DO YOU REMEMBER … “The Helms Bakery Man”?
Do you remember when “The Helms Bakery Man” would bring his bakery goods to the neighborhood with his specially made truck with racks of freshly baked cakes, doughnuts, cookies and bread? My own favorite was … of course the cream puffs … man were they good! Well I already KNOW you remember the “Helms Bakery Man” because I have received dozens of emails since I put out the “Good Humor Man” email. So, welcome to the OLL Nostalgia Blog Page and let us hear your “Helms Bakery Story” … OK lets hear them, what was your favorite Helms Bakery “goodie” and/or your favorite “Helms Bakery Man” story!
Be sure to visit the new Jukebox page on the OLL ALUMNI SITE by clicking here and take a musical trip back in time CLICK HERE
January 21, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Oh yes I remember the Helms Bakery Man! Just like the Good Humor man we knew our man by his first name Al. And, believe it or not, when his wife gave birth to their first child it turned out to be their first and second and they were girls. When he came back after taking time off work he told my mom and my sister and I that they named them Patti and Pam after us! I know, some of my friends ask us if we grew up in Mayberry! Again, old LA was a “small town” to us city kids.
I remember the glazed donuts were my favorite, although I could occassionally be seen with a chocolate covered cake donut at times.
Toot toot.
January 21, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Pamela – you amaze me … what was your mailman’s name? ha ha!
I tell you, I have recieve 30- 40 emails about the “HELMS MAN” so I would say that he … (AL I should say .. ha ha) … AL made the most impact on the neighborhood to date! Well, AL … second only to the KRISPY KAKE KONE KOMPANY … which will be featured soon on this BLOG!
Pam, did you ever seek out the younger Pam and Patti … what a fabulous legacy!
Take Care Everyone! … Gerry
January 21, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Gerry, I have a very good memory and hold on to your hat, socks, shoes or whatever…our mailman was Mr. Meisner! Yikes!
But those were the days when jobs were secure and people knew their mailman, Helms man, Good Humor man or whatever as the regular guy or the face of the company. Not so anymore. There is very little longevity of employees with companies, or for that matter, longevity in companies. They seem to be bought out every time we turned around.
Take care all. I can’t wait to see what other memories are brought to the surface. Now, if I can only remember where I put my car keys…
January 21, 2007 at 9:00 pm
WOW Pam … very good! … I must admit that I remember my mailman’s name as well … Mr. Gamble. He was our mailman for 30 years or so. You are right Pam … no such thing as a job for life anymore!
OK … does anyone have a photo of the neon giraffe that used to sit on top of BIG TOP LIQUOR STORE? If you do contact me as I would love to get a hold of such a photo. I have heard lately that Mr. Gale Taylor of “Taylor’s Pharmacy” fame is still alive at over 90 years of age … AMAZING!
Ok, check those photos … take care, Gerry
April 14, 2007 at 9:16 am
I’m Pam Speakman’s brother. I remember that when the time came for the Helm’s Man to come, my brother & & would run down to the corner & Al would let us ride & toot the horn!
Crumb donuts & cream puffs. TOOT! TOOT!
April 28, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Hi All,
Our Helm’s Man was Tony. Fond memories are climbing into the truck and he would open the donut drawers for us to ooooo and ahhhhh over. My favorite were the glazed donuts. Loved the Chocolate Chip and Bridge Cookies too.
Whenever my mom ordered a sheet cake for a special occasion (Holy Communion/Confirmation), instructions were included on how to best cut the cake for the maximum servings.
I still have the cardboard fold-up Helms Bakery Truck, Tony gave to me. I wonder how much that will go for on E-Bay?
Do you remember when Bank of America-Echo Park Branch, #318, had a “School Savings Account” program? Every week, they will come to the school to collect what the students deposited into their account. The nuns and teachers would gather the students envelopes with the Blue Account Books and money, put them into a canvas bag, hang them on the door handle in the hallways. We would receive our books with the new entries and balance perhaps the following day. I started my account with sixteen (.16) cents!!! I wish I had known when I deposited my silver dollars, I would not get them back!
Lots of fun memories. Remember the cubes of vanilla ice cream? Or when the boys would chase the girls and throw the “fox tails” (?) on the sweaters? (the tips of weeds that looked like arrows). Red Rover?
Do you remember when they were knocking down the old church and the nuns let us sit on the playground to watch the wrecking ball hit the church. Pretty cool!
How about George, the bus driver?
