Dec the Halls

Back in the early 1950s, there was this huge vacant lot at the corner of Whittier Blvd and Goodrich. Traditionally a special events corner lot providing a unique seasonal experience. Experiences like traveling carnivals with sideshows, circuses with animal act and clowns, and more importantly and above all, a Christmas tree lot at Christmas.

So, each Christmas season this empty events lot would turn in to a Christmas tree open-air tree store. It was always surrounded by clear incandescent light bulbs hanging overhead from a drooping black electric cord going from pole to pole. An outside outlet selling trees of all sizes and colors. Green, white, pink, blue, and more green trees. Flocked and unflocked. One just right for you. Maybe.

Just so you will know where this was, it was in East L A. Just across the boulevard from Jim Clinton’s men’s clothes, which was next door to Vic Tanny’s gym. Sort of the gateway in to downtown East Los Angeles. You couldn’t miss it.

Nonetheless, we Okies would visit there about a week before Christmas to choose our special tree. Choosing was not easy. Certainly we Okie kids wanted tall, broad, and a thick green pine tree. Something that commands awe and grandeur. And my dad was thinking whatever we could buy for two bucks.

So, we bought our tree, put it in the trunk, took it home, set it upright, and our mom and we kids would commence adorning the tree with decorations. Decorations of one string of eight colored lights, hanged silver pencil, a homemade string of popcorn, a string of red berries from our berry tree by the driveway, and a half dozen hanging colored glass ornaments. All set up in our front window. On display for passersby to admire and appreciate. One outside could only notice such stunning beauty and have to stop. “My oh my. Just look at that would ya.”

However, when I had observed the tree from inside the front room, I could see through the spindly tree as if it was really not there. I could see all the way through the front window as if looking through a wilting potted plant. A tree Sort of puny and thin. But, being a short 9-year old, the tree certainly had height. A good five feet tall. Wow! Merry Christmas. “Look at that would ya mom.”