An Important social center for old Hermosa was one store to the left of the Hermosa Theater (and across the alley) — Shehan's Drugstore. Tom Shehan was the owner/proprietor and mostly worked the soda fountain where you could get a cherry soda or cherry coke for 10 cents. He had sundries and toys in the back and sides and up front was a fine offering of the latest in 10 cent comics. Walt Disney's Comics and Stories was introduced here in 1940, replacing the larger Mickey Mouse Magazines. It was later followed up with the Warner Bros. Porkey Pig comics called Loonie Tunes and Merry Melodies, which in about the first issue introduced us to Bugs Bunny. I can remember several of us aficionados gathering in the Vanderlan garage off of 22nd and Palm (an alley above Hermosa Ave.) when word got out about any new comic arrival. The biggest event by far came about when a friend of my mother told me about an amazing new comic hero who could fly, stop bullets, and wore a cape. The same day I peddled my bike to Shehan's for a fresh copy featuring (of course) — Superman! A lot of garage time was put in after that purchase and I held onto the copy for over 50 years when I sold it to a comic book auction house (for a lot more than 10 cents.) |
Tom Shehan went on to become mayor of Hermosa Beach and something of a town folk hero. As mayor, he led a citizen's anti-gambling and clean government movement. His group was formed to block big money that was poised to bring carnival concessions, rides and kind of an Ocean Park look to Hermosa . The group was created to head off this movement and retain a family oriented base in Hermosa. It was joined by the townspeople who supported these values. Together they ran a spirited town council election against the forces of evil. The new council included my father, Roy Seawright, and John Peterman (whose wife clued me in on Superman). The threat to Hermosa as we knew it seemed very real. These were the long forgotten days when Lucky Luciano operated a gambling casino exactly three miles (making it legal) off the Hermosa Pier. A swank boat would take you off the pier and out to the floating casino. In our young mind's imagination there was no end to the nefarious deeds committed out there. Reportedly, New York crime syndicate hit men ended Lucky's glamorous life. I don't know what ended the gambling casino. (Do you?) (Maybe it's still out there?) |
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