VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, HELLO EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

AND TODAY WE'RE ALL GOING TO TAKE A HISTORY LESSON ABOUT A CHAPTER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HISTORY THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.

MANY OF YOU, OF COURSE, DO KNOW IT EXISTED BECAUSE AT ONE TIME, VAN DE KAMPS WAS REALLY A HOUSEHOLD WORD HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

AND TODAY, WE HAVE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE VAN DE KAMPS BAKERY BUILDING HERE ON THE CORNER OF SAN FERNANDO ROAD AND FLETCHER AND WE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE STANDING OUT HERE.

OLD VAN DE KAMPS EMPLOYEES HERE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU WORK FOR THEM?

>> I STARTED MY 38TH YEAR.

>> REALLY?

YOU STARTED HERE?

>> YEAH, IN 1953.

>> OKAY.

AND YOU WERE HERE-- >> I STARTED IN '53, BUT I GOT 36 IN BEFORE I RETIRED.

>> 36 YEARS.

HOW MANY YEARS?

>> 32.

>> I HAD 21.

>> SO YOU WERE THE KID IN ALL THE-- >> I WAS THE KID.

I CAME IN AND WITH ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, THEY TOOK ME IN AND THEY WAS LIKE A FAMILY TO ME.

I CAME HERE IN 1969, RIGHT OUT OF MISSISSIPPI DELTA.

>> WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT.

THE VAN DE KAMP STORY IS AN AMAZING STORY.

IT WAS LIKE A FAMILY AND IT WAS PART OF A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THAT'S KINDA WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY BECAUSE THE IRONY OF IT IS, FOR ANYBODY WHO CAME HERE IN THE LAST 15 OR 20 YEARS, THEY REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS STORY, WOULD THEY?

>> NO.

THEY WOULDN'T BECAUSE IT WAS GONE BY 1990, OCTOBER 9-- THE 10TH, IT CLOSED.

>> THAT'S WHEN THIS BUILDING CLOSED?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS, YEAH.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

OCTOBER THE 11TH.

>> THURSDAY.

>> THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, 1990.

>> RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

COME ON IN, LUIS.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH JOHN VAN DE KAMP TO KIND OF SET THE FAMILY STORY GOING HERE.

JOHN, VAN DE KAMP IS A VERY FAMOUS NAME HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

EXPLAIN TO US HOW ALL OF THIS GOT STARTED.

>> WELL, TWO OF MY UNCLES, THEODORE VAN DE KAMP AND LAWRENCE FRANK IN 1915 OPENED A LITTLE STOREFRONT IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WITH TWO OF MY AUNTS.

AND THEY SOLD SARATOGA CHIPS, WHICH ARE REALLY POTATO CHIPS.

>> WE HAVE A PICTURE HERE OF YOUR TWO AUNTS-- >> YEAH.

>> --STANDING IN FRONT OF THAT ORIGINAL-- >> EIGHT-FOOT FRONT-- >> 1915.

>> STORE--THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO VAN DE KAMPS STARTED SELL--AS A CHIP STORE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY-- >> POTATO CHIPS.

>> THEY STARTED WITH $200 IN CAPITAL AND ULTIMATELY, IT BLOSSOMED INTO A--THIS LARGE BUSINESS THAT, UNFORTUNATELY YOU SEE IN DECREPITUDE BEHIND YOU, BUT AT ONE TIME, THEY HAD SOME 200 STORES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL RESTAURANTS AND VAN DE KAMPS WAS JUST A--A COMMON NAME AND HAD TERRIFIC PRODUCTS.

>> NOW, WE'VE GOT PICTURES OF THE VARIOUS STORES AROUND TOWN AND A LOT OF THEM HAD THESE-- THE WINDMILLS GOING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HOW DID THIS WHOLE DUTCH THEME GET GOING?

>> AS I GATHER IT, THEY-- OF COURSE, VAN DE KAMP IS A DUTCH NAME AND APPARENTLY SOMEONE WHO THEY'RE DEALING WITH SUGGESTED THAT THEY REALLY MIGHT WANT TO ESTABLISH THE USE OF THE WINDMILL AS THEIR LOGO.

AND THAT BECAME THEIR LOGO AND THEY--THEY WENT TO AN ENTIRELY DUTCH THEME VERY EARLY IN THEIR CAREER.

AND SO EVEN SOME OF THE WOMEN WORKING IN THEIR STORES, I THINK, HAD WOODEN SHOES, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AT ONE TIME.

>> YOU'RE KIDDING.

>> BUT THEY WERE DRESSED IN COSTUMES.

AND THE COSTUMES CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OVER THE YEARS, BUT STILL IT MAINTAINED THE DUTCH QUALITY.

AND WHEN THEY GOT INTO SELF-SERVICE IN THE LATE-- WHAT--40S AND 50S, EVEN THE WOMEN WHO WOULD STOCK THE STORES WOULD BE DRESSED IN-- IN DUTCH COSTUME.

>> AND THE DUTCH HATS, ESPECIALLY.

THAT WAS KIND OF THE TRADEMARK.

>> AND--AND WHEN WE HAD THE ROSE PARADE, FOR MANY YEARS, WE HAD FLOATS IN THE ROSE PARADE AND GUESS WHERE THE FLOWERS CAME FROM?

