Our World War 2 California-Part 2! Sites that still exist!

Welcome to Pat Patterson's Best of California. In this episode, our World War II California, part two. We're going to show you the rest of the story, places you can still visit to get you in touch with the legacy of World War II here in our great state. [Music] [Music] This is the former El Toro Marine base I used to come to as a kid shop in the commissary all the time. Now, one of the biggest legacies of World War II here in Southern California is open land. A lot of military bases were shut down. Some developed commercially, but many serve as open land area that we would never have if they hadn't preserved the land during that time. Other places that are former military bases, the amazing Prescidio up in San Francisco, the best view in the bay. So, if you'll remember in part one, we visited Galita, the site of a surprise attack by a Japanese submarine at a restaurant where you can see some relics of that damage. Camaro CAF SoCal Wing Aviation Museum, where uniform curator Jack Lutter decodes our father's uniforms. We went to the Queen Mary in Long Beach and we talked about its storied war history as the gray ghost. We visited the area above San Pedro that was Fort MacArthur and its gun bunkers there that were a part of the Battle of Los Angeles that made headlines. Now, if you haven't seen part one, be sure and watch it on our YouTube channel. So, join me and my guest host Chris Kangilla, the World War II Dad podcaster, as we go and see the rest of our World War II California. We're going to visit historic places like the Lake Nonian Club, a star-studded resort that was converted into a naval hospital the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. Chris and I visit with Ruth Clampet, daughter of fame Warner Brothers animator Bob Clampet, and talk about how Hollywood contributed to the war effort. And we'll see an encore of my adventure flying a PT19 training plane up at the CAF Camaro Museum. Let's get going. I'm so excited. We're here in Norcco and this is the Lake Norconian Club Resort and Naval Hospital. World War II Naval Hospital. And I'm so happy to have Diane Markham, the social media director, and Jody Filkins, the secretary of the Lake Norconian Club Foundation. And and you guys are going to save this place. So tell me about what your efforts are to do this. We spend time, you know, doing educational events, social media. We do a lot of events where we have people come and they sponsor us and we tell them about the history. We talk about the World War II history, how the Hollywood celebrities that were once there in the 20s came back in the ' 40s to the World War II Naval Hospital to entertain the soldiers as they were recovering from their injuries. So, what are the challenges with saving a historic structure that you can't get to? Some of the challenges are with the bureaucracy. Okay. uh you know, we have the Navy side and then you have the rehabilitation side, but there have been opportunities for us to actually get in there with the fundraising efforts and the money that we've raised. We've been able to put pumps on the roof to pump off the water to prevent continued deterioration. But again, it's the difficulty in dealing with the state, dealing with the uh prison, the warden and all of that. But on those occasions in which we've actually been able to get in there, those are the types of things that we can do. boarding up windows um or you know boarding up empty spaces, preventing rodents from getting in there, cleaning out the gutters and things like that. And Diane was nice enough being the social media m she is. We have all these pictures of the resort and we mentioned I was born here when it was a naval hospital but it's really like Hurst Castle. Beautiful, right? I mean I mean because I don't think anybody has any idea even looking at its grandeur from here and I know it had one of the first big swimming pools that had big swimming pools. Yeah. An Italian marble that is in the dining room is is simply amazing. And and as Diane says, uh, a lot of the studio people came out and there was a big golf course, I believe. Yeah, golf course. There was bowling alley. So this was the this was the mirage of its day. Yeah. Exactly. And all those soldiers got to have dinner in the, you know, dining room, the grand dining room from the 20s, you know, in the fine silverware while they were recovering from their injuries. Yeah. And so it's a mixed bag that this is on prison grounds because it might not be there if it hadn't been for the Navy. and the state. I mean, some some developer might have torn it down and build homes. So, so we got to be respectful of that. And yet, it's time to do something about the structure. It is. And we love it. And you could see from here. It's so gorgeous. There's area inside called Peacock Walk. You should look at it. It's on our social media. There's photos. Peacock Walk. Yeah. It's like this big huge wood structure, handone. It's so gorgeous. It's really epic. Like club.org. become a part of this club. Let's save this building. If you state officials are listening to us, we have to save this building. So, Jody and Diane, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Great. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] So, it's time to take your second act creative view turn. Today's topic, hobbies, genealogy. my family tree. I've always wanted to know where I came from. Thought I was Irish. Patrick Patterson. Turns out I'm Scottish. So, I developed a plan to have a family trip over to Scotland. I went on Facebook groups to find out more about the local uh history genealogy. People flooded me with data. I contacted a local expert, the Elgen Heritage Council over there in Scotland. They have them all over the UK. Check those out. I was able to go and check out a newspaper which had a number of listings regarding my grandfather and great-grandfather and they found out the hotel they owned was still there. I could go visit it with my daughters. Incredible. And then last but not least was enjoying the trip booked by a travel expert. I didn't know how to do it so I turned it over to a travel agent which I know many of us don't use anymore because of the internet. But boy am I glad I did it in this case. Now, not everybody can afford a trip to Scotland. But