The Westerner Restaurant has been granted a temporary permit allowing patrons to dance on the premises. The temporary permit is valid until an ordinance can be formally enacted. Until this action was taken, public dancing was allowed only at the Santa Anita Turf Club.
The dancing permit granted to the Westerner has been causing headaches. Residents adjacent to the restaurant have been complaining of noise and spillover parking. The City Council has extended the permit only until the next regular meeting on January 7, 1975.
Bill Quiggle, who has been Santa Anita Park track superintendent since 1949, retired at the end of the 1977 racing season. The track and all plantings were his domain.
A portion of the Eaton's restaurant property on the corner of Colorado and Michillinda has been sold by the Times Mirror Company to Younson Construction, who will build 18 residences on the site.
The famed old Eaton's Restaurant will be demolished and plans have been submitted for a smaller building which will house: a) CoCo's - a high class coffee shop b) Plankhouse - steak, lobster, bar, entertainment. The owners will be Far West Services, Inc., which owns such restaurants as the Reuben E. Lee in Newport.
A spokesperson for Santa Anita Consolidated has indicated that there is no intention of moving the Santa Anita Park race track to the $100 million sports complex proposed for the City of Los Angeles by Hollywood Park, Inc.
Plans for a $700,000 building to house the City Council have been approved, but the whole project has bogged down over the projected $89,500 needed to make the existing City Hall conform to the new building. Complete details on rearranging city departments in order to make the best use of space are given.
The City Council is considering collecting taxes on free admissions to the Santa Anita Park race track. It would mean considerably greater income for the City.
The California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles has applied for a 2 week fair race meeting, to be held at Santa Anita Park Race Track from September 30 to October 10, 1979.
Chic Anderson, one of the finest thoroughbred racing announcers known for his work at the Kentucky Derby and other major races, has been named to be the announcer at Santa Anita Park for 1975.
The City Council is facing the need to either refurbish and enlarge the existing Council Chambers or to build a new building. the second alternative seem the most likely, as the space vacated in the present City Hall could be used for crowded city departments.
Relics of Eaton's Restaurant will be on sale during the next 3 or 4 weeks by Mead House Wrecking prior to the demolition which is to make room for 2 new restaurants.
Honorary service awards were given by the PTA Council to Ray Rogers, VP and General Manager of Santa Anita Park race track; Jeanne Saunders, currently serving on the Library Board; and Dr. Edward Ryan, Superintendent of Schools. Biographic sketches of each included.