Sunday Drive: Pismo Beach, California - 1936

This snapshot from the Currey family album was taken on the beach at Pismo. Mother and Junior are are posing in front of their 1935 Dodge truck. From the caption you know what they were going to have for dinner.

[From my personal collection]

This picture, taken a few days earlier at a different campsite, gives us a glimpse of the interior of the tent structure Dad had built on the back of the truck as well as a peek at their cooking arrangements.

[From my personal collection]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: Clam Taxi

The only note on this Kodachrome slide from around 1950* reads "Pismo Beach" and there's enough information to be gleaned from the hand-painted signs on the truck itself to identify it. Bill Lovern and his wife Ruby, transplanted Texans, ran a clam and tackle shop in Oceano which also offered 24-hour towing service. From an interview a reporter with the San Luis Obispo Tribune had with his daughter Betty in 1989 we learn more about the "taxi" (and you can too by following this link):

"He had converted a 1929 Model A Ford ice truck into the 'clam taxi.' He added benches, a ladder shaft and power winch. Most customers, however wanted rides to and from their favorite clam digging spots. If they didn’t have some, Bill Lovern offered advice."

[From  my personal collection]

I love the internet!


*The slide could have been taken as early as 1948 but probably not later than 1951.

© 2015 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.