Back in 1969 I got to meet John Wayne who was at Knott's to open the new log ride in Buena Park. Wayne was done with his part and was waiting to be driven home and was standing by the old train ticket office. My uncle and I had been there to check out the new ride and ran into Wayne. My uncle was a serious photographer and instantly asked The Duke for a picture. Wayne was super nice and said, 'no problem, you have me until my ride gets here'. My uncle then had me pose with Wayne for several pictures, then he got me to take some of them and then a group shot of us on timer. My uncle and Wayne then talked about cameras for 30 minutes until his ride got there. Wayne was polite and nice to us. He had a great sense of humor and knew a lot of funny jokes. He told us that he had been friends with the Knotts family for years and had come over to open the ride as a favor to them. When it was time to go my uncle asked if he could mail the pictures to him and Wayne just said, 'no thanks, I've got too many of them as it is'. And off he went. My uncle, who lived in SOCAL, was totally floored by the experience. So was I, but I was just a kid then.
From Antique Roadshow: Stan Laurel (Laurel & Hardy) would respond to many letters with response letters until way into retirement. I am sure other icons did too. Great story re the Duke.
I randomly came across this video and got so excited! I was born and raised in Pomona and had no idea that the man who created the boysenberry was from my town, that is so fun! It's also just really exciting to see someone visit our historic downtown and appreciate the Millard Sheets'/mid-century/art deco architecture, it truly is so beautiful! This town holds so much history!
WOW!! I lived in Pomona throughout the 1970's. I worked at the Fox Theater for many years and have collected quite a history about it, including when it used to be the theater for the premier opening of all Movies, Plays, Vaudeville shows, etc..... Several actors actually did stay at the Mayfair during that early period (when it was a nice hotel). Also worked at a now defunct Shakey's Pizza parlor on North Gary Ave. Really enjoyed the video and the memories! Graduated Pomona High School at Towne Ave. and Bangor St. Thank you!!
Awesome video. Can I recommend another interesting topic about Pomona? W.K. Kellogg created the Kellogg breakfast cereal brand (Corn Flakes, Fruit loops, Frosted Flakes). He established his family residence in Pomona. He then donated his land to the college known at Cal Poly Pomona. When I was a student there, there was a whole historic center and foundation dedicated in his honor. It will be nice to see a video on that topic too. They also still have historic building on the campus.
My late grandmother researched and created a full genealogy of the entire Knott family from the 1800’s thru 1989. It’s pretty incredible. I cherish the book that she gifted to all of her grandchildren
The Fox theater used to be the halfway point to Palm Springs. Studio executives would drop off a screener on the way to their vacation homes in Palm Springs. They got audience feedback on their way back. They would get dressed up as if it was a premiere. So in "Sunset Blvd." when he says, "they'll love it in Pomona" you'll will know what he means.
I bought Hurst Air Hearts home out in Desert Hot Springs, its butifull overlooking the city. Famous inventor of breaks on many vehicles, The family left all the history he had many trophies and memorabilia I unfortunately through everthing away except a few posters and signs.
I loved this video Adam because I use to work in downtown Pomona. I worked on Second and Gary avenue and I remember when they were filming Cat in the Hat and the Antique district, the Fox theater and the Old hotel
Born in pomona lived there ......taught there 30 0f my 40 years of educating.The Fox thester has quite a history!Used to see all kinds of shows there.Bevery Sills.Smother brothers.Its now an historical landmark.They completely redid the 2nd street mall.A lot of the money coming from PUSD.But I never knew about the Knott home or church.They filmed the graduate at the church across from Westmont elem school.The Lassie Home is across the st from Kingsley elem.Johnny Provost lived there and went to school with me 1 year.He had a great BDay party with lassie there and my brother also babysat him occassionally.None of the show was filmed there.
Thanks for taking us to Pomona showing us around to the different historical places from Walter Knott House to the Lassie House and finally the gravesites of the Knotts family. ❤️🙏🏻🌴
There was another Knott home, on the park property, just south of the Chicken Dinner Restaurant. I worked there in the Summer of 1979. The home was converted into the HR headquarters, where you filled out all your job paperwork. When I entertained on the porch of the Gold Trails Hotel, I would occasionally see Walter Knott drive by on his powered wheelchair.
