Ventura Boulevard in Studio City is the site of the opening drive in Adam-12 Season 1, Episode 16, "Log 62: Grand Theft Horse." It captures the Valley's longest-running gay club Oil Can Harry's when it was new and more colorful.
Oil Can Harry's opened in 1968, when this episode would have been filmed, as it aired January 18th, 1969. In more modern times, Oil Can Harry's had a darker, less "look at me" exterior. Then in early 2021, it closed after a 52-year run (wait, isn't that 53? Articles on it say it opened in 1968 and closed after 52 years in 2021. Is that the "New Math"?) Adam-12 captured it when it was new. They also captured Linda's Little Log Cabin. Let's take a look at Adam-12 locations then and now (or closer to now!)
Although auto service stations are everywhere (except when you need one), the next bit is part of LGB history in the San Fernando Valley. Late 1968 images of Linda's Little Log Cabin lesbian bar and the brand new gay bar Oil Can Harry's on the other side of the motel. I wonder if the motel was an LGB-friendly establishment at the time? Now it's gone and has been replaced by an iconic car wash that features a hand. Geddit? "Hand wash" -- one of the newer examples of mimetic (programmatic, vernacular, novelty) design for a business.
Learn more about Oil Can Harry's at their official site. Sadly, I don't see any photos of how it looked when it was new in 1968. I wonder if they were excited to see their bar on Adam-12?
Following the addresses, which get lower as you move east toward Tujunga Avenue, I went "wait a minute!" because they ended up at a higher number! They turned the posse around and went back a bit further west on Ventura Boulevard and came east again, ending at Blue Canyon Drive, a block west of where this segment had begun. Adam-12 trying to trick me! For the thousands (more?) of us with this deep sense of nostalgia for the San Fernando Valley in the 60s and 70s (and 80s -- I didn't get there till the 80s, but it hadn't changed too terribly much yet. Unlike now 👿), watching businesses pass by out the windows of Adam-12 is a big deal. If they cut and jumped to another location, we'll catch it!
I'll have to add a second post for when they start over further west on Ventura Blvd in Studio City.
