Here's a good picture of the Boardwalk and that 20's style. From my Aunt Alice's picture album.
I'm scanning them before I leave for home after 10 days in California, Southern and Northern. We went to Sonoma and San Francisco for a few days and then drove the silvery coast beaches from Malibu to Los Pallos Verdes, and visited The Riviera locale where my cousins lived from 1964 until a few years ago. They had a million dollar view, literally, of the city and the beach, so when they sold, the new owners tore down the small stucco structure and put up a massive 2 storey home. A nice home, except it blocks the neighbour's view of the beach. Seems odd to do this.
My cousin, Alice's granddaughter, lives in Redondo Beach, nearby.
Last night my cousin, my husband and I went to the Hermosa Beach Comedy club to see Jay Leno and two other comics, who were very funny - and quick. I think the best joke of the whole night was off the cuff. Can't remember it though. (Hmm.)
Wonderful night.
My eplay Milk and Water is about Montreal in 1927, the era of American Prohibition.
My husband and I can't figure out why everyone isn't bombed all the time, since they practically give booze away in California. And you can buy it everywhere, just like in Europe. The pharmacy carried hard liquor and even little bottles of wine at the cashier.
Ironic, eh. In 1927, the US had prohibition, with Atlantic City being wet, I think. And Montreal (all of Quebec) was wet, but in Quebec they enacted a 1921 Liquor Control Act, which put hard liquor in government stores. In 1926, there were Senate Hearings on Prohibition, widely publicized. Indeed, the New York Times had two full page accounts.
Many people testified, for and against prohibition. One person represented the Quebec Liquor Control Board and he said their system was exemplary and actually discouraged heavy drinking of hard liquor. Another Canadian, a W.E. Raney (a former Attorney General of Ontario and anal Presbyterian) condemned the system and indeed painted our City Hall as corrupt to the core, singling out my grandfather, Jules Crepeau, the Director of the City as especially sketchy. (He could tell the Chief of Police what to do.)
It's all in Milk and Water
All very ironic, because today in Quebec we still have a control board, SAQ, and it also sells most wine. Hence our inflated prices. Beer and plonk can be purchased in grocery stores and depanneurs.
In Sonoma, we did some wine tasting at Chateau St. Jean I think and purchased two white wines which didn't last long. 22 dollars a bottle. Pinot Gris, they called it. Not Pinot Grigio.