The big plastic bag the nuns would sell us to protect our books on our walks home? The Novena cards, books of religious Christmas stamps?
Finally, Ernie (Ernest) is that you????? I did not know you had a sister.
Hope all is well with you. Wish I was able to make the reunion, but know that all the alumni are in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless you and keep you safe.
Jean
August 27, 2007 at 1:47 am
I am interested in seeing, buying or getting a scanned copy of the Helms
Bakery truck foldout. I was about 3 (some 60 years ago) when my grandmother got me one. I also remember my mom holding me up to see what was in the wooden drawers in the back of the Helms panel trucks. That smell will always be with me.
Thanks
Terry
November 3, 2007 at 4:23 am
I was a Helmsman from Sept. 1962 until 1967. I don’t remember the month . I worked out of the Culver City Plant. I feel it was the greatest job I ever had. I am now in the antique business, but after quitting Helms I worked for Frito-Lay for thirty seven years. That was also a great job. I would be very interested in finding or corresponding with any one who worked for Helms or any info about a reunion or picnic. I am also interested in purchsing any Helms memorbilla, hat, sweater, patch, etc. You can contact me@ houston21@verizon.net
May 8, 2008 at 1:02 am
I grew up in Sylmar, Ca from 1961 to 1974. The Helms Bakery Truck would come by early in the morning. I remember the wonderful smell of fresh baked goods and getting a soft glazed donut. If you want to experience those feelings and smells again, visit the Peterson Automotive Museum in L.A. Find the Helms Bakery Truck inside the museum. Stick your head in the truck and all those memories will come flooding back to you. It’s really strange, but you will actually be able to smell the fresh baked goods you remember from the Helms truck when you were a kid.
June 10, 2008 at 12:46 am
I loved the Helms Bakery man and still remember his name. It was Chuck McDaniel and his name was on a plaque on the outside of the passenger side door. He had a little belly and wore his white outfit and hat.
My favorite goodies was also the cream puffs, but we didn’t get them very often ‘cuz there were 4 kids in my family and mom stayed home with us kids while Dad worked. She had to watch her money. So, usually she would say “Stace, just get a loaf of bread.” DARN!!
I also loved the long skinny drawer with the candy in it and particularly like the hot sticks. (Cinnamon flavored toothpicks). You just chewed on them and they were kinda sweet and cinnamony. The glazed donuts were a great treat weren’t they? I can still picture Chuck and would love to know if they have a list of the drivers from those days. I want to make sure I’m right about his name. I know I am. I’ve remembered it all these years.
Stacy
June 10, 2008 at 12:50 am
I forgot to mention that I grew up in Torrance, CA. close to El Camino College (Redondo Beach Blvd. and Crenshaw). The good ole’ days!!!
I have to mention this too……I remember during the watts riots that our areas weren’t affected too much, but cars of rioters were just making their way into our neighborhoods before it all came to an end. However, the fathers of our neighborhoods all had a rifle at the ready in their homes to protect their families. Noone thought anything bad about that either. It was what Fathers did……..I think Helms kept up their routes too.
Stacy
August 29, 2008 at 3:56 am
The Helms Man is coming ! The Helms Man is coming ! I lived in Norwalk, Ca. and all us kids would clutch our nickel and dimes waiting for that perfect jelly donut (delivered to our door !) or get risky and go for that candy necklace instead. The skinny drawer! Man, great memories. Thanks to everyone for the great big smile on my face
November 13, 2008 at 5:56 am
I Grew up in Covina Ca. I remember those days when we’d be watching one of our (8) t.v. channels and the horn would sound We would run out and to get a loaf of bread and the helm’s bakery man would pull out a drawer full of doughnuts to choose from. What a treat for us kids! Nothing but fond memories of days long gone
February 1, 2009 at 9:28 pm
i have been log in for 2yrs and want some infrmation on the school it says im not log in can you ck this for me
February 1, 2009 at 9:34 pm
i have been login for 2yrs and want some information on the school and it says im not login can you ck this for me
September 24, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Dear Sisters, I was a student at Saint Bride’s School, Saint Bernard’s School & also Loretto Englewood High School in Chicago. I have pleasant memories of all my teachers. I know St. Bernard’s & the High School do not exist anymore. This was from 1945……1957, quite a long time ago. I am now 69 yrs. old. I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana and remember the”Good Old Days”. I even visited the Mothefr Home in Toronto once.
Love and God Bless You All. Noreene