Thanksgiving was a big deal, because we celebrated three important Birthdays that day.

Posted on June 24, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 26, 1964, Thursday. Daddy’s Birthday and Thanksgiving

Worked until 2:00 at Jack’s Ranch Market. It was so packed I almost died of Claustrophobia. After work I went to the Williamsberg Inn. We had a Thanksgiving Birthday, for my little sister Billee, Daddy and Granddady. (Ages, 9-41-74.) It was so nice, but it really wasn’t like Thanksgiving, eating out. We went home and they opened their presents. The cake was so beautiful, it must have cost at least $25.00. It was three layers, decorated in draped ribbons and bows. It was really nice. After cake we listened to old tape recordings of the whole family through the years, but it made me so sad to hear my Mayme’s voice, especially now that granddaddy has remarried Mary after Mayme died of Cancer last year… and we have to act like everything is normal.

This picture of my grandfather, my sister Billee and my Dad was taken in 1968. Every year my mother would have the most beautiful cakes made to celebrate all three of their Birthdays. Billee and Granddaddy were born on the same day and my dad a few day’s earlier. Their Birthday’s often fell on Thanksgiving, so we combined them and made a big deal out of it for them.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Little Sisters, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, Birthdays, Culver City, Culver High School, dating, Jacks Ranch Market Culver City CA, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Thanksgiving, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Some people say I look like a white Diana Ross!

Posted on June 24, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 25, 1964, Wednesday

Rehearsed the Senior Play, Home Sweet Homicide, then Sandy, Dianne and I went shopping for red skirts, but couldn’t find any so just went home. Sandy went to the show, but I stayed home. Pearl came over and we were going to go to a dance, but I didn’t want to get all dressed up, just to be disappointed so, I went to bed because, I have to go to work at Jack’s Ranch Market tomorrow. We got our family pictures. I was so upset with mine.

My sister Donna’s friend Teri Thompson, said I look like a white Diana Ross, but I think I just look ugly and I don’t like the drippy blouse I’m wearing. Also I just got a speeding ticket, rushing after work to meet my family at the Photography Studio and wasn’t at my best.

Diana Ross 1964 – The Supremes “Where Did Our Love Go”

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, Culver City, Culver High School, dating, Diana Ross, Home Sweet Homicide play, Jack's Ranch Market, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Torn between Saffrons and the guy I’m determined to land!

Posted on June 21, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 24, 1964, Tuesday

After school I went to the Saffron meeting. We all got in real trouble because, we invited Joan Swore, of Joan Swore Dance Studio, without asking permission from our Sponsor, Mrs. Quartes. The President of the Lions Club, Mr. Berry, (The Lyons Club is the official Sponsor of Saffrons,) told us we better watch it!! He can be mean! We also fought over Hell Night. I don’t want to have it this weekend because, Sandy, Dianne and I are going to San Diego. But, we still decided to have it. I doubt if I will be able to go no, because the Crossfires are playing Saturday at the Westchester Rec Dept. and I want to go because everybody will be there!

Mrs. Quartes is the lady in the center of the picture. She was always easy with us, her daughter was the girl on the left end, top row. I’m in the second row, left side, on the end.

Mrs. Quartes was married to a member of the Lions Club, so she was the housemother so to speak. She kept us following the rules by the book, with a gentle hand.

The Crossfires were the best band in Westchester and would cut a hit record in 1965 and rename themselves The Turtles. I wanted to go to the dance, because Byron Ferguson would be there and I was determined to get him or die. But, Saffrons had rules and if I broke them I could be in trouble. Besides my sister Donna was Pledging and how can I miss her Hell Night!

The TURTLES ~ “IT AIN’T ME BABE” 1965

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Little Sisters, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 57 Chevy, Culver High School, dating, diary, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, The Crossfires Band, The Turtles Band, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

I accepted a date with a guy I didn’t really want to go out with, knowing I’d hang him up

Posted on June 20, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 23, 1964, Monday

Well, I shocked the school again! Today I was a redhead. People think I’m nuts or want attention. I’ve been a blond, brunette and now a redhead. After school, I went to rehearse the play. Mr. Bodger liked my performance! On the way home I saw Sal Romero and when I got home he was there. He asked me out for a week from Saturday. I said yes, but I’ve got to get out of it. I tried to get the red out of my hair, but it’s still in. I bet it’ll never come out. Culver was on the Loyd Thaxton TV show. I didn’t want to go. I went to Shelia’s instead and found out Linda Farnam is pregnant.

