My story begins on New Year’s Eve 1933. My mother and step-dad had been invited to a New Year’s party and, since there was to be drinking and adult games, I was asked if I could be trusted to go right to bed after I finished my magazine and paper route. Of course I said “yes” and that was the beginning of my New Year’s Eve saga. On the way down 9th St., I stopped at The Pantry and sold a few Liberty magazines and papers. Most of the waiters knew me and would help out by telling the patrons to buy from me.

I then proceeded with my route and ran into a person selling New Year’s party favors in front of the May Co. and other retail stores along Broadway. He asked me to give him a hand selling goods and said I could make some more money for the night. I helped him until midnight and decided that it would be a good chance to go to the midnight show at Warner Bros. theater on South Broadway. When the show let out, it was after 3AM New Year’s Day. On the way back home up 9th St. I saw this new 1933 Cord Roadster parked in front of The Pantry. It turned out the car belonged to my favorite cowboy Tom Mix. I went in, sat down along side of my hero and asked him to buy a magazine. He said to me, “What are you doing out at this time of night?” The waiter told Tom who I was and he bought the rest of my magazines and papers, then told me to get on home.

But upon exiting The Pantry, a Mr. Lemon of the L.A.P.D. stopped me and took me to the Georgia St. police station until they could contact my parents later that morning. Needless to say, when my parents got ahold of me there was a price to pay, but I have no regrets as it was a night to remember.