USC baseball used to play some games at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, like this game vs. Cal in 1937. Don’t ask me why, but in 1936, the USC football team stopped in Dallas to visit the Texas Centennial Exposition. In the picture below, USC coach Howard Jones (in suit) sports a 10-gallon hat with his players. The guy without a hat is Braven Dyer, … Continue reading USC Sunday Supplement

Who remembers the Golden Cock Inn in San Gabriel? It was part of the Clearman’s restaurants and the old location is where the Galley and North Woods Inn are still open on Rosemead Blvd. and Huntington Dr. The waiting area had the circular fireplace in the center. Continue reading Time For Another Restaurant Break

Today is a good day to learn about Captain Ben L. Salomon, a graduate of the USC dental school, who served as a dentist-and-then-surgeon during World War II. Salomon was at Saipan in the Marianas Island when his aid station came under attack. From the Congressional Medal of Honor citation: “Firing from a squatting position, Captain Salomon quickly killed the enemy soldier. Then, as he … Continue reading A USC Memorial Day Story

This is a coincidence I never expected this weekend. I saw an episode of Star Trek and a member of the crew was a guy I recognized from several Twilight Zone episodes but didn’t know his name. I didn’t think it would go farther than that. But today I was looking at some old USC photos and I see the same face. So I do … Continue reading USC Sunday Buzz: Time To Appreciate Another Trojan

There wasn’t enough to room in today’s column to do justice to the Formosa Cafe, this week’s “Restaurant of the Week.” So let’s visit some of the legendary stories. Owner Max Gold purchased the Red Post Cafe in 1939, added a Pacific Electric Red Car and renamed it the “Formosa Club.” Gold reportedly lost the restaurant in a poker game. He was reportedly found murdered … Continue reading The Friday Column Supplement

Galco’s Old World Grocery, Eagle Rock (1897) Famous for having more than 700 flavors of soda. Also carry candy like Big Hunk, Abba-Zaba, Oh Henry!, U-No and Zagnut. The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills (1912) Located in the Beverly Hills Hotel, this was originally the only rest stop between Hollywood and Pacific Palisades for celebrities like Will Rogers and Rudolph Valentino who were playing polo. Howard … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Restaurant Talk