Mac Meda Destruction Company

La Jolla, Bird Rock Sign – Sea Gulls and Pelicans Symbol

Bird Rock got its claim to fame in La Jolla/Meda history because of its Hollywood-like-sign that was carved into the hill overlooking the ocean - pranksters played a major role, rearranging the letters - Photo by Bill Decker

La Jolla was divided into several territories. You had the Shores, downtown La Jolla, Soladad, but none stand out better than Bird Rock. In the old days, living in Bird Rock, you were considered in the outskirts of La Jolla. Its boundary was west of  La Jolla Mesa Drive, south to Turquoise and north to Via De Norta and east to the hill. And to Mac Meda it was known for its two major  watering holes Red Mountain Inn, and Sip n Surf, and to restaurants like Bullies and Ocean Fresh. It was also Jack McPherson’s mail route.  Read more... (321 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

Roger Johnson – La Jolla Cove, Turkey Gobbler, W.C Fields and Demons

Roger Johnson known for his W.C Fields quotes and Turkey Gobbler stunts.

Roger Johnson was another unique La Jolla beach character that lived on the edge and eventually fell off.  His idol was W. C Field and Field’s quote. “I never drink water because fish fuck in it” Roger could quote all of W.C’s drinking quotes  and would  mimic him at times sober. He pretty much acted like W.C when he was shit-faced and it became an internal personally.  Read more... (515 words, 1 image, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)

La Jolla’s WindanSea Wall – Social Status

We all know famous addresses,  the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and Sherlock Homes, 221b Baker St,  but for the La Jolla beach-goers crowd, 4811 Neptune, otherwise known as WindanSea’s “The Wall,” was thee spot to  hangout at. Not all could share its space. Only the coolest of the cool hung out there …

Unlike WindanSea Shack (where it was the spot for surfers) The Wall was the local status symbol and was perceived the prime location to hang and extremely visible to those driving by. It was common to have traffic jams as friends driving pass would stop and shoot the shit for 10,15 or even 30 minutes, or until a cop was spotted.  Those tourists driving the beach and caught in a Wall Jam, usually found themselves yelled and cursed at if they even touched the horn.  Read more... (356 words, 0 images, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

Plane Crashes at WindanSea, La Jolla Killing Actor Phillip G. Bent and Folksinger Peter Sachse

This AT-6 Military plane was the type that was converted for civilian use, crashed at WindanSea on July 12, 1966, killing Actor Phillip G. Bent and folksinger Peter Sachse. Both wives of the men were sunbathing at WindanSea when it happened.

I never will forget it, it was one of those cloudless, perfect La Jolla  July summer days and all I could think about was doing a little bit of body whomping at WindanSea with a friend of mind. As we were walking to the pumphouse from Big Rock,  a plane flew by a bit low, not uncommon for those days. Then it banked, rounded again and did some stunts, catching the attention of the beach-goers until suddenly it did a loop and crashed into the sea between Big Rock and WindanSea.  Read more... (441 words, 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Showing Off a New Bike at Windansea Parking Lot

Hummmm, new bike??? Photo believed taken by Sarrett in 1968? and provided by Eber

For a while there it seemed the hottest thing was a cool bike, and there was nothing like getting one, regardless of who, what and where.

New was even better …

Once one was inquired about, and steps made to  acquire it,  it was then just a matter of showing it off to the girls at WindanSea parking lot. Now …  and without going into details of whose bike it was, well the Meda  editor rests his case on this short post.

L-R – Eber, Pete Bergstron, Lisa Coombe, Barbra Gosnell, unknown, Bill Uncapher and John K Weldon check out the newly acquired and cool machine.

La Jolla Cove Black Sea Bass – 628Lbs – Donnie Tomlinson

628lb Black Sea Bass caught off La Jolla Cove by Fishermen Donnie Tomlinson - photo provided by Eber

Nowadays if you did something “Bitchen” like catch a huge fish well, most would take a digital photo, upload it on the internet and sent it to all their friends, and of course have bragging rights for the next zillion years.

But, what if that fish was a huge   628lb Black Sea Bass – and back in the 1960s  things were different, like, legal to catch Black Sea Bass,  no internet, computers etc. And of course, getting photos developed took about a week and there were only a couple of places to do this.  Read more... (443 words, 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)