Tommy Boyce on the Lloyd Thaxton Show – 1964

Here I am at 15 when I first met Sal Romero. He went to Venice High School and Surfed, but, my dad refused to let me go out with him after they almost got in a fist fight at an open party at our house. When my dad grabbed Sal by the collar, Sal said “Don’t bend the threads Popeye!” And this became a favorite saying of my dad’s forever!

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 57 Chevy, Culver High School, dating, Lloyd Thaxton show, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Nobody changes their hair color more than I do…Blond, Black now Red!

Posted on June 20, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 22, 1964, Sunday.

Went to work until 4:00, then went home and did a crazy thing. I put a red rinse on my hair. It turned out so ugly… I’m going to wear it to school tomorrow and see if Mr. Bodger, (the Drama teacher and Talent Scout,) wants me to keep it this way for the Senior play… so I’ll look like my sister in the play. This play is so dumb! I hate to have to be in it.

This year I’ve gone from being pale blond, to wearing an exotic black wig, to now being a red head.

Here I am at rehearsal, with Linda Sarno, who has a dark red flip. I thought if my hair was reddish, it would seem more believable that we’re sisters in the Senior Play. I wonder what Mr. Bodger will think when he sees my hair tomorrow at rehearsal.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 57 Chevy, Culver High School, dating, Hair color, home sweet homicde, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, RED, Saffrons Rule, senior play, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

For a family that looks like “The Munsters” it takes a lot of nerve calling Elizabeth Taylor a Fat Pig, in Cleopatra!

Posted on June 18, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 21, 1964, Saturday.

Went to work at Jack’s Ranch Market until 2;00, then went and bought a skirt and blouse to wear, because I was supposed to meet the family to have pictures taken for Granddaddy’s Birthday. On the way up, trying to find the place, I got my first ticket for running a red light! I didn’t even see the light!! I was so scared, now I have to go to court December 7^th. I was so upset when I arrived and I had to act normal for the pictures, but, Mom and Dad weren’t mad about the ticket. Pearl, Sandy and I went to see “Cleopatra.” It was so long, four hours. Liz Taylor was a fat pig! The movie wasn’t so good. We went home right after

We all laughed about this picture, because we look like “the Munsters” in the TV show. My dad just got out of the hospital after being very sick, I just got a ticket, Mom was trying to do something nice for her dad for his Birthday and nobody was into it…and I must say, it was very bad lighting!!

The Munsters TV Show, 1964.

Elizabeth Taylor Seductive Cleopatra

I guess even for 1964 standards, Elizabeth Taylor looked pretty fat and not very toned for her nude scenes in Cleopatra.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Cleopatra, Culver High School, dating, Elizabeth Taylor, Family Pictures, got a ticket, Jacks Ranch Market Culver City CA, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Rehearsing all week, working all weekend and being without my 57 Chevy is the Pitts!

Posted on June 18, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 18, 1964, Wednesday

Sandy picked me up from school because my car was being fixed. After rehearsing the Senior Play, she picked up my car and parked it in front of the school. I just went home.

November 19, 1964, Thursday

Just worked on the play after school. We’re not doing too well. I just can’t seem to throw myself into it. It’s too dumb and senseless! I’m going to be embarrassed to have people come see it. After school, Pearl took my car, but didn’t pick me up, so I had to walk to her house and just went home.

November 20, 1964, Friday

Worked on the play after school then went to Pearl’s. We were just too tired to go anywhere, so we just stayed home. We didn’t even go to the Football game. It was the Homecoming game. Freda Martin won and her Princesses were, Nancy Guinn and Angie Bourland. We won over Beverly High School. I just went home and went to sleep by 10:30, because I have to get up and work at Jack’s Ranch Market in the morning.

My social life has come to a complete halt since I have to rehearse every night for the Senior Play, work at the crack of dawn every weekend and to add insult to injury, my car is in the shop again. Nothing is fun anymore, not even Saffrons, it’s all boring, tedious and repetitive. Life use to be so much fun the first half of this year, what happened? Being an actress is just hard work, having a job is for the birds and being without my bitchen car is the Pitts!

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, car in the shop, Culver City, Culver High School, dating, Homecoming Game, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, rehearsing the school play, Saffrons Rule, senior play, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers | Leave a comment

Eating raw eggs and stepping on live snails was part of Saffrons pledging, Hell Week

Posted on June 17, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 17, 1964, Tuesday.

