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Thomas, Don (audio interview #1 of 1)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This single interview with Don Thomas was conducted in his home in Long Beach. The audio quality of this interview is good. 4/5/1978
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- 2020-10-14
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- *** File: cbdthomas1.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-2:00)... Thomas' paternal great grandparents lived in Compton in the 1930s when most of their neighbors were white families. The area seemed rural and his great grandmother raised chickens. His great grandfather was a teamster and drove teams of horses hauling railroad freight into Los Angeles. He later worked for construction companies building roads. Thomas and his family often visited his great grandparents in Compton. Sometimes they rode on the Red Cars and sometime drove in a car. (2:00-4:35)... His paternal grandmother moved to Long Beach in 1911 and purchased a house at 921 Alamitos. There was a horse barn and a small store nearby. The area seemed rural and the neighbors raised farm animals and gardens. His grandmother and grandfather divorced and she remarried a conductor for Pacific Electric. Thomas' father used to ride the Red Car with his stepfather. Thomas' grandmother lived in that home until she died in the 1950s. (4:35-7:30)... Thomas' paternal grandparents came to Los Angeles from Ogden, Utah by train. His grandfather was a teamster. After his grandparents divorced, his grandfather moved to Colton and his grandmother settled in Long Beach with her new husband and Thomas' father. His grandmother was born and raised on an Indian reservation in Utah. Thomas recalls the stories that his grandmother told him about relations between Indians and the whites in Utah. (7:30-11:00)... Development in Long Beach was slow between 1911 and 1921. People in parts of Long Beach relied on septic tanks until the Depression when WPA workers expanded the local sewer system. There were problems with flooding until storm drain were built. Thomas remembers people getting around certain neighborhoods in rowboats after heavy rains. Long Beach was served by the Pacific Electric Red Cars and the smaller trolleys that served local neighborhoods. Model Ts, referred to as "jitneys," drove passengers to the downtown area and back for a small fee. (11:00-11:47)... When the Depression hit Long Beach, Thomas believed that the only stable employment was in the oil industry. In some parts of town, the city set up soup kitchens and Thomas remembers people standing in line for food. (11:47-15:43)... Thomas was born in north Long Beach. He remembers that for several years of his childhood there were no sidewalks lining the streets. When sidewalks were finally constructed in the 1930s, it took several weeks for workers to pour the concrete. Citizens Water Company was privately owned and supplied water to some north Long Beach neighborhoods. If residents could not pay their water assessment, they were could work for the water company repairing the wood pipes. The wooden water pipes were replaced during the Depression. There used to be a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard near Pine Avenue. From its south end, one could go out onto the Pike. (15:43-17:19)... The Strand theater featured early "talkies" as well as silent movies, and vaudeville acts. The show usually lasted 3 hours and cost very little. After the show, people went to the Pike or ate at a waffle house or Curries Ice Cream Parlor. One of Thomas' favorite foods was "red hots," which were chili dogs. (17:19-19:30)... When he was a small boy, his grandmother often took him to the "double-decker" Pine Avenue pier where they would look at the bones of a whale that washed up on shore. A steam boat docked at the pier and picked up passengers going to Catalina Island. Boys entertained tourists by diving off the pier when money was thrown into the water. Long Beach attracted many tourists at that time. A train brought passengers into town along California Avenue to Alamitos and then to Ocean Boulevard where it turned west toward the Los Angeles River. There was a roundhouse at the river where the train was unloaded and turned around. (19:30-21:15)... The Long Beach Airport in those years was Daugherty Field and was on the corner of Willow and American (Long Beach Boulevard at the time of the interview). When he was a young boy, he flew out of Daugherty Field in a small biplane. Thomas' father reported that the first car he saw his first car in Long Beach in 1912 when a man bought a Maxwell and took him for a ride. (21:15-26:13)... Thomas was born in his parents' home located at 5918 California. This area was then known as "Virginia City" but later was called north Long Beach. The streets were paved but there were no sidewalks, gutters, or curbs. There were very few homes and businesses in the area and there was little development between north Long Beach and downtown. It was not until years later that this vacant area was developed into California Heights. The Lang Bus System took passengers from north Long Beach to downtown for a nickel. For this fare, passengers could transfer to buses that would take them throughout the city. The bus route eventually expanded to Seal Beach. Businesses in north Long Beach included a drug store and a few small markets, most of which were destroyed or severely damaged during the 1933 earthquake. His family lived 4 blocks from the businesses near South Street and Atlantic Avenue. He remembers hearing the destruction of these buildings when the earthquake hit and aftershocks continued for at least a year. The Japanese and the Chinese were at war at the time the earthquake hit and he remembers his mother