History is like a puzzle. The pieces are interesting but when they are put together, a real picture emerges. Descendents of early settlers give us wonderful pieces of history by sharing memories that describe our cultural landscape. We are lucky to have many stories of the founding families of Rancho La Ballona: brothers Agustin and Ygnacio Machado, Felipe Talamantes and his son, Tomas.
Margaret Lamorie Cruz, a descendents of Felipe Talamantes, will be 100 years old this month. Cruz is a wealth of information about what she refers to as “the olden days.” She was born in 1911 at her grandmother’s home on a dirt road, now called Sepulveda Boulevard (near Washington Boulevard). Her mother, Arcadia “Kate” Talamantes, was born at that location in 1891. Cruz’s father worked in the oil fields around the areas of La Brea Avenue/Wilshire Boulevard/Third Street. When the wells were shut down, her folks moved their house – literally – from the deserted oil fields to Culver City. Her father became the head grip at MGM Studios. Cruz attended the first La Ballona School, just like her mother. She does a great impression of their teacher (and principal), Mr. Smith, removing his spectacles, rubbing his eyes, which a visiting outspoken Mrs. Machado interpreted as sleeping on the job. Cruz went on to attend Venice High School.
Cruz tells stories about gathering pollywogs and picking watercress at the edge of Ballona Creek. She sold watermelons, eggs etc. with her grandfather at his corner produce stand. He kept the money in a cigar box. She remembers a day her grandfather left for a while. A speeding car hit their dog and kept going. A scared young Cruz ran to the house, forgetting about the money. When she returned with her grandfather, the cigar box was still there and someone had purchased produce, so it contained more money. “Those were different times,” she says.
Her uncle, Jerry Talamantes, could only have the car if Cruz went along. She liked going to the Meralta Theatre. Talamantes’s date had a brother, whom Cruz met at 13, and married at 17.
Cruz danced almost every night, sometimes at Olvera Street. One can tell she still loves music. She also remembers being at the Orpheum Theatre when the Zoot Suit Riots erupted in Los Angeles in 1943.
Cruz’s father, Joseph, won a bet with comedian Red Skelton, which gave Cruz the seed money to open “The Tropicana Night Club on Sepulveda Boulevard, next to her home. That was August, 1951, as the first La Ballona Days Parade finished. Her son, John, a city employee, went from picking up after the horses to tossing her tamales to the crowds.
Cruz still has a twinkle in her eyes, a taste for tequila and she especially remembers the good times. She loves baseball even though, as she says, “the Dodgers stink right now.” Happy 100th birthday, and thanks for your memories.
