119-468: The El Monte Legion Stadium —also known as Legion Stadium , El Monte Union High School Auditorium , El Monte Auditorium , El Monte Gymnasium , Old El Monte Gym , and The Pink Elephant —was a 3,500-seat multi-purpose indoor venue in El Monte, California . It had originally been a combined auditorium and gymnasium located on the campus of El Monte Union High School. From the beginning, the venue served
238-427: A BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI Country Awards. Throughout his career, Kristofferson's songwriting garnered 48 BMI Country and Pop Awards. He later remarked, "The great thing about being a songwriter is you can hear your baby interpreted by so many people that have creative talents vocally that I don't have." Kristofferson had always denied having a good voice, and had said that as he had aged, any quality it once had
357-585: A dredging contractor on Wake Island in the western Pacific Ocean. He called it "the hardest job I ever had". Kristofferson attended Pomona College and experienced his first national exposure in 1958, appearing in the March 31 issue of Sports Illustrated for his achievements in collegiate rugby union , American football , and track and field. He and his classmates revived the Claremont Colleges Rugby Club in 1958, and it remains
476-546: A "dove with claws" and remained proud of his military service in spite of his anti-imperialist views. In a 1991 interview on New Zealand TV, he condemned media support for the Gulf War, saying "The lapdog media cranks out propaganda that would make a Nazi blush." Kristofferson was a supporter of the United Farm Workers and appeared at several rallies and benefits for them, campaigning with Cesar Chavez for
595-399: A 62-unit townhouse complex built on the property that was formerly the location of Legion Stadium, opened to the public. Its grand opening ceremony was hosted by Laboe, who was commemorated in an entrance fountain designed by Rebecca Niederlander. She recorded Laboe's reminiscences of Legion Stadium, which are displayed on a nearby plaque: There was a lot of duplication of friendships and just
714-542: A Capricorn , initially had slow sales, but the third single, " Why Me ", was a success and significantly increased album sales. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on November 8, 1973. In 1972, Kristofferson appeared with Rita Coolidge on British TV on BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test , performing "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Also in 1972, Al Green released his version of " For
833-454: A Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy . He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the film Songwriter (1984). His acting career waned somewhat following his role in the box office bomb Heaven's Gate (1980), but he continued to act in films such as Stagecoach (1986), Lone Star (1996), and the Blade film trilogy (1998–2004). Kristoffer Kristofferson
952-542: A Southern California rugby institution. Kristofferson graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude , in literature . He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa his junior year. In a 2004 interview with Pomona College Magazine , Kristofferson mentioned philosophy professor Frederick Sontag as an important influence in his life. In 1973, Kristofferson received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from Pomona College during Alumni Weekend, accompanied by fellow performers Johnny Cash and Rita Coolidge . His award
1071-415: A common sight at Legion Stadium by the end of the 1950s: When I went to El Monte [Legion Stadium], I felt I could date anybody I wanted to; I could dance with anybody I wanted to. Altogether, by the time Laboe hosted his last "Oldies, but Goodies" show in 1962, he had produced over 300 of them, mostly at Legion Stadium. Changing trends in popular music, its attendant industry, and society in general during
1190-475: A considerable lack of work as a result." At a Bob Dylan anniversary concert shortly after Sinead O'Connor's protest on Saturday Night Live , he showed solidarity with her when she was booed by the crowd. In 1961, Kristofferson married his longtime girlfriend Frances "Fran" Mavia Beer, but they divorced in 1969. Kristofferson briefly dated Janis Joplin before her death in October 1970. His second marriage
1309-577: A double album consisting of remastered and updated performances of recordings the four artists had made for the Monument label during the mid-1960s; the album reached the top ten on the U.S. country album charts. He married again, to Lisa Meyers, and concentrated on films for a time, appearing in the 1984 releases The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck , Flashpoint , and Songwriter . Nelson and Kristofferson both appeared in Songwriter , and Kristofferson
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#17327932414231428-534: A far gloomier scene of a Native-American mother with her children." San Gabriel Valley in Time observed. The area also experienced social and labor conflict during this period, such as the El Monte Berry Strike of 1933 , which shed light upon institutional racism experienced by Japanese tenant farmers and Latino farm laborers. The city has evolved into a majority Hispanic community. Representing
