Looking west toward the intersection of Wilshire Blvd and South San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, 1940
In this photo, were looking west to where Wilshire Blvd meets San Vicente Blvd. The year is 1940 so those motorists are blissfully unaware of the gasoline restrictions that will fall into place after Pearl Harbor. It was clever for the Van der Kamp bakery chain to construct a windmill atop each of their stores – they probably served as local landmarks. You can see them for miles!
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The windmills were definitely landmarks. Check out the Miracle Mile location designed by Welton Beckett on the site of the old Wilshire Bowl/Slapsy Maxie’s: https://miraclemilela.com/the-miracle-mile/historical-photos/van_de_kamps_wilshire_1969/
And this one out in the ‘burbs of Costa Mesa on Bristol St. just south of the 405 fwy and South Coast Plaza: https://books.google.com/books?id=ojaPDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=van+de+kamp%27s+on+bristol+in+costa+mesa&source=bl&ots=lNmjiwO9C2&sig=rh-B6QxbtrzsBStO6_EsEW27XTs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjBgt_dpebfAhXnwFQKHRR8C2gQ6AEwA3oECBUQAQ#v=onepage&q=van%20de%20kamp's%20on%20bristol%20in%20costa%20mesa&f=false
Martin – have you ever written about the VDK bakery building in Glassel Park?
Actually, I had to look up to see where Glassel Park is! Was there anything different about it?
Yep – it was the main bakery building – the HQ. It still stands alongside the Glendale Fwy.
https://www.kcet.org/food-living/baked-goodness-the-story-of-van-de-kamps-holland-dutch-bakers
The founders of VDK also started Lawry’s and Tam O’Shanter, which is the oldest restaurant in LA continuously operated in the same location by the same family: http://www.lawrysonline.com/tam-oshanter/general-info
Stick with me, kid. I’ll teach you all kinda things!
I sure will stick with you, PDQ – I learn something every time you drop by!