10/07/06

Diana Harris Historic Englewood column

Growing up in the 50s: panthers and nude models

"Everybody always pulled together for the kids," said Pat Johnson, reminiscing about her Englewood childhood in the 1950s. "I was very fortunate to have grown up here.

"Englewood was a great place to be a kid. Whereas each parent may have had their own style, they all took great responsibility in helping raise us. Every parent donated something."

Outdoor water activities were greatly emphasized, such as sailing, swimming, fishing or shrimping.

But many of the parents tried to inject a bit of culture whenever possible, worrying that growing up in tiny, isolated Englewood their children were being deprived of a bit of worldly sophistication.

Such was the case with artist Max Bernd-Cohen. He felt the local children should be learning something about the art world.

"I remember," Pat said, "on the spur of the moment we would go over to his house. Everyone would be called up and we would run over there to his little pink house on Cowles Street. Max Bernd-Cohen would show us his paintings. He would furnish supplies and try to encourage us into artwork.

"Of course, at first were so shocked to see nude models in his studio -- we were just kids and wow! This was really something. It was always a challenge to go to his house and see his artwork. And I think that enhanced our character."

Little did Pat or her friends realize, at the time, that Max Bernd-Cohen was a world-class artist, and there were people who would have given anything to have had the opportunity to take lessons with him.

Talking about schooling available in Englewood in the 1950s Pat said, "Everyone went to Mrs. Gwen's kindergarten on Orange Street.

"Then, we went to Englewood Elementary School. We started with no real books, but then the Vanderbilt family that had moved here gave a grant to the school so we could have books. They also brought in a Spanish teacher for the school.

"After that, we went to Venice Junior High and Senior High. The Venice kids were the 'in crowd' and since we were bused in we weren't quite equal.

"In those days, there was a great teen club here. It was so successful, because all us kids showed tons of respect to the chaperons, Mrs. Kluge and Mrs. Shirrling, and to each other. If we didn't, we wouldn't have had it again. Larry Nicol was president and he was very active.

"One teen hangout was the Dairy Mart on Old Englewood Road. They had ice cream. There were only stools for five people outside and a couple of tables. The Walters family owned it. I remember they had pinball machines, that was kind of a big deal.

"Dixon's pool hall on Dearborn was where the older kids hung out. But we just peeked in the windows. 'The Chimney,' south of Middle Beach, was another hangout -- it was all that was left of an old house that had burned. We would have parties and picnics there. Nobody complained when a lot of us kids got together. We did fun kid things, but we were never destructive, like kids today.

"Talking about the beach, you know Blind Pass was still open in the '50s. And I remember we would drive down Beach Road in an open truck and the adults would always tell us to sit near the cab because panthers were in the trees, and if we bounced around towards the back, they would jump out of the trees and get us.

"I never saw any panthers, but I always sat up near the cab just to be on the safe side."

Tune in next week when Pat Johnson again takes us back to the 1950s.

Diana Harris is a historical columnist for the Englewood Sun. Her column runs every Saturday. You can e-mail her at diharris@comcast.net.