you can do all of this via Zoom. I did the library. I did the Heritage Council. All via Zoom. Hope you enjoyed how I've done my creative U-turn. Now it's time for you to do yours. I'm so excited. We are here with Hollywood royalty. I'm at Ruth Clampid's house with Chris. And Ruth, no. And your father, Bob Clampid, is one of the most famous animators in Hollywood. He's my favorite. He's your favorite. He's your favorite. He was part of the Warner Brothers, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety Pie, all of those. And it's just so nice of you to have us to your home here. I'm excited to share it with everybody. So, Oh, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, you guys are great. So, Oh, good. Here we go. So, remind me in terms of the characters. Your dad was responsible for what? Yeah. So, he Porky Pig. What happened was um Slesinger they didn't have a character that was really taking off and so he asked the group to come up with some ideas and he said think about the little rascals you know the little you know and that was a good thing cuz you know he normally wasn't ever telling them what to do but he realized and so dad he actually um won some money for it they were doing you know like who can make this work. Wow. But he's always been an artist right? He's always Oh yeah. He was drawing. He he was drawing before he could walk. And um he started um he'd take they back then toilet paper was very strong. He would like make pictures like I it's I don't even know how at that age, but it was already a comic strip almost going down vineard. And when he was 12, he entered into um a a contest on the newspaper. Um, and he he did this whole, you know, fun thing about a cat and he won. Wow. And so that was amazing because he got to go to the very fine art school. They paid for it for like a couple of years and um, you know, it was just thrilling. They got his training and I know there was a brush with the Disney studios. You mentioned that he almost went to work for Walt. Yeah. But they offered him a job and it sounds like the timing was wrong. So he they he said, "You're going to have to wait." Said, "Wow." Yeah. Cuz my dad there'd be no Porky Pig making. I know. Can you imagine the world without Porky Pig? It could be a Disney Porky Pig. It might have been a Disney Pork. Yeah. I mean, he had just started seeing cartoons. And um knew he wanted a part of it. Yeah, he really did. And so, um, Walt had him do specific drawings to see how he drew and everything. And I think they went through it twice. And then he said, "I'm going to hire you, but you're going to have to wait 2 or 3 months cuz we're about to move." And um and dad thought, I there's this one other man I've met that's that's working at the studio and um he helped me make a a thing for I was making my own film and the the you know, the opening didn't look good. So he and the guy did it for him for pre and it was Slesinger. Oh wow. And so when when um Slesinger sees him and oh my god, I can't believe this kid is here. And he's and he probably threw in a little bit. And by the way, I have an offer from Disney, just FYI. I'm sure dad did. He was very charming. Yeah. You know, and he he um Oh, wow. He could really make make things happen. It was something. Well, history got changed on that that pivot. Now, I'm going to fast forward just a little bit because we're here to talk about World War II. Yes, that's so and I know that he was involved in the war effort. This is Chris's Bailey Wick. We're doing a whole episode about it. Tell us a little bit about his history during the war. Um well, he he wanted to do whatever he could to, you know, he lost some of the people on his team because they were, you know, had to go. But um he he really realized cuz he used to go into theaters and sit in the back and see how things were working and what was funny and what wasn't. And he just realized people are really sad right now. And if there's a way to do something that, you know, kind of makes them happy. Um the cartoons were very popular, you know, at that time. They needed it. And so um yeah, so he the the coolest thing he did was um Should I show it? Yeah, sure. Sure. This is a picture. Should I hold it up against the the white background? It might work. It might it might work. I don't not sure if you can see it, but it looks like a cell from Annie Bonds today, right? Yeah. Yeah. So, let me ask you, Ruth, because as Pat alluded to, I do a podcast with my brother where we talk about my dad, our dad, our World War II dad is the name of the podcast, and that's how Pat and I bonded cuz he also has a World War II dad. And you I know I don't look that old. And your World War II dad helped in the effort, too. So, we're all children of World War II fathers that really contributed to the war effort. now with any Bonds today which was a 902 short I believe that was shown before some Warner films right um he uh wrote that and directed it what do you know about that project I don't know about the music to be honest with you yeah the music came from Irving Berlin I think but I think he wrote you know and changed the stuff okay you're right about that the tall man with the high hat will be coming down your way savings out when you hear and shout any bonds today. Come on and get them, folks. Come on, skip right up and get them. Any bonds today of freedom, that's what I'm selling. Any bonds today. And um he just made it really fun. you know, they're dancing and they're, you know, the two are in their uniform and it's it's it's just it was a great thing to do because they wanted everybody to, you know, step up and and get the what did they call those? Wars. Yes. Bugs is throwing them out. Get your bonds today. Everybody get your bonds. Yeah. I mean, it's it's an incredible uh effort because, you know, there are so many stories like this. Some, like you said, some on his staff got to had to go fight the war. But there's such an concentrated effort here at home with the other people to really support that war effort. And I'm sure he raised by doing this 90 short raised so much money so those boys could fight it properly and had what they needed. Right. Definitely. Go dad. Sure. That's dad saying something. You bet. So So anyway, sorry. Hi, Dad. And um and what was really cool was that it was for years and it might still be