THEY WERE TULIPS FROM HOLLAND.

>> I GOTCHA.

>> SO-- >> WELL, THE THEME WORKED BECAUSE YOU HAD BAKERIES, YOU HAD RESTAURANTS, DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, RIGHT NEXT DOOR HERE, THEY HAD ONE OF THE-- THE FIRST--NOT THE FIRST, BUT ONE OF THE FIRST DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS IN THIS AREA AND IT WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

AND THEIR PLACES WERE ALWAYS NOTED FOR VERY REASONABLE PRICES, I MEAN, YOU COULD GO DOWN TO PASADENA AS I DID WHEN I WAS A KID, WE'D TAKE THE BUS DOWN AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND YOU'D GET A HALIBUT DINNER THAT, I THINK, COST $1.10, IF IT COST THAT.

>> ANYBODY REMEMBER THE HALIBUT DINNERS?

YOU HAD A HALIBUT DINNER?

>> NO.

BUT I REMEMBER THEM.

>> WHAT DID YOU-- WHAT DID YOU EAT IN THE-- >> BUT TODAY, YOU KNOW, THE FROZEN FOOD NAME, THE VAN DE KAMP NAME, IS NOW SOLD THROUGH A DIFFERENT COMPANY.

THEY DO SELL HALIBUT AND FISH STICKS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

>> BUT NOW, LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE VAN DE KAMPS-- ANY VAN DE KAMP PRODUCT THAT WE WOULD SEE IN THE SUPERMARKETS TODAY AREN'T ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORIGINAL VAN DE KAMPS COMPANY.

THIS--THIS WAS A--KINDA SOLD OFF IN LATER YEARS.

>> IT GOT SOLD OFF BY MY UNCLES IN THE MIDDLE 50S AND THEN IT WENT THROUGH A SUCCESSION OF MAJOR CORPORATE CHANGES UNTIL IT WAS RUN INTO BANKRUPTCY.

BUT IN BANKRUPTCY, ALPHA BETA--THEN ALPHA BETA, BOUGHT THE NAME VAN DE KAMPS FOR AROUND $500,000, AS I RECOLLECT, AND THEY BOUGHT THE RECIPES.

AND SO IN A WAY, WHAT WAS BEING PRODUCED BY THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE BACK MANY YEARS AGO, IS STILL BEING PRODUCED THROUGH THE RECIPES AND IS STILL BEING SOLD IN SOME OF THE ALPHA BETA MARKETS.

>> WHAT KIND OF VAN DE KAMPS' PRODUCTS CAN YOU BUY TODAY?

>> I THINK YOU CAN GET CINNAMON ROLLS AND CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES AND A LOT OF THE THINGS, I THINK YOU'LL STILL FIND THEM IN SOME OF THE ALPHA BETA STORES.

AND THEY HAVE A--THEY HAVE A MAIN BAKERY SOME PLACE WHERE THEY PRODUCE THESE AND HAVE THEM LABELED IN A LABEL THAT'S VAN DE KAMPS' LABEL.

>> NOW, THIS WAS THE MAIN BAKERY HERE?

IS THIS WHERE IT ALL--AND IT'S GOT THE DUTCH MOTIF AS WELL.

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES, AND I THINK THEY BUILT THIS AROUND 1930.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THIS WAS KINDA THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE BAKING OPERATION FROM THEN UNTIL IT CLOSED?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE--MY UNCLES WORKED HERE, THIS WAS THEIR EXECUTIVE HEADQUARTERS AND THEN THIS IS WHERE THE BAKERY GOODS WERE PRODUCED AND THE SUMMER THAT I WORKED HERE IN 1955, I MANAGED TO PACK AS MANY THINGS AS I COULD.

AND, OF COURSE, IN THE EVENING, THEY WERE SENT OUT THE BACK DOOR AND THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE MARKETS, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT WOULD BE ON THE SHELVES, FRESH THE NEXT MORNING.

I WANT TO JUST SAY ONE THING THOUGH.

THE--THE HALLMARK OF THIS BUSINESS REALLY WAS BASED ON QUALITY AND CLEANLINESS AND A WONDERFUL ATTITUDE AMONG THE PEOPLE AND MANAGEMENT.

CERTAINLY EARLY ON, THAT'S WHAT THIS COMPANY REALLY THRIVED ON.

WE HAD WONDERFUL PEOPLE WORKING WITH US AND WE EMPHASIZE "WITH" US.

MY UNCLES ALWAYS CALLED YOU CO-WORKERS, AS I REMEMBER, BECAUSE OF THE NOTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S REALLY UPON WHICH THEY BUILT THE REPUTATION.

>> WELL, WE HAVE THESE WORKERS WITH US TODAY.

EVERYBODY CROWD IN HERE 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU ALL YET.

COME ON IN HERE.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK HERE.

>> IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO HERE?

>> WELL, I STARTED OUT IN SANITATION AND I EVENTUALLY WENT TO PACKING DEPARTMENT AND I STAYED THERE FOR--SINCE--FROM 1962 UNTIL IT CLOSED.

>> AND YOU'VE KIND OF BECOME THE UNOFFICIAL HISTORIAN, HAVEN'T YOU?

YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE WONDERFUL OLD PICTURES AND MAGAZINES AND MEMORABILIA.

