Looking Back to 1961-Exploring the Hills of Studio City

My condo is a war zone these days.  We’ve had a slew of plumbing problems, and I thought it would be good just to ignore them for the day. We decided to head to Hollywood for a cheap Chinese meal and work our way over the hill into Studio City to celebrate the Patch party at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood.

Weaving up Laurel Canyon from Hollywood Boulevard, I was reminded of many places I used to visit in high school. There’s what’s left of the Houdini mansion.  Didn’t Mary Pickford’s place used to be up there? Isn't that little market where notable locals used to shop before nestling back into their forested homes?

Crossing Mulholland, I decided to visit Laurelwood, once the enclave for those well-heeled families looking for new homes with opulent views of the valley. 

“I think the Engles used to live around here,"  I commented to my pal Erika. “I think they lived on Dona Peguita,” I recollected, rolling back the memory banks to 1961.

Sure enough, there it was. I made a right turn, combing the homes for something that looked familiar.

“That’s it!” I exclaimed. “That’s where they lived!” I was so excited; I called my sister on the phone to tell her.  “It’s their home, I’m sure of it. It just doesn’t have those rocks on the roof that were so popular in the '60s.”

We continued driving, as many grammar school pals addresses flooded my mind. These were the well-heeled hill people, flush with fine cars, full refrigerators and big homes.  They lived in a style that was very different from the way our family lived, but we were all bonded by friendship, fun, and a love of living.

Soon, I spotted Fryman and made a left turn, anxious to find the entrance to the Rain Forest where we used to romp as teenagers. We spotted some deer inside a small glen and pulled over to enjoy this spit of nature.  Mule deer in Studio City? I’d heard of coyotes, but deer? What a magnificent sight.

“Where’s the Rainforest?” I said to myself.  “I thought it was off Brookdale? What are all these condos doing here? Isn’t this where my pal Wendy Wayman lived?” Further investigation was needed.

Heading up Laurel Canyon, we then visited Pacoima Court. I was proud that I could still recite the names of every neighbor who used to live there. Soon, we passed Carpenter, remembering that the gully that used to be there. I remember crossing a wonderful bridge that brought us to the entrance of the school. 

Corvallis High School used to be on the other side of Carpenter. I think it’s some sort of Asian institution now, but several of my pals used to go there to get their wrists slapped by angry nuns in stiff habits.

With still an hour to kill, I suggested some pie and coffee at Du-par's. Hey, just because I was fired from this place didn’t mean they still had wonderful pies.  We demolished a slab of peach pie alamode, and even got to meet Du-par's new owner, Biff Naylor, who wowed us with some Tiny Naylor stories, and his lineage in the restaurant business.

Then, it was time to join my Patch patriots at the Federal. My brother Jack was also celebrating his departure from Studio City, so it was a festive occasion, joining several Patch people into one big hum of an evening.