We used to eat at Nixon's drive-in restaurant--owned by the vice president's brother Donald Nixon, whose wife, Clara Jane,is still alive and an active supporter of the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. I liked their oatty melts, and my brother liked their beef burgers. In 1957, Nixon's went out of business and became Whirly's, which featured a huge sign, that could be seen more than a mile away, consisting of neon lights arranged in concentric circles. The site is now an abandoned car dealership.
We used to like to eat at Jack's Salad Bowl, on Whittier Blvd.in West Whittier, and Jack's Beverly, near the old El Mercado mall on Beverly Blvd. and Palm Ave. Both are gone, as is Jack's Uptown, which closed sometime in the 1950's. The remaining Jack's is owned by a Greek restaurateur who owns several other eateries in the Southland.
Since you ate at Nixon's and dated at Jack's, you must have gone to Whittier High School. If you did, you might remember the Swift's ice cream shop across Hadley Street from the school. Although it closed in 1963, the palatial white building, long abandoned, is still there.
My husband graduated in 1953 from Whittier High. I went to Santa Fe High, but actually graduated from Whittier adult as I got married in Nov. of 58 and graduated in 60.
I went home couple of years ago with my college age granddaughter. We had the best time going to all of the old places, Wardman Theater, Presbyterian Hospital where her father was born, the High School, Rose Hills where my parents are buried. Lake Arrowhead where had a cabin, etc.
I don't care what people say about So. California, I still love it.
Maria