Pearl and I were too tired to go to the Saffron meeting, instead, we worked on the school play. The meeting was sickening anyway. They made the Pledge’s eat raw eggs and kill live Snails. It caused mass hysteria and mental torture my sister Donna told me. I was sad to have missed it. After the meeting, Sandy picked me up at Pearl’s and we went to Fosters. Afterwords we went to pick up my 57 Chevy, but the gas station was closed. The battery went dead on the way to school this morning and it’s being recharged.

Some girls got sick and threw up after eating raw eggs and stepping on live snails. My sister Donna didn’t want to be in Saffrons after that… and Hell Night was yet to come.

Nobody wants to kill a slimy snail with their bare feet or eat a raw egg in one gulp, but the girls had to do it or be disqualified during pledge week.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Little Sisters, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 57 Chevy, Culver City California, Culver High School, dating, dead battery, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Pledge rules, rehearsing the school play, Saffron Hell Week, Saffron pledges, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Maybe I should forget having an acting career and just get a steady job!

Posted on June 14, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 16, 1964, Monday.

Took test on the book I read, “The Status Seekers,” It was pretty easy. After school we worked on the play, “Home Sweet Homicide.” I took Pearl home after rehearsal. My dad’s cousin, Bill Stroh, from Chicago was here. I didn’t like his personality too much. He acts like he’s so much better than anyone. He gave me some good advice though. He said I should get a good steady job and just do acting as a hobby…Never depend on it for steady money, so I won’t feel bad if I don’t get a part. He’s very strict it seems, and very successful…But he sure doesn’t like Nana very much, (His aunt Evelyn)

My dad with his cousin Bill Stroh, in California in 1945, right before my parent’s married and my dad was shipped overseas during WWll. Bill Stroh was my Nana’s, sister Verona’s son, and very close cousins with my dad, when he was a boy growing up in Chicago.

My Dad and Mom, with Mary and Bill Stroh, in 1948, when they visited us in California, (see me on the ground with the bow in my hair.)

Bill Stroh, with his son and brother in law… standing next to Bill’s racing car, a 1965 GT 350 Cobra, Shelby Mustang. Bill was a race car driver in Chicago as well as a successful Businessman. Handsome, brilliant and successful. I should have taken his advise, but I never really wanted to have a real job!

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Bill Stroh, Culver City, Culver High School, dating, Home Sweet Homicide play, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, The Status Seekers, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Got my first paycheck for $12.40…don’t think I can keep this up much longer it’s too hard

Posted on June 13, 2014 by saffronsrule

November 14, 1964, Saturday

Went to work at Jacks Ranch Market, emptying shopping carts as customers checkout. I let Pearl take my car and pick me up. We decided not to go to the audition, because it could just be a waste of our time. I got my first paycheck, $12.40…… Pearl and I went to a audition for The Sound of Music. I had to sing, “I Enjoy Being a Girl.” There was a lot of competition and I don’t think I got the part of the 16 year old girl. I really can’t take the part anyway, because I’ve got to work on the school play…. We went out to eat, then went back to Pearl’s house and did homework all night. I seem to feel so discouraged and sad tonight, just tired from working, I guess.

Disney- I Enjoy Being A Girl

I love the song, “I Enjoy Being a Girl” because I am so girly myself. I really love the words….. “When I have a brand new hairdo and my eyelashes all in curl, I float like the clouds on air do, I enjoy being a girl. I flip when a fella sends me flowers, I drool over dresses made of lace, I sit on the telephone for hours, with a pound and a half of cream on my face. I’m strictly a female female, and my future I hope will be, in the home of a brave and free male, who enjoys being a guy having a girl like me.

November 15, 1964, Sunday.

I don’t think I can take this working at Jacks Ranch Market much longer. Having to get up at 8:00 every weekend and stand on my feet all day is too hard. I slept at Pearl’s, but left for work before she was up. Got to Sandy’s and Dianne’s, but they were still sleeping, so we were an hour late for work, but we stayed and made it up. After work I went back to Pearl’s and fell asleep. We did homework and I finished the book, “The Status Seekers.” I’ve been reading it all weekend because a book report is due tomorrow. I stayed all night again.

The Status Seekers, shows that the craving for status and acceptance simply doesn’t change. The book was published in 1949, but still apply’s in 1964. I think after reading this book, it makes me sad I’m working at a market every weekend for $1.25 an hour.

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