Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music
Any old way you choose it
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it,
Any old time you use it...> Beatles
Name: Marilyn Ross () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 18:13:09
Email: mlr922@hotmail.com
City and State: Garden Grove, Ca
Maiden: Wisham
Class: 1956
Message: I remember every year going to the Imperial Farms to get a Christmas tree. The douglas firs were very spindly and sparce. We paid somewhere in the area of $1.00 for a tree about 5 feet. We didn't have much room for a tree. We always put the tree up one week before Christmas. Mother would buy it early and put it in the shed and we would be so antsy we couldn't wait to get it up. As poor as we were we always had a great Christmas. The first year I was married my Dad died on Christmas Eve. The ladies from the Church of Christ on El Segundo blvd. came and got our turkey and cooked it. They brought all kinds of food for a Christmas meal. I was so amazed they did this on Christmas day. It was truly a great Christmas present, something I will never forget.
MAAANN!! If you're not getting the spirit from this one, Liz, you might be incurable. Thanks Marilyn for a great Christmas story.
Name: Art La Mere () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 16:25:48
Email: artlamere@msn.com
City and State: Bettendorf Iowa
Class: 1973
Message: John nice job on the Cougar in the back drop of feedback I noticed if you scroll down the Cougar stays in the same place can you tell it's Friday and so close to going home. Have a good weekend all.
Art
Thanks Art, Just time to change something. Have a good weekend yourself.
Name: Bob Jensen () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 16:06:41
Email: rjensen@satco-inc.com
City and State: Santa Claus Lane
Class: 1971
Message: A mid century Christmas. 1963, A brand new house on 138th street. A Sputnik Style light fixture in the entry room. Silver glitter in the acoustic ceilings. A ?White Flocked Plastic Tree? with Blue and Gold balls no strings of lights but a color wheel! White fiberglass insulation covered the bright green dichondra lawn, white Styrofoam stapled to the eves to look like icicles. A white fiberglass snowman nestled among the palm trees. My father playing ?I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus? to a Cha-Cha beat on his Theater Organ. Tiki torches a blaze in the back yard and neighbors drinking Mai-Tai?s. O? what a
Christmas that was!
Now if that doesn?t put you in the Christmas mood then I don?t know what will.
Sounds like us Bob, only we had the Aluminum tree from Clark Drugs. Name: Betty Rodriguez () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 15:40:49
Email: tombetty@peoplepc.com
City and State: Lake Elsinore, CA
Maiden: Kean
Message: Elizabeth- You better GET in the spirit fast, cause I just told everybody there's a party at your house on December 17th!
Ha! Betty
Name: Steve Temoshek () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 14:40:30
Email: stevet@govw.com
City and State: Laguna Hills,Ca
Class: 1969
Message: Hi vince which house did she live in?
did she know the Rices, Lococos or
the zacklins? That house was at one time being considered as a hysterical landmark in hawthorne, but the fire captain that bought did what is there now. does anyone remember our auto shop
teacher TJ moser??
Hey Vince, Please email Steve with your answer, thanks......
Name: Ingrid Larson () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 14:33:25
Email: bradanding@juno.com
City and State: Long Beach
Maiden: Same as it ever was
Class: 1974
Message: Hey I just got word that two former Cougars from our class of '74 are "goin' steady" and will soon qualify to be listed among the Local School Marriages. I don't want to blow their cover - yet. But I'm tickled to see two people who were in love in 7th grade rediscover each other 35 years later. You should see them together. They're like a couple of 15 year olds! Can anyone guess who they are?
Sue Bierman and Patty V?? HEY, watch it, it the 2000's!!!.............OK......I give up.
Name: Adrianne DeAlejandro () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 13:58:01
Email: addy57@msn.com
City and State: Cerritos, CA
Maiden: Longpre
Class: 1963
Message: For various reasons, the holiday season is a sad time for most, whether you want to admit it or not. Some can wear the happy masks well. Lots of holiday support groups out there right now. The memories of Christmas past are overwhelming. I remember as if it was yesterday when I would be so excited to see what Santa brought me. I loved going thru the new Sears catalog every year, and making my dream list. As long as I had a tree, DOLL, and little musical items, I was happy. Then, of course, we had our Whitman Sampler candies. Because of the excitement, every Christmas Day, without fail, I would end up sick in bed by afternoon. But, it was worth it. I think I'll go out shopping after work, and eat lots of goodies this weekend! I'll also be looking for an Angel Tree, or needy children, and buying toys for them. That's a real booster!
Name: Vince Jesse () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 13:42:11
Email: vfjesse65@hotmail.com
City and State: Woodland Hills, CA
Class: 1983
Message: Hi Steve. Andi Dew grew up on Manor Dr. off 126th St. in the culdesac. We lived in the apartment on the corner of Grevillea & 126th when I was a kid. I remember your house as the one with the Dobermans that used to dig under the fence. All those houses were torn down to build that ugly apartment complex.
