Johnny Weissmuller’s American Natural Foods store at 6719 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, circa 1970s
This photo shows us how the two extremes of circa 1970s California life lived side-by-side on Hollywood Blvd. At number 6719 was the health-food franchise started in 1970s by Johnny Weissmuller. He was no longer the big screen’s Tarzan, but he was a great promoter of a healthy lifestyle and played a role in the movement toward healthier eating. Right next door was a joint called Hal’s Nest. I never saw it for myself, but if the exterior is anything to go by, my guess is that it attracted bar flies from all over the neighborhood. I’m guessing there wasn’t a lot of customer crossover between these two places.
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When I was 9 years old, I rode my bicycle around Canoga Park looking for Vichy water from France–which I had seen on TV. I think it was 1958. I came across Johnny Weissmuller’s off an alley behind the Canoga movie theatre on Owensmouth and Sherman Way. That store became Follow Your Heart and some of the people from that store ended up running Whole Foods.
That’s a cool memory. I work at Follow Your Heart now and have since 1981. 🙂
It moved to its current location at 21825 Sherman Way from the former Johnny Weismueller’s location on Owensmouth in 1978 to a place that was called Larrie’s Butcher Shop with the tag line, “never a bum steer”.
Anyway I never knew Johnny Weismueller’s was a franchise.
I used to get protein drinks on the Hollywood blvd store. One day guess who walks in?
Arnold Schwarzenegger?
LOL. Keep trying.
GOOD-EVENING:MARTIN TURNBULL
MY NAME IS SANDRA ASKEW: I SEE THE PHOTO OF NANCY’ SHOP ON HOLLYWOOD BLVD HERE ON THIS PAGE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A PICUTURE OF 6805 HOLLYWOOD BLVD HOLLYWOOD,CA 90028 OF A BUSINESS CALLED “EARTHQUAKE PRODUCTIONS” CO-OWNED BY TONY “THE ENTERTAINER” CLARKE.
TONY CLARKES’ SON GENO CLARKE SR{GENOS’ FACEBOOK PAGE IS: GENO CLARKE SR} GENO IS PREPARING TO FILM A MOVIE ABOUT HIS FATHERS'{TONY CLARKE} LIFE STORY. I AM LOOKING FOR A PICTURE OF EARTHQUAKE PRODUCTIONS TO VERIFY IT PLACE ON HOLLYWOOD BLVD IN 1966-1971.
I APPRECIATE ANY RESPONSE THAT YOU MAY HAVE,MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS: birth.oldage@gmail.com
SINCERELY,
SANDRA ASKEW
Great memories! I ate at both locations and was a regular at the original Canoga Park location. I went on to become the first produce manager at the Sherman Way location.
I guess you really liked it if you ended up working there!
I did! Good food and like-minded people, several of whom I still consider good friends. My band and I became regulars while we were still in high school during the early ’70s. I got to know some unusual characters working at the present location. I began on opening day. One of my produce sources was Gypsy Boots. (“John, John! You got to try these dates. They’re as sweet as the girls who work here!”) And there was the truly eccentric Alan Mootnick, the world’s leading expert on gibbon apes. He used to come in for the culled produce to feed his animals One day, he showed up with a tiger in his old Dodge pickup. He later employed me to help in his house painting business and care for his animals,
In ’78, the Dodgers played the Phillies in the playoffs and the Yanks in the World Series. I brought a large TV to work, and at times, the restaurant and store were vacant. All the customers, employees, and owners were in the large back staging area room rooting for the Dodgers. It had a communal feeling to it, and I am left with some fond experiences.
What great memories you have – the best indication of a life well lived, if you ask me.
Hey, thanks! That was my year’s break from 25 years of painting houses in LA, after which I moved to Oregon, became a high school English teacher, and regaled my students with stories of Bruce Dern, Patrick Stewart, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and others I’d met during my painting days. But I was still a young boy when my father and I met Johnny Weissmuller and don’t remember it well. Before working at The Heart, my friends and I referred to it exclusively as Johnny’s.