Taco Bell, Santa's Village founders die
Via LA Observed, we've learned of the deaths of Glen Bell and J. Putnam Henck. Bell, who got his start in San Bernardino, founded Taco Bell and Der Wienerschnitzel, while Henck created Santa's Village, a former attraction near Big Bear that operated from 1955 to 1998.
Update: Here's Bell's LA Times obit.
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A journalist for more than two decades, David Allen has been writing a column for the Daily Bulletin since 1997 and blogging since 2007.He lives in Claremont.
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During the late '70s /early '80s, I had my own typesetting shop in Hollywood and one of my clients was "The Rainbow Man" who owned/operated Santa's Village (it could have been Henck, but I just can't recall his name). I do remember that he smoked cigars in my offices and I had to air out after visits. He was a real character who had a number of CDs of his singing of children's songs.
I'm pretty sure Bell was not the founder of Der Wiernersnitchel. John Galardi is the founder of Der Wienersnitchzel.
[Yes, that was overstatement. But he was involved. From Bell's LA Times obit: "As he relentlessly built new stores and explored developing chains of food shops with partners, only to sell his interests, he influenced the creation of such fast-food brands as Taco Tia, Del Taco, El Taco and even Der Wienerschnitzel, whose owner he tutored." -- DA]
I had an aunt and uncle in Lake Arrowhead, so we went to Santa's Village a couple of times. Opening the same year as Disneyland, SV was a much less ambitious and more innocent take on a theme park -- more like the original section of Knott's Berry Farm. Hard to imagine many people drove up the mountain once Disneyland was open.
Glen Bell's various obits have me wondering why he never got the attention of Ray Kroc of Mickey D fame. Seems as though Bell was at least as insturmental in the explosive birth of fast food. And interesting to see that San Bernardino was a hotbed of innovation in early fast food history.
[The Baker's chain also began there. What was it about Berdoo, I wonder? -- DA]
It was the munchies, man.
There's an extensive obituary on LA Times' website today, including a Santa's Village TV spot with the pre-909 area code -- 714.
has anyone mentioned in the 60's knotts was free. our hangout when we ditched school.