The Helms Truck Is Here!

Above, rows of Helms trucks at the Culver City headquarters.

People living in Los Angeles from the 1930s to the 1960s would be greeted each morning by a distinctive whistle toot from the street.

It signaled that the Helms Bakeries truck was in the neighborhood.

Based out of Culver City, California, Helms Bakeries would deliver baked goods and candies to Los Angeles residents. Kids who lived in L.A. at the time, would run out to the Helms truck to buy donuts and candy. I remember doing so hundreds of times.

Above, this was a familiar scene back in the day.

From PBS:

The Helms Bakery, owned by then newly-retired New York banker Paul Helms, opened its doors in 1931. Helms Bakery operated on a large scale, churning out 150 different types of items—none of which were sold in stores. Helms’ products were delivered directly to customers’ homes.

Helms Bakery Drivers honked a distinctive horn and residents could come out to the coaches where they’d find fresh-baked loaves, doughnuts, rolls and cookies available for purchase. Some Helmsmen, as the drivers were known, even carried milk and butter. During the company’s heyday, Helms coaches extended their delivery zones all the way north to Fresno and south to San Diego.

My elementary school class took a field trip to the Helms bakery and each of us were given a miniature loaf of bread. It was a great time to be a kid in L.A.!

Of course, we must not forget the folding cardboard Helms trucks the drivers handed out.

To read more, go here.

Yum Burger Shoppe of Inglewood, California

Above, the Yum Burger Shoppe logo.

Back in the 1960s, there was a hamburger restaurant called Yum Burger Shoppe at 3300 W. Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood, California. It was across the street from the Academy Theater in the Morningside section of the city.

My parents, grandmother and I used to frequent Yum Burger when I was a kid. The burgers were great, but what I really liked were their homemade donuts. After church, we would go there for lunch and pick up a dozen donuts.

Above, a vintage Yum Burger plate from the 1960s.

Somewhere around 1964, Yum Burger had a fire that gutted the restaurant, but, fortunately, the owners rebuilt the restaurant.

According to Restaurant Ware Collectors Network:

Yum Burger Shoppe was located at 3300 W. Manchester in Inglewood, CA. On the back of a 1951 menu, owner Arlow W. Nalder, who died September 26, 1969, welcomed patrons to the new home of Yum Burger so it either had a major renovation in the same location or relocated. Burgers and hot fudge sundaes were just 35 cents at that time.

Above, a 1950s Yum Burger menu.

The former location of Yum Burger is now a dentistry. The building's shape leads me to believe that it is the original Yum Burger structure, just extensively remodeled. The entrance faced diagonally at the corner of the block.

Here is the building today:

I could not find any photos of Yum Burger Shoppe. If anyone reading this has a photo of the restaurant, please forward a copy. I would be happy to post it.

Another favorite "burger joint" in Inglewood was Scotty's, near the 5th Avenue Theater. Unfortunately, I could not find any information on it. 

Santa Fe: Parking and Donuts

Above, The Beast parked across the street from the Capitol. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The organizers of the Second Amendment Rally at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe, New Mexico warned attendees to get there early as parking is a bit hard to come by.

They weren't kidding. I drove around the Capitol for a few minutes looking for a parking spot. As difficult as it is for cars, finding parking for a motorhome would be even more daunting.

Thankfully, I spotted a small parking lot directly across street from the Capitol with room enough for The Beast.

There was an added dividend in parking there. In the lot was a couple of food vendor trailers and one of them offered cappuccino coffees and freshly-made-to-order homemade donuts. Of course, I couldn't resist some homemade donuts. Since I moved to New Mexico two years ago, I only stepped into a donut shop once in Gallup.

Above, the three donuts and the mocha. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

So, I ordered a hot mocha coffee and two plain cake donuts. The vendor generously gave me an extra donut. I then headed back to The Beast and consumed everything inside the warm RV. The donuts were great!

Life is good!