TIMEPOINTS VOL 17 NO 10 October, 1959
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
TRACTION REVIEW
CLUB NEWS:
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.
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.
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.