ready for Cross Crountry, so he came up to me and said that he was going to beat me. Well, He did. He ran a 5:23.5 to my 5:25.00. So he was a good athlete in his own right. So sorry to hear about Al Lamb's passing. He was a teammate of mine.

Name: George Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Feb 18, 2011, 7:44 am - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Palm desert, Ca

Message: Janet; Thank you for your kind comment. Ya know, if the teachers back in our day would have seen it your way, I would have not gotten kicked out of so many H/schools LOL. I guess maybe I was a little hyper back then and they didn't want to give me that much of their attention LOL. I fooled em though, Thank God & HPD Jerry Pierce, I saw the light and had a successful life in spite of my short comings. Jorge

Name: Anna Richter ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 10:37 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Chicago, Illinois

Message: I am doing family research and recently discovered that Zela Davis was a first cousin to my grandfather. I would so love to know a little about her. Is there a picture of her existing? I would appreciate anything you can tell me.

Name: Bill Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 9:17 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: Truckee, Ca
No E-mail
Message: To Peter, before I tell my Beach Boys story, I have to ask - do you recall delivering mail to my grandmother Farrell's house which was located down from the Wilson's at the other end of the block on 119th Street? And to Dennis, where exactly was that ramp to the storm drain? Brian was a good athlete. I recall that he played basketball for Hawthorne, either JV or Varsity. I first met Dennis Wilson when I was about ten, but not in school. I got to know him from all the time I spent at my grandmother's house located at the She didn't like me spending too much time with him though, calling him "overactive." She felt putting two boys like us together meant trouble. When we were sophomores at Hawthorne High, Dennis came to school one day and told a small group of us, including Norman Steiner, John McFall and me that he was leaving school to spend more time with his brothers' band. They were going to make big money with their music careers. We tried our best to talk him out of it, saying he was making a huge mistake quitting school so young. So, he leaves school, my family leaves Hawthorne and I finish the last two years of high school at Morningside. Imagine my surprise as I was hitchhiking on Crenshaw Boulevard to El Camino College, when a red Ferrari pulls up from behind and who's driving it but Dennis! It wasn't a convertible like the one in the movie, "The Beach Boys: An American Family," but it was gorgeous. This would have been about 1964 after they hit the big times. He told me about what was going on in his life: a divorce, being the father of a child, all grown up stuff. We didn't need to discuss the Beach Boys or fame and fortune - that was a given. He dropped me off at El Camino, we said our goodbyes and that was the last time I ever saw him. Sure was a nice car, though. And I never got in the way of another drummer!

Name: Janet Burkett ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 4:43 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Humphreys
Class: 1962
City & State: Ca
No E-mail
Message: Ricki, you look great girl! I am going to have to dig up a current picture too I guess. There's probably one on CT with the Wine Country Weekend photos. George I can't say I really remember you well, but you have got to be one of the funniest members of our class! Hope I get to meet you at our upcoming -0th reunion next year. And John, I'm working on any of our classmates living around here who might be able to attend.

Name: Dennis Carden ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 12:07 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: Newnan, GA.

Message: I met Dennis Wilson in 7th grade. Many times after school we would walk down Hawthorne Blvd. till we got to 120th st then he would go east and I would go west. He always had to go straight home to his music. Even with his parents being so strict, there was one thing we did that was great fun. Sometimes on Saturdays he would have me meet him at his house before anyone woke up. Then we would sneak his go-cart out of the garage, push it down the street to the storm drain ramp, then down into the drains. As well as I remember racing through the sewer systems, there is something I recall even better. It was the sound of Mr Wilson's voice echoing through the drains telling Dennis to get his butt home and work on his music. I remember thinking, what a waste working on music when he could be out running around having fun. Boy was I wrong.

Name: Gary Bickers ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 10:06 am - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: PVE CAL

Message: Cal, I remember the first time that 409 pulled through Foster's on 120th street. Sounded like the world was ending. Regards a Beach Boy story. My brother had a reel to reel recording system in our house. Al was using it one day to play an early BB song. My Dad told him to save his money; he was wasting his time. Always the visionary.

