Tag: 1950s

Diary of Lois Elaine Jelin: Entry One Hundred Forty-Two

Entry One Hundred Forty-Two

Friday, June 27                     Weather unmarked.

Dear Diary,

We all went to Aunt Betty & I slept over. We saw Beauty & the Beast & Age of Innocence.

Mrs. Suggarman phoned today and told me I was chosed as a delegate for Asilomar! She told me they chose me because I had given so much to the club since I joined (4 months) & that they wanted the future leaders to go, so that they could bring back from camp what ever they got from it & that the age limit is 16 but they would lie for me & I was the only new comer to go & a bunch of other things which made me feel very wonderful. The others going are: Marian Holman, Vicky Rubell, Tom Beattes, Dick Holer, Ritchy Gaylor, me. Paying for selfs: Jaime Grey, Nancy Gaylor

Diary of Lois Elaine Jelin: Entry One Hundred Forty-One

Entry One Hundred Forty-One

Tuesday Sun., June 24                    Weather marked as Clear, part Cloudy.

Dear Diary,

Worked around house. Molly & Moe came over. I made myself a blister on the middle finger of my right hand. Saw a terrific movie—Corridor of Mirrors—Man!!! Was it good.

Editorial Note:

Corridor of Mirrors was directed by Terence Young, and the film debuted in theaters in 1948. Based on a Christopher Massie novel, the simple plot of man falls in love with beautiful young woman takes a twist as he slowly suspect that he’s loved her in a previous life. Of course Lois loved this film; it’s the dramatic trappings of a teenage girl’s mind spilling onto celluloid. Also, there’s a character named Lois in the film. Here’s a little peek for you:

Diary of Lois Elaine Jelin: Entry One Hundred Forty

Entry One Hundred Forty

Monday, June 23                 Weather marked as half Clear, half Cloudy

Dear Diary,

Worked alllll day at Temple decorating for Starlight Fiesta with Maria & Nancy & Jimmy & some older kids. When I got home Bob called & asked me out. Later he called back & said he was too tired & broke our date.

11:00 o’clock P.M. Maria called & told me Bob was at the Temple & that they would pick me up. Sooo Bob & Maria picked me up. While we were there I got some ceramic things for Mommie. Bob took me home. We came in & put the things in the house we then sat in the car till 12:30 and talked at 12:30 we went for a drive—we drove to McKinley Home & stopped there. We talked & cleared up a lot of things. He said that he thought I’m quite confused. I’m not afraid or anything like that. It’s just that: well, I’m not sure that I want to do it. Oh well, time will tell. No matter which way I make up my mind I’ll regret it. The thing is—which way should I regret?

Bob’s going to Summer School at Van Nuys High.   

Editorial Note:

The McKinley Home where our young lovers parked was founded by Reverend and Mrs. Uriah Gregory as part of the Industrial Home Society, and took its name in honor of President William McKinley following his assassination. Here the Reverend and his wife took in and cared for orphaned, homeless and abused children on a 33-acre ranch in Artesia.

McKinley Home at its Van Nuys location.

Following demands for their services after World War I, the Home necessarily expanded its facilities to accommodate 100 to 250 boys and relocated to Van Nuys in 1923, thanks largely to gifts from Mr. Mericos Whittier and the Kiwanis Club of Los Angeles. Then the boom which followed the Second World War precipitated the construction of the Ventura 101 freeway, which cut the Home’s property in half—shrinking the campus from 200 acres to just 30. Thus the Home again relocated to San Dimas where new facilities opened in 1961, and where it remains today as the McKinley Children’s Center.

The site where our teens tickled one another’s fancy is currently a shopping mall. To get a feeling for what the Home was like, might I suggest reading “Education of a Felon” by Edward Bunker.