FREDERICK MADISON ROBERTS

Frederick M. Roberts

by Pebbla Wallace

You never know what you are going to learn about someone when you start doing historical research; that’s what happened to me when I began to write about the Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights.  I came across the name Frederick Roberts and accidentally discovered that there was more to his history than meets the eye.  Not only was he the great-grandson of the enslaved Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson (3rd President of the United States), but Frederick was the first African-American to be elected to the California State Assembly in 1919.  But as you will read, there were other firsts for the Roberts family.

The Roberts-Hemings Family

Frederick’s life began in Chillicothe, Ohio on September 14, 1879, where he was born to Andrew Jackson Roberts (referred to as AJ) and Ellen Hemings.  Ellen’s father, Madison Hemings was one of the three children fathered by Thomas Jefferson and his enslaved woman, Sally Hemings, making Frederick their great-grandson.  (Note:  In 2000 the Thomas Jefferson Foundation acknowledged these findings, and published a report that presented DNA evidence to support this claim).

Frederick’s father was considered one of the first early African-American pioneers of Los Angeles.  His family moved to Los Angeles in 1885 when Frederick was only six years old.  At the time, the Los Angeles African-American population was less than three percent.  His father first worked as a Drayman (a flat-bed wagon driver that transports goods) and also had a tracking and storage business.  Later, he established the first Black-owned mortuary business in Los Angeles which became very successful.

Frederick

Frederick attended Los Angeles High School and was the first African-American to graduate from that institution.  He then attended the University of Southern California, and later transferred to Colorado College where he graduated with honors.  Frederick’s interest in politics began at an early age, first in high school, and later at college.  Around 1908, after college Frederick served as the editor of the Colorado Springs Light newspaper where he wrote about political issues.

Frederick M. Roberts (on the right) with his father and brother in front of the family mortuary.

When he moved back to Los Angeles around 1911 he was extremely busy in various endeavors. First, he founded and was editor of the New Age Dispatch. Then he joined business forces with his father and brother in A.J Roberts and Sons, a mortuary business located in a two-story Victorian on Los Angeles Street. Frederick also became a well-known and respected figure in the Black community - becoming involved in the church, community improvement, and several political and civil rights groups including the NAACP and Urban League.

In 1918 Frederick ran for California Assembly. His candidacy was highly unusual, not only because he was the first African-American to do so, but because at the time he was running in a district that was majority white, and the State of California was entrenched in racism, attributed to the first Great Migration. He was able to build a multi-ethnic campaign staff of both Republications, progressives, and various other alliances. Along with this and the support of the community, he was able to win the assembly seat.

While in the California Assembly, Frederick was a major civil rights activist and advocated for various civil rights legislation as discrimination in Los Angeles grew with the arrival of more and more Southerners. To help combat this, he authored Bill 693 (1919) – which prohibited discrimination based on race, creed, or color to access to public accommodations; and Bill 452 (1921) which prohibited the publication of education materials and textbooks that portrayed negative images of People of Color. He also proposed civil rights and anti-lynching measures, sponsored legislation to improve public education, and helped to establish the University of California at Los Angeles.

Roberts married Pearl Willard Hinds on November 30, 1921, and had two daughters. He served four terms in the California Assembly and became known as “the dean” for his bipartisanship. But in 1934, he was defeated by Augustus F. Hawkins. Frederick ran for Congress twice but unfortunately lost both bids. In 1952, he was slated for an ambassadorship by President Eisenhower, but unfortunately his life was cut short by a fatal automobile accident in Los Angeles. He is buried at the historic Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights. In 1957, the City of Los Angeles dedicated the Frederick M. Roberts Park located at 4700 Honduras Street in his memory.

To learn about the Madison-Hemings ancestry:

https://gettingword.monticello.org/families/hemings-madison/

A Tale of Dutch Heritage in Los Angeles: The Rich Legacy of Van de Kamp's Bakery

By Lilly Templar

Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles lies a cherished landmark that once offered Angelenos a glimpse into Dutch culture and culinary traditions from the Netherlands underscored by the smell of freshly baked bread—the Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery headquarters. Built in 1931 in Glassell Park on Fletcher Drive and San Fernando Road, it is a stunning example of Dutch Renaissance Revival architecture with a brick façade, white-trimmed windows, and gabled roofs resembling a Dutch farmhouse. Over the years it quickly became an integral part of the Los Angeles culture and charm.