>> I LIKE PHOTOGRAPHY SO THAT'S HOW IT GOT STARTED.

>> YEAH.

YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN SNAPPING PICTURES TODAY.

>> YES.

>> THIS IS A HISTORIC EVENT, GETTING ALL THESE FORMER EMPLOYEES TOGETHER.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

I HAVE MANY PICTURES OF THE EMPLOYEES.

ALL THE FUNCTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, RETIREMENT PARTIES, MY SPECIALTY.

>> AND THIS LADY'S JUST JUMPING UP AND DOWN.

>> EVERY TIME WE HAD A-- SOMEBODY RETIRED, HE TOOK ALL THESE WONDERFUL PICTURES AND GAVE US A WHOLE ALBUM, I HAVE THEM AT HOME.

>> SO YOU HAD YOUR RETIREMENT PARTY HERE?

>> YES.

>> WHAT WAS THE--WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK FOR VAN DE KAMPS?

>> WELL, I TELL YOU, COMING FROM THE JOB I HAD BEFORE, IT WAS WONDERFUL.

>> NOW, DID YOU ALL KNOW EACH OTHER, OR WAS EVERYBODY KIND OF-- EVERYBODY KNEW EACH OTHER THE JOB?

>> YES.

>> SO YOU KNEW ALL THESE PEOPLE WHEN YOU WERE WORKING HERE?

>> YES.

AND I STILL WORK WITH HER.

>> YOU ALL STILL KEEP UP AND WORK TOGETHER?

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO HERE?

>> I WORK IN THE WRAPPING DEPARTMENT.

OH, YOU MEAN AT VAN DE KAMPS?

>> YEAH.

>> I WAS--I WORKED 13 YEARS IN PACKING DEPARTMENTS.

>> THIRTEEN YEARS IN PACKING.

HOW MANY YEARS?

>> FIFTEEN.

I STARTED-- >> IN PACKING?

>> IN P--WELL, I WORKED FIVE-- FIVE YEARS IN DONUTS AND THEN I TURNED INTO WORKING IN PACKING FOR TEN YEARS PLUS TEN YEARS-- >> WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO WORK FOR FIVE YEARS IN DONUTS?

WHAT A GREAT JOB.

>> WELL, I WAS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN THERE.

[LAUGHTER] >> PACK ONE, EAT ONE.

PACK ONE, EAT ONE.

>> YES.

WELL, I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE -- >> AND YOU WORKED HERE FOR HOW LONG?

>> 34 1/2 YEARS.

>> REALLY?

DOING WHAT?

>> I STARTED OVER TO BREAD WRAPPING THEN COFFEE CAKE, RUN THE OVEN, BREAD OVEN, RUN THE COFFEE CAKE OVEN AND WORKING IN DONUTS.

>> YOU WERE IN THE DONUT DEPARTMENT TOO?

>> RIGHT.

>> WAS VAN DE KAMPS KNOWN FOR ITS DONUTS AND ITS--I MEAN, WH--I--SEE, I MOVED TO LOS ANGELES TOO LATE, I MISSED VAN DE KAMPS IN ITS HAY DAY.

WHAT WAS VAN DE KAMPS--WHEN YOU WOULD TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU WORKED FOR VAN DE KAMPS, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?

WHAT WOULD THEY-- WHAT WOULD THEY THINK OF?

>> WELL, VAN DE KAMP HAD BEEN A NICE PLACE TO WORK IN, I JUST LOVED IT.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE DIED WHEN IT CLOSED.

>> REALLY?

>> I JUST LOVED IT.

>> YEAH.

>> EVERYBODY GOT ALONG SO GOOD HERE.

>> YEAH.

AND WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN LIKE TO COME TO WORK HERE IN THE MORNING?

WAS THERE A LOT OF ACTIVITY?

WERE THERE CARS PULLING IN AND OUT?

WAS IT A BIG HUBBUB?

WHAT-- >> WELL, WE HAD THE PARKING LOT WAY IN BACK AND IT-- THE EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE WAS IN THE CORNER, WE DIDN'T COME IN THROUGH THIS WAY.

AND SO WHEN I--I WAS ONE-- IN ONE DEPARTMENT 36 YEARS.

>> REALLY?

>> THE PACKING DEPARTMENT.

I STARTED OUT IN '53 THERE AND ENDED UP AND RETIRED IN '89 THERE.

>> WOW.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THERE WAS A LOT OF, I MEAN, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WORKING HERE?

>> YES.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY, BUT I--I WOULD SAY 150.

>> 600 PEOPLE-- >> 600?

>> --WHEN I STARTED.

>> WHEN I--WHEN I STARTED, IT WAS 700, AROUND 750.

>> WOW.

>> PLUS-- >> RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING?

>> PLUS ABOUT 200 OR MORE UP IN THE OFFICE.

THERE'S A LOT.

>> NOW, YOU'VE GOT SOME WONDERFUL--YOU'VE GOT A VIDEO TAPE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOAN US THAT WAS TAKEN IN THIS BUILDING BACK IN-- >> '86.

>> IT SHOWS WHAT?

'CAUSE I CAN'T SEE IT YET UNTIL WE-- >> WELL, IT--IT SHOWS DECORATING CAKES, ICING CAKES AND THE PRE-MIX AND BACK IN BREAD AND ROLLS AND SOME IN THE PACKING WITH BREAD AND-- >> NOW, THOSE WERE IN THE LAST DAYS.