1547-508: A former El Monte resident, this may have been because of overpopulation in Alhambra , Monterey Park , and other nearby heavily Asian municipalities; causing people to move to less densely populated areas like El Monte, where the cities are still accessible by freeway. El Monte is located at 34°4′24″N 118°1′39″W / 34.07333°N 118.02750°W / 34.07333; -118.02750 (34.073276, -118.027491). According to
1666-516: A job sweeping floors at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville. He met June Carter there and asked her to give Johnny Cash a tape of his. She did, but Cash put it on a large pile with others. He also worked as a commercial helicopter pilot for south Louisiana firm Petroleum Helicopters International (PHI), based in Lafayette, Louisiana . Kristofferson recalled of his days as a pilot, "That
1785-772: A lease agreement with a private developer. The process was stalled by the reorganization of the Post Office into the USPS , but was finalized in January 1973 after Legion Stadium was sold to the United States Army Corps of Engineers for $ 369,800 ( c. $ 2,600,000 in 2023). The last event hosted there took place in September 1973. Legion Stadium was demolished on August 9, 1974. Experiences at Legion Stadium led Frank Zappa and Ray Collins to write
1904-507: A lot of fun on Saturday night, as we all danced and sang and had a great time. Times we will never forget, lives in the hearts and minds of the thousands that attended the El Monte Legion Stadium through the years. This is Art Laboe and I sure hope that you all have as good a time as we had back in the day at El Monte Legion Stadium! See you there, Saturday night! His words were converted into a soundwave image that serves as
2023-585: A lot of hard times." In July 2007, Kristofferson was featured on CMT 's Studio 330 Sessions where he played many of his hits. On June 13, 2008, Kristofferson performed an acoustic in-the-round set with Patty Griffin and Randy Owen ( Alabama ) for a special taping of a PBS songwriters series aired in December. Each performer played five songs. Kristofferson's set included "The Best of All Possible Worlds", "Darby's Castle", "Casey's Last Ride", "Me and Bobby McGee", and "Here Comes that Rainbow Again". Taping
2142-629: A motif circling the fountain's base. El Monte, California El Monte is a city in Los Angeles County, California , United States. The city lies in the San Gabriel Valley , east of the city of Los Angeles . El Monte's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte" and is historically known as " The End of the Santa Fe Trail ". As of the 2020 census , the city had a total population of 109,450, down from 113,475 at
2261-607: A new album of original songs called Feeling Mortal . A live album titled An Evening With Kris Kristofferson was released in September 2014. Kristofferson voiced the character Chief Hanlon of the NCR Rangers in the hit 2010 video game Fallout: New Vegas . In an interview for Las Vegas magazine Q&A by Matt Kelemen on October 23, 2015, he revealed that a new album, The Cedar Creek Sessions , recorded in Austin, would include some old and some new songs. In December 2016,
2380-444: A new place. We took a look at the stadium and moved the show. My wife, Dorothy, and I had about $ 1,400 [ c. $ 18,000 in 2023] saved. We took that and went to KLAC, Channel 13, and bought two half-hour shows. We were risking our life savings. The broadcast was an immediate success and gained Westinghouse Broadcasting as a sponsor; Stone soon became considered the " Ed Sullivan " of country music. At its peak, Hometown Jamboree
2499-596: A rejection of everything they stood for, although Kristofferson says he is proud of his time in the military and received the Veteran of the Year Award at the 2003 American Veterans Awards ceremony. After leaving the army in 1965, Kristofferson moved to Nashville . Struggling for success in music, he worked at odd jobs in the meantime while burdened with medical expenses resulting from his son's defective esophagus . He and his wife divorced in 1968. Kristofferson got
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#17327932414232618-692: A role in the film Blade , alongside Wesley Snipes , as Blade 's mentor Abraham Whistler . He reprised the role in Blade II (2002) and again in Blade: Trinity (2004). In 1998 he starred in Dance with Me along with Vanessa Williams and Chayanne . In 1999, he co-starred with Mel Gibson in Payback . He played rancher Rudolph Meyer in Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999). He
2737-722: A single, "Golden Idol/Killing Time," but the song was not successful. Within the next few years, more Kristofferson originals hit the charts, performed by Roy Drusky ("Jody and the Kid"); Billy Walker & the Tennessee Walkers ("From the Bottle to the Bottom"); Ray Stevens (" Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down "); Jerry Lee Lewis ("Once More with Feeling"); Faron Young ("Your Time's Comin'"); and Roger Miller ("Me and Bobby McGee", "Best of all Possible Worlds", and "Darby's Castle"). He
2856-796: A time. The single from the album, also entitled " Highwayman ", written by Jimmy Webb (and originally recorded by him in 1977), was awarded the ACM's single of the year in 1985. In 1985, Kristofferson starred in Trouble in Mind and released Repossessed , a politically aware album that was a country success, particularly "They Killed Him" (also performed by Bob Dylan ), a tribute to his heroes, including Martin Luther King Jr. , Jesus, and Mahatma Gandhi . Kristofferson also appeared in Amerika at about
2975-832: A trail and wagon road connecting Kansas City in Missouri Territory to Santa Fe, still within México. From 1847, the Santa Fe Trail was also connected westward through the Southern Emigrant Trail , and in 1848 by the Mormon Road from Utah, passing by the El Monte area, to the Pueblo of Los Angeles. Immigrant settlement began in 1848, El Monte was a stopping place for the American immigrants going to
3094-521: A writer. His early writing included prize-winning essays: "The Rock" and "Gone Are the Days" were published in The Atlantic Monthly . These stories touch on the roots of Kristofferson's passions and concerns. "The Rock" is about a geographical feature resembling the form of a woman, while "Gone Are the Days" is about a racial incident. At the age of 17, Kristofferson took a summer job with
3213-547: Is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79 . On November 18, 1979, Kristofferson and Coolidge appeared on The Muppet Show , where Kristofferson sang " Help Me Make It Through the Night " with Miss Piggy , Coolidge sang " We're All Alone " with forest animals, and the pair sang " Song I'd Like to Sing " with the Muppet monsters. They divorced in 1980. In 1982, Kristofferson joined Willie Nelson , Dolly Parton , and Brenda Lee on The Winning Hand ,
3332-605: Is featured on the three disc compilation, The First Great Rock Festivals of the Seventies . In 1971, he acted in Cisco Pike , and released his third album, Border Lord . The album was all-new material and sales were sluggish. He also swept the Grammy Awards that year with numerous songs nominated, winning country song of the year for "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Kristofferson's 1972 fourth album, Jesus Was
3451-488: Is not an emergency center. El Monte community news is provided by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune which is published daily. Other local newspapers include Mid-Valley News and El Monte Examiner which are both published weekly. Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in
3570-632: Is provided by Metrolink 's San Bernardino Line , which stops at the El Monte station . Interstate 10 traverses El Monte. San Gabriel Valley Airport , a general aviation airport, is located in El Monte. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Monrovia Health Center in Monrovia , serving El Monte. The El Monte Comprehensive Health and Mammography Center is located on Ramona Blvd. in El Monte. It offers medical and dental services for low-income individuals, but
3689-632: The Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town album. Kristofferson released his second album— The Silver Tongued Devil and I —in 1971. It included " Lovin' Her Was Easier (than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) ". This success established Kristofferson's career as a recording artist. Soon after, Kristofferson made his acting debut in The Last Movie (directed by Dennis Hopper ), and appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival . A portion of his Isle of Wight performance
El Monte Legion Stadium - Misplaced Pages Continue
3808-750: The 2010 census . As of 2020, El Monte was the 66th-most populous city in California . El Monte is situated between the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers; a marshy area roughly where the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area is now located. Residents claimed that anything could be grown in the area. Between 1770 and 1830, Spanish soldiers and missionaries often stopped here for respite. They called the area 'El Monte,' which in Spanish means 'the mountain' or 'the mount'. Most people assume
3927-752: The Dust Bowl Migration. Photographer Dorothea Lange took over a dozen photographs of the newly built Homestead homes for her work for the Farm Security Administration in Feb. 1936. Lange stopped in El Monte a month before she took her most well-known photograph from the period, the Migrant Mother . "In contrast to the apparently positive scene in El Monte... in San Luis Obispo County, Lange captured
4046-702: The Everly Brothers . According to Laboe, Legion Stadium would be filled to capacity, with a line of people hoping to get in coiling around the building twice over. "We used to have to shut the door because they were like sardines [inside of Legion Stadium]", he said. Retrospectively, Laboe's shows at Legion Stadium are also remembered as a landmark in multiculturalism in Los Angeles. In 1995, Laboe recalled that "White kids from Beverly Hills, Black kids from Compton, and local Chicano kids" all went to his shows. According to one patron, interracial dating had become