The origins trace back to the early 20th century when Milwaukee transplant, Theodore J. Van de Kamp and his sisters, Marian and Henrietta along with her husband Lawrence L. Frank, established an iconic symbol of quality baked goods with Dutch heritage here in Los Angeles. Theodore’s grandparents emigrated from the Netherlands in the 19th Century and the Dutch entrepreneurial spirit was brought to Los Angeles. However, the journey of “Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery” began much earlier back in 1915 when Theodore and his brother-in-law Lawrence, opened their first of several potato chip shops in downtown Los Angeles. A small outpost on Spring and 2nd Streets had customers lining up on the sidewalk for the fried salty snacks. Their slogan, “Made Clean, Kept Clean, Sold Clean” was selected to reinforce Dutch cleanliness and values. Due to a potato shortage during World War One, the family began producing baked goods such as coffee cakes and apple pies. They then outgrew the chip shops and expanded their baked goods and coffee shop chain. 

One of the earliest locations of the new “Van de Kamp Holland Dutch Bakery” was at Western Avenue and Beverly Boulevard. This was the home of the first distinctive windmill which became an iconic symbol for the brand and tied the entire theme together. The bakery’s newspaper adverts boasted “18 types of fresh bread” from their blue and white Delft-themed delivery vans. The Van de Kamp's commitment to traditional Dutch baking techniques, modern machinery, and the use of high-quality ingredients kept locals returning. The distinctive windmills populated Los Angeles and beyond eventually launching them into national expansions and fame. Eventually, they expanded into a thriving empire of over 300 locations at the height of their success. During the 1940’s the family also ventured into the frozen fish industry, launching a line of frozen seafood under the Van de Kamp's label. As time went on the fate of the Van de Kamp's empire and headquarters faced uncertainty after the passing of Theodore Van de Kamp in the mid ‘50s and Lawrence Frank left the business soon after. Ownership changes and economic challenges led to the closure of the bakery headquarters, marking the end of an era for the original Van de Kamp's establishments in Los Angeles.  

The once-thriving industrial plant and the headquarter’s fate was at great risk since 1990. It remained dormant for many years. Demolition concerns and the loss of a significant cultural heritage site caused the Los Angeles Conservancy, preservationists, and community advocates to work for decades to save the historic headquarters. Their heroic efforts resulted in restoration projects that revitalized and restored the cherished landmark’s facade. It was designated as a historic-cultural monument and the facade now serves as a campus of Los Angeles City College entrance. It is now known as the Van de Kamp Innovation Center and a historic preservation victory. The last remaining vestiges of a Van de Kamp restaurant is now a Denny’s in Arcadia, however, the windmill was preserved and is towering proudly on the rooftop. These are our reminders of the importance of cherishing landmarks that hold the memories and stories of a community. In a city known for its quickly changing landscape, the Van de Kamp's Bakery headquarters remains a steadfast landmark of Dutch heritage, a living tribute to the past, present, and future of Los Angeles' diverse cultural mosaic honoring its past while embracing the present.

WHAT ABOUT BOB?

by Pebbla Wallace

“Bob” Big Boy statue on Riverside Drive. Photo by Pebbla Wallace

No, I’m not talking about the 1991 comedy starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss.  I’m referring to the iconic chubby-cheek boy with the Pompadour haircut of the 50s with red checkered overalls, who has guarded the Big Boy restaurant on Riverside Drive since 1949.  Why is this Bob and the restaurant he stands in front of considered iconic?  And why is the restaurant considered a “Point of Historical Interest” by the State of California?  To understand that, you must first understand Bob’s history.

The Birth of Bob.  The conception of “Bob” was first born in 1936 by founder Bob Wain, when Wain sold his car for $300 dollars and purchased a small ten-stool lunch stand in Glendale and called it Bob’s Pantry.   According to Bob Big Boy’s historical blog, the new name came about when a young chubby boy with droopy overalls was doing odd jobs for Bob.  He forgot the young boy’s name and called out “Hey, Big Boy,” and the new name was born – Bob’s Big Boy.

The Building – Interior and Exterior.  Bob’s Big Boy restaurant on Riverside Drive opened in 1949, and today is the oldest operating Big Boy in the United States.  The restaurant was designed by architect Wayne McAllister, and built by Burbank residents Scott MacDonald and Ward Albert.  Wayne McAllister was a Southern California trailblazer at the time, specializing in Googie architecture – a style of futurist architecture that was influenced by car culture.  According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, “the restaurant is a transitional design incorporating 1940s Streamline Moderne styles (broad, curving window walls and canopies) while anticipating the exuberance of freeform ‘50s coffee shop architecture (cantilevers, striking signage, use of glass)”.

The building’s most eye-catching aspect is the massive neon sign which soars above the restaurant, and is considered an art form by itself. The amazingly dramatic sign, which is more than 70 feet tall, has pink and white neon letters and is visible for miles down Riverside Drive and throughout the Toluca Lake and Burbank areas.