>> YEAH.

LAST--IT WAS '86 AND WE CLOSED IN '90.

>> ON OCTOBER 11.

>> WELL, I--MY LAST DAY WAS OCTOBER THE 10TH.

HE WAS IN PACKING AND HE HAD TO WORK ONE MORE DAY THAN ME.

>> AND YOU'VE ALSO GOT-- >> AND ALSO-- >> LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

THESE AMAZING MAGAZINES, BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES, THE COMPANY PUT OUT, ON A REGULAR-- >> EVERY--EVERY MONTH.

>> EVERY MONTH, A MAGAZINE CALLED--LOOK AT THIS, LUIS-- VAN DE KAMPS'--THE M--THE MAGAZINE WAS CALLED THE WINDMILL.

>> YES.

>> AND IT WOULD HAVE EVERYTHING IN IT.

>> ABOUT WHEN YOU WENT ON VACATION AND WHERE YOU WENT AND EVERYTHING, JUST--JUST LITTLE TIDBITS THAT YOU-- >> WELL, YOU DIDN'T TELL EVERYTHING TO THEM?

>> NO.

NO, WE COULDN'T.

BUT ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW IS THAT DURING-- ESPECIALLY DURING WORLD WAR II WHEN THE GUYS WENT OFF TO SERVICE, VAN DE KAMPS WOULD ALWAYS PUT A CHECK IN THE SERVICE'S GUY'S, YOU KNOW, THEY STILL GOT THEIR CHECK.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

>> WOW.

SO THERE WAS ALL KIND OF STUFF LIKE THAT GOING ON?

>> OH, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE THINGS THAT WENT ON IN THIS--IN THIS PLACE.

I TELL YOU, IT--IT WAS SO FAMILY ORIENTATED THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS PLACE HAD TO BE OWNED BY A FAMILY OR GET STARTED BY A FAMILY.

BECAUSE I CAME--I WAS VERY YOUNG, I WAS 22 YEARS OF AGE WHEN I CAME OUT HERE, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO WORK AND WHEN I CAME HERE, YOU COULD JUST FEEL IT.

AND THEN WHEN YOU SAW THE PEOPLE, YOU SAW THE LADIES THAT WAS DRESSED IN THEIR DRESSES, THEY WERE LOOKING SO BEAUTIFUL AND THEY'RE DECORATING THESE BEAUTIFUL CAKES, WHICH MADE ME VERY HUNGRY, BUT--AND--AND, OF COURSE, I WANTED TO WORK HERE.

>> GOOD THING YOU DIDN'T WORK IN THE DONUT DEPARTMENT.

>> BUT--AND--AND I GOT TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND SOMEHOW I GOT INTO THE CHECKING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTION, AND WE GOT THE PRODUCT ON THE MARKET.

AND I WORKED WITH SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU CAME TO WORK--YOU WANTED TO COME TO WORK, YOU GOT UP TO GO TO WORK.

ABSENTEEISM, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO GO WHERE A PLACE WAS SO RELAXING TO MAKE A LIVING AND BE RELAXED AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PLACE GAVE US.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN--WHEN THE--AFTER THE PLANT CLOSED IN--IN--IN '90, IN '95--'94, WE HAD A REUNION, 301 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.

>> AND YOU'RE STILL HAVING REUNIONS, AREN'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

WE HAD '94 AND '95, SO WE GOT ONE PLANNED-- >> YEAH.

>> --COMING UP AGAIN-- >> 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT A MAILING LIST AND YOU ALL ARE STILL PRETTY TIGHT, RIGHT?

KEEPING UP WITH EACH OTHER.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

VAN DE KAMP, IN MY HEART, IS NUMBER ONE.

>> YEAH.

>> I WORKED AT THREE PLACES PRIOR, NOT THAT LONG, BUT THIS IS NUMBER ONE.

VAN DE KAMPS'S NUMBER ONE.

>> WELL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK HERE.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO GO TO ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS, TO ONE OF THE DRIVE-IN PLACES, TO ONE OF THE WINDMILLS?

>> WELL, THE--I GUESS THE BEST ANALYSIS--OR ANALOGY TODAY, IF YOU WERE TO WALK INTO-- OH, LET'S SEE.

LET'S THINK OF ONE OF THE REALLY NICE COFFEE SHOPS.

A COCO'S OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, WHERE THE--YOU'D HAVE A COUNTER USUALLY.

THEY HAD A LITTLE SEPARATE BAKERY AREA MANNED BY, YOU KNOW, DUTCH GIRLS IN COSTUMES, GIRLS IN DUTCH COSTUMES.

AND--AND THE--THE MENU WOULD BE FAIRLY SIMPLY, BUT VERY QUAINT.

IT WAS NOT A FANCY RESTAURANT, IT WAS A VERY MIDDLE CLASS ORIENTED RESTAURANT.

YOU ASKED EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEY NOTED FOR.

YES, DONUTS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT DONUTS TODAY.

THE DONUTS WERE TERRIFIC, BUT THE COFFEE CAKE AND THE CAKES AND THE-- AND THE--THE BUTTER COOKIES WERE ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, TERRIFIC.