true. It was shown in every every place where it might be one of the only things that's been in every theater. It was in every theater because they wanted to get this out to everybody and they didn't have television yet. So um that that's a big deal. I thought it was really cool. So, you know, I think that at that time when it was so hard for people and stuff that to bring in the these cartoons and and you know, see them dancing to get, you know, help everybody, it it it meant a lot. Let me ask you this. You know, obviously you weren't talking with him while he's doing this work. You know, you weren't. But what did he say about the importance? What did it mean to him emotionally to do that? Did he share any of those? He, you know, I think that, you know, he just knew that how important it is um to be, you know, to be whatever you are in in the, you know, the supporter and and um he just I I think he stepped back and he thought, "What can I do? What can I do that's going to do something with my talents?" Yeah. Yeah. And so if we can make cartoons that just make people happy and and know that Bugs Bunny is talking to him and all that that that he thought that would be a really good thing. So that's wonderful. Yeah. Hu huge morale booster. Yeah. Yeah. He had a great personality for that and and um you know I've always I've always been very honored and and you know I think very highly of my dad. He was he was a great dad and amazing artist and and uh I love that he really wanted to help people. Have there have other entities recognized the creative effort for World War II? I mean I we're we're kind you know there's a little bit of a renaissance not just Chris but you know and appreciating that generation is is is there any recognition of your dad's effort? Yeah I think I think he there was Yeah. And he, you know, he he was really proud of that. Yeah. Very proud of it. Yeah. Ruth Clampet, thank you so much. This is wonderful. This is wonderful. From a World War II child to another, thank you for your dad's service to our our great country and and uh and talking with us today. It means a lot. It really does. And I'm I'm happy to be here with you guys. Terrific. Okay. Camaro. And we are at the Commemorative Air Force Museum. This place is unbelievable. And I'm nice enough to have uh Ron Fleshman here with us, one of the volunteers. All volunteer museum. Wow. And I know primarily people come to see what's behind us. Tell me about these planes. The silver airplane is a Navon. So we've restored it to look like an airplane as this as an air base. It was based here. I got you. One of these. Yeah. Was that Tora Torra? Yeah. The green airplane behind us is a replica Kate. When they made to tour to tour, there were no real Japanese airplanes. General MacArthur when he took over Japan, he didn't want any crazy kamicazis to get in one of the airplanes and do something. Well, he rendered it inoperative and then he said, "Destroy them all." Oh, wow. Cuz when they made the movie, they needed a Japanese fleet to attack Pearl Harbor. So, they took uh PT19s and PT7s and AT6 old trainer airplanes, flew them down to Long Beach, and there was a company that spliced them, cut them, and welded them all together. Wow. Voila. Instant Japanese fleet. Great. Well, Ron Fleshman, thank you so much for doing this work. Thank you for coming. We appreciate you being here. This is amazing. So, Commemorative Air Force Museum here in Cam Rio. You got to check it out. I'm with Sean Broadhead. And Sean, what do you run here at the museum? I run the cadet program, the commemorative Air Force SoCal Wing. So, you're working with young people to do what? Yes, we are. to educate them, inspire them, and to honor World War II and all veterans. As a pilot, you know, it's important to understand these things because I am glad that the man that's taking me up in a plane knows all that stuff. You are correct. You are correct. At our show, we had a World War II veteran as part of the show. And I point out to him that this museum is about him. Yeah. And every veteran that's ever been a veteran for us. keep that memory alive. We keep that going. The the easy part for me with the cadets program is the resources I have here. Isn't that great? I mean, I've got I've got people I literally have rocket scientists. I literally have pilots all over the place. I I have people that have their own aircraft. I have people that built their own aircraft. I have people that have history that have forgotten more about some of the history than I'll ever know in my life. There we go. Some of our dosent around here and they know more about all these aircraft and everything about World War II and all volunteers. And all volunteers. That's so so wonderful. Even more fun here at the museum. I'm with Steve Ryder and we're going to go up in a plane. Tell me about this plane, Steve. This is a Fairchild PT19. It's a World War II trainer and it's the primary trainer. And is it my understanding the general public can come do this? Oh, absolutely. Oh my gosh. This is a flying experience museum, you know. Yeah. So, that's exactly what it's for, right? So, here we are at the museum and Mike, you're going to show me the safety rules and whatnot, right? So, that I come back. Well, we want you to come back. More importantly, we want you to have a good time. We want you to have a good time. Rule number one is have a good time. Rule number two is stay safe. So, you can hold on here. You can hold on to the couch. Got it. Swing a leg over. You can stand on the seat. Don't hold on to the windshield. You want to hold on here. I'm going to have to get up closer to you. That's fine. Get a little more elevation. Giddy up, horsey. Oh, there we go. Easy money, right? Okay, now you should have another belt on the other side. Blow if you want to grab onto something. Okay, gotcha. This is vertical speed, how fast up and down you're going. Good deal. Engine RPM. Yeah. Temperatures, oil pressure, etc., etc. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Well, I hope you've enjoyed our World War II California part two. Special thanks to guest host Chris Kangilla and tune in to his Our World War II Dad podcast with his brother. Amazing. Tune in next time to Pat Patterson's Best of California right here on this station. 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