Quote:
Originally Posted by HossC
...This is Ken Clark Pontiac at 3740 Crenshaw Boulevard in either 1959 or 1960, depending on which source you believe. BifRayRock posted a smaller version of this image in post #13390.
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I just joined this forum to correct my earlier comments that were researched for these Ken Clark Pontiac photos. I am John C. Clark, youngest son of the deceased Kenneth DeLoss Clark, car dealer.
Having reviewed these photos, I recall that Dad started at the Jefferson Boulevard Address on a corner street that you have located in your excellent aerial photo research (Ken Clark Pontiac).
He then moved to 3740 Crenshaw Blvd. and had a grand opening with noted radio broadcaster Bob McLaughlin at the scene (I have a photo somewhere with him and me, a youngster, at his microphone). It was briefly televised, as well. My father was quite the promoter.
Dad's FINAL dealership was 4242 Crenshaw Blvd., at the corner of Crenshaw & Coliseum. Dad designed the iconic Indian Head sign that still stands at that site, obviously based upon the Pontiac emblem used at that time. At that grand opening, Dad brought in movie and TV cowboy Doye O'Dell (I have some old photos posing with him) and it was televised on local LA TV as I recall - there were big cameras there. Then I had the privilege of offering a kiddie's electric car as a raffle prize for folks dropping in as shown on local TV - "Cartoon Carousel with Skipper Frank."
Without getting into negative arenas, certain business dealings among some car dealers occurred in L.A. that turned a great enterprise into a "rat race" (per Dad's words). Dad was known as an honest dealer and did not want to be associated with the prevailing negative image; was in fact was written up in the L.A. Times as "one of the last of the honest dealers" leaving the business by a popular columnist of the day. Dad moved our family to the foothills of Yosemite, changing his career to become a successful realtor in the mountain area.
The owner taking over Dad's family dealership used the name "Majestic Pontiac."
I found this thread by Googling Dad's name, again. Thank you for the memories!