I MEAN, IT WAS A VERY HIGH QUALITY PLACE.

IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WERE TWO MAJOR BAKERY COMPETITORS HERE.

I GOT KIDDED ABOUT MINE, OUR VAN DE KAMP BAKERY A LOT.

HELMS WAS THE OTHER ONE.

YOU ALL REMEMBER HELMS BECAUSE HELMS HAD THE TRUCKS THAT'D COME BY THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AFTERNOON.

HELMS AND VAN DE KAMPS WERE GREAT COMPETITORS, ESPECIALLY BACK IN THE 40S AND 50S.

>> WELL, ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT YOU BROUGHT UP HELMS, BECAUSE THE OLD HELMS BUILDING, OVER ON--WHAT IS THAT-- WASHINGTON, IS--WAS RESTORED WHEN IT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY'VE MADE IT INTO THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING THAT'S FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF ANTIQUE SHOPS AND-- >> THE JAZZ BAKERY IS THERE.

>> THE JAZZ BAKERY.

HAVE YOU ALL EVER BEEN OVER TO THE--YOU'RE ALLOWED TO GO TO THE HELMS BUILDING, AREN'T YOU?

YOU SLIP IN THERE EVERY ONCE-- >> I HAVEN'T GONE THERE.

>> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YES.

OH, YES.

>> BECAUSE IT'S BEEN RESTORED AND IS REALLY--HAS A WHOLE NEW LIFE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A BAKERY ANYMORE.

THE REASON WE'RE KINDA HERE TODAY REMINISCING ABOUT VAN DE KAMPS IS THAT THIS BUILDING, THE OLD HEADQUARTERS IS NOT REALLY LONG FOR THIS WORLD, I THINK.

YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPER IS COMING IN HERE AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PRETTY WELL TAKE IT DOWN.

YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

>> GOSH, I HATE TO THINK OF IT.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IF SOMETHING BETTER GOES UP, IT'S A WASTE OF LAND IF IT'S NOT BEING REALLY PUT TO USE.

>> WELL, HOPEFULLY THOUGH-- KEN, YOU'RE FROM THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU ALL HAVE KIND OF AN ALTERNATIVE THAT COULD MAYBE HAPPEN HERE.

>> WELL, WHAT'S PROPOSED HERE RIGHT NOW IS TO DEMOLISH THE ENTIRE VAN DE KAMPS BAKERY BUILDING AND BUILD A VERY LARGE HOME BASE HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE AND A BURGER KING OUTLET.

NOW, THERE IS A BURGER KING JUST ACROSS THE STREET AND THERE ARE SOME HOME DEPOTS TWO MILES AWAY IN EACH DIRECTION.

THE CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN HOPING FOR--FOR SOME TIME TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARRANGE FOR A--A REUSE OF THIS SITE, USING PERHAPS, THE HELMS BAKERY BUILDING AS A MODEL OR THE CITADEL DOWN IN THE CITY OF COMMERCE, WHICH WAS THE OLD UNIROYAL PLANT THAT'S NOW BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO AN OUTLET CENTER.

BUT EITHER TO TRANSFORM THIS INTO RETAIL OR EVEN POSSIBLY REUSED FOR--FOR HOUSING, ARTIST LOFT TYPE SPACE AS HAS BEEN DONE AT THE BREWERY OVER IN LINCOLN HEIGHTS NEAR THE 5 FREEWAY.

>> SOMETHING POSITIVE, BECAUSE IT'S--OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A WELL-BUILT BUILDING BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT'S DESERTED--WAS THIS A WELL-BUILT BUILDING?

LET'S SEE A SHOW OF HANDS.

YOU THINK IT'S--IT'S-- IT WAS WELL-BUILT?

>> YEAH, IT WAS.

>> LASTED THROUGH ALL THE EARTHQUAKES.

>> YEAH.

SO IT WAS WELL-BUILT.

THE FACADE HERE IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND IT REALLY ESPECIALLY, LIKE YOU SAY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT HELMS, THE SCENARIO COULD VERY WELL WORK HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE--THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ECONOMICS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNER HAS BEEN ASKING $8 MILLION FOR THE PROPERTY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMPETE WITH A--A BIG BOX RETAIL USE LIKE HOME BASE, WHICH GENERATES THAT KIND OF SALES.

UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROPERTY THOUGH, IT SUFFERED WHAT, IN THE PRESERVATION COMMUNITY, WE CALL DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, IT'S BEEN ALLOWED TO DETERIORATE.

THERE'S GRAFFITI COVERING-- >> WELL, THEY CAN USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE FOR TEARING IT DOWN.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THAT-- THAT'S A COMMON PROCESS.

THERE'S BEEN NO ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY AND AS A RESULT, THERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, ANYWAY, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT TORN DOWN.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE 19 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE FORMED A COALITION TO SAVE THE VAN DE KAMPS BUILDING AND FROM COMMUNITIES LIKE HIGHLAND PARK, LOS FOLEZ, ECHO PARK, ATWATER VILLAGE, ALL THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT VERY MUCH WANT TO WORK ON A--A REUSE OF THE SITE AND SEE THE--THE HOME BASE PROPOSAL A LITTLE SHORT SIGHTED, THAT THERE'S A BETTER LONG-TERM USE FOR THIS SITE.

