TCHS Alumni News - Temple City Times Covered It All

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Temple City Times Covered It All

By Rees Clark '60

May 04, 2003 -- Did you carry the TC Times? Back in the 40s and 50s and I don't know how much longer, local boys hauled up to 200 papers each around TC, San Gabriel, Arcadia and Rosemead, to be delivered each Thursday morning in time to finish the route and get to school on time.

Routes changed hands only as one carrier gave -- or sold -- his route to another. I got mine when a friend moved away; I paid him about $20, which took me several months to earn back.

The four-legged nemesis of the carriers were, of course, an ever-present challenge. Personally, I relied on blinding speed (as I recall it), but others had their own secret formulae in the only sporting weapon, the squirt gun.

We also had to go to each house once a month and collect the money. Subscriptions were really cheap, maybe a dollar a month; I don't recall. I do recall that it seemed more people had dogs when one went to collect.

Were you a TC Times carrier? All I knew were boys; were there any girls? When did the TCT sell out to the SGV Tribune? When was the last issue published.

If you have a picture of yourself with bag and bike, send it along (make a copy; I cannot return them). We'll make an album in the Gallery if we get enough. Feel free to add your own story in the comments.

Reader Comments

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Janice Helmer	May 08, 2003	Temple City, CA	Retired
Both my brothers delivered the Temple City Times on their bikes. I remember folding the papers and stuffing them into the bags that hung over the handlebars. Remember when you could get the Sunday L.A. Times for 20 cents? At some point my brothers graduated to delivering the Sunday L.A. Times and Herald Express. My younger brother got tired of it so I took over his job. With my father, we would be at the corner of Las Tunas and Temple City Blvd. at 5:00 a.m. every Sunday morning to stuff the papers and load them into the back of my dad's station wagon. Our route covered then entire city and we wouldn't get home until after noon. Then for the next hour we would count and roll all the money we collected. I was the only papergirl I knew.


Diane Burr (Trotter)	May 20, 2003	Calexico, CA	teacher
I sure remember those paper routes. I really resented the fact that they would not hire girls! I used to help a friend deliver the papers for FREE. Boy, am I glad that things changed! Janice must have been the only paper girl! Oh, I also tried to get a job at 31 Flavors in West Arcadia, but they only hired boys. :-(


Davif Downey	Jun 23, 2003	San Gabriel	Physician Assisstant
I went to TCHS and delivered the Arcadia Tribune - Same paper with a different front page - I delivered int eh late 70's with the over-the handlebar bags - it was good money for me at the time - but the wake-up at 0400 a.m. was killer. - The wet days recieved a few spills too. wow - what a blast from the past.


Linda Jones Buccola	Jun 28, 2003	Apple Valley, CA	homemaker
I delivered the TC Times in about 1978/79 or so. My route covered all houses on streets north of Las Tunas and south of Garabaldi covering Rowland to Kauffman. I remember collecting payment from customers and then walking or riding my bike to McDonalds for a sundae! I used the bag over the handle bars. I was the only girl delivery "boy" I knew. I got tips too!


Valerie Villagran Dennison	Aug 06, 2003	La Verne, CA	Corporate Trainer
I inherited the TC Times route from my older brothers. I was a challange and a hassle. A challenge to land the paper right where I wanted it (or where the customer wanted it) and a hassle when it came to collecting the money. Rainy days were exciting sitting in the back of the station wagon with the door down, my father drively very slowly as I flung the poorly aerodynamic paper wrapped in plastic. What great memories of me on the green bike.


Rollie Seebert	Mar 30, 2004	Fountain Hills, Az	Deputy Sheriff
My brother Willie and I carried the Times during the early 70's. Our dad was the district manager for a time. I remember picking up the bundles, folding my and my brothers papers and then trying to reach the porch on almost every house, while dodging a couple of dogs along the way.


Wesley wolfe	Jan 28, 2005	San Diego, Ca	Project Manager
I carried the TC Times for two years in 1966-67 time period. I delivered about 125 papers a week and when it came to collecting you won't believe how many people didn't have $.50. It was a shame...!I don't remember what my net pay was, but it wasn't very much. I had several wrecks on my stingray bicycle trying to avoid dogs. The worst part of the job was having to deliver the free throw away paper "Temple City Topics" on Sunday. I have great memories from that era, but that was slave labor at its worst.....


Rees	Jan 29, 2005	Washington	Editor
I'd forgotten, but you're right: $0.50. That was the price in 1954-56, too. It seems that the Times was inflation-proof. In my era we had to carry around a dual ring binder with little tear-off receipts; each receipt was the thickness and about half the size of a business card. The receipt book weighed about 2-3 pounds when leaving the house; seemed to weigh more coming home. On an hourly basis, that job probably paid negative wages.

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