I miss “Visiting with Huell Howser” and this video reminds me of his series. Brooke is a wonderful and knowledgeable traveling companion and I enjoy hearing you speak from personal experience. A charming episode.
Gosh, thank you, had no idea there was so much Knott's and filming history in Pomona. I love how simple and humble Walter Knott was, especially with the design of his house, and his final resting place. I've been to a wedding before at that Fox Theater , and my favorite show was Aquabats at the Glass House. Also, maybe I'm the only one, but I do have a Blockbuster video DVD copy of Cat in the Hat, haha. :) I like Brook, she seems to know her stuff. 👍
Thank you Adam and Brook for showing us around Pomona and sharing with us it’s history with the Knotts family. Very humble family indeed. Didn’t know Walt Disney copied Mr Knotts theme park ideas. Very interesting fact well hidden from the public.
Thank you for this video. The format of your videos like this and the old series of historic restaurants plus other SoCal historical places are very fascinating.
I grew up near Pomona and went to school there. Never knew all that the city was used for and the Knotts connection! I went to Mi Cafecito a couple of years ago! So good! I also love Fullerton, lived in North Anaheim so I popped in frequently. Didn’t know he was buried there. So much SoCal history! Carl Karcher lived in North Anaheim…could be another vid.
Good to see you and your friend Brooke in the same video, I need to check her channel out she looks and acts cool. Thanks for sharing her and the Knott's berry history all in one video lol thanks again.👍😎
Moved to Pomona in 1947 into Westmont a new housing tract where the church, Westmont Methodist Church at that time, was located. The actual church was only the portion to the right of where you walked into the courtyard. As you face the church, the original sanctuary is on the right. The two stories of classrooms were attached. All the new buildings are to the left and the original personage where the preacher lived is on the get left. I attended Sunday school there from 1948 to 1955. I attended the elementary school across the street and we would go over to the church for one hour on Friday for "religious relief time" where students signed up by their parents would receive religious instruction. One of the ministers was a rockhound and gave me some geodes to break open. Directly behind the parsonage there was the Boy Scout House. Lived there from 1947 until I got married in 1965. Moved back for a few years until our house was burglarized 6 time in 6 months, time to move on.
Had to click, very cool! My dad was raised in Pomona and I have a lot of family history in this region, so it is so cool to hear about the Knott’s in Pomona. 💜💜💜
Very informative video, Adam! I think they used the Fox Theater as a filming location for Michael Scott's farewell Office episode. Specifically, Pam watched The King's Speech there.
I grew up, got married and had my son baptized at Westmont Methodist Church. The sanctuary was actually in the social hall. I remember watching and waiting for the new sanctuary to be built. The rooms in side the patio area were classrooms. Outside on of the classrooms on the north side is a playground that was built in my sister, Karen Sue Houston's, honor just after her death at three years old. That was in 1963. I still have a lot of friends from that church that have moved out of Pomona. It was a fantastic city to grow up in. The mall was a new idea in a non-vehicle mall built in the early 60's. We could walk for blocks to awesome stores where there were no cars. A Buffum's store was located at the end of the mall. If you walk the mall today, some of the stores have their names in the tile in front of the stores.
They have one of those light displays that you thought looked like a dandelion on top of the building here in Lakeland too. She’s not the only one that saw The Cat In the Hat with Mike Myers. I saw it too in the theaters when it came out.~~ Cool to see some of the history of Knotts. I myself have never been to Knotts Berry Farm. My family went before I was born. I do want to go out there sometime. I have a feeling I would really like the park cause of the theming. ~~ I do like seeing where the actor who played Timmy in Lassie lived. I used to watch that show when I was little.
Adam, the church you included in this video is the church my husband & I got married in back in 1988! I had heard it might be torn down a few years ago, so I'm VERY happy to see it's still there! 😊 My parents were also married there back in 1955. SO fun seeing it in your video! 😊
I still can't believe Adam was in Gutter Mouth. We used to listen to them while I worked as a line cook at this restaurant back in like 1999/2000. Then a few years back I find Adam the Woo on RU-vid. Small world man
Enjoyed this vlog especially the phone and cobra kai spots. Hopefully you will do a one on one or food review vlog in the near future. Your smile makes my day!! Thank you so much.