>> WELL, HAVE THE EMPLOYEES KIND OF DONE ANYTHING ABOUT TRYING TO SAVE THE OLD BUILDING?

HAVE YOU ALL FORMED A-- AN ORGANIZATION TO MARCH ON CITY HALL?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE, IF WE THOUGHT WE COULD, WE PROBABLY WOULD.

BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY FORMED ANYTHING, WE'VE JUST BEEN STANDING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE.

>> WELL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SAVING THE BUILDING AND GIVING IT ANOTHER USE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT THIS BUILDING SHOULD STAY HERE.

I MEAN, IT--IT--FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED HERE.

I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU--IF YOU WOULD JUST GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE, I'M SURE EVERYONE ELSE WOULD FEEL THE SAME THING.

>> YEAH.

WELL, PART OF THEIR LIFE IS INVESTED HERE.

>> PART OF THEIR LIFE.

>> TELL YOU HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS BUILDING.

SEE, I HAVE--I'M READY TO GO TO WORK, GOT--GOT ON MY WHITES.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

IS THIS THE WAY--ARE THESE THE PANTS YOU WOULD HAVE WORN?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> NOW, HOW MANY ALL--HOW MANY- -HOW--HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE CAN STILL GET INTO THEIR ORIGINAL UNIFORMS?

HE CAN--HE CAN FIT INTO HIS, THAT'S GREAT.

>> YEAH.

>> SO YOU'RE READY TO COME BACK?

>> I'M--WELL, IF--WELL, PART- TIME, YES.

NOT FULL-- >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SAVING THE BUILDING?

>> I WOULD LIKE THIS BUILDING TO STAY HERE FOREVER.

>> YEAH.

>> YES.

>> I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HELMS, THEY DID DO A WONDERFUL JOB OVER THERE AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY--YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A BRAIN SURGEON TO STAND HERE AND LOOK AT THIS AND SEE THAT THE POSSIBILITIES OF DOING THE SAME THING, RIGHT?

>> YES.

YES.

>> OKAY.

JOHN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU--THE FACADE IS THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS BUILDING AND THE ABILITY TO GO INSIDE AND MAKE SOME CHANGES INSIDE SHOULD, I THINK, CERTAINLY BE OPEN TO ANYONE.

BUT I THINK THE HELMS SITUATION IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE, ANALOGY, OF WHAT COULD BE DONE HERE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, KEN, DO WE STILL HAVE TIME TO DO ANYTHING?

>> I THINK WE DO.

IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR US BECAUSE THIS IS MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE CITY OF L.A. PLANNING PROCESS, BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO--FOR THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

IT'S ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS, VIEWERS SHOULD WRITE THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THIS IS IN COUNCILMAN MIKE HERNANDEZ'S DISTRICT, HE WILL PERSONALLY HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO SAY.

>> WE'LL PUT MIKE'S HOME PHONE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

AND--BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG BUCKS HERE, BIG DEVELOPERS, BIG BOX-- >> RIGHT.

>> --BIG PLANS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT'S--WE'RE--WE ARE FIGHTING CITY HALL ON THAT ONE.

>> WE--WE ARE.

>> BUT IT COULD HAPPEN.

>> IT COULD HAPPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO THEIR CREDIT, WE'VE MET WITH THE DEVELOPERS, AND THEY'RE--THEY'RE NICE PEOPLE, A GOOD FAMILY, THEY'RE PHILANTHROPIC, THEY'RE FROM THIS AREA, WE DON'T HAVE A DISPUTE WITH THEM, BUT WE--WE JUST THINK THAT THE PLAN TO BULLDOZE SOMETHING THAT'S THIS CENTRAL TO LOS ANGELES, THIS IMPORTANT AN INSTITUTION IN L.A. AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES IN THE ENTIRE CITY, IT--IT SHOULDN'T JUST GO BY THE WAYSIDE FOR ANOTHER BIG BOX USE AND ANOTHER FAST FOOD RESTAURANT.

>> WELL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS TO THIS BUILDING, I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING HERE TODAY--EVERYBODY CROWD IN HERE.

LEON, COME ON UP HERE, GET--EVERYBODY GET IN HERE.

HE'S OVER HERE TAKING PICTURES.

COME ON IN HERE.

HE'S TAKING PICTURES.

LET LUIS TAKE THE PICTURES.

LET'S GET EVERYBODY IN BECAUSE HERE ARE THE FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THIS-- REGARDLESS, LIKE I SAY, OF WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS TO THE BUILDING, AT LEAST TODAY WE HAVE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN FOR WHOM VAN DE KAMPS WAS REALLY THEIR LIFE AND--AND A WONDERFUL PART OF THEIR LIFE.

AND FOR ALL OF YOU WATCHING OUT THERE WHO REMEMBER VAN DE KAMPS, THIS WILL BE A LITTLE NOSTALGIC TOUCH WITH YOUR PAST.

FOR ALL THOSE NEWCOMERS TO LOS ANGELES WHO NEVER KNEW THIS EXISTED, NEVER KNEW THIS WAS PART OF LIFE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE KIND OF GONE BACK IN TIME AND LOOKED AGAIN AND--AND- -AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THIS WAS HERE AND IT WAS PART OF LIVING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

VAN DE KAMPS REALLY WAS A HOUSEHOLD WORD, WASN'T IT?

