Adam-12 Square on Police Story with Officer Smokey Robinson at Henry's Tacos

 Adam-12 Square (let's make it happen! Moorpark and Tujunga!) was used as a location on the anthology series Police Story, season 1, episode 18. Even more entertaining, the "Reed" character was played by Smokey Robinson. Yes. Smokey Robinson. 

While Adam-12 was Jack Webb's show of admiration and support for the LAPD and done by Universal, Police Story was police officer turned writer Joseph Wambaugh's look at the tormented lives of officers and done by Warner Brothers. [Note for non-Angelenos: Universal and Warner Brothers are basically kitty corner across the LA River and Barham Blvd. There's some "terrain" in between, but they're neighbors.] Police Story overlapped in time with Adam-12 beginning in 1973. Both series were on NBC.

Police Story was an hour-format and much more "adult." Like Adam-12, they went outside and showed you the actual city. Thank you! Much of Police Story showed downtown Los Angeles, and of course the area near Warner Brothers too. This episode, "Wyatt Earp Syndrome," must have been a nod to Adam-12, as actors Cliff Gorman and Smokey Robinson (!) are 1-Adam-19 and eating at Adam-12 Square. Presumably they would have attended the same roll call as Malloy and Reed! [And like Malloy and Reed, being in "Central Division" led them to Henry's Tacos in Studio City for 7.]

The red barn-looking "delicious sandwiches" place seems to have changed names since it was "The Fire House" (sometimes one word, sometimes two!)  The Shell station on the southwest corner was 4399 Tujunga.  The simply named "Valley Stores" at 11418 Moorpark and its liquor sign have held out since the days of Adam-12 patrolling Adam-12 Square, and the market was usually listed as North Hollywood, despite this technically being Studio City. Businesses at the time were mostly considered North Hollywood. 

Actor Cliff Gorman had the lead role in this Police Story episode, "Wyatt Earp Syndrome," and with his rookie partner Smokey Robinson (!!!), visited some other Valley locations.

Elsewhere in Burbank/Toluca Lake

And the giant tree. Can't totally fault the giant glass box. The box and the tree are in on this together. But that Bob's Big Boy once served my dear friend real meat when she ordered a veggie burger, so go ahead, blot them out!

Police Story captured Lakeside Market right before its end. And yes, there is another "Six Degrees of Adam-12" connection. I'm guessing most people would say Lakeside Market was in Toluca Lake. Others might think Burbank (which is a separate city; Toluca Lake is part of Los Angeles). But it used to be listed as North Hollywood! And look whose wife had submitted a recipe! It's our pal Dick Whittinghill, who made an Adam-12 appearance ("Reason to Run") and loaned his Studio City home out for the lady-shot-her-husband call in "Log 56: Vice Versa." The Valley's "Finest Families" -- an elitist supermarket in the Valley. In North Hollywood. Indeed!

Bringing it back to Adam-12, I had made a label for "Pete's Love Life," as Officer Malloy doesn't always have his mind on the job. Although he checks the young (too young, Pete!) ladies out while on duty, he only ever asked one non-coworker out while wearing the uniform (his stalker, in "Log 172: The Things You Do for the Job" -- and he put up quite a fight first). Officer Nations here, married Officer Nations, just spots a random pretty woman, SCREEEEECH, turns the car around and pursues her. Dude, you can't do that. But it gives us a last look at the going-going-gone Lakeside Market (parking lot mostly) and neighboring businesses and cars, like the '58 Chevy with my name on it. 

After he uses taxpayer resources and the power of the uniform to hit on another lady when his wife (Kim Darby, She of Every Early 70s TV movie) isn't around, 1-Adam-19 move on.

Now they're on Ventura Blvd in Studio City. They are honest on the radio, saying they're heading toward Vineland. It's true. None of that "Sherman Way and Wilshire" baloney. I believe in the center here is the German Car Service that was at 4021 Radford (listed as NoHo). This might be where Ventura Blvd and Ventura Place meet, where Adam-12 were at "Danny's" Tacos and you could see Du-Par's across the street. If I could ID this long-gone motel, I'd have more answers. Alas! Italian cypress rising up behind the German Car Service.

Adam-12 drove by here in the other direction on a sunnier day in "Ladies Night" Season 7, episode 16.

Warning! Gruesome details in this next article. 

This is what was really happening in Studio City at the time, just behind the motel the Police Story actors were headed to.

An earlier homicide case: victim was living at the El Dorado motel on Ventura:

The business which now has the (demolished) El Dorado's address is Sushi Dan.

Meanwhile, back on Police Story:

The large white brick building with only the green L visible must be the El Dorado. Odd that they gave free publicity to the Hi-Ho (no jokes about "because that's what men brought back to their rooms!") and the Trocadero, when really they were making use of the El Dorado. Not sure when the episode was shot, but presumably around January 1974, before the poor woman's dismembered body was found there.  Notice the tall Italian cypress in the middle.

Residential motels -- another way to say "high crime area."

Just east of here you reach Vineland, the 101, Lankershim, and Universal Studios, where Adam-12 was in production at this same time, well into season six as Police Story was in its debut season. The episode Adam-12 fans must see is the two-hour "Stigma" (1977) featuring "Mannix" Mike Connors and yes, Martin Milner! Kent McCord had already appeared with Mannix in the 1973 TV film "Beg, Borrow, or...Steal."  Mannix aired on CBS the entire time (plus the previous year) that Adam-12 was (originally) on the air. 

[Note: Police Story seasons 4 & 5 are online on Canadian TV -- use a VPN! -- but are not yet on DVD. Shout!Factory told me those seasons are on their "wish list."]

What to remember: Smokey Robinson played a rookie officer who ate at Henry's Tacos of Adam-12 Square fame. (Adam-12 Square, Moorpark and Tujunga, make it happen!)

The Firehouse on Tujunga and Moorpark in Adam-12

Whenever Reed and Malloy head east on Moorpark at Tujunga, there is usually a glimpse of a red barn-like building in the background. That was the Firehouse eatery at 4389 Tujunga.

Two episodes offer a much better look: "Log 88-Reason to Run" (S3, Ep25) and "Anniversary" (S4, Ep9).

"Log 88-Reason to Run" shows the Pickwick complex (ice rink, bowling, and apparently horses at one time) on Riverside in Burbank. And yes, it has just been sold to developers. I had a bad experience at that ice rink anyway... Why do they call those things for children to hang onto "Bobby Seal(e)" like the Black Panther? I tell a lie! The ice rink gets to stay, but the bowling alley will be Monster Boxes.

The episode features Randy Mantooth and Dick Whittinghill. It also has these views of the Firehouse as it was in 1971. Since that time other things have occupied the location. Most recently, it became the new location of Henry's Tacos. You can read about the Henry's Tacos situation here and here.

In Adam-12 wormhole fashion, Malloy spins the car around on Ventura and Radford and somehow ends up at Adam-12 Square, Tujunga and Moorpark. Then he reunites with Reed and catches the bad guy just *like that* because EDITING. 

After the waitress at fake "Danny's" is safe again, she contemplates working at the very real Du-Par's across the street. Not really. She's an actress. The waitress thing is just her part-time gig. It must be torturous to be one of those hopeful aspiring actors who has to work with food while trying to make it, and then to get a part on TV, only for it to be playing a food worker. But hey, it's on TV! [Cut to Janet Gaynor telling the Central Casting woman, "But maybe I'm that one."]

From "Anniversary" in the next season, we get these views of the Firehouse.

Both episodes named in this post contain some other interesting things, but this post was all about that unusual red barn-looking food place, The Firehouse on Tujunga.  [Non-Angelenos note: "Tuh-HUNG-ga"]

Adam-12 Can See City Hall from Henry's Tacos

Reed's eyesight is truly amazing, the way he calls off license plates far in the distance, even at night. He might actually be Superman, as he can see the Daily Planet (Los Angeles City Hall) all the way from the Valley. 

From Log 56: Vice Versa, season 3, episode 23, aired March 11, 1971:

Season 3 seems to be where the editing of driving clips just goes too far. For example, Malloy and Reed will be in the car talking, and what looks like Vineland can be seen out the window. If it's not Vineland, it's Colfax or Tujunga, or maybe you get an east to west view of Magnolia, but it's one of North Hollywood's major streets; then you see the car speeding down Reno to Hoover downtown, similar to the original opening credits; then they're talking again, back in NoHo; then some stock footage of the car turning the corner in Toluca Lake; then a random view of City Hall downtown; some more in-the-car dialogue with car dealerships on Lankershim clearly visible; another random shot of the car going down Riverside in Toluca Lake; a split second view of Wilshire (!?!); then they stop in front of a nice middle-class Valley home with a Studio City zip code. 

Was it all an in-joke? Was it "location comedy"? It's great that Adam-12 preserved so many areas of Los Angeles on film 1967 (the pilot) -1975, but a thematic approach would have been less jarring.

Wormhole Excess!

Here is a modern shot of Reed's view southwest on Broadway from Chinatown:

More things were visible behind them at Moorpark and Tujunga, AKA "Adam-12 Intersection" -- it should have a sign up! "Adam-12 Square"! "Squares" named after famous folks have popped up all over Los Angeles. Don't Adam-12 deserve one?  [Not in a city that defunds the police I guess 😡] 

There are a few episodes where they actually patrol their assigned Central Division. As can be seen on this hard-to-read-in-the-first-place and then modified by me map, they should really be 15-Adam-12.   

Jumping back nearer the beginning of the episode, we were on Lankershim:

WARNING: TRUE CRIME report

This all ties together in a tragic way. I said Reed was Superman because he could see all the way to LA City Hall, which was used as the Daily Planet on TV's Superman. And Adam-12 have just driven past Tyrrell Buick on Lankershim. 

Next to this local coverage of Miss Lankershim Auto Dealers was the story on the 1970 murder of a young man who worked at a Hollywood bookstore called Metropolis. 

 Buy a vowel for Employee please

Horrific murder and a senseless loss of life. Sadly, his grave doesn't even have a photo posted or flowers. I got out of Los Angeles (FINALLY) earlier this year, or I would go try to get a pic, as I am a findagrave contributor [I did many at Calvary in Los Angeles and Woodlawn in Santa Monica -- which has quite the Masonic display!] If you can get to Forest Lawn, consider posting a photograph for this young man.

I could not find any follow-up on the case. Was anyone arrested?

When Reed turns east on Hortense, there is a glimpse of Le Petit Chateau French restaurant. It only recently became "The Comedy Chateau" -- at least it's no Monster Box! 

Hortense, east of Lankershim, however, is the site of a crushing outbreak of Monster Boxes. Exhibit A:

The first cross street you come to heading east is Denny. Denny has this lovely 1926 home, showing how people should live. Across the street is a Monster Box, showing how the greedy, "pack 'em in" crowd thinks humans should live -- in oversized boxes. Luckily Google's back-in-time feature let's us see the neighborhood-appropriate house that used to be there. 

For me, this blog is as much about Valley nostalgia (and grieving) as it is about Adam-12. Adam-12 fortunately preserved a lot of things on film, even if only in passing in many cases. I originally thought the Valley was all mid-century homes with the rare genuinely old home designated an historical landmark. However, I now know many, many 1920s homes line Valley residential streets, and quite a few courtyard apartment (or "garden apartment") complexes from the 1940s are still around. [I've even found some pre-1920s homes, mostly in Van Nuys, and that shocked me!] 

Los Angeles is a city of greedy politicians, greedy developers, and overpopulation, including people who do not grasp what "carrying capacity" is. Thus, single-family homes have been declared the enemy, and the Monster Box has eaten 21st century Los Angeles. I have a fledgling blog about this horror show. On the street Reed turned down, Hortense, Monster Boxes have devoured most everything in their path. This 1948 two-unit complex is holding on, but for how much longer?

Several things happen in this episode "Log 56:Vice Versa," but the woman in the dress that appears to be made of carpet is shooting at an impressive home on Valley Spring Lane -- a home that is no more. I went far down the rabbit hole with the home's society page owners, Mr. & Mrs. John Winn. Then I found Dick Whittinghill! We'll start with the Adam-12 part that preserved the house for the masses. Then I'll share what I learned about the house and the Winns, and later the Whittinghills.

A Mrs. Martha Heath took out the permit in April of 1936 for $4500. She must have planned to live in it herself because she lost her expensive watch in Hollywood and asked it to be returned here.

Imagine inviting strangers to show up nowadays! However, the sales ad (below) sounds like it's brand new. $15,500 is roughly $295K in 2021. 

There is not one single house, not even one that is half burnt down and in a neighborhood with non-stop gunfire, that would list as "low" as $295K in the Valley today. Without going into Bubble Politics, just know the median Valley home price is now an unsustainable $955,000 [reported in mainstream media in July]. That is not a typo. That's just insanity in print. 

The median household (not individual, household) income in the Valley is around $72,000. See the disconnect?  Many homes are purchased by investors and corporations; there is also money laundering, both foreign and domestic. Real estate is a popular place to park ill-gotten gains. Alas!

I am grateful for the production decision to leave the real house address showing!

Mr. and Mrs. John E. Winn (Mrs. Winn's name was Bernice) were the first long-time owners. The Winn Family ladies had quite a few mentions in the local paper. After Mr. Winn's death at only 58, the house was quickly put up for sale. A few of their newspaper appearances, including a photo of the ladies:

Mr. Winn was a member of the Scottish Rite. So was my grandfather in the 40s/50s, oddly enough. Granddad wasn't a Shriner though! If Mr. Winn lived there 23 years, maybe they didn't buy it until 1939?

Mr. Winn must have had good insurance, being a successful insurance broker. By early 1964 Mrs. Winn (Bernice now!) was living in Toluca Lake! Upgrade from that North Hollywood address. He doesn't appear on Findagrave. 

Who bought the house? Dick Whittinghill.

Not sure how long they stayed there, but he is clearly the reason the house ended up on Adam-12, as he himself ended up on two episodes of Adam-12, including season 3, episode 25 "Log 88-Reason to Run." 

Do I have a true crime case at his restaurant? You know it!

Remember in the pilot episode when Art Gilmore played "Lt. Val Wangsgard"? Look who the actual Lt. was on this robbery case at Dick Whittinghill's Restaurant! Clearly they were giving a shout out to a real officer whom they met while making the show. Then he became "Captain Moore."

Not sure what happened with the house between the early 70s and this sale. Quite possibly the Whittinghill family were there the whole time. Dick Whittinghill passed away in January 2001, so I kind of suspect he had lived there since 1963. 

 It survived into the next century, but not for long, as Monsters keep eating LA.

Some helpful soul on imdb gave addresses for the house with the stolen furniture (4288 Elmer) and the ice cream truck drug pushers (4426 Kraft).

Time for another case. A whole house on nearby Elmer has been robbed.

The Elmer house was for sale a couple years after the episode. 

21' living room? 

I liked that they were in an actual house and not on a soundstage.  The Elmer house is walking distance from their last incident (unless you're an Angeleno) two streets east, located one house from the corner of Elmer and Valley Spring. Valley Spring continues east just a generous house lot's distance to the north of the former Winn Family home. 

Notice the corner house as it was then. (Yes, I've backed up in the story to show the original corner house.)

The robbery house has undergone some changes, but the neighbor house isn't even the same house! 11245 Valley Spring Lane was new in 2017. 

And Grandma Walton was one of the burglars.

I know it's a thing to spot the gold Mustang in every scene, but have you noticed how frequently a 55, 56, or 57 Chevrolet gets some screen time? More, please!

Heading back toward Adam-12 Square at Moorpark and Tujunga -- I want to make it happen! 

#Adam-12Square

"Credit Risk" episode shows the big brown apartment complex that took over this corner in 1971. 

Kraft Avenue north of Moorpark has largely (not entirely!) retained its stretch of original Valley houses. Let's look!

Even the homes from the 20s-40s still had their original look on Adam-12, and having walls, fences, and massive amounts of thick greenery to block your home from view was just not the done thing then. Now it's all privacy hedges, gates, walls, and drastic remodeling or tear-down-to-monsterize altogether. Didn't Malloy tell a woman, during a safety check (with "Shaft Alley!" kid) that privacy hedges actually give criminals a place to hide?

At the beginning of this episode, Malloy realized Reed would be driving that day, and boy did he look P.O.'d. That's kind of his default look actually, but it intensified here with Buz 2.0 at the wheel. Then it ends with Reed driving over his hat. Poor Peeved Pete.

I haven't included a single Mac Moment this post, so let's flash back to how their day began.