Roundup: May 9, 2018
Almansor Court – 700 S. Almansor, Alhambra, CA.
Social Hour: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
E Clampus Vitus Night at the Corral!
(Clamper attendance, attire and regalia are encouraged.)
Our Speaker: Abe Hoffman, Past Sheriff & Platrix X-Noble Grand Humbug
His Subject: The Secret Behind The Secret History of Southern California and Its Author
In 2011 the Platrix Chapter of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus published The Secret History of Southern California by B.T. Fripps. The book contained thirteen chapters dealing with topics on Southern California history that were previously unknown to historians of the region–or, for that matter, anyone living there. Some people suspect that Fripps is simply an alias for Platrix X-Noble Grand Humbug Abe Hoffman, noting that some booklets carried Abe’s name. Former Sheriff and Clamper Abe Hoffman strongly denies that he and Fripps are the same person, offering as defense the many books and articles he has written, many of them refereed by peer reviewers, whereas almost nothing has been published by Fripps, and those items that have seen the light of day clearly are not written in any style Abe would write. Fripps asked Abe to proofread his writings, and Abe made the mistake of agreeing to do so. Fripps then placed Abe’s name as author or editor on the booklets and writings. Abe reveals how the Secret History came to be published by Platrix Chapter ECV, noting that considerable controversy exists between those who denounce the book as “fake history” and those who strongly defend it as uncovering long-hidden information.
Abe Hoffman is a past Sheriff of the Corral (1997) and has been a Corral member for more than forty years. He teaches history at Los Angeles Valley College. His writings have received awards from the Historical Society of Southern California, including the Wheat Award for Best Article and the Don Pflueger Award for his book Vision or Villainy: Origins of the Owens Valley-Los Angeles Water Controversy. His latest book is California’s Deadliest Earthquakes.
To enhance the educational value of his presentation, Abe has arranged for copies of Fripps’ latest booklet, “Spanish Santa Barbara: Mission, Presidio, and Leper Colony,” to be given to all persons attending the May evening so they may compare Fripps’ writing with Abe’s own articles such as those published in The Branding Iron.
Posted by Jim Macklin, Deputy Sheriff.
Future Los Angeles Corral Events
June 16th, 2018 — Fandango at home of Vicki and Gary Turner
July 11th, 2018 — Autry Fellow — Challenging the Veracity of Civil War Era History in California & Nevada
August 8th, 2018 — Jeff Lapides — Passage to Eldorado: The First Photos on the Mojave Road by Rudolph d’Heureuse (1863)
Dinner Fees, Reservations & Meal Choices
The Roundup Dinner Fee is $40 including ample, convenient and free parking. The dinner choices for this Roundup are beef, fish and vegetarian. This month, that includes Grilled Top Sirloin with a Wild Mushroom Sauce, Baked Atlantic Salmon with Toasted Almonds and a Cream Sauce or, finally, Clamper-style Penne Pasta in a Tomato Basil Sauce with Carrots, Peppers, Zucchini, Mushrooms and Green Beans (but no cheese). Dessert will be Chocolate Royale, the baked soufflé-style dessert beloved by all. (Just kidding about the Clamper-style vegetarian dinner. What self-respecting Clamper would order a vegetarian dinner?)
Please choose your entrée and make out your check for $40 to “Westerners, Los Angeles Corral,” or submit your payment online as EARLY AS YOU CAN but no later than one week before the Roundup date. Just log onto our website (www.lawesterners.org) and go to the Members Only tab. Click on the Roundup Store option and follow the instructions. Walk-ins can be served, but entrée choices will be limited to what is on hand. The “late price” is now $45.00.
If you are paying by check, mail it to Ms. Therese Melbar, Registrar of Marks and Brands at 549 South Aldenville Avenue, Covina, CA 91723-2909. Late reservations or questions may be addressed to Therese via Email: tmelbar@cpp.edu or by telephone (661) 343-9373.
Travel Assistance to Our Fellow Members
Please keep in mind that some of our members can no longer drive or are uncomfortable about driving on the freeways at night. If there are such members living in your area, please get in touch to see if they would come with you to the Roundups. Call Michele Clark, our Sunshine Wrangler, at (626) 822-1522 if you need a ride.
Get Involved & Volunteer
We encourage our members to get involved with any of the Corral’s activities. Perhaps you’re a new Corresponding member who wants to be more actively involved but doesn’t know what opportunities are available. Or you may be a more experienced member who wants to help out in a particular area of our events, publications, membership, webpage or archives. Or you may be a senior member who can no longer attend meetings but who can still read a book and write a review. Please call me to discuss your interest or to get a list of the Corral’s current needs I’ve prepared. We all know that, the more you give, the more you’ll get out of the Corral’s activities! I’m continually surprised about the amazing people in our Corral with whom I get to associate and whom I now consider friends!
Contact Jim Macklin, Deputy Sheriff, at 1221 Greenfield Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006-4148, at jhmcpa@earthlink.net or (626) 446-6411 with any questions or news items.