Name: Steve Temoshek () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 13:22:15
Email: stevet@govw.com
City and State: Laguna Hills,Ca
Class: 1969
Message: Just sitting here at work bored to death, car business sucks now. Does
anyone remember an assembly in the mens gym around 66 or 67 some karate guys gave a demonstration I think it was Chuch Norris, anyone out there know
if it really was? Merry christmas to all.
Name: John Crotty () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 12:00:51
Email: 21077@lapd.lacity.org
City and State: hermosa beach
Class: 1969
Message: Okay Liz, because you are such a dear friend..here's something for you. There were four of us Crotty kids and only our father worked. So, unlike the way we spoil our kids today ("Is that all I got?"), we had to really think about what we wanted for Christmas each year. The thing was, what ever we asked for, our parents some how came through. But, that was it, one gift only. No other presents. Oh wait, we did get new pajamas every year and sometimes underwear and socks, but no other toys. And you know what? Getting that one gift was the best way to enjoy Christmas ever! You relished the thing and since school was out, you played with it everyday for hours and hours. When I was in third grade, I asked for a white Schwinn 3-speed racer. Quite a costly request. But there it was when I woke up. Gleaming, shiny, perfect. The hell of it was, it was raining that Christmas day, so all I could do was stare at it and sit on it. I wasn't about to get it dirty or splashed on. And, I couldn't wait for school to start again, so I could ride that beauty to school and show it off. What a memorable one that still is. Merry Christmas to all the CTer's.
Great story, John, and Merry Christmas to you.
Name: Steven Temoshek () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 11:47:38
Email: stevet@govw.com
City and State: Laguna Hills,Ca
Class: 1969
Message: Hi john thanks for this web site. I dont recall anyone named andi dew, where exactly did she live? I lived right across the street from the naval armory in the white two story house my grandfather had built. When we were kids we would play baseball on the lawn and broke a few windows with foul balls. do you remember the original post office right by the safeway market? Stamps were three cents, milk was nineteen cents a quart.
Hi Steve, I don't remember where exactly she lived but I think it was directly across from the Police Station on 126th St.
Funny how our minds work. We think because it was the first place we saw it, it was the ORIGINAL.
I remember the post office being where you said, on Hawthorne Way, but I also remember it being on the East side of Hawthorne Bl. between El Segundo and 129th St. Now that was MY original place for the Post Office, but I'm sure it was somewhere else in Hawthorne, before that. Thanks Steve.....
Name: Elizabeth Aleccia () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 10:40:03
Email: dzlizzy31@hotmail.com
City and State: Redondo Beach,CA
Maiden: Estrada
Class: 1969
Message: HELP! I'm so NOT in the holiday spirit. Those who know me well, know that I usually have the house decorated the day after Thanksgiving and start with the Christmas music the moment the leftovers are put away. The Christmas Cookies Night hasn't even been scheduled yet. It's 80 degrees here today, sunny and beautiful but I'm listening to Van Morrison not Burl Ives. I need inspiration. I need stories of Christmases past, not "Brown Eyed Girl". Somebody please tell some memories of the season to help me get with the program. You know...the first Christmas you figured out the Santa thing....or the time the dog ate the turkey...or the fudge that never hardened..or the night Dad fell into the tree after having one or two too many eggnogs. Give it to me or there will be no flan for Cruise Night... I know what you mean. NO spirit here either. I hear Christmas music on a commercial and thoughts come to mind like this guy is trying to screw me outta some money and is hiding behind Santa to do it. I usually have to go buy that first present, then things start to change. Can anyone help Liz get over her Scroogatosis?
Name: Billy () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 07:42:18
City and State: South Bay
Class: 1954
Message: Hate to inform you but South Bay bowl is being torn down
Man, there's another place I better get to, today, with the camera.
Name: Baxter Dodd () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 04:17:27
Email: baxterldo@aol.com
City and State: Riverside, CA
Class: 1957
Message: Seeing 190th street on that aerial photo reminded me there is a small cemetery in that area west of Hawthorne Blvd that was well known to many local street racers. Why? Because the grounds keepers had a utility trailer with a pair of hard-to-find (in those days) wide slicks mounted on it. On closer inspection we were sad to see that they had welded all the lug nuts in place. Being in a cemetery, people thought that the racers who discover the welded lug nuts were mourning the loss of a loved one. A true story that only fellow street racers would appreciate.
Baxter
Name: James Armour () on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 02:27:20
Email: Orcaarmour@Charter.net
City and State: Shell Beach,CA
Class: 1970
Message: Hey John, I just wanted to let you know that I very much appreciate the other pages on your site. Even though the feed back page is the most active, I enjoy the others for their unique look at the varing aspects of the Cougartown/Hawthorne experience. The Tribute page, in particular, reminds me how precious our lives are and the friendships we had with those who are no longer with us. The memories and the photos of a bygone time keep fresh, in my mind, just how special those times were, a time we may never experience again in our lives. Even though it may not have been "all" good for everyone, your pages highlight at least one thing that gives each of us something to smile about then. Ok, enough mush, Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays to all Cougartown pals.
Hi James, Thanks for the nice thoughts. I'm just as guilty as the rest for not looking elsewhere on the site. I forget how much feeling has gone into Tributes, Teachers Page additions, or Recollections from Cougars who remember fondly their days in Hawthorne and HHS. Actually I got up early this morning, read your email and went directly to the Tributes page. If you think about it, Cougartown is permeated through and through with remarks and emotions from early to present day Cougars. In the beginning it was just 5 or 10 short stories, but now has grown, and has become averaged over time, into a symphony of thoughts and feelings of teachers, classmates, and friends; some still with us, some gone forever in body, but always with us in our thoughts.
It's soothing reading, and very comforting to know we have this many friends.....
Name: Chris Prewitt () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 22:36:33
Email: cjprewitt@juno.com
City and State: Fullerton, CA
Class: 1967
Message: Wow John! You don't like me telling everyone to go to other sites? For all of you who have bookmarked cougartown feedback; have you seen the new CT logo? Do you know who's Birthday it is? By the way Happy Birthday Jo Ann Sexton Dickson! How many of you remember our first cruise night? One of the most looked at pages by people not from Hawthorne is the 60s Slang Page. John, is that better?
YES!! Much better. Sometimes I don't think Ctowners look at anything but the Feedback page. Thanks Chris.....
Name: Vince Jesse () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 19:09:33
Email: vfjesse65@hotmail.com
City and State: Woodland Hills, CA
Class: 1983
Message: Hi John. Andi Dew is my mom. I also grew up across the street from the police station. Does anyone remember the old Naval Reserve building where the new City Hall is now? They used to have an anti aircraft gun in the back.
Hey Vince, Glad you're still with us. I remember the Naval Reserve building.
Name: Britt Stonebraker () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 17:39:01
Email: thatbritts(at)yahooDotCom
City and State: San Marcos Ca
Class: 1978
Message: The dairy was exactly where the Old town mall is. I still cant remember its name, does anyone remember the bowling alley next to the May Co?
South Bay Bowl. It's one of the few bowling establishments left in the area.
Name: Steven Temoshek () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 17:00:40
Email: Stetet@govw.com
City and State: Laguna Hills,Ca
Class: 1969
Message: I grew up in Hawthorne, lived across the street from the police station and city hall. At night I could see the Plaza sign from my upstairs bedroom window. I enjoy reading the feedback page on this site, so many things to remember, anyone know where Dimitri
Pappas is?
Hey Steve, I remember another HHSer who lived right across the street from the Police Station; HHS 62's Andi Dew. Maybe you knew her.
Name: Art LAMere () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 15:55:56
Email: artlamere@msn.com
City and State: Bettendorf Ia
Class: 1973
Message: oChris thanks for the site name
Name: SusieQ () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 14:23:02
City and State: Abq.NM 87111
Maiden: Klingenhagen
Class: 1971
Message: JB and all CTers...I just returned from So. Cal. via Interstate 40. I drove out to meet my sister Sherees'(HHS c/o'75)new husband,Patrick. I spent time in Chino Hills and Manhattan Beach and thats why I'm writing this! I must have set some sort of record, monday afternoon. I left Chino Hills at 2pm, drove the 50 miles to Manhattan Beach, arrived at 4pm. I left MB at 4:15pm, drove 95 miles to Crestline and arrived at 8pm....thats 6 hours to drive 145 miles!!! It wasn't unexpected and I'm laughing about it still.
As for my new brother in-law, Patrick, my sister won the lottery!
Best of holidays to all...Susie"klink"
Hi Susie, You mean you averaged 24 MPH? THAT IS FANTASTIC!!! You ARE the new record holder. Name: Tammy () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 13:42:47
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: Britt, I don't remember seeing a dairy (would that be where Victoria Park is today)? but I do remember when there was no intersection at 190th and Hawthorne. We used to drive west on 190th and to continue on 190th we had to take a side road to Hawthorne, make a left on Hawthorne, and then make a right back on 190th. Where Lamps Plus is on the NW corner was once a deep hole with these huge "coils" coming up from the bottom.
Name: Britt Stonebraker () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 13:11:07
Email: thatbritts(at)yahooDotCom
City and State: San Marcos Ca
Maiden: huh?
Class: 1978
Message: OK how about the Dairy S.E. of the blvd and 190th does anyone remember its name?
By "S.E. of the blvd and 190th", I guess you mean SE Corner. I don't recall it.......
Name: Sharon Branigan () on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 00:31:04
Email: srbranigan.srb@verizon.net
City and State: Thousand Oaks, CA
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
Message: Cougar sighting! Sean Fudge '78 was sitting next to me tonight at a TOHS wrestling meet. I've known his wife Julene for about 5 years now but did not make the connection; Sean's sister Tami is a fellow 76'er. Thank you Sean for explaining the finer points of wrestling; I did a little wrestling in High School but never with a referee.
Re the Christmas deco poles: I believe my dad put those up for the city of Hawthorne when he was first starting out with his own welding business. Mom knows the story, maybe she'll share the details. C'mon mom, tell!
Name: Chris Prewitt () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 22:36:25
Email: cjprewitt@juno.com
City and State: Fullerton, CA
Class: 1967
Message: For those of you who like John's photo you might want see some aerial photos of your own home try: http://terraserver.microsoft.com/ put in your address and get an aerial photo of your house. You might try 4859 W El Segundo Hawthorne CA. The photo is about 10 years old but how much has changed?
Terraserver....I haven't been to that site in about 3 years. Lots of fun, and Chris, why do you constantly ask people to leave Cougartown for some other site. Name: Tammy () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 19:17:14
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: I have never seen that map before, just by looking at it, I can tell what is/was there. It's a nice map. Do you have any more?
Tammy, you are brilliant. I think what threw me was the RR tracks that cross Hawthorne Bl about 190th. I thought that was a road. Thanks for guessing and no, I don't have any more of the aerial pics right now but that changes day to day. Thanks again....
Name: Tammy () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 17:36:50
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: Mr. Baker, looking at that map I see what appears to be the May Co. shopping center, where the Galleria is now. Am I right?
YES you are totally correct. Tell the truth, you've seen it before, huh.
Name: John Baker () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 14:19:31
Email: jb1atcougartown.com
City and State: Lomita
Class: 1962
Message: Some sad news for the Class of 1963. Louis Marotta passed away a few days ago. Visitation is going to be in El Segundo at Douglas Mortuary on Thursday from 2 to 8. Funeral Mass at Holy Cross in Culver City at 11am on Friday.
Name: Alan Nelson () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 14:19:31
Email: boatcop@boatcop.com
City and State: Parker, Az
Class: 1973
Message: My condolences and sympathy to Linda Flores and her family on their loss. Usually, this time of year I am encouraging everyone to place blue lights prominently in their Christmas Light display to commemorate those Police Officers who have given their lives to protect us. (Operation Blue Light) So far in 2004, 146 Officers have given the ultimate sacrifice in their service to us.
This year I'm asking that you also add a set of Red White and Blue lights in honor of our brave members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard who are defending Freedom, not only in Iraq, but in all locations overseas. Merry Christmas and God Bless all those who stand in harm's way.
Thanks Alan.....
Name: Fern () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 11:31:57
Email: johnandfern@tiadon.org
City and State: Liberal,Mo.
Maiden: Neuschafer
Class: 1957
Message: Wishing you Cougars a Very Merry Christmas from John Wettstein "55" and Fern (Neuschafer) Wettstein "57" We graduated from Leuzinger High- I wanted to ask John if you could post a photo of Thrifty Drug Store of Hawthorne Blvd.? sometime --This is where when I was working behind the icecream and candy counter in "56" and "57", John first asked me out and then --- now we will be celebrating our 47th Anniversary this Valentines Day coming up ..... Thanks --It's been so much fun reading about the old places in Hawthorne..where we all were at one time ..... Sure will Fern, and Happy 47th to you and John....
Name: Chris Prewitt () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 11:28:05
Email: cjprewitt@juno.com
City and State: Fullerton, CA
Class: 1967
Message: Looking at the ol' Plaza theatre reminds me that there is a group in Fullerton that is trying to save their hometown theatre, The Fox Fullerton. There are old photos and memories just like ours of the Plaza. See www.foxfullerton.org. Sometimes there is more than memories that can be kept.
Name: Shirley Lester () on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 10:30:35
Email: gramsle@aol.com
City and State: Hawthorne, CA
Message: Keith Jones: I am not a graduate of HHS but my kids are. I graduated from Inglewood High way back in the 50's. I love reading the stories in Feedback and wanted to add my little bit. We used to stop at the strawberry shack all the time and if you look very close when going by the shack is still there. You can just see it over the fence. Good Strawberries.
