The History of the Farmer John Mural in Vernon

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The Farmer John Mural is probably the most famous landmark in the city of Vernon. Dubbed “Hog Heaven” and “Pigs in Paradise,” the 30,000 square foot mural has been captivating local motorists for decades, been written about in The London Times, and been the subject of a French documentary. But who painted this mural and why? Learn the fascinating history behind this obscure and offbeat landmark. (There’s some pro wrestling in it!)
References:
“Wall to Wall Pigs” by Chris McGowan, L.A. Weekly. July 24-30, 1981.
“Pig Star: A Porky Story: When Brand-Name Meats Came of Age, No One was Bigger in Southern California than Farmer John” by Daniel P. Puzo, The L.A. Times. Feb. 6, 1996.
“Q&A Arno Jordan” by Mary Melton, The L.A. Times. Aug. 17, 1997.
“Sharpening Vision of Pig Paradise” by Hugo Martin, the L.A. Times. July 5, 2000.
“Farmer John’s Hog Wild Mural ~ Vernon” by pleasurepalate, L.A. Taco. Dec. 31, 2008.
“Dodgers Trade Farmer John, but Keep the Dogs” by Bill Shaikin, The L.A. Times. April 26, 2021.
“End of the Line for Farmer John, a Smelly L.A. Landmark of Dodger Dogs, Tourists, Protest” by Thomas Curwen and Andrew J. Campa, The L.A. Times. June 11, 2022.
“Goodman Group Snaps Up Farmer John Plant in Vernon for $209M” bye TRD Staff, The Real Deal. July 12, 2023.
“About Us” | Farmer John
“Best Mural” | Tucson Weekly
“Hog Heaven” | Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles
“Leslie Allen Grimes” | Find a Grave
Music:
“Plantation” by Omri Smadar
“Walk in the Bayou” by Lucy Allieres
#californiahistory #mural #vernon #farmerjohn #offbeatdestination

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25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 47

@juststeve7665 8 месяцев назад

How cool that you show this landmark! I also grew up in Huntington Park! We also drove by that plant and it's fragrant aroma hundreds, maybe thousands of times! I is one of my favorite memories of childhood in the 1960s! My High School friend's dad was a meatcutter there and we got a short tour once. I was a Huntington park High class of 76! I also went to Gage Jr Hi. I was proud to attend the same Jr and High Schools that my Mom attended. I learned to swim in the pool at the High School when I was little. I have many fond memories of Huntington Park from then... We actually lived in Walnut Park on Flower st. My Grandma lived just off of Slauson and Pacific Blvd... on Rita? It's been a long time and the street she lived on is long gone since H.P redeveloped the area. The area demographic was slowly changing when i was growing up there and I loved living in a culturally mixed community. Many adults at that time were not so happy as racism was prevalent then. My next door neighbors were immigrants from Colombia and they greatly influenced my life. I'm curious what class you were from at H.P. High. Was Mr Loya still teaching Health then? I know he was the Mayor later on. He was my favorite teacher. Thanks for showing this landmark and thanks for the other videos you have made. I'm going to watch them all. I live 1600 miles away from "home" now but I have a lifetime of great memories. Thank you again for resurrecting them.

@californiography 8 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories of growing up in HP! I was class of 2002; Mr. Loya wasn’t teaching when I was there, he might’ve still been on city council; he was mayor while I lived there. His wife was a guidance counselor when I was in high school.

@johnrangel2226 9 месяцев назад

Growing up in East LA two of my earliest memories were watching the Goodyear blimp take off and the Farmer John mural. Good job.

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

thank you! I've yet to see the Goodyear blimp take off; I've either seen it in the sky or parked down by the 405/110.

@actualdavidhenry 9 месяцев назад

I remember the smell and mural.

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

@@actualdavidhenry yeah, nobody that grew up around there can forget the smell. Now that Farmer John is gone, they can’t blame them anymore. I’m sure it still smells funky because of the rendering plants nearby.

@Phil_Trujeque 9 месяцев назад

I grew up in the ‘70s in South-Central LA, and I remember my pops taking us to the watch the Goodyear blimp either take off or land, at the plant on Central and Florence. That was such a cool memory, as my pops only took us a couple of times. How he knew when it was taking off or landing is beyond me - I’m just glad to have those memories. And I’m pretty sure it was the blimp’s hangar that gave me my megalophobia! That thing was MASSIVE to a 5 year old!

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

@@Phil_Trujeque that’s right!! You just reminded me the Goodyear plant was over there. I grew up with that land already being converted to the Post Office facility

@IronRakkasanCSM 7 месяцев назад

I can’t get enough of your videos, I grew up in Huntington Park and I not only remember driving past this location but I’d smell it when walking myself to HP High School in the mornings. Fun fact; the mural is featured in a scene of the original Carrie movie.

