TIMEPOINTS VOL 17 NO 10  October, 1959

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRACTION REVIEW

 

CLUB  NEWS:

 

A GREETING FROM THE NEW TIMEPOINTS STAFF AND AN APPOLOGY TO OUR READERS

It is hoped and expected that the publication of TIMEPOINTS will go forward on a more prompt basis in future months.  Plans looking toward this goal have been completed.

We wish to apologize to association members and to paid subscribers, both of whom have suffered such long delays in the appearance of our issues during the recent past.

A major change has taken place in the staff of this publication, effective with the October, 1959 issue.  The new Editors of TIMEPOINTS are Kenneth Harrison, outgoing President of the Association, and Laurence R. Veysey, original Founder of the organization and Editor of TIMEPOINTS, 1950-53, 1955-56.

Messrs. Harrison and Veysey, in collaboration, will apply themselves to producing large, interesting issues distributed with a prompt regularity.

James Walker, Jr., will coordinate the work of publication and distribution as well as handling all business matters.

However, effective with these staff changes, the Editorial offices of TIMEPOINTS move to Berkeley, California.

News reports, material submitted for possible use as features, as well as complaints and criticism concerning the content, style or taste of the publication should be addressed to the Editors.

There is ample precedent for the editing of this Southern California publication at places geographically remote.  For the first three years of its existence, TIMEPOINTS, was edited and printed in New Haven, Connecticut.

Nonetheless, it is hoped that this latest move beyond the borders of the region is only a temporary expedient until dependable editorial talent step forward within the Los Angeles area.

 

THE  FOUNDER  ANNOUNCES  HIS  RETURN

By Laurence Veysey

O sentimental occasion!

My records indicates that it was at 10:45 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 1950, a “clear, cold” day in New Haven, Connecticut, that I definitely committed myself to bring forth a publication which I had already mentally coined “TIMEPOINTS.”

The following day, February 8, the mercury stood at 8 degrees above zero, and in the afternoon I typed the stencils for the initial January-February 1950 issue.

On Thursday, February 9, 1950, it was raining throughout the day.  I took the first two-page issue to room 315 at 181 Church Street (The “AAA Lettership”) to be mimeographed.

It was cool and overcast, according to my records, on February 10th.  On that day the first issue was received from the mimeographatrix (i.e., female mimeographer), fifty copies in all.


Then--epochal moment--late on the “snowing, wet” day of Monday, February 13, the first issue was mailed out to the thirteen charter members of the Southern California ERA, which would not officially come into being as an organization until March 28, 1950.

(Sunday, March 28, 1960, will see the completion of the first decade in the history of this Southern California institution.)

TIMEPOINTS soon became a monthly publication, and its circulation began rising steadily.  In mid-1951 we converted to the superior multilith process, which lasted until the end of 1953.  “Special Reference Supplements,” eight of which have thus far appeared, were first issued in 1951.  I remained as Editor until the end of 1953, although with the increasing assistance of staff members in Southern California.  Military service late in 1953 forced my first resignation from the publication I had initiated.

The year 1954 was the most chaotic in TIMEPOINTS history.  For a good portion of that year, TIMEPOINTS suffered an unfortunate near loss of identity, as it was unwisely merged in another publication of predominantly steam railroad interest.

But in January, 1955, by that time located in Southern California, I took over the Editorship of TIMEPOINTS for a second time.  And the publication also resumed on its customary monthly basis under its own name.

Larger and larger issues become the rule, with diverse fictional and non-fictional feature material.  An eight page photographic “Album of Pacific Electric Cars” appeared as a Supplement.

Alas, it was again necessary for me to abandon my active participation in the magazine, when, in September, 1956, I journeyed to Chicago for graduate work.

From that month, until this, TIMEPOINTS has continued to appear under a succession of competent personnel.

Now, for the third time, but only temporarily, I take up staff duties on TIMEPOINTS.  But on this occasion--unlike those of 1950 and 1955 I do so more for the sake of expediency than for any long range pleasure.  I do so, in conjunction with the extremely able Ken Harrison only for the sake of keeping the publication alive. 

There must be others, located in Southern California, who have the ability and perseverance to bring forth this Traction Review on a dependable, monthly basis.

Those Others must reveal themselves forthwith!

I doubt that circumstances will ever again allow me the necessary minimum of time to fill the breach.

Local Talent, unveil thyself and burst upon the scene!  Without you, all is lost.

Surely the Muse of Publication-Mindedness cannot be dead, simply because the curse of television has invaded the homes of the post-World War II generation, implying the visual image rather than the written word!

Hark, I say, to the twin-fold call of duty and pleasure!  Or else, be silent, remain silent--and let this valiant Organ die in dignity, at the close of ten full years of useful service.

But--may I conclude by warning--if indeed this Publication, this Magazine of information and emotion about the Street Railway, is to die:  Without it, the Institution which came into the world with TIMEPOINTS will continue as nothing but a hollow shell, a mockery, unknown except by the handful who mark upon their calendars the assumed dates of monthly meetings for which they have received no notification.  Dismal rumors will creep through the suburbs to the effect that “exotic PCC trips have been run,” while members gnash their teen in anger that they were not informed.  Skyscraper apartments may be built on museum property at Perris, yet remain untenanted simply because the great mass of Southern California electric railway enthusiasts were left groveling in befuddled isolation.


O woe! Can it be that apathy might yet bring about the disastrous state of affairs?

Spring forth, O Muse of Publication-Mindedness!  Enter the hearts of the afflicted Southern Californians.  Raise them up; bring them out; attach their fingers to the keys of their typewriters.

Then once more the eager, panting and grateful world can rejoice.  For TIMEPOINTS will then be marching--doggedly, happily--onward into the second decade of its Ministry unto Humanity.

 

SUBSTANTIVE  DATA  ABOUT  THE  STREETCAR

Never let it be said that an entire issue of TIMEPOINTS was devoted to nothing except the history, present plans and future prospects of the publication itself!  Such would indeed be a travesty upon its intent.  Therefore:

Line “A” was abandoned June 30, 1946.