Nice video, went to school in the 4th grade in Pomona and saw Jungle Book at the Fox Theater and would go to the antique stores with my Mom . We moved from Pomona to a farm house in Chino . Sadly the farm is gone at 12703 Pipeline Ave. Thank You The Great Daily Woo ! ! 😎
Thank you so much Adam for doing this about Knott’s because I practically grew up going there and it’s one heck of a theme park that actually has so much history behind it and I know I don’t have to tell you that I’m sure you know the history of Knott’s better than me and if I’m not mistaken I love the fact that it is the first theme park in SoCal so thanks again for a history lesson of Knott’s now I know a little bit more about the man who started Knott’s now with that being said peace ☮️ love ❤️ and happiness to you Adam and I’ll see you on the next vlog wherever it takes you peace ☮️ out ✌️
OK - I'm an old fogey (That expression alone proves it!) but I enjoyed this video more than all the halloween videos of the last week. Thanks for this.
HEY ATW...WHEN YOU SAID WALTER KNOTT SEVERAL TIMES, I thought you were saying " Walt or not" and kept thinking why you were talking about Disney so much! Great vlog. Great Collab! Ok, I'm just gonna say it,"Brooke is awesome!" She has an incredible screen presence and should be collaborated with more often! What a cool town. On "Die Hard", Pomona is where McClane told his wife his captain retired to (actually, he said "Ramona").
Not related to today’s video, but I just wanted to let you know that I’m making my very first visit to Buc-cee’s right now on Richmond Kentucky. There are none in Michigan (where I’m from). It’s quite a place! Now, back to watching this video…
Speaking of Churches, on Holt Blvd, there used to be a big white Baptist Church on the corner, I forget the cross street, my family had service there and I attended bible study there as well. Unfortunately, the last time my Mom and I were in Pomona, the church was gone! 😔
I used to go to school there back in the 90s. It's Garey and Holt. It was called Pomona First Baptist and they had preschool to 8th grade there. I loved that school! Unfortunately they closed the school back in 1998 and the big white church was torn down because, from what I can remember, it was not up to code and was too expensive to fix. I remember them saying the building was too dangerous to go into also. I will never forget the smell of the inside of the big white church when they let us into the building for school church service.. before they closed it down permanently. It was a woodsy old smell. I actually enjoyed the smell. Haha I was sad also when they tore it down. Everytime I pass by now and see where the old church used to be...it brings me good memories but also makes me a little sad.
Hi, Brooke! So happy to see you this morning with Adam! It’s a double treat come full circle, as I discovered you a while back at a video store on one of Adam’s episodes. I am looking forward to this collaboration today❤❤❤
Such a humble grave Walter Knott has, although I suppose Walt Disney's is humble as well. It's surprising that they don't have anything more elaborate.
Knotts is definitely my favorite park. I grew up in Buena Park. Lived there for 40 years. Knotts sent us free tickets in the summer and in December. No scary farm. Boo!!!!! Other parks may have faster rides and a better overall experience, but I like Knotts for it quietness, you can just go and hang out, its not so crazy, Lego land is another good one, they have all these little parks and playgrounds for the adults to just chill and watch their children play. Oh! My wife works for Disney 😬 🤫👍
Wow,Thx for the Knott's background. Loved Knott's back in the 60's when no admission,could take son to feed the seals ,have a snack for an inexpensive fun time on a limited budget .Did you know about the seals ? Never thought about connecting Walter and Walt .Met Cordelia when I waited on her at the bank where I worked. Think their last child passed away recently. Happy safe travels.🏝🏞
Used to be the Chung King Restaurant.. the family was once held in the camps back in the 40's over in Fairplex. My great great grandfather made those homes out of stones.
There was a popular spot on Holt where Lucy and Dezi armed would eat and stay on their way to palm Springs - a lot of celebrities ate their on their way to Palm Springs but I can’t remember the name right now
I was born and raised in Orange County, CA in the late 50's. And for me there is no contest which is the better theme park. It's Knott's Berry Farm. I never had any use for disney land.
I still remember on Sunday morning as a kid, my mother was reading the L.A. Sunday Times and says "Well we won't be going to Knott's Berry Farm anymore." When I asked why she said that according to Times old man Knotts had said that he didn't care if Black people came to his amusement park or not. I must have been in the 3rd or 4th back then. And sure enough, we never visited Knott's Berry Farm ever again .
