Go I.U.!

My college years at Indiana University were idyllic. They truly were. I think back on them and only remember the golden memories of the four years I spent in Bloomington, Indiana, doing a minimum amount of classroom studies and a maximum amount of maturing. With a few bad choices mixed in for good measure.



I was amazed when I heard that my alma mater was going to be in the Rose Bowl this year. During my tenure at I.U., the football team was a joke. The school had high hopes when they hired Lee Corso as the football coach in 1973, but his record was spotty. The modifed poster in my dorm room with the blacked out tooth and zombie eyes says it all (no, that's not me standing next to it). For my freshman year (Corso’s final year), his record was 5-6.



Having been in my high school’s marching band, I decided to audition for the one at I.U., known as The Marching Hundred. In 1927, the band marched in a 10x10 block during the pregame show for the match against Harvard. And there you have it. Below is a shot of the bus trip to the one and only away game (Michigan in Ann Arbor) the band could afford to accompany the football team on.



Posing for the family that kindly hosted us in Michigan during our stint there. We lost, 10-24.



Even back in college, my camera went everywhere with me. I took these shots during a home game. Yes, it was cold.



Below are band directors Wilbur England and Ray Cramer (also his final year as director):



England took over when Cramer left and lasted until 1985. I can still hear the teashing chants of “Wilbuuuuuuuuur” not-so-silently from my fellow band members.



I only did one year in the Marching Hundred. The practices and games really killed my social life and prevented me from making many friends outside of the band until the football season was over. I still went to a few football games afterwards. Some shots of the band from the 1983 season:









In 1985, it was one of those Haley’s Comet moments when I was with my two brothers AND my dad  (the occasion was the IU Homecoming game). Being on the Indiana Memorial Union Board of Directors, we were treated to a tailgate picnic feast before the game.



The last shot I took of the Marching Hundred during my college career appropriately shows them in “I” formation, circa 1985:



While I never marched in the Rose Parade while at I.U., I DID have that honor as a high school student back in 1980.

I’m the alto in the middle.

Not only did I.U. play in the Rose Bowl game this year, they had their best season in program history with a College Football Playoff national championship after a 27-21 victory over Miami on January 19. To quote our Indiana University fight song, “GO! IU! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! Indiana, we're all for you!"

See more Indiana University photos at my main website.

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

Even though I moved back to San Diego over twenty-five years ago, I had still never been to Rancho Santa Fe. All I knew about the area was that my dad and his second wife had once owned property there, and the long back-story to it was not pretty. A brunch gathering a few weeks ago changed all that. The first thing that greeted me as I pulled into the village was this bronze statue of architect Lilian Rice by Nina de Burgh.



Credited as the person creating the master plan for Rancho Santa Fe, the document in her hand shows her sketch for the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Her focus was LOW DENSITY HOUSING. If only today’s planners followed suit.



The walk up to the Inn at was lovely; the perfect southern California weather didn’t hurt, either.



I do love succulents, and the property had these and a number of other native plants that added to its natural beauty.



From the Inn’s website, here’s a bit of background info:

In 1924, the Santa Fe Land Company built a guest house called ‘La Morada’ for potential homebuyers. It was later purchased and renamed ‘The Inn’ in 1941. The Inn’s rich history (including visits from icons like Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin, and Mary Pickford) is thoughtfully preserved and celebrated throughout the property. Design details remain, such as the original wood-beamed ceilings that still grace the lobby today.



Early 2023, The Inn underwent a full reimagination of its 11-acre property. After reopening in the fall of 2023, The Inn now boasts unparalleled vintage luxury, rich history, and timeless tradition throughout every inch of the property and guest experience. Inspired by the history and timeless glamour of its Silver Screen heritage, each accommodation offers a unique experience devoted to lavish comfort, carefully researched, and curated with one-of-a-kind vintage pieces from around the world, layering design with detail to create a sense of elegance and respite.



The spaces were light where then needed to be and very warm and welcoming.



The art pieces were appropriate to the location and tastefully placed.



The restaurant is appropriately named Lilian’s (only one “L,” just like its namesake!) and the bar (Bing’s) pays tribute to its namesake and longtime guest, Bing Crosby. The trellised design look like it had been inspired by the Titanic’s Veranda Café and Palm Court.