@californiography 7 месяцев назад

Oh, I remember that smell! I hated having P.E. in the morning and having to run around the track and get the smell from Vernon and Tam's mixing, it really wasn't a great combo LOL. I didn't know that it was in Carrie, I need to go back and watch it again!

@tonyledesma8724 9 месяцев назад

My pops worked there for about 20 yrs.nice video.

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

Thank you!! We should all be so lucky as your pops to have such a long career!

@ericberman4193 9 месяцев назад

Interesting video. IIRC , two of the advertising slogans used on Dick Sinclair’s Polka Parade was, “Farmer John bacon, Eastern grown and Western cured” and, “Farmer John bacon, Eastern fed and Western dressed.”

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for sharing that! I only found a few newspaper ads for the show, wasn’t able to find any footage

@HORSEYANIME2024 9 месяцев назад

Your California educational videos are fun to watch ❤ pls continue uploading more new videos of California videos

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

Thank you very much for the great comment!! More videos to come!!

@d.j.howardindtla8748 6 месяцев назад

I was there when they bulldozed the last of the buildings, watching from the Arco across the street. The mural is still there, for now. I didn't know the 1st painter died painting it. Hopefully, the new industrial park will keep the mural and the old Farmer John sign because both are pretty cool.

@californiography 6 месяцев назад

I really do hope they keep the mural; I drove by last week and there was a significant amount of graffiti, so that worries me.

@dangiven2686 6 месяцев назад

First they closed down Sears, now Farmer John is gone. So sad to see such memorable landmarks disappear.

@californiography 6 месяцев назад

It’s very unfortunate. Some people just don’t see the value in saving historic landmarks

@MyWhittierTV 9 месяцев назад

Great job man. Started by an Australian. Refurbished by an Australian and bought by an Australian Company. Crazy! Thx man. I feel a little smarter today.

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

Thank you brotha!!! Feells good to get this video out. Just gotta keep chugging along!

@jaydenp4975 6 месяцев назад

Please do a follow up video of the murals as there was a big fire there recently

@californiography 6 месяцев назад

I definitely need to head back, drove by after the fire and the mural is all tagged up and almost all the buildings are gone

@IronRakkasanCSM 7 месяцев назад

Javier, have you done a video on Tito’s Tacos in Culver City? I lived in Santa Monica as a child and my parents would take us to Tito’s Tacos and as it turns out during my Military service I’d be shocked by the number of people I’d run into that also had Tito’s Tacos when visiting California. I was shocked to find out they are still there and even more popular than ever.

@californiography 7 месяцев назад

I haven't done Tito's Tacos; funny enough, I think I've only been there twice because I grew up in Southeast L.A. County and would only ever venture out that way when I was at UCLA. I do remember they were pretty good though!

@juststeve7665 8 месяцев назад

I wrote my 1st comment before the end of the video... Now I am saddened by the fact that that the plant has closed, jobs lost and it may be torn down. Do you have video of the complete mural? I hope somebody does.

@californiography 8 месяцев назад

I took pictures and video of the whole mural, but I definitely don’t feel like I documented it enough. There were parts of the mural that extend over the L.A. River that I couldn’t properly document

@JennNofficial 5 месяцев назад

now its all almost gone as the plant haas been destroyed

@californiography 5 месяцев назад

It’s so depressing. I’ve driven past recently and have seen the outside walls tagged and the buildings all torn down. Glad I was able to document it

@JennNofficial 5 месяцев назад

yeah I worked there a few years ago for security ive seen the inside many times @@californiography

@HisAssholiness 9 месяцев назад

vernon , home of farmer john and hoffy and the infamous carcass burning facility .... wait for it , yep , the wind is shifting ... mmmm , smell that aroma ... *hurlp*...

@johnrangel2226 9 месяцев назад

If I recall correctly the vats were emptied at the end of the week. It made commuting thru Vernon gridlock all the more wonderful.

@HisAssholiness 9 месяцев назад

i worked at a gas plant in tween all 3 , so no matter how the wind was going , we got a big whiff , the worst part was the carcass burning , which was a daily ritual around 10:30 am but fear not , they are moving to the midwest supposedly , after being here 90 years , because of rising costs of doing business in cally , so i imagine hoffy will follow if they have not already left and that will be that @@johnrangel2226

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

I will never forget that smell!

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

That wind shift would bring the smell over to my HS, running track was definitely fun 😅

@californiography 9 месяцев назад

My uncle worked at Hoffy, he’d always hook us up with hotdogs!