My 50 Years in Palms

My 50 Years in Palms
by David I. Worsfold

This is the seventh in a series of articles on the history of Palms by Mr. Worsfold, a historian and civic leader who was a Palms resident for over 50 years.

In 1918, I worked in one scene for my first and last movie. It was called "Doing Her Bit" and was a war picture. I was playing marbles on a set called Finnegan's Alley (east side, New York); an ice wagon passed by and I hopped on for a ride. I was not movie struck and didn't even collect my pay but I did witness the taking of dozens of pictures, some of the real thrillers. Once they buried dynamite and built a brick building upon it, then blew it up in a picture called "Dangerous Days." A war movie had a front line trench and various apparatus. Late that night Alex and I experimented with a machinegun that was loaded with blanks. A quick dozen shots into the quiet night no doubt woke up all the studio Police. In one picture a circus ten full of people was supposedly hit by lightning, (with the help of gasoline). The people emerged from the tent screaming, and then the circus wagons appeared into the crowd of people - already on fire. The horses were frightened and ran wild - several were hurt, but the horses didn't know that it was only a movie scene.

1924 was a year I remember well. The Ocean Park pier burned down and there was much excitement. I changed from Venice High to Polytechnic High to attend a class in mapping. I was always interested in maps and with a little training and a lot of love, mapping became my career.

I did some hiking in the Angeles National Forest, Tujunga Canyon, Sturdevant Falls, San Gabriel Canyon and other places. I remember the start of the first "Flight around the World" with Douglas planes from Clover Field in April 1924 and shortly after I had to try an airplane ride. Of course I asked the pilot to fly above Palms so I could see how it looked from the sky.

Sometimes the gang hopped freight cars on the railroad and rode to Santa Monica, Sawtelle and Beverly Hills. Once Don Taggart climbed on the caboose and a brakeman kicked him right in the pants. He flew off the train and disappeared. We found him in a deep hole that was dug for a new telegraph pole. He wasn't hurt, yep, kids were tough.

When school was out George Thompson, Charlie Finger, Dick and I went to Yosemite but only to Wawona Big Trees because we couldn't afford the $5.00 permit fee for the National Park. Then we went to Oakland, Santa Cruz and then home. After just one week, we had itchy feet and George and John Finger, Ed Wilkerson and I went to Phoenix. That trip stretched to El Paso, to Socorro and then the money ran out. We wore out all of the tires on the terrible roads in New Mexico, and Arizona, and the radiator on our Chevrolet was leaking. We bummed some gas to get to Springerville. Then we were stranded, broke, and hungry, waiting for mail and money. We were saved by a free barbecue where George P. Hunt was campaigning for re-election as Governor of Arizona by campaigning against Los Angeles and California. Some forty years later the Arizona people are still campaigning California. When we were leaving Springerville we bought some second hand tires and went to the grand canyon. We were broke again and I celebrated by 17th birthday with nothing to eat. We became stuck again when the car broke down at the Crozier Ranch. Each of the four boys hitchhiked separately home.

Part 8