4165-540: The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He was a three-time Grammy Award winner, out of 13 total nominations. As an actor, he became known for his roles in Cisco Pike (1972), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Blume in Love (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), and A Star Is Born (1976); for the latter, he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in
4284-531: The Greater Los Angeles area. The latter led to Frank Zappa and Ray Collins writing the song " Memories of El Monte ". Rising costs and changes in society led to Legion Stadium's decline. It was purchased by the USPS in 1973 and demolished in 1974. El Monte Legion Stadium, originally a combined auditorium and gymnasium, was the final component added to a complex of school buildings housing El Monte Union High School. The contract for $ 62,991 for
4403-469: The San Gabriel River and began to build homesteads there. The farmers were very pleased at the increasing success of El Monte's agricultural community, and it steadily grew over the years. In the 1850s the settlement was briefly named Lexington by American settlers, but soon returned to being called El Monte or Monte. It was at the crossroad of routes between Los Angeles, San Bernardino , and
4522-486: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (25 km ), of which 9.6 square miles (25 km ) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km ) of it (0.89%) is water. El Monte has a Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification Csa ). The population has increased by more than 40% since the 1970s, with homes replacing the walnut groves for which
4641-642: The United States House of Representatives , El Monte is in California's 31st congressional district , represented by Democrat Grace Napolitano . The City of El Monte has its own police department and contracts with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire services and emergency medical response. The El Monte Police Department consists of 117 sworn police officers who provide emergency services to
4760-488: The outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a more raw, introspective style. During the 1970s, he also embarked on a successful career as a Hollywood actor. Kristofferson released his debut album Kristofferson in 1970. Among his songwriting credits are " Me and Bobby McGee ", " For the Good Times ", " Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down ", and " Help Me Make It Through
4879-480: The 1960s led to a drop in musical bookings for Legion Stadium. A former patron recalled: The shows inside the place reflected the changes going on outside. Stabbings, beatings, and riots were commonplace. Rival gangs fought each other as the music provided them with a soundtrack. Although Legion Stadium continued to be used for sporting events and live music, including hosting a show for Johnny Winter in 1971, rising taxes and operating costs made it more difficult for
El Monte Legion Stadium - Misplaced Pages Continue
4998-424: The 1962 song " Memories of El Monte ", which was named after an eponymous LP compilation produced by Laboe. Zappa had presented the song to Laboe, who agreed to produce it as a single for his label Original Sound Recordings. Laboe prevailed upon Cleve Duncan from The Penguins to sing the lead, with members of The Viceroys, a local band, singing backing vocals; he also asked Zappa to amend the lyrics so as to mention
5117-659: The 75th birthday of Mitchell. In June 2019, Kristofferson was announced as being one of the supporting artists for a Barbra Streisand "exclusive European concert" on July 7 in London's Hyde Park as part of the Barclay's Summertime Concert series. In January 2021, Kristofferson announced his retirement. His final concert was held in Fort Pierce, Florida , at the Sunrise Theatre on February 5, 2020, accompanied by
5236-600: The American Legion to earn a profit. In May 1969, the United States Post Office announced that they were considering acquiring the 2.49 acre property and had appraised it for $ 285,000 ( c. $ 2,400,000 in 2023). On November 29, the Post Office said that it would acquire Legion Stadium and an adjoining building for a total of $ 510,000 ( c. $ 4,000,000 in 2023); a new branch office serving El Monte would be built in its place under
5355-619: The Apes , Chelsea Walls , Payback , The Jacket , and Fast Food Nation . The Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted Kristofferson in 1985, as had the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier, in 1977. In 1999, The Austin Sessions was released, an album on which Kristofferson reworked some of his favorite songs with the help of artists such as Mark Knopfler , Steve Earle , and Jackson Browne . Shortly after
5474-737: The City Council of legislating against interracial relationships; he led a campaign with the ACLU , NAACP , and AFM , Local 47, that resulted in the reversal of the City Council's decision. Laboe's shows at Legion Stadium began in 1957 and were produced on alternating weekends. They consisted of live performances and dances to prerecorded music, prioritized "fun, fun, fun", and dispensed with dress codes. Guest performers included The Penguins , Don and Dewey , Jackie Wilson , Sam Cooke , Ritchie Valens , Chuck Berry , Little Richard , Jerry Lee Lewis , Chubby Checker , Tommy Sands , The Coasters , and
5593-526: The Devil . His next film, the two-part 1979 NBC -TV movie Freedom Road , did not get good ratings. Kristofferson was next cast in the lead role as the enigmatic Sheriff James Averill in Michael Cimino 's bleak and sprawling 1980 anti-Western Heaven's Gate . Despite being a scandalous studio-bankrupting and industry-changing failure at the time (it cost Kristofferson his Hollywood A-list status),
5712-641: The El Monte Union High Auditorium continued to be used. In 1935, during the inaugural El Monte Pioneer Days, it was the venue for The End of the Santa Fe Trail , a play that celebrated the city's early years. During World War II , the auditorium was converted into a factory that produced airplane parts. On January 16, 1945, the American Legion , Post 261, purchased the building from El Monte Union High School District for $ 26,650. A former Legionnaire, John W. Goodenow, explained
5831-716: The Good Times " on the album I'm Still in Love with You . For the next several years, Kristofferson focused on acting. He appeared in Cisco Pike (1972) with Gene Hackman ; Blume in Love (1973), directed by Paul Mazursky ; three Sam Peckinpah films: Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974), and Convoy (1978); and Michael Ritchie 's Semi-Tough (1977) with Burt Reynolds . He continued acting in Martin Scorsese 's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Vigilante Force (1976), The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with
5950-428: The Monte Mounted Rifles on March 23, 1861. However, the attempt failed when following the battle of Fort Sumter , A. J. King marched through the streets with a portrait of the Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard and was arrested by a U.S. Marshal . State arms sent from Governor John G. Downey for the unit were held up by Union officers at the port of San Pedro . Union troops established New Camp Carleton near
6069-417: The Night " I wrote sitting on top of an oil platform. I wrote " Bobby McGee " down here, and a lot of them [in south Louisiana]." Weeks after giving Carter his tapes, Kristofferson landed a helicopter in Cash's front yard, gaining his full attention. A story about Kristofferson having a beer in one hand and some songs in the other upon arrival was reputed, but was later refuted, with Kristofferson saying, "It
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#17327932414236188-440: The Night ", all of which became hits for other artists. Kristofferson was also a member of the country music supergroup the Highwaymen between 1985 and 1995. He has charted 12 times on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs charts; his highest peaking singles there are "Why Me" and "Highwayman", which reached number one in 1973 and 1985, respectively. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received
6307-408: The Night"); Bobby Bare ("Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends"); O. C. Smith ("Help Me Make It Through the Night"); Jerry Lee Lewis ("Me and Bobby McGee"); Patti Page ("I'd Rather Be Sorry"); and Peggy Little ("I've Got to Have You"). Country music performer Kenny Rogers recorded some of Kristofferson's songs, including a version of "Me and Bobby McGee" in 1969 with the First Edition for
6426-428: The Old Spanish Trail route at the end of 1841, a group of travelers and settlers, now referred to as the Workman-Rowland Party , arrived in the Pueblo of Los Angeles and this area in Alta California from Santa Fe de Nuevo México . Rowland and Workman became grantees of the Rancho La Puente in 1845. The Old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe was continued east via the Santa Fe Trail trade route, established in 1821 as
6545-451: The Sea (1976), and the romantic drama A Star Is Born (1976) with Barbra Streisand , for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor . At the peak of his box office power, Kristofferson turned down William Friedkin 's Sorcerer (1977) and the romantic war film Hanover Street (1979). Despite his success with Streisand, Kristofferson's solo musical career headed downward with his non-charting ninth album, Shake Hands with
6664-404: The State Legislature organized California into more manageable designated townships in the 1850s, they called it the El Monte Township. In a short time the name returned to the original El Monte. The area, beside the San Gabriel River , is part of the homeland of the Tongva people as it has been for thousands of years. The Spanish Portolá expedition of missionaries and soldiers passed through
6783-512: The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos was the first time these recordings were released and included material that would later be featured on other Kristofferson recordings and on the recordings of other prominent artists, such as the original recording of "Me and Bobby McGee". On June 4, 2011, Kristofferson performed a solo acoustic show at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, showcasing both some of his original hits made famous by other artists, and newer songs. In early 2013, Kristofferson released
6902-464: The Strangers . Kristofferson was a vocal opponent of the Gulf War and Iraq War and a critic of a number of United States military interventions and foreign policy positions, including the United States invasion of Panama and U.S. support of the Contras during the Nicaraguan Revolution and of the Apartheid government in South Africa . Kristofferson's debut LP included a pro- Vietnam war song, but he said that he later became an opponent of
7021-512: The U.S. Country Music chart and certified Platinum in the U.S. In 1979, Kristofferson traveled to Havana , Cuba, to participate in the historic Havana Jam festival that took place on March 2–4, alongside Rita Coolidge, Stephen Stills , the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the Trio of Doom , Fania All-Stars , Billy Swan , Bonnie Bramlett , Mike Finnigan , Weather Report , and Billy Joel , plus an array of Cuban artists such as Irakere , Pacho Alonso , Tata Güines , and Orquesta Aragón . His performance
7140-443: The age of 18 living in them, 15,087 (54.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 5,298 (19.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,962 (10.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,061 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 161 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 3,130 households (11.3%) were made up of individuals, and 1,539 (5.5%) had someone living alone who
7259-485: The age of 18, which required permission from the board of the LAUSD . Instead, he chose El Monte, where local laws were more lenient. Nevertheless, Laboe, his business partner Hal Zeiger, and Johnny Otis , who also organized shows at Legion Stadium, ran into opposition from the El Monte City Council; their dance permits for Legion Stadium were revoked on the grounds that the rock and roll music performed at their shows created an "unwholesome, unhealthy situation". Otis accused
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#17327932414237378-403: The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album . Kristofferson covered Brandi Carlile 's "Turpentine" on the 2017 album Cover Stories . Kristofferson performed, with assistance from Carlile, the Joni Mitchell composition " A Case of You ", from the 1971 Mitchell album Blue , on November 7, 2018, at the Both Sides Now – Joni 75 A Birthday Celebration to celebrate
7497-416: The album's release, he underwent coronary artery bypass surgery . In 2003, Broken Freedom Song was released, a live album recorded in San Francisco. That year, he received the "Spirit of Americana" free speech award from the Americana Music Association . In 2004, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame . On October 21, 2005, the movie Dreamer was released, in which Kristofferson played
7616-466: The area in 1769–1770. Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was the center of colonial activities in the area. The site was within the Mexican land grant Rancho La Puente . The Old Spanish Trail trade route was first established by Antonio Armijo in 1829. It passed through El Monte to its terminus at the Mission San Gabriel via what is now Valley Boulevard . The trade was woolen and other products from New Mexico for California horses and mules. Using
7735-485: The building to Claude Bridge, a local boxing promoter and former journalist. Boxing and wrestling matches were hosted by Legion Stadium twice a week and were very profitable in the immediate postwar years, but interest in them quickly dwindled. Among the boxers who fought at the venue was Kris Kristofferson in 1958, then a Rhodes Scholar at Pomona College . According to the Pasadena Independent Star-News , Legion Stadium reached its "heyday of popularity" when it became
7854-555: The cities of El Monte, Monterey Park and La Puente , among others). The 1870 census added in the former Azusa township. Southern Pacific built a railroad depot in town in 1873, stimulating the growth of local agriculture. El Monte was incorporated as a municipality in 1912. During the 1930s, the city became a vital site for the New Deal 's federal Subsistence Homestead project, a Resettlement Administration program that helped grant single-family ranch houses to qualifying applicants. It became home to many 1930s white Americans from
7973-464: The citizens of El Monte. The current Chief of Police is Jake Fisher The City of El Monte Neighborhood Services Division provides enforcement of health and safety, municipal codes, zoning and building codes. Five Neighborhood Services Officers respond to complaints and pro-actively address violations. The Animal Control Division is also part of the Neighborhood Services Division. Animal Control Officers respond to all calls related to animals. According to