saying, "the Japanese had hit." His family rushed out of the house but he remained in a doorway and it was not until the initial shock of the earthquake ended that his parents turned to see if he was okay. (26:13-28:15)... In 1933, north Long Beach was still sparsely developed, both residentially and commercially. The La Shell Theater was on the corner of Long Beach Boulevard and Market Street. There were no hospitals in north Long Beach. The office of the doctor who delivered him and removed his tonsils was above the La Shell Theater. The only hospitals in Long Beach were the Community Hospital and Seaside Hospital. (28:15-31:55)... There were 2 fire stations in north Long Beach, one on the corner of Market and Dairy and another at 65th and Gundry. There was another one nearby at Virginia and Roosevelt. The Long Beach Fire Department didn't use the station at 65th and Gundry during the Depression. Women used the building to sew clothing and other things for the needy. In return for their labor, the women received food and clothing. The Long Beach Fire Department used horse drawn vehicles until 1925. (31:55-34:06)... In addition to a bank, there were 2 bakeries and several dairies in north Long Beach. Johnson Gardens, which grew and sold cactus as well as water lilies, goldfish, and carp, was on Cherry. Thomas' family lived on Harding Street in an old ranch house for a short time when he was young. Most of the homes built on the lots in that area were new, except for the one where his family lived. While they lived in this home, his family raised a large garden as well as chickens and rabbits. There were no houses between Poppy Street and Artesia Avenue. The only business in that area was the Richfield oil refinery and its large tank farm. (34:06-35:41)... Some of the streets in north Long Beach had large dirt gutters. In the winter of 1937, heavy rains and caused flooding in the area. The flood control system was undeveloped and wood bridges in the area washed out and collapsed. It was not until 1938 that concrete bridges began to be built. Many bridges over the Los Angeles River were built between 1939 and 1941 by WPA workers. (35:41-36:24)... During the Depression, the WPA hired people to plant vegetable gardens in the vacant lots in north Long Beach. WPA workers patrolled the gardens at night to stop people from stealing the food even though the purpose of the gardens was to supply people with food. (36:24-37:31)... Most of the streets in north Long Beach were paved with asphalt. Long Beach Boulevard and Market Street were the only streets paved with concrete. Steel bands held concrete curbs together but most of the steel bands have disappeared. (37:31-40:21)... When his father married around the time of the oil boom, he started a landscaping business. His clientele included people in the oil business and the movie industry. Most of the homes he landscaped were the palatial homes along Ocean Boulevard. Mules hauled the concrete used in the construction many of these homes. His father also worked as a salesman for the White Sewing Machine Company and then the Singer Sewing Machine Company and he owned a dog that could do all sorts of tricks. The dog was stolen and began appearing in short films made in the 1920s. (40:21-41:18)... Mules and horses hauled some of the lumber used to build the earliest oil derricks on Signal Hill . (41:18-45:06)... Thomas' father worked in the landscaping business until he moved to north Long Beach. His parents then started an artificial flower business and they sold their flowers to the movie industry in Culver City. He then started selling sewing machines and continued that until the Depression. During the Depression, he worked for the WPA constructing sewers in Long Beach. He also worked on the construction of the Hamilton Bowl in the 1930s. The area around Hamilton Bowl often flooded during heavy rains. After that, went to work for Bethlehem Steel as a machinist and he worked there until he retired after WWII. End of tape. *** File: cbdthomas2.mp3 (0:00-8:46)... After the 1933 earthquake, martial law was declared and guards were posted to protect damaged businesses and homes from looters. Many people gave their property away because they wanted to leave the city. Others felt that the world was going to end. Homes and businesses were destroyed and people were displaced. Many camped in vacant lots around the city. It was a confusing time. Thomas remembers people driving down his street yelling, "Tidal wave. Tidal wave. Get out." The armory on the corner of 7th Street and California was used as the morgue for those who died in the earthquake. Some of the hospitals were damaged and they struggled to care for the injured. His family left Long Beach and drove to his cousin's home near Rancho Los Amigos in Downey. The next day they went to his grandfather's home in Colton. His father and some relatives drove to Long Beach and surveyed the damage. When his family returned to Long Beach, they could not drink the city water for a week because city officials feared it was contaminated. They got water from a Gilmore Gas Station and they recycled and conserved as much water as possible. (8:46-11:03)... Thomas spent a lot of time at the Pike and at the Plunge when he was a young boy. He remembers diving off the roller coaster called the Cyclone Racer into the ocean and riding the breakers back to shore. There was a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard that led to the beach. People could walk out of the Plunge onto the beach and they were showered with cold, ocean water as they reentered the Plunge. (11:03-12:06)... Before the breakwater was installed, the breakers would hit Rainbow Pier and splash businesses along the Pike. The businesses used sand bags to keep the water out during high