The chapel at Santa Teresita is called St. Joseph's.  This is where I went to 5:30 mass with my Dad, Tom, and Joe, where we prayed in the pre-dawn hour and sung with a Carmelite Nun choir. Then it was off to Bob's Big Boy in Monrovia for breakfast and to read the sports page where I read over the details of how Notre Dame quarterback, Joe Theismann, 1968-1971, took the Irish back from a two-touchdown deficit.  Or about Joe Montana, 1974-1978, how he helped lead the Notre Dame charge as they rolled through their league.  

This front gate is sadly permanently locked. Access to the chapel is now had by entering on Buena Vista.  Ch-ch-ch-changes . . . .  My great friend and co-worker, Sterling Cross, wrote the following reply, "Ch-ch-ch-changes often cause me grief and sorrow. I remember open campuses; kids smoking openly in the "Quad"; trash can fires to keep our hands warm in the mornings; and a school bell ringing only as a suggestion to get to class on time.  But what I really wanted to say is that "I love this photograph"!

Actress Ann Miller, Mother Margarita Maria, and William V. O'Connor inspect Villa Cantwell, a wing at Santa Teresita to be dedicated at Santa Teresita Sanitarium in Duarte.  O'Connor and Miss Miller are on dedication program.  Mother Margarita is mother superior of institution. K11.

MOTEL YEARLING

"This is the last card I'll post before starting the westbound journey once again in Chicago later this week. This is the Motel Yearling, 1515 East Huntington Drive in Duarte, CA. It was "Conveniently located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains on Highway 66. Ten minutes drive to the Santa Anita Race Track and the Pasadena Rose Bowl." The owners and operators were Abe and Mary Doornbos who I suppose, by the name of the motel, were into horses. You may not be able to see it on line but there's a woman and small child sitting at the table under the unbrella on the right side of the card. Lo and behold, it's still around today under a different name - http://goo.gl/maps/aSMY5. See you all in Chicago in a couple of days."

DUARTE SHOPPING CENTER: CORONET, ALPHA BETA, & SNYDER'S MEATS

DUARTE SHOPPING CENTER: CORONET, ALPHA BETA, & SNYDER'S MEATS

I loved this shopping center back in the day. What's that, about 1964? Coronet was a great place for a kid. It was the five-and-dime-store that everyone in Duarte loved. It had two levels, the storefront level and then the downstairs. The interior was almost an S&H Green Stamp green, which for a kid made it intriguing. There was an Alpha Beta store just west of the Coronet in the same lot.  My dad used to tell us that he designed the little Alphie cowboy with lasso.  Further east in the center was Snyder's Meats.  That place was THE place in Duarte.  There was also the Duarte Market up at Highland and Royal Oaks.  Snyder's could have even owned the meat section in that store as well.

KEITH "SNAKEMAN" LARSEN

Fans of the old Irwindale Speedway might find these pictures of the programs interesting.  They contain ads from businesses of that day, perhaps from businesses where you may have known the owner.

Keith "Snakeman" Larsen leads Lance King at the 1982 Costa Mesa Spring Classic. A few weeks later Lance would launch his British League career with the Cradley Heath Heathens. Photo #2168.

Keith Larsen against Billy Hamill at Victorville Speedway, July 4, 1987.  Didn't realize that Keith was racing that late into his career.

 Keith Larsen at Ventura Speedway, 1982.

 Keith Larsen riding on the outside against Danny McNeil at Ventura Speedway, 1982.

Left to right, Keith Larsen, Keith Chrisco (partially hidden), Sam Ermolenko, Lance King, Mike Faria and Brad Oxley. Photo #2483.  (h/t Speedway Motorcycle Photos)  

Ohio ice racing star Scotty Brown leading "Snakeman" Larsen at Costa Mesa in 1987. Photo #2458.

Another shot of Keith "Snakeman" Larsen at the 1981 U.S. National at Costa Mesa. Check out the multi-million dollar sponsor on his right leg. Photo #2346.

 Snakeman Larsen in his first U.S. National at Costa Mesa in 1981. Photo #2344.

The "Snakeman" Keith Larsen off the line at IMS in 1982. Earlier that year he won an ice race in Tucson, Arizona. Photo #2308.

The "Snakeman" Keith Larsen at Costa Mesa in 1981. Photo #2194.

 Another shot of "Snakeman" Larsen leading Steve Columbo at IMS in 1981. Photo #1846.

Another "Mad Dog" (besides McConnell, I can think of Mark Rotondo below and Bentley Barrett who also had that nickname) Shawn McConnell chasing Keith "Snakeman" Larsen at IMS in 1981. Photo #1844.

 Another photo of the "Snakeman" at the 1982 Spring Classic. Lance King is on the outside. Photo #2169.

Headed for turn one in a Scratch ride at Costa Mesa on April 15, 1987. Left to right, "Showtime" Bobby Ott, Keith "Snakeman" Larsen and Mike Curoso with Brad Oxley lurking just behind. Photo #2077.

The "Snakeman" Keith Larsen leading Steve Lucero and Dubb Ferrell at Costa Mesa on April 15, 1987. Photo #2076.

Eight years before winning the World Speedway Championship, Billy Hamill leads "Snakeman" Larsen at Victorville in April of 1988. Photo #2049.

"The Snakeman," Keith Larsen, at Costa Mesa in 1984. Photo #1984.

Left off here.  I will return to these and see if I can find more of Keith. 

Here's another shot of Keith racing in Ventura.  Clearly, Keith enjoyed a fairly active racing circuit.  I don't know how often he raced, but you can find photos of Keith all over the internet.  I wonder how long he raced--one or two years?  Maybe more?