Until I came across this photo, I’d have thought that every elementary school in America in the 1950s would have had a library. But I gather from this photo that enough of them lacked libraries for the LA Public Library system to set up a traveling library. And it looks like a popular visitor for the students of Stonehurst Avenue Elementary School at 9851 Stonehurst Ave in Sun Valley, which is north of Burbank at the eastern end of the San Fernando Valley. This photo was taken on May 18, 1957. I wonder if they were fighting over “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss, which was published that year.
Thanks, Martin. Right off the bat, note the kids clothing. From the LEAVE IT TO BEAVER dress code. Switch to the BRADY BUNCH, my generation, and there’s jeans, plaid pants, multi color shirts, long hair and what a diff! It was fun to slip into a pair of jeans and go to school! I drove by Burbank High School the other day, and I think us kids from the 70s had more style than the kids today. Remember, this is Hollywood. You should dress to impress! It’s a So Cal tradition.
Platform shoes? Glitter rock outfits? Or just flared Levis with the bottom seams opened to let the threads spill out? And holes in the legs. Tie die tees? All knocked down with the return of stovepipe 501’s in the decade. And the rise of Addidas bands and Nike’s swooshes. (Throw into the mix a period of leisure suits that were followed up with disco duck wear.) Then some New Wave return-to-roots or a red tie with printed black musical notes. Pointy-toed shoes. And Punk, Surf Punk, and Cow Punk. All to be replaced by Spandex and Big Wave’s big hair chasing a flock of seagull’s down to a beach full of Vuarnet sunglasses. Who could keep up with it all anymore?
Half that stuff is back in style for high-school kids now, maybe not the younger ones yet, and LAUSD seems fond of uniforms in middle school (only) in between.
On another note, the bookmobile’s on a 1948-50 Dodge chassis. Not sure who the body builder was, Gertenslager in Ohio seems to have been the most prolific supplier of that type of special body, but there may have been a west coast supplier as well.
I’d advise against trying those pony suede leather pants in the California sun. And good luck trying to locate a real Stu Nahan plaid sports coat in the thrift stores these days.
Forgot to add, that’s a Volvo PV444 in the background.