Adam-12 at Vineland and Magnolia

Adam-12 at the colorful corner of Vineland and Magnolia, North Hollywood in 1973

What are those colorful businesses you caught a glimpse of in "Capture" Season 6, Episode 9 (and other episodes!)? One was Wide World Import Bazaar. Although the main store was in Pasadena, this lesser-known North Hollywood location made it into Adam-12. Northwest corner of Magnolia and Vineland, at 11011 Magnolia. All gone now, voltage tower and all, as the march of the Monster Boxes continues through Los Angeles. This glimpse of San Fernando Valley business history got captured on Adam-12. Anyone remember actually going in there?

Wide World's main location was in Pasadena:

The strangest thing for me is the high voltage tower right next to it.

Today the tower and the entire former building are gone, but farther south on Vineland (at least) one of these remains right next to the street. 

The other colorful building was Fiasco Automotive.

The 1932 structure is still there.

Fiasco had been in business since at least 1965. Unknown what color it was then.

Curious to know if it was the same streetlamp. [Street lamp, streetlamp -- apparently both!] 

Around Los Angeles some of the old-style ones are actually replicas (my friend looked into it), but I can't say for sure. I knocked on one of these in front of the El Portal on Lankershim, trying to decide if it had a heavy feel or felt cheap. Newly painted anyway. I honestly couldn't say. My feeling was "replica" -- but that's not to say replicas in front of the El Portal mean replicas on Magnolia and Vineland. That modern thing across the street in my photo below is HIDEOUS. Adam-12 drove by the El Portal here.

Another actual business you get a glimpse of is Hannig's Imported Car Service at 10940 Magnolia. 

Our Adam-12 boys were actually going to the Mobil station, after the art department had turned it into the comical "W." Instead of "Wesco," why not just put "free bird seed" for maximum laughs? 

Alas, the Mobil station is long gone, as is so much of North Hollywood (read: the Valley, Los Angeles, California, the world we once knew).

Tip for recognizing Vineland (i.e. they've left Lankershim briefly) -- it has a median down some of it. 

Yikes! Look at the air quality! It was much worse in the 70s.

There was more to this episode, but the colorful western corners of Magnolia and Vineland called to me first. Still, gratuitous Mac shots are a must: