Keith and Bill Chamberlin … Two Generations Move On


By Betsy Goldman

You may have noticed that “Keith and Bill’s Service,” on the southeast corner of Venice and Abbot Kinney Blvds. is for sale. If the escrow closes and things go according to plan with the City’s approval, the 8,000 square foot lot will became retail with residences above.


Although the auto repair facility hasn’t been around quite as long as the Garacochea family’s Pioneer French Bakery, established in 1908, it is still one of Venice’s earliest business establishments that is currently in operation (or at least at the present time).

Keith Chamberlin, the third family member to run the business, first came to Venice in 1938 as an eighteen year old. It was during the depression when there were no jobs. Keith’s uncle offered him one in the gas station he opened in 1925. Keith remembers arriving in Venice on the Red Car. “It was a beautiful place to live,” he says. “The pier was going strong. There were bingo and gambling games … like a small version of Las Vegas … 24 hours a day. Crime wasn’t nearly like it is today. The traffic wasn’t so bad.”

Then Keith went off to war, and to live other places. He wouldn’t return until 1958 when another uncle, who had been the owner since 1940, was getting ready to retire. Keith was offered a lease, which he had for 12 years. By that time his uncle had passed away and his lease went month-to-month because his aunt wanted to sell. “I didn’t think I could run a business from month-to-month so I was kind of forced into buying it, which was a good deal” he says. Keith paid $55,000 for the station and $10,000 for the office … both properties are worth $1,500,000 today.

When we moved back to Venice,” says Bill. “I remember my mother walking us down Windward and there was the beatniks and the coffee shops.” Bill specifically remembers the Gas House. “One famous coffee house was torn down,” he says. “It was all political. It was condemned for building codes but it was the same structure as the rest of the block. They just wanted to get rid of the beatniks.”

“It was a unique atmosphere during the late 60’s and early 70’s,” says Bill. “Venice became flooded with kids coming from all over the country. Kids were hitch hiking throughout Venice just to meet people and party.” Bill lived in the office for a while. “Venice Blvd. was the main corridor to hitch hike. It was always a bohemian atmosphere. It became like L.A.’s Haight-Ashbury type of neighborhood. It gained a reputation. And it has always been a center for artists,” continues Bill.

The national headquarters for the Peace and Freedom Party was down the block. Bill remembers Dr. Spock coming to Venice when he was the party’s candidate for president. He remembers Jim Morrison and John Haag. The Manson family lived on Main and Brooks. He knew a girl who was living with the family, but of course didn’t really know who they were at the time.

“The governor pumped iron here in Venice at the original Gold’s Gym,” says Keith. “He came in the gas station and pumped his own gas, “ adds Bill. “I said ‘you’re a body builder.’ He says, ‘and actor and author.’ He had one movie out and one book out. That was in the 70’s. He only got a couple of dollars of gas at a time.”

Dudley Moore was a regular customer in the 80’s. “He used to come in his Rolls Royce,” says Bill. “He was nice and would tip us.” Bill also remembers that Dudley was always on his cell phone. “He was one of the first people I saw use one,” he adds. Keith remembers, too, that Dudley was nice and would also talk to customers. Dennis Hopper was a regular. “I used to go to his house to change a flat tire,” says Keith.

The Venice Police Station was just up the street where SPARC is now located. The uncle who first owned the station made home brew beer. “The policemen would come here to loaf and drink free beer,” says Keith.

Both Keith and Bill have great stories about police officers and their misadventures … particularly regarding drinking. “You would see police officers drunk all the time,” says Bill. He remembers a time in the late 60’s when a motorcycle cop pulled up in the lot and fell over. “His motorcycle pinned down his leg and he was yelling for help,” he says. “My father walked over, knowing he was drunk, and took his keys out of the ignition and started walking away. The officer threatened to shoot him in the back. He said, ‘Give me my keys back.’ My father called the police station and they came and got him and said, ‘thanks.’ Stuff like that happened all the time.”

Keith had a interesting hobby. He was a renowned Hudson collector. He was featured in both People magazine and the Los Angeles Times in 1974. When you go by today you will see a 1947 Hudson pickup parked in front. “It’s a landmark,” says Bill. “People know the place by the truck.” Keith drives a 1955 Hudson.
He also has a 1970 Buick. “It’s the newest car I have,” he says. At one time he had 23 vehicles … 15 of them were Hudsons. The garage, itself, has been a popular location site … seen on television shows such as the movie “Man on Fire” with John Forsythe in the 80’s and an episode of “Marshall Law” in the 90’s plus videos and commercials.

Bill took over the business in 1982. Now it’s time for him to move on. He is moving to Montana after escrow closes. “I want to get away from L.A. and I want to hunt and fish, ride horses, shoot my gun,” he says. And Keith? “I am going to stay here until they haul me away,” he says. I’ve been in almost every state and four European countries during the war and I’ve never seen a climate that would compare to Venice.”

Reprinted by permission from the Venice Vanguard, a monthly email newsletter named after the first Venice newspaper. To subscribe, contact:
<betsy@veniceproperties.com>.

Posted: Sun - February 1, 2004 at 06:22 PM          

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