tides. (12:06-13:58)... There was a sun parlor dance hall at the end of the double-decker pier and he accompanied his grandparents to dances there several times. He remembers falling asleep on the benches around the dance floor while watching his grandparents dance. The Spit and Argue Club was a big gathering place for people in downtown Long Beach. This club gave anyone an opportunity to talk about politics and other issues for a limited amount of time. Nearby, visitors could listen to the municipal band and sing together. (13:58-14:56)... Thomas' mother was a homemaker for most of his childhood. During the Depression, she worked in Fire Station #12 sewing clothes for the needy. She also worked as an assembler for Douglas Aircraft during WWII. (14:56-16:29)... Long Beach property owners got around rent controls during WWII. When he came home on leave from the Navy during WWII, he went to the local rationing board and got food ration coupons for sugar, coffee, and meat. Military personnel received more coupons than civilians. (16:29-20:15)... Thomas' first job was a part-time busboy in the cafeteria at Douglas Aircraft while he was in high school. He worked for a neighbor at a feed store and had to apply for a work release in order to work there. He eventually returned to Douglas and worked in the plant until he quit high school in the eleventh grade and enlisted in the Navy. When he returned from WWII he went to night school and got his high school diploma. He then enrolled in college and took night courses. He got a job at Ford Motor Company as an assembler. He became discouraged with this job because of the labor disputes between the union and the employer. He then worked for Ralph's grocery store for 5 years. After Ralph's, he went to work for Graham Brothers delivering cement for 5 years. He took a civil service test with the Long Beach Fire Department and passed. He worked for Texaco until he was hired by the Fire Department in 1956. (20:15-25:45)... While he was in the Navy, Thomas was trained as a mechanic. He attended a diesel school in Chicago before being assigned to amphibious craft in the South Pacific. He was not involved in any invasions during WWII. By the time Thomas was hired at Ford Motor Company, the UAW had already organized the plant. He worked with a man at the Ford plant who was one of the original employees who organized the union at the plant. Employees stopped working whenever a part came through that was not made in a union shop. (25:45-33:13)... Thomas started at Ralph's grocery store as a clerk and worked his way up to the produce department. He was a member of the union and felt that the relationship between the union and employers was far better in the grocery store than in the automotive industry. He worked at Ralph's for 5 years. His starting salary was $40 a week and when he left Ralph's he was earning $85 a week with an excellent medical plan. He never went on strike while working at Ralph's. Even during periods of negotiation, employees remained at work with the understanding that any settlement would be retroactive. He belonged to Local 128 or the OWIU when he worked at Texaco. He recalls that the membership in the local was racist and often treated women, Mexicans, and Blacks unfairly. (33:13-38:03)... When Thomas left Ralph's he went to work for Graham Brothers and loaded, scheduled, and delivered cement for 3 years. He was a member of Local 12 of the Operating Engineers Union. The work was sporadic because of the nature of the construction. He decided to look for work at Texaco because it offered a more stable income. He worked for Texaco for close to 2 years. He decided to leave Texaco when he was offered a job with the Long Beach Fire Department. (38:03-41:05)... When Thomas started with the Fire Department, he was sent to Fire Station #7 on 23rd and Elm. At the time, this fire station was equipped with a ladder truck and a pumper. He was transferred around to several station over the years, eventually ending up at Fire Station #14. (41:05-45:23)... Thomas married in September 1945. He and his wife moved into a garage apartment at 921 Alamitos, which was willed to him and his sister after his grandmother died. He eventually decided to move out of this apartment because his parents were domineering and expected him and his wife to report all of their activities to them. While in the Navy, he recalls hearing stories from an American prisoner of war. The atrocities committed against Americans during the war made many people feel justified in dropping the bomb. By the same token, American soldiers were just as harsh toward their enemies. At the time, however, the majority of people did not feel guilty about dropping the bomb. End of tape.
- SUBJECT BIO - Don Thomas was a member of the Long Beach Fire Department and observed many changes in the local area. He grew up and went to local schools until he quit to fight in World War II. When he returned and finished his education, he held several jobs before he passed the civil service exam and joined the Fire Department. One of the jobs Thomas held was at the Texaco Oil refinery in Wilmington, near Long Beach. He also worked at the Ford Motor Company plant in Long Beach harbor. This interview was conducted as part of a project to study to impact of oil on the development of Long Beach. TOPICS - family background; family history; transportation in Long Beach; sanitation, sewer system, water system, and flooding in Long Beach; sidewalk construction; social activities; the Pike; Long Beach tourism; downtown1933 Long Beach earthquake; the Pike and the Plunge; the Spit and Argue Club; Pine Avenue Pier; family history; parents; WWII; work experiences; military duty during WWII; labor unions; Long Beach Fire Department;
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