>> OH, YES, IT WAS.

'CAUSE WHEN I WORKED THERE, I--IT IS--WHEN I WORKED HERE, I HATED TO MISS A DAY OF WORK 'CAUSE I JUST LOVED IT.

>> YEAH.

>> THE LAST FIVE YEARS, NOW, THAT WAS ANOTHER STORY.

>> YEAH.

>> WAS NEW OWNERS THAT REALLY DIDN'T CARE.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT BEFORE THAT, IT WAS A FUN PLACE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE GOT OUR WORK DONE.

>> YEAH.

>> TURNING OUT THOSE DONUTS AND ALL THAT WONDERFUL PASTRY-- >> DONUTS, CAKES AND DECORATING BEAUTIFUL CAKES AND EVERYTHING.

IT WAS NICE.

>> WELL, THIS HAS--THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY.

A DAY FILLED WITH NOSTALGIA, HOPEFULLY A DAY FILLED WITH HOPE BECAUSE THERE'S STILL HOPE FOR THIS BUILDING IF WE'LL WRITE AND CALL OUR COUNCILMEN.

AND YOU ARE STILL TAKING PICTURES.

>> OH, YES.

THAT'S MY--THAT'S MY HOBBY.

>> WELL, LET'S STAND AND GET A--LOOK OVER HERE, LUIS-- HE'S GETTING THE PICTURE HERE FOR THE--THERE WE GO.

COME ON IN AND GET IN THIS SHOT BECAUSE HERE WE ARE ON THIS-- >> -- PICTURES.

>> WHAT?

>> I GOT A LOT OF PICTURES FROM PARTIES THAT WE HAD GIVEN, RETIREMENT PARTIES, AND PARTIES THAT WE'D TAKE PICTURES WHEN I WENT THROUGH HERE WITH MY--MY KIDS AND THEN I BROUGHT MY GRANDKIDS THROUGH HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO IT WAS GREAT.

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON STANDING HERE RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF FLETCHER AND SAN FERNANDO ROAD IN FRONT OF THE OLD VAN DE KAMPS BUILDING, WHICH IS DESERTED, IT'S A LITTLE BEAT UP, THERE'S SOME GRAFFITI AND BROKEN WINDOWS, BUT THE BUILDING AND THE HISTORY AND THE MEMORIES AND THE STORIES AND THE NAME VAN DE KAMP IS STILL VERY MUCH A PART OF WHAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS AND IS ALL ABOUT.

AND NOW FOR ANOTHER INTERESTING PAGE IN THE VAN DE KAMPS HISTORY BOOK, WE'RE IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, WE'RE IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF ARCADIA AND LOOK WHAT WE FOUND RIGHT HERE ON THE CORNER OF HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND SANTA ANITA AVENUE, THERE'S ONE OF THE ORIGINAL VAN DE KAMPS WINDMILLS, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS CORNER WAS ONCE THE HOME OF ONE OF THE VAN DE KAMPS BAKERIES OR RESTAURANTS OR SOMETHING VAN DE KAMPS WAS HERE.

CHARLES PHOENIX FROM THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY, YOU'VE WRITTEN BOOKS ON ARCHITECTURE IN LOS ANGELES AND YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THIS SORT OF THING.

TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS CORNER.

>> WELL, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE LAST INCARNATION OF THE COFFEE SHOPS AND BAKERIES THAT VAN DE KAMPS WAS INTO DURING--WELL, ACTUALLY, BETWEEN THE 20S AND THE 60S, THEY WERE IN THE COFFEE SHOP AND BAKERY BUSINESS AND THEY HAD RETAIL STORES.

THIS IS THE LAST EXAMPLE STANDING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT STILL HAS THE WINDMILL INTACT.

>> I TELL YOU WHAT, WE HAVE A PICTURE NOW OF A COLLECTION OF SOME OF THE OLD WINDMILLS, MOST OF THEM EVEN HAVE THE WINDMILL TAKEN OFF, BUT THE STRUCTURES WHERE THEY HAD BEEN REMOVED WHEN THEY WERE TEARING DOWN ALL THE OLD STRUCTURES, IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT A WINDMILL GRAVEYARD WHEN THEY DESTROYED ALL OF THESES THINGS.

THESE WINDMILLS, THESE LITTLE RESTAURANTS AND BAKERIES ONCE DOTTED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THEY WERE EVERYWHERE.

NOW THIS IS THE LAST ONE AND IT ALMOST WASN'T HERE.

>> WELL, IT'S THE LAST ONE WITH A WINDMILL.

THERE'S A FEW OF THEM THAT ARE WINDMILL-LESS, BUT WE REALLY DON'T COUNT THOSE BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS IS THE COMPLETE LOOK, IT'S STILL HERE, WE SAVED IT, ACTUALLY, SO WE'RE VERY GLAD ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE DENNY'S, WHEN THEY WERE DOING THEIR REMODEL RECENTLY, THEY WANTED TO TAKE THE WINDMILL OFF THE BUILDING AND WE GOT A HOLD OF THEM AND SAID, YOU KNOW, "NOT A GREAT IDEA," AND-- >> NOW, WHO IS WE?