Name: Barney Mcardle ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 9:57 am - HHS Time
Class: 1958
City & State: San Antonio, Texas

Message: Hey Peter, Brian and I and Gordon Martin, Don Heikes and Tom Ellis used to cruise Hawthorne Blvd. singing "Four Freshman" songs and on almost every Sunday we would all (including Rich Sloan) go out to Gordon's house in Anaheim and play "Over-the Line" (Softball with less than 9 players). Brian was a pretty good athlete.

Name: Peter Nelson ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 7:10 am - HHS Time
Class: 1957
City & State: Corona california

Message: Today is the 50th anniversary of Brain Wilson and the beach boys their first song hit on top 100, was surfin on 2-17-62. Brain-Carl-Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine. Do any of you out there have any stories of the beach boys? As for myself I was a mailman worked at the Hawthorne post office, I got to carry the mail to their home at 3704 west 119 street I got to talk to dennis Wilson 3 times carl Wilson 2 times. one of my favortive songs was California girls. Does anyone know If Hawthorne is going to honor Brain Wilson, please let me know Peter nelson class of 1957

Name: Cal Kappen ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 6:26 am - HHS Time
Class: 1959
City & State: Oceanside CA

Message: I was told that the picture of the A&W has Victor Zaccaglini sitting in his 62 Impala 409.

Name: Jim Frederick ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 17, 2011, 6:10 am - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: West Hills Ca,/ Hanalei HI,

Message: Back at my buddy Geaorge. I would love to send your request as soon as you put your latest mug shot on CT! And Im sure i have a few more threads than you LOL! After all you got about seven more years on that old bod than i LOL! Plus us FD guys stay in shape (we don't eat doughnuts) Like you guys LOL!Oh and love the photo of A&W !! Is that a 63 Impala ? Love ya George

Name: Mike Shay ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 16, 2011, 3:30 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Cerritos, CA

Message: Sorry Gary B, I was a 14 year old dish washer. They kept me as far away from the food prep areas as they possibly could. It was amazing to watch the cooks in action though. These guys had been doing this a very long time and they didn't waste any motion at all. Pasta dishes, Pizzas, Chickens, Ribs, no matter what, everything was great.

Name: George Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 16, 2011, 10:57 am - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Spinnaker Cove, Ca

Message: Hey, JB; I thought Mike Shay was in our class, I would almost bet money on it, however, I only bet on sure things. Did he go to summer school and get all his needed credits for an early out or something ? Gary, You don't want to know the secret,trust me LOL Jorge

Name: Gary Bickers ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 16, 2011, 9:23 am - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: PVE CAL

Message: Mike, I saw your post regards working the kitchen at BBQ PETE. I remember they had the best cole slaw I ever tasted before or since.You don't happen to know the secret?

Name: George Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 16, 2011, 8:38 am - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Spinnaker Cove, Ca

Message: Hey, Fireman Jim;Send in a picture without your cowboy hat. I wanna see if your forehead reaches as far back on your head as Paco's does LOL. Just funnin, an old cop picking on a fireman LOL, cause everybody like a fireman. Semper Fi Jorge

Name: Mike Shay ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 16, 2011, 8:07 am - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Cerritos, CA

Message: Hello All; Wow, that picture of Mastin Drugs really opened up a giant memory flood gate for me. I got my first part time job in 1957 (my freshman year) washing dishes at BBQ Petes on Hawthorne around 111th. After a few months of that, Pete decided that I was a hazard to anyone around me and I got canned. I quickly rebounded and went to work (also as a dish washer) at Mastin's. The boss was a nasty little tyrant named John. John got great joy out of screaming at the help in front of the anyone sitting at the counter. The cook was a Chinese college kid named Charn. When he and I would close up together he'd give me a ride home in his Powell pick up. Somewhere in front of Mastin's was a cigarette machine. You would put in a quarter and get a pack of smokes with three cents change inside the cellophane wrapper. After a few months there I left to go to work at Tanger and Weitzel Shell Service on El Segundo and Birch. I was there through High School. Somebody stop me! In the words of the great Bob Hope, "Thanks for the memories". Hope to see you all on Cruise Night M.S.