Saturday, June 30, 2012

Tradition

When the original Zinke's shoe repair was torn down at Madison and Colorado, an old sign was revealed. How fitting that it's for a "time shop." Helen's? I couldn't find anything about it on the web. This might be a question for the archives at the Pasadena Museum of History.

Zinke's has moved to a new location, a mini-mall at Locust and Lake, and that's not a bad thing. By the time it was torn down the only traditional thing about it was the sign (and perhaps the vintage tile).

Other Pasadena traditions we adore, however. Take Doo Dah, for example. It can't disappoint because you never know what to expect. For example, would you expect the venerable Pasadena Museum of history to host a retrospective exhibit about the Doo Dah Parade?

Well, such an exhibit is in our future (we know what to expect from the PMH, thank goodness), and tomorrow between 5 and 8pm there'll be a party at the museum to celebrate. You can go. A host of past Doo Dah queens will be there and the current queen, Patrizzi Intergarlactica herself, wouldn't miss it.

Put on your Doo Duds. Help the museum fund-raise. Go mingle. It's tradition.

27 comments:

Katie said...

Very cool to discover a long-lost sign. Bummer that Zinke's had to go (love the vintage tile!) for this to be uncovered though. Have a blast at the Doo Dah Royal Cocktail Extravaganza. That's got to be the Pasadena party of the year.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ha! Could be, but the Party of the Year prize would have to go to the Tournament of Roses--although the Doo Dah Parade is its only rival.

Adele said...

"Doo Duds". That just makes me happy. Love the discovery of the old sign. There's one of these in San Gabriel right now. An ice cream shop sign on the back side of a car dealership. (They tore down part of the dealership's building for remodeling, and there it was!)

Anonymous said...

At first I thought the sign said "Matchmaker."

Jean Spitzer said...

If you're old enough, you become respectable, apparently. Good news for us baby boomers.

Petrea Burchard said...

Did I say "respectable?"

jmgrimes said...

Any idea what happened to the old Zinke's sign? Seems like it could have been detached and saved.

Diana said...

I bet the Pasadena Public Library (Centennial Room) has a business director that can be searched by address, Petrea. You might start there to find the full name of the "time shop," and perhaps other info as well. I recommend the Centennial Room's uber-librarian, Dan McLaughlin, to you!

TheChieftess said...

I'm so sad that Zinke's is gone!!! I do hope they kept the sign...it was such a classic! We had/have a Zinke's in Glendale, but I don't know if it's still there. I did go to the one in Pasadena before it closed and had the same miserable experience that I've read about on blog's referring to Zinke's...oh well...I guess "the time's they are a'changing"!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

James, I believe they took the sign to the new location.

Thanks, Diana. Dan has helped me find stuff before (he doesn't know that, but I don't forget). That's a good idea.

Chieftess, I have to admit I don't think much but the sign will be missed. I didn't have a great experience there either. The White Hut, though, now there's a business the loss of which some folks will lament.

TheChieftess said...

Was the White Hut a hamburger stand??? The Zinke's in Glendale is/was on the same lot as a little hamburger stand...I think called the White Hut...

My mom and I would go there for a hamburger or chocolate milk shake when we were shopping in downtown Glendale when I was a little kid!

Mister Earl said...

I just noticed that Zinke's was gone about a week ago, and I noticed the sign. As do others, I hope Zinke's kept the sign. I know the White Hut Chieftess!

Bellis said...

Putting on my Dooh Duds to shake to Snotty Scotty tomorrow. I'm bringing a wild friend. best stay away from us.

Petrea Burchard said...

Really, Chieftess? I didn't know there were two White Huts. I never would have thought of it as a chain.

Earl, I hope they kept it, too. Easy enough to find out with a drive up Lake toward the freeway.

Bellis, take pictures!

Latino Heritage said...

Great discussion going here. As I recall both Central Library and PMH archives have copies of Thurston's Directory. Depending on the year it can be a really helpful tool espcially because of the cross references. One section has a name base, another section an address base -- pretty hand if you have one and a part of the other.

Ms M said...

It's so interesting to see what's uncovered when doing work on an old building. I could use a time shop -- I'd like to order an extra 30 minutes today, please....

Have fun at the Doo Dah exhibit party! (Pics, we want pics)

Petrea Burchard said...

Great suggestions. I love the archives. There are more stories in Pasadena than one can ever know.

A time shop, Ms. M, isn't it a great idea? Mm, I feel a story coming on.

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh gosh, Ms. M, today of all days, John tells me we have an extra second. Sure enough we do, and it's free!
http://bit.ly/N21YpI

Bellis said...

I spent that extra second in a moonlight hike in Griffith park. It was worth every minute.

Petrea Burchard said...

That's an excellent use of free time, Bellis.

Ms M said...

That's good to know about the extra second. I knew something felt different yesterday....
We used the extra time to also take a moonlight walk.

Petrea Burchard said...

All you moonlight walkers! Now I feel silly because I think John and I used our extra second eating.

Susan Campisi said...

Darn, I'm missing the party. I went to the parade this year but somehow missed the queen and now I'm missing her again. Hopefully you'll post some photos so I can get a vicarious thrill.

Cafe Pasadena said...

I noticed this same wall & also took a foto a couple of mths ago. And so I actually know a little about this, such as it's NOT Helen's, and a lot more that I don't know, such as did the owners have children, etc etc.

I haven't blogged about this cuz 1st I thot I should dig up more. (Ok, and also cuz I'm a lazy dog) I should just put up what I have & any readers can take the next baton to find more if that's of interest.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm glad you had fun, your majesty!

Trish said...

Am late to the party again...sigh. Life and bad internet has a way of interfering.

Zinke's has been there for...seems like EVER. Don't remember anything before that. Vaguely I'm remembering that sign for the Time Shop...Gaelen's, maybe? Brain is NOT working at capacity lately, or I might be more help.

Zinke's used to be decent, but alas, like many things "old" in these years, it seems has fallen to crud. I suspect many old businesses are sold to people who think they can do the same thing the old business used to, but in a better, newer fashion. Like the old Balk's Hardware in SoPas, there is NOTHING like good old fashioned service, knowing your product and giving a damn.

The Doo Dah, is, as you say, unpredictable, so it always delights, at least, me.

Petrea Burchard said...

Very close, Trish: Gelen's. Cafe Pasadena did some good sleuthing, here:
http://cafepasadena.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/all-about-the-watchmaker-2/#comment-5107