8092-685: The city was known. There is historically a large Mexican and Latino community in El Monte. The 2010 United States Census reported that El Monte had a population of 113,475. The population density was 11,761.6 inhabitants per square mile (4,541.2/km ). The racial makeup of El Monte was 44,058 (38.8%) White (4.9% Non-Hispanic White), 870 (0.8%) African American , 1,083 (1.0%) Native American , 28,503 (25.1%) Asian (13.5% Chinese, 7.4% Vietnamese, 1.2% Filipino, 0.4% Cambodian, 0.2% Burmese, 0.2% Japanese, 0.2% Korean, 0.2% Indian, 0.2% Thai), 131 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 35,205 (31.0%) from other races , and 3,625 (3.2%) from two or more races. 78,317 (69.0%) of
8211-575: The city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Cathay Bank has a corporate center in El Monte. https://www.ci.el-monte.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/3679/City-of-El-Monte-CAFR-2019-FINAL-PDF The El Monte Union High School District consists of the following schools: The El Monte City School District contains 17 elementary schools: one serving grades K-4, one serving grades K-5, ten serving grades K-6, and six serving grades K-8. The district also administers four Head Start (preschool) sites, which are located at
8330-403: The construction of the facility was publicly announced on September 30, 1927. By April 1, 1928, when construction was nearly complete, the cost was revised to $ 70,000, with an additional $ 10,000 needed for equipment. According to contractors Thurman & Thurman, it was "the best value of any building erected in Southern California" in the 1920s. Its seating capacity was announced to be 3,500. By
8449-476: The early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division . During this time, he resumed his music career and formed a band. In 1965, after his tour in West Germany ended, Kristofferson was given an assignment to teach English literature at West Point . Instead, he decided to leave the Army and pursue songwriting. His family disowned him because of his career decision; sources are unclear on whether they reconciled. They saw it as
8568-578: The elementary schools. The Mountain View School District is a K-8 school district comprising ten elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, an alternative education program for students in grades 5–8, and a Children's Center and Head Start/ State Preschool program. The district has an enrollment of 8,600 students. El Monte is served by Metro , Foothill Transit , and the city-operated El Monte Transit . Metro's J Line ends at El Monte Station . Train service to El Monte
8687-477: The end of the 1920s, El Monte Union High Auditorium was used by the public for entertainment and sporting events. In 1931, it was one of the venues that hosted the Junior Olympic Games . It also hosted celebratory exhibitions that preceded the 1932 Summer Olympics . Damage incurred in the 1933 Long Beach earthquake left the adjoining buildings unsafe. In 1934, the school's administration building
8806-475: The film Disappearances about whiskey running from Quebec to the U.S. during the Great Depression . In the course of his singing success during the early 1970s, Kristofferson met singer Rita Coolidge. They married in 1973 and released an album titled Full Moon , another success buoyed by numerous hit singles and Grammy nominations. His fifth album, Spooky Lady's Sideshow , released in 1974,
8925-579: The film gained critical recognition in subsequent years. In 1981, he co-starred with Jane Fonda in Rollover , directed by Alan J. Pakula . In 1986, he starred in The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James with Johnny Cash and Flashpoint with Treat Williams in 1984, directed by William Tannen. This was followed, in 1985, by the neo-noir thriller Trouble In Mind co-starring Keith Carradine and Lori Singer . In 1987, Kristofferson starred in
9044-562: The form of volunteer posses , as in the 1857 hunt for the bandit gang of Juan Flores and Pancho Daniel , or a lynching , was often provided by the local vigilantes called the "El Monte Boys". In 1858 the adobe Monte Station was established, a stagecoach stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail Section 2 route. By 1861 El Monte had become a sizeable settlement, and during the American Civil War
9163-499: The gold fields during the California Gold Rush . The first permanent residents arrived in El Monte around 1849-1850 mostly from Texas , Arkansas and Missouri , during a time when thousands migrated to California in search of gold. The first settlers with families were Nicholas Schmidt, Ira W. Thompson, G. and F. Cuddeback, J. Corbin, and J. Sheldon. These migrants ventured upon the bounty of fruitful, rich land along
9282-598: The groups included on the Memories of El Monte LP. The song's second verse mentions these groups and quotes from their songs, while Duncan performs vocal impersonations of them. The song concludes with an evocation of El Monte and Legion Stadium. In 2014, Vincent Ramos erected his "El Monte Legion Stadium Nocturne" at El Monte Station . The work commemorates performers associated with Stone, Laboe, and Otis, as well as athletes who played at Legion Stadium. Their likenesses are displayed atop images of 45