The food was good, the atmosphere lovely, the service…well, there were plenty of servers, but it felt a bit like Disney’s attempt at high-end dining. While they all tried their best, they gave off the vibe that they had just been hired and were not quite up to par yet.



I loved all the different nooks for relaxing and enjoying the scenery.



I will definitely be back to explore the surrounding village. Stay tuned!
 
See more Rancho Santa Fe photos at my main website.

More from the Hollywood Canteen

About 15 years ago, I did a post on the Hollywood Canteen. With a few new photos added to my collection, it seemed like a good time to do an update! The photo above shows Shirley Temple arriving for her appearance at the Hollywood Canteen, July 14, 1943. How do I know the date? Thanks to Shirley expert supreme, the Rita Dubas, who not only gave me the date that was written on the back of a photo from her collection, but shared the photo itself/ Not sure who the guy next to Shirley is, but the guy behind her looks a bit like Ray Bolger!



Rita also sent me a link to a FANTASTIC site filled with photos and background info about the Canteen. Edited from the Historic Hollywood Photographs website:

Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, actress Bette Davis approached fellow actor John Garfield and Dr. Jules Stein about starting a canteen for servicemen in Hollywood, similar to the Stage Door Canteen in New York. The three approached all the entertainment unions, guilds, movie studios and radio stations for support. They found a dilapidated barn located at 1451 N. Cahuenga Blvd and leased it for $100 a month for the duration of the war. Hollywood's motion picture craftsmen volunteered their services to do the renovation and transformed the place.

Below, from 1942 (L to R) Forrest Cooper, Jules Stein, Al Ybarra, Bette Davis & John Garfield planning the construction of the Hollywood Canteen



It was unanimously agreed that the Hollywood Canteen would be exclusively for enlisted servicemen, no officers allowed. The servicemen's uniform was his admission ticket. The only people allowed to volunteer were those who worked in some facet of the entertainment business. The Canteen had its grand opening on October 3rd, 1942 with Eddie Cantor as MC. The forecourt was filled with thousands of servicemen, dignitaries and civic leaders. All food, beverages, and cigarettes were free. Each night, two bands played to packed dance floors. Entertainers included Red Skelton, Spencer Tracy, Rosemary Clooney, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby. Hostesses included Rita Hayworth, Marlene Dietrich, Paulette Goddard and Joan Crawford. When the war ended in 1945, fewer servicemen visited and the canteen closed by November. Over the course of its 3 year existence, the Hollywood Canteen had over 3 million servicemen come through its doors. It was truly Hollywood's finest home-front contribution to the war.

Below is a shot from opening night on October 3, 1942, with comedians Abbott and Costello at the microphone:



The medley below shows just how special the Canteen was, especially in light of today, this would NEVER occur. Top Hollywood celebrities like Hedy Lamarr, Marlene Dietrich, Betty Grable (with Sergeant Carl Bell, the millionth serviceman to visit), and Linda Darnell all served, danced, and socialized with the soldiers without pay or bodyguards. Let that sink in. Oh…and no social media.



Shirley puts her apron on to get down to business. The stars didn’t just show up — they WORKED!



From the How to Eat LA website comes an additional shot of Shirley from the same night, serving snacks to the servicemen:



And in case you think these celebrities were one-and-dones, no way; here’s Shirley performing again at the Canteen on a different night.



Rita informed me that the backdrop behind the band was styled after an 1890s vaudeville stage—the circular plaque above Shirley reads “Ennola Colber Hosiery Underwear.” Below is a detailed view of Shirley:



These previously posted images were from a collection I purchased, showing the exterior of the Canteen:





From the same batch, the soldier captured this view of Hollywood Boulevard featuring the NBC building:



Zooming in, you can also see the Palladium and the CBS building. The Palladium still stands.



This soldier relaxes at the cross streets of Sunset & Vine, just a few blocks from the Canteen:



The same soldier at Hollywood and Vine. You can see the Brown Derby sign in the background:



A detailed view of the United Nations War Relief ad:



The former site of the Canteen at Sunset and Cahueanga is now a parking garage and the CNN building. No plaque, no nothing to commemorate this historic location.



What are the sayings? They paved over paradise…time marches on…nothing lasts forever…well, you get the drift. Especially in Hollywood.

See more Hollywood photos at my main website.