Foothill Boulevard

Memory… is the diary that we all carry about with us.

∼ Oscar Wilde

While living in Southern California during the 1970’s, I found employment at a plastics manufacturing facility in Pacoima, where I was hired to handle the inventory and stockroom. It was a small facility, owned by one man, Adolf, a German immigrant who had migrated to the U.S. after living in Argentina during the years after WWII. Adolf embraced the role of the stern German taskmaster as it supported his heavy handed treatment of employees, and others as needed. However, Adolf was a ball room dancer who would occasionally launch into silhouettes on the factory floor, a comical display to those who witnessed it, and it somewhat derailed his image as “the tough German overlord”.

The company made plastic components for electronic circuitry. A one man show, Adolf solicited orders, designed the tooling and performed all the cost estimating and accounting functions for the business. The facility was nestled alongside other small buildings on Foothill Boulevard in Pacoima. Directly behind those buildings was an alley that butted up against a plateau of the Angeles National Forest.

The plateau was well-known as the production location for many Western themed movies and television shows. There were many small hiking paths that led up to the plateau and once up there, you were in a different world; it was striking. The plateau rose a few hundred feet above ground and getting up there was moderately easy to hard, depending on which path you chose. Some of the paths were well worn, because of the easier climb they offered, while other paths were a difficult but faster climb. I normally worked the 1st shift at the plant, but also worked the 2nd and 3rd shift for a time and though I made the hike up several times during the day, I never attempted to climb the plateau after dark, and was glad of it.

Having one hour lunch periods, there was plenty of time to run errands, play cards, go for a walk, or picnic up on the plateau. Those who made the climb were usually the younger workers in the facility. They would sometimes have races to the top and bottom. (While lovebirds took advantage of the secluded spots up there)
The isolated nature of the plateau facilitated some illicit activity, involving contraband, but it was mostly minor and for the most part the trip up there was a pleasant experience.

The United Nations?

Just as interesting as butting up against the location where Tom Mix, Johnny Mac Brown, John Wayne and other old gunslingers scrapped with any and all, was the diversity of the employees at the little plant where I worked. In addition to Adolf from Germany, the plant superintendent was from Italy, the head tool maker was from Austria, and most of the laborers were from Mexico.

The only employees born in America, besides me, were two tool makers, the plant manager and the office secretary, so we were a minority in that little world. And although Adolf the German, the Austrian head tool maker, and the Italian plant superintendent all spoke English well enough, during heated discussion all bets were off as they’d launch into their native tongue. These discussions were held in the middle of the plant around a large worktable, so most of us were within earshot of the chats and when they heated up, it was a real source of amusement for us.

With most of the laborers being from Mexico, a translator was necessary for communication with them. The Italian superintendent understood Spanish well enough, although he apparently butchered it when speaking, based on reactions from the Spanish workers. 😛

Immigration Sweeps The Boulevard

Immigration agents raided the small manufacturing facilities along Foothill Boulevard every few months. The first time I witnessed an immigration raid, the light bulb went off in my head. 😉
Always tipped off, the staff would alert the foreign workers, who poured out the back doors like ants, then headed up the various footpaths onto the plateau.

(Aha! So that’s why there are so many pathways going up)

And imagine my surprise when I saw our haughty leader Adolf, along with our tool room manager scrambling up that hill!

Immigration would hang around two to three hours, frustrating the managers who were now behind schedule. During the course of the raids, several immigrants who lagged behind for whatever reason would be taken into custody. (To be released no later than the next day)

Meanwhile, the workers up on the plateau would have an enjoyable two-to-three-hour break. Some of them kept stores of liquor and marijuana hidden up there for just such an occasion, and unfortunately occasional brawls broke out amongst our hilltop celebrants. One such brawl ended in a knifing, with the perpetrator taken to jail, and the victim to the hospital.

After the raid which exposed Adolf and our Austrian tool manager as illegal immigrants, Adolf stayed in the office for several days, only coming out to the shop when absolutely necessary. Having been taken down a peg, our supreme commander was as docile as a little lamb. (For a short time)

I worked at the plastics facility for another year or so, until natural disasters in the form of an earthquake along with downturns in business steered me back to Wisconsin where I was able to find sustainable employment. The plant manager, tool room manager and both tool makers left the company shortly after I did. Adolf continued in the business, hiring and firing depending on how the business cycle moved. I don’t know if he ever obtained his citizenship or if he still hid up on the plateau when prudent. 😉

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*Unfortunately the Angeles National Forest is subject to devastating forest fires from time to time. Thoughts are given to any and all affected by them.

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