We used to park in that garage, I think it was a dime an hour, one time when we got back in our car, someone probably one of the parking attendants, left trash from his lunch in the car. My Mom was pissed. Again thanks for the N.E. memories.
Yeah. I look at these pics every day, & not sure if it’s a good idea or not. Hard to reconcile how different things are now.
@Sky Six Hello, Our family can attest to that photo as I remember going to Knott’s Berry Farm from our Westside of Long Beach house. The big 1949 Buick Roadmaster just knew the roads to take to cross the So Cal area and arrive in the parking lot of the wide open field area in Orange County. The old streets of Long Beach and surrounding So Cal areas were laid out in a square pattern grid. So, Willow Street near our house East, turned into Katella until Highway 39 arrived. For us, later on as drivers, the driving area was simple in this way. A 20 mile ride took about an hour. In the 50s, the same street was used to take us East, again, to head for Disneyland. It was a straight drive to arrive at the huge parking lot and amusement park. Again, about an hour drive and 20 miles East. The allure of the famous Knott's Steak House had the ambience of a very dark interior dining room for our dad. No one fixed the steaks like those darkened dining room cooks. It was hard to see if the steak was medium or still wiggling… But, the taste with the special side sauce was so enjoyable, for all of us. But, for our mom, there were plenty of times she did not want to cook on a Saturday or Sunday weekend, so she convinced our dad to take us to Knott’s Berry Farm. She ate the steak when it was steak night, but she loved the chicken dinner and loved that she did not have to slave over a hot boiling pan of oil making her own version of cooked chicken in our tiny Long Beach house kitchen. Jnaki The two young brothers ate anything, but it was a treat to come to Knott’s Berry Farm. We liked the volcano and the panning for gold that was part of the lure of this old place. But, as teens, only a few times did we cruise Highway 39 in front of the whole commercial complex. The other times were for date night with friends and great dinners. Note: Many years later, during the college years, we had gone to Knott’s Berry Farm plenty of times. But come to find out that my wife (girlfriend then) lived several blocks away (walking distance) and we did go to the steak + chicken restaurants for date night several times. Their family had moved from OKC to Buena Park in 1956 driving cross country in a 55 Chevy sedan. They lived nearby in Buena Park, until all of the “kids” moved out and got married. Note 2: Over the years, the simple Old West Ghost town had it alluring attractions. Nothing like it in So Cal. But, over the years, it has changed to overshadow that portion of the location. Now, the rides have to be front in center and the old history is forgotten at its inception back in the late 40s. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
