tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post1990914131154046257..comments2024-03-28T02:29:04.350-07:00Comments on Orange County Memories: Remembering the Helms Bakery TrucksSteve Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07254867681706917705noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-16042434881426016182013-07-26T19:49:58.225-07:002013-07-26T19:49:58.225-07:00I too have fond memories of the Helms truck. Does ...I too have fond memories of the Helms truck. Does anyone else remember the toys you would get after so many points (donuts bought)? The driver would pull out the bottom drawer to display all kinds of neat toys. I guess that may be why I love donuts so much today. We also had deliveries by Adhor Farms or Eddie the Milk Man who continued to deliver even when my mother did not have the money to pay him. My mother also bought the day old donuts and would come in with a big gunny sack full of donuts and plop them in the back porch where we happily filled up on them. I too attended Crescent Jr High in 1968-1970 so will have to find that blog. Happy I found this site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-46795447321444899402013-07-09T22:30:10.986-07:002013-07-09T22:30:10.986-07:00And I thought I was the only one who remembers Chu...And I thought I was the only one who remembers Chuckles the clown . I remember him living next to the preschool I went to. Everyday seeing him leave n come home all made up . Funny some of the only memories when I was that young .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-72560770948611175142013-07-05T12:43:30.684-07:002013-07-05T12:43:30.684-07:00This post has been going for awhile! I grew up in ...This post has been going for awhile! I grew up in San Diego and we had the Helm's truck as well. I tell people to this day about the smells and the nice wooden drawers with all the baked goods in them . It was awesome, and the Good Humor Ice Cream man...as well with the best REAL POPSICLE brand popsicles in all the great flavors, as well as the milk man!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-13559071803498140932013-06-10T10:46:46.527-07:002013-06-10T10:46:46.527-07:00my dad was a mechanic for helms bakery culver city...my dad was a mechanic for helms bakery culver city plant 17 years,i used to help work on the trucks on saterday nights.the 1923 modle t pie truck is in az somewhere.if they were still open i would be a machanic working for them.i miss there donuts and creampuffs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-3751534307918533272013-05-10T23:36:29.758-07:002013-05-10T23:36:29.758-07:00Chili factory on magnolia?Chili factory on magnolia?p smithhttp://www.fakeurladdress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-91305699568785464642013-05-10T23:18:53.523-07:002013-05-10T23:18:53.523-07:00Somehow that last line sounds like rush lyrics
Somehow that last line sounds like rush lyrics<br />p smithhttp://www.fakeurladdress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-48419914070103697232013-05-07T03:58:11.853-07:002013-05-07T03:58:11.853-07:00when i think of my childhood, the helms truck alwa...when i think of my childhood, the helms truck always comes to mind. i loved the glazed donuts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-14450794847392007292012-09-16T15:30:18.637-07:002012-09-16T15:30:18.637-07:00I remembered as a kid in the summertime waiting f...I remembered as a kid in the summertime waiting for the Helms Truck sitting on the curb. Those were the best donuts in the world, fresh and mouth watering.Jim R.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-35456795074007869872012-08-14T22:21:48.714-07:002012-08-14T22:21:48.714-07:00I remember the wonderful helms man in that beautif...I remember the wonderful helms man in that beautiful truck! I loved the sound and the smell that came out of those wooden drawers and mom with her change purse and curlers in her hair..fuzzy slippers..almost never could we buy anything but bread..we hyad 6 kids at our house..and oh so hungry..But I have at least once had a glazed donut from the helms man, thank you helms man..thank you momma.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-21823780992702565262012-08-02T17:32:14.905-07:002012-08-02T17:32:14.905-07:00In the mid-1950's I grew up in Downey and have...In the mid-1950's I grew up in Downey and have fond memories of the Helm's truck coming by especially on the weekends and in Summer. My mom would give me a quarter to buy a loaf of bread and some extra change so my sister and I could buy a chocolate macaroon cookie or a cupcake. One summer I saved some money and purchased their cream puffs.....delicious! Our Helm's driver (don't remember his name) was such a nice guy and all the mom's and neighborhood kids loved him! My mom and I used to watch a short 10 minute tv show with Coris Guy who would whip up a meal (or dessert) using Helm's bakery items. Wish I still had those recipes (the Helm's driver would give us a free recipe bookelet every month).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-6194532965260929862012-07-31T09:42:25.568-07:002012-07-31T09:42:25.568-07:00OMG, I grew up in El Sereno (Los Angeles, 90032)! ...OMG, I grew up in El Sereno (Los Angeles, 90032)! Our Helms man's name was BOB. I attended Our Lady of Guadalupe School(Rosehill). I remember mom sending one of us running down to the corner (Lomitas Dr. & Carnegie Sts) to buy either a dozen glazed donuts or a dozen cupcakes as soon as we heard his distictive Helms "toot-toot". My mom would pack either of the treats for us in our brown bag lunches. My fellow students would always want to trade me something for the yummy glazed donuts. Oh how I long for those days again, of the Helms Man, The Good Humor Man (ice cream) and the Foremost Milkman. What a better place the world would be if we still had that wholesome way of living today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-14210062229850486102012-07-28T15:13:16.505-07:002012-07-28T15:13:16.505-07:00I grew up in East Anaheim at South and State Colle...I grew up in East Anaheim at South and State College (then called Placentia Ave.) and our Helms man was "Marty". We loved the jelly donuts and the sourdough bread. We'd toast the bread on the BBQ and then slather on butter - a treat equal to a sweet dessert at our house!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-3216750249155472182012-07-15T21:40:58.055-07:002012-07-15T21:40:58.055-07:00i remember growing up in La Puenta in the late 50&...i remember growing up in La Puenta in the late 50's and early 60's. I have such fond memories of the Helms bakery truck. I remember my mother would put the big H sign in the window letting the Helms man know we needed something, usually bread. I will always remember my mother would give us a nickle to buy a donut on the way to school and when the Helm's truck would stop and open those wooden drawers, my mouth would water from the wonderful smell. I do remember those cream puffs they were so yummy, but I would usually get a donut (honey dipped) and it was warm! We also got milk delivered in glass bottles, things were so fresh and tasted better back then. I think the glass made all the difference.Krissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07188883153293885792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-65675502587918092712012-05-23T09:09:31.041-07:002012-05-23T09:09:31.041-07:00I remember that truck. Still have some of those o...I remember that truck. Still have some of those old family pictures. They were some of the best pictures of my toddler years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-63287141392847292182012-03-04T01:26:33.311-08:002012-03-04T01:26:33.311-08:00I remember going to Priscilla's Cake Box in Ga...I remember going to Priscilla's Cake Box in Garden Grove. My family still talks about it ... I remember a lemon cake that was so good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-67957477030112142392012-02-08T10:19:03.608-08:002012-02-08T10:19:03.608-08:00I was very young growing up in Simi Valley in the ...I was very young growing up in Simi Valley in the early 60's and have few memories of that time, but one that stands out was eating the delicious glazed donuts when the "Donut Man" came through the neighborhood. Still the best glazed donuts I've ever had.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-76073439451423200012011-08-20T13:39:54.395-07:002011-08-20T13:39:54.395-07:00I remwmber the beautiful brown and tan panel truck...I remwmber the beautiful brown and tan panel trucks full of goodies and delivering in San Ysidro. My favorite was the cream puffs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-79219377754404453562011-07-09T21:00:26.946-07:002011-07-09T21:00:26.946-07:00No one has mentioned the crumb donuts which were a...No one has mentioned the crumb donuts which were absolutely the best ever made. My mom never remembered to put the sign up to alert the Helms man so we usually had to run down the street to stop him which was half the fun. Our Helms man lived just up the street on the corner so if we really needed something my mom would have us knock on his door and he was always happy to open his truck. The best memories.Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-7313656767644619662011-06-06T12:44:39.870-07:002011-06-06T12:44:39.870-07:00Our Helm's man was Mickey on the Westside of L...Our Helm's man was Mickey on the Westside of Long Beach. My mother bought bread for my sandwiches and oh how I longed for Wonder Bread instead. But Helm's cream puffs and glazed donuts were the best. I'm talking about late 40s to the 50s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-70804502309504594422011-02-25T13:34:17.260-08:002011-02-25T13:34:17.260-08:00Wow! These posts flood the memories in my mind! I...Wow! These posts flood the memories in my mind! I loved the Helm's Bakery man. I lived in East L.A. in the 1950's. As soon as the whistle blew I was begging my mom or grandma for money to buy a cream puff. All of the baked goods were delicious but the cream puffs were always what I ended up choosing. It had the most awesome filling I have ever tasted. The powdered sugar would get all over your face when you ate it. Sure wish I could find the recipe to that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-13752949245567542182011-02-20T23:17:05.281-08:002011-02-20T23:17:05.281-08:00Yes my mom posted the sign in our window in Far We...Yes my mom posted the sign in our window in Far West Anaheim. Previous to that I remember the truck coming through our garden apartments in Buena Park off of Lincoln. We lived there after moving down from Canada in '65. <br />My mom also worked at a very popular bakery in Garden Grove, Priscilla's Cake Box. Anyone remember that place? All of the items from rolls to Danish to cookies and cakes were made on the site, fresh everyday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-60055767486947650982011-01-09T07:45:41.562-08:002011-01-09T07:45:41.562-08:00Even though I was 1800 miles away from a Helm'...Even though I was 1800 miles away from a Helm's bakery wagon's closest stop, I do remember reading in our local paper how the cream-puffs made by Helm's were 'the best' to be had anywhere. I finally got to see a total of three very nicely restored Helm's Bakery Twin-Coach delivery trucks last spring; two at the American Truck Historical Society's annual Meet in Pleasanton, CA., and the one on display in the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. Again, an unfortunate case where changing demographics and spiraling operating costs has made the 'delivered to your door' era of business a fond memory.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-31947770069079758662011-01-08T00:59:08.757-08:002011-01-08T00:59:08.757-08:00I grew up in South El Monte in the 80's and I ...I grew up in South El Monte in the 80's and I remember an old guy in a yellow delivery van that everyone called "The Helms Man". He sounded the double-toot whistle and had long wooden pull-out shelves lined with donuts, racks of candy, etc. He even extended credit, recorded in a little notebook and made change from his coin dispenser. Thing is, around the summer I turned eight I realized that the faded blue lettering on the side of his truck read "Paul's Bakery". My parents, who grew up in East L.A., would later explain this as a reference to the original Helms Man they (and other parents in the neighborhood) grew up with. The name Helms had become so synonymous with baked-goods delivery that 15 years after the company closed parents were still using the reference and passing it on to their children.<br />I remember hearing that our driver retired, when I was in high school, after which I never saw a neighborhood delivery truck again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-30027199683391193042010-12-22T20:56:53.489-08:002010-12-22T20:56:53.489-08:00I'm looking for someone who remembers the Helm...I'm looking for someone who remembers the Helmes delivery "wagons" that looked like a trolley car and had the drawers that pulled out inside the wagon so the driver never stepped outside. I saw them in the neighborhood just west of Alameda st.(by the RR tracks) and south of Florence ave. in 1946 and 1948.Rex Saylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-48010079766690129482010-12-03T11:39:07.261-08:002010-12-03T11:39:07.261-08:00What a great site, conjuring up the best memories!...What a great site, conjuring up the best memories! My dad was a Helm's driver in the late '40's early '50's, in L.A. We kids (three of us) were not aware of the cost 'cause we had the day old bounty (tasted fresh and new to us)that he was allowed to bring home. One favorite of mine was the "Blueberry Buckle". Have never found one as good. I can smell those aromas even now. Dad had some great customer stories to share with us, and after all these years some still bring a smile. He was one of those nice, sweet guys that his customers loved.Karennoreply@blogger.com