“The Parade will start with honorary West Los Angeles Mayor and Movie Actor Leo Carillo and other City officials. Darla Hood and other members of “Our Gang” children’s comedy group along with Santa Claus will make an appearance in Sawtelle, West Los Angeles California at the Christmas Festival Parade. The parade will start 7:30 pm at Westgate Avenue & Santa Monica Boulevard (the current “Target” store location) and proceed east on Santa Monica Boulevard to Beloit Avenue and head north to Ohio Avenue to Sawtelle Boulevard. Then down Sawtelle boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard. Finally to the city Library Grounds at Santa Monica boulevard and Purdue Avenue where the free merchandise drawings will be held at 8:15 pm. The Street Christmas lights will be turned on after the parade.” Source: November 7, 1941 West Los Angeles Independent Newspaper
Darla Jean Hood was born in Leedey, Oklahoma, November 8, 1931 and passed away June 13, 1979. She was an American Child Actress, and was best known as a leading young girl in the “Our Gang” movie series from 1935 to 1941. She made her debut at the age of four in 1935 and was soon given a role as a young bohemian Girl with the comedy actors Laurel and Hardy. For the years 1935 to 1941, as a young girl, she continued acting in the “Our Gang” childhood movie series and is well remembered for her coquettish character, typically who was deeply in love by the young Boys named Alfafa, Butch and occasionally Waldo. One of the most memorable moments was when she sang “I’m in the mood for love”. Darla’s final appearance in the “Our Gang” film series was the 1941’s film titled “Wedding Worries”.
The Christmas Gala 1941 street Parade and street lighting is planned for Sawtelle
“Five bands representing 325 musicians and members of “Our Gang” comedy, A Santa Claus float with St. Nick himself appearing in person. These are few of the features to be presented in West Los Angeles on the night of November 28, 1941 when Holiday season is officially opened in this community.
The Parade which is only part of numerous other events planned for the district the same evening is sponsored by the West Los Angeles businessmen Association and J.B. Larringe and A.E. Sharpe directors of numerous pageants and spectacles throughout the state are now arranging details for the Floats and other entries of the Parade.
Following the Parade, Christmas decorations and Christmas street Lights placed all along Santa Monica Boulevard will be turned on. Cash and merchandise prizes valued at $500.00 will be distributed. Tickets for the prizes are being distributed freely by nearly all West Los Angeles Merchants.” November 14, 1941, West Los Angeles Independent Newspaper
To zoom in, right click on the article, then click on “open link in new window”. Click on the image to zoom in and use Vertical and Horizontal slide bars to Pan.
The Sawtelle Civic Center 1941
This 1941 Map is from the West Los Angeles Independent Newspaper Sept.12,1941. To zoom in, right click on the article, then click on “open link in new window”. Click on the image to zoom in and use Vertical and Horizontal slide bars to Pan.
Sawtelle California 1897 to 1950 