Before we go any further, I must apologize. Our first day in LA did not include "Hollywood". Being Navy Types we wanted to approach the SEMI’S at Long Beach Naval Base. We wanted to prove to the YANKS we had more rapport with the gals than the US NAVY. This all relates to a movie I saw in 1946 with my DAD, "ANCHORS AWEIGH!", with my favourite dancer Gene Kelly and singer Frank Sinatra. This movie with Dean Stockwell as the young lad who wanted to join the NAVY, to me was a classic. That was me at six years of age in Scotland.

Now we 3 Amigos decided to catch the train at Union Station to the beautiful city of Long Beach. I could not believe how much it resembled my Crystal Beach, Ontario but much smaller.

We wandered the streets for awhile, like most sailors on leave, till we got our bearings. We were told that the "PIKE" was our best bet. Roller Coasters, rides of all sorts. Then we discovered a corner store where I bought 2 six packs of the cheapest cans of beer. Remember we have spent a fortune getting here. The sandy beach by the ROLLER COASTER was going to be our picnic site. Sitting on the sand and reminiscing ‘bout our journey south, encouraged us to drink profusely. Now we are dealing with empty beer cans, and no garbage can. Guess what we did? We wrote RCN in beer cans.

Now we are under full steam, lookout California, here we come! I can’t believe my excitement when we approached the "LIDO BALLROOM" and I saw "HARRY JAMES & BUDDY RICH" on the marquee. For those who aren’t BIG BAND NUTS like me, it would be like seeing the"BEATLES" in Long Beach. I turned to Glen & Gary and said, "I don’t care if you don’t want to go in, but I’m going and I’ll see you back in LA later. They joined me, it cost a fortune, $2.00. We are almost broke!!

Harry was just like I thought, the greatest trumpeter in the world. Buddy Rich? He had just had a major heart attack, and Tony De Nicola filled in. Actually Harry played drums for a bit. We had a great chat with Harry, and he said he didn’t get up to Victoria, only Vancouver. We, in our unibags, met 2 couples from Saskatchewan, even bought us beers. I love Saskatchewan.

We are back on the Main St. wondering how we are going to return to our cozy beds at the"Y" when Harry James walked up to his station wagon and I thought, my hero from the big band era is right beside us heading home to Betty Grable. I said, "Goodnight Mr. James , we really enjoyed the music." He said, "Goodnight fellas, hope you come again". I met him again at WORK POINT BARRACKS, August 1969. That’s when he told me that BUDDY RICH had a heart attack. Oh, yes my favourite "Count Basie" drummer, Sonny Payne, was playing drums that night at Work Point Gymnasium. Now back to Sunset Strip.

After we almost met Lee J. Cobb, we crossed Sunset Strip to a very famous Hollywood eatery, HAMBURGER HAMLET. It was situated at the last traffic-light before you enter Beverly Hills. The 3 AMIGOS sit down at the HAMBURGER HAMLET, on the patio watching stars go by. First car that stopped at the light, Mel Torme, next Rock Hudson. There wasn’t one Ford or Chevy in the group. All Lincoln Continentals, Caddys, Mercedes and many Limos. This was what I wanted out of Hollywood, stars, and here they were parading past us on their way home after a long day under the lights. Now we are sitting under ominous clouds over LA and we want to discover the magic of Hollywood. The gorgeous waitress brought our milkshakes & hamburgers. We settled into a relaxing luncheon. With the stormy dark clouds approaching, we felt we aren’t going to see the Hollywood sites. Little did we know, our GUARDIAN ANGEL overheard our predicament. "You sailors want to see Hollywood? I’ll be your chauffeur." Thanks again Lord!! His name was Bill and he drove a 1960 Buick. He took us back to his place which was in the next block. A couple-a-three rum and cokes and we’re ready to set sail to foreign ports. He says "I’ll take you down Sunset, then circumnavigate the area." It’s now suppertime and Bill asks if we would like to visit a restaurant. "I’m treating!" We are approaching "Dino’s" on the strip. I said what about Dino’s/77 Sunset Strip, he pulled in, but "Kookie, Kookie Lend Me Your Comb" wasn’t there to park his car - Edd Byrnes for trivia buffs. Inside Dino had done a marvelous job decorating the joint. Dean Martin that is. Jerry Lewis had one down the street. Went there in 1963.

After a very expensive meal, Bill continued the Hollywood tour. Now we are in Griffith Park, climbing up to the famous observatory where James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause" had his 1951 Mercury whitewall tires punctured by a stiletto. What a thrill! If you remember the film, this is where the final scenes were shot. Here’s a wee bit of movie trivia: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus and Nick Adams from that movie, all died from violent deaths. It’s very sad to hear that.

Bill asks if we would enjoy a visit to the famous Moulin Rouge Night Club, to top off this momentous evening. I still can’t believe how we’ve crammed so much into our 2 days here in sunny California.

Going to pause here, for tomorrow is another day but we have to get through the night. Stay tuned for "Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Part 3"