>> THE LOS ANG--THE MODERN COMMITTEE OF THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY, THE ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION AND THE SAVE THE WINDMILL GROUP.

>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN ARCADIA WHO HAD GROWN UP WITH THIS BEING A LANDMARK.

>> YEAH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE--ONCE WE GOT-- KINDA GOT THE BALL ROLLING AND TOLD THEM THAT W--THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE HERE, A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE CAME AND SUPPORTED THIS AND, YOU KNOW, LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT LOCAL ARCHITECTURE AND NATURALLY, DENNY'S CORPORATION, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T ASK ANYBODY HERE ON THE STREETS, "DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD TAKE IT DOWN OR NOT?"

AND ONCE WE CAME AROUND AND SAID, "HEY," YOU KNOW, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

AND KINDA HAD A LITTLE PROTEST AND-- >> WHAT DID YOU DO?

MARCH ON DENNY'S?

WHAT--THE WOMEN WEARING THE--DID YOU WEAR THE DUTCH HATS AND ALL THAT?

>> I ACTUALLY DIDN'T, BUT A FEW PEOPLE DID.

WE ALL DRESSED IN DUTCH BLUE AND WHITE AND WE CREATED QUITE A SPECTACLE HERE ON THE CORNER AND PEOPLE WERE HONKING THEIR HORNS AND WE HAD SIGNS THAT SAID "SAVE THE WINDMILL" AND ALL THAT.

AND IT WAS A--IT TURNED OUT TO BE A WHOLE AFTERNOON.

ALL THESE LOCAL PEOPLE CAME OUT AND THEY WERE SAYING, "SAVE THE WINDMILL.

SAVE THE WINDMILL."

>> SO DENNY'S DECIDED TO KEEP THE WINDMILL?

>> IT--IT DIDN'T TAKE THEM LONG AT ALL.

THEY SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT-- >> WHICH IS AMAZING TO ME THAT--THAT, I MEAN, I WOULD THINK DENNY'S, I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT A PRICELESS PIECE OF ADVERTISEMENT HERE, HOW THEY COULD EVEN THINK OF EVER TAKING IT DOWN, THIS IS DISTINCTIVE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GIVES DENNY'S A LITTLE FLAIR HERE ON THIS CORNER.

>> IT--IT DOES.

IT GIVES THEM A LITTLE STYLE, IT GIVES THEM A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY.

THIS IS ROUTE 66 THAT WE'RE ON, THIS IS REALLY THE--BESIDES THE SANTA ANITA RACE TRACK, WHICH IS A BLOCK AWAY FROM HERE, THIS IS THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, ROUTE 66 LANDMARK, ONE OF THE ONLY ONES LEFT IN THE VALLEY HERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF ROADSIDE ARCHITECTURE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, IT'S HERE, IT'S ON THE CORNER OF SANTA ANITA AND HUNTINGTON RIGHT HERE IN ARCADIA, YOU CAN COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

I WAS TALKING TO THE MANAGER A MINUTE AGO, SHE SAYS THEY'VE RELIT THE WINDMILL AT NIGHT, THERE ARE LIGHTS ALL ON THE BLADES OF THE WINDMILL.

>> NOW ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS GET IT SPINNING AGAIN, THEN WE'LL HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY WITH IT.

>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE, THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ARCADIA AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHO DRESSED UP AND MARCHED ON DENNY'S AND--AND CONGRATULATIONS TO DENNY'S FOR SEEING THE LIGHT AND-- AND MAKING IT PART OF THEIR NEW LOOK.

>> YEAH.

>> THE OLD AND THE NEW TOGETHER.

>> IT WORKS.

>> AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE WHEN THE COMMUNITY DECIDES THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAVE A BIT OF THEIR HISTORY.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE HOW INSENSITIVE DEVELOPERS ARE TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING VERY CARELESS WITH A LOT OF CLASSIC CALIFORNIA LANDMARKS HERE.

IT'S BUILDINGS LIKE THIS THAT GIVE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THE PERSONALITY, THAT MAINTAIN THE PERSONALITY, THAT WE'VE HAD ALL THESE YEARS OF BEING KINDA, YOU KNOW, FUN AND FUNKY AND UNIQUE AND SOME UNUSUAL THINGS TO SEE.

I THINK THEY REALLY NEED TO GET WITH IT AND WE NEED TO REALLY BE MORE INTERESTED IN SOME HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATION.

I WOULD HAVE PUT ON MY WOODEN SHOES AND COME DOWN HERE AND MARCHED WITH YOU.

>> WELL, WE--WE WOULD LOVED TO HAVE YOU.

I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT WITH YOU, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE-- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SPINNING BY NOW.

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

IT'S HERE, IT'S A PART OF OUR HISTORY, IT'S A PART OF WHO WE ARE, WHO WE WERE AND NOW, THANKS TO THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO KEPT IT, IT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S--THAT'S--MOVE OUT OF THE WAY HERE SO LUIS CAN GET ONE LAST SHOT OF THAT WONDERFUL OLD VAN DE KAMPS WINDMILL THAT HAS SURVIVED.

IT'S ALIVE AND WELL, NOT YET SPINNING, BUT IT'S ALIVE HERE IN ARCADIA ON THE CORNER OF HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND SANTA ANITA AVENUE.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.