The restaurant started with both a drive-in and sit-down restaurant, and originally included carhop service (which was utilized again during the COVID-19 pandemic).  Even though today it is no longer a drive-in, it still retains the drive-in features, with classic auto shows every Friday night.  The interior of the restaurant has been remodeled several times, but the strategic seating plan, which placed the booths to have a panoramic view, has remained the same.

Big Boy’s Name to Fame. In 1965, The Beatles stopped by and dined at this particular Big Boy’s restaurant during one of their tours. A plaque commemorating the event marks a corner booth in the restaurant. If you go to the restaurant and try to get that booth – good luck; it is very popular and rarely available due to many regulars and tourists requesting the famous “Beatles booth.”

Bob’s Big Boy Carhop Service in 1954, LAPL Public Library

STOLEN, BOB-NAPPED, and DISMEMBERED

The “Bob” 300-pound fiberglass icon statues have been the victim of crime throughout the nation, and have notably been Bob-napped too many times to count.  To this day, there is no record of any ransoms being paid for the retrieval of poor Bob.  However, some examples of Bob-napping were in Wyoming when he was Bob-napped and abandoned in a field near the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.  In Toledo, Ohio four youths stole and dismembered the Big Boy statue.  They removed his arms and legs and left them in front of another fast-food restaurant.  A note was left with letters cut from newspapers, reading “Big Boy is Dead”.  In South Burlington, Vermont, Bob was kidnapped from its display outside, was shot in the head, and dumped in a nearby woods.

Bob isn’t the only fiberglass statue that has been kidnapped in the past – Ronald McDonald; a 700-pound captain with a parrot; a 4-foot Pillsbury doughboy; and a 250-pound dolphin from Marineland have all been victims of similar mascot-napping.  Most law enforcement believe these were done as high school and College pranks.  Nobody knows exactly how many times Bob has been stolen or kidnapped from the Burbank location – but today he is set in deep concrete. Please be warned – the Big Boy fiberglass icon is valued at over $6,000 – and bob-napping him is considered a felony in Los Angeles County.

But no matter how many times you try to Bob-nap or wound the iconic figure, he always bounces back.  Yes, Bob has been in the fiberglass hospital many times for repairs, and yes, Bob has had a few facelifts since 1949 – a little paint here, and a small patch there.  But he’ll always be there on Riverside Drive to welcome you to his restaurant.

At Big Boy’s Peak in the 1960s, owner Bob Wian had over 1,000 individual locations nationwide and hundreds of franchises.  Wian sold the business to Marriott Corp. for $7 million in mid-1970 and later retired from the restaurant business.   In 1988, Marriott sold the franchise rights to Elias Bros.  However, the Burbank/Toluca Lake location is owned separately by the family of one of the original builders, Scott MacDonald, who acquired control of the restaurant in 1993.

The East Side - From Native Refugee Site To Marachi Plaza

The East Side - From Native Refugee Site To Marachi Plaza

This blog will focus on the eastside of the City of Angels. When people think about the history of our city, many focus on our downtown area - Olvera Street, the Civic Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and historic Broadway and Spring Street. But many of us forget about the eastside of Los Angeles - located east of the Los Angeles River. This includes historic neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights (one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles), and El Sereno.

The East Side - Evergreen Cemetery: Exhuming History

The East Side - Evergreen Cemetery: Exhuming History

This blog will focus on the eastside of the City of Angels. When people think about the history of our city, many focus on our downtown area - Olvera Street, the Civic Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and historic Broadway and Spring Street. But many of us forget about the eastside of Los Angeles - located east of the Los Angeles River. This includes historic neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights (one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles), and El Sereno.

The East Side - The Legendary Sears Building: How it was assembled, packaged, and delivered the American Dream

The East Side - The Legendary Sears Building:  How it was assembled, packaged, and delivered the American Dream

This blog will focus on the eastside of the City of Angels. When people think about the history of our city, many focus on our downtown area - Olvera Street, the Civic Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and historic Broadway and Spring Street. But many of us forget about the eastside of Los Angeles - located east of the Los Angeles River. This includes historic neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights (one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles), and El Sereno.

The East Side - A Boyle Heights Teaching Career: Ida Crum and Hollenbeck Junior High, 1925-1966

The East Side - A Boyle Heights Teaching Career:  Ida Crum and Hollenbeck Junior High, 1925-1966

This blog will focus on the eastside of the City of Angels. When people think about the history of our city, many focus on our downtown area - Olvera Street, the Civic Center, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and historic Broadway and Spring Street. But many of us forget about the eastside of Los Angeles - located east of the Los Angeles River. This includes historic neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights (one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles), and El Sereno.