My Street Was The Center Of The World
Comey Avenue Was My Universe
My first memories were of this location and I lived there from 1944 until 1961. Comey Avenue is a small dead end street. In fact, the tunnel used in the movie Volcano ran right under our back yard and the La Ballona flood control channel was at the end of the street. As a kid, I used to take my bike and ride up the tunnel for miles.
The House
Mom and Dad moved there in 1938 and paid a whopping $2,800 for the house! Dad was quite a handyman and mom was the creative agent. When they sold the place in 1961, my recollection is that they got $65,000!
The Alley
Best part of the street was it's alley way behind our house! La Cienaga (yes, the famous one) was one street over. The businesses on the alley included a print shop, ice house, Bic Pens, furniture maker, heater/air conditioning supplier, and a gas station. The area reminded me of the little rascals (which was filmed about 1 mile from our home!!!) So you ask... what's so great about that! Let me explain!
- Print Shop - great source of paper (before ecology set in)
- Ice House - they threw out blocks of dry ice... great fun!
- Bic Pens - threw out pens all the time... with help of a lighter, they worked!
- Furniture Maker - wood supply!
- Heat/Air Conditioning Supplier - great source of large boxes to build forts with!
- Gas Station - why of course... tires and grease!
Neighbors/Friends
May and Brownie - You know to this day, I don't know "Brownies" first name... May and Brownie Brown lived next door to us on Comey Avenue. Brownie was a head camera man at the Culver City studios. He often brought home models from sets and he had a complete collection of war vehicle he collected. He knew many stars and had us visit the sets. He once brought home the canvas from the huge backdrop at the studio... it was dark blue and we had canvas to play with for years!
Gillick - Marion Gillick and her daughter were friends for years and in fact we still talk to Olivia.
Newt and Hazel - These were neighbors who became great friends of the family! Newt was the press operator for Alcoa Aluminum in Fontana (the biggest in the world at that time) and was always building something! My folks and they played Canasta and on the weekends Dad and Newt would play poker!
The Coomler's - They had four kids, the youngest was my age! Donna, Peggy, Billy, and Bob! Just got an email from the past in February 2001! And I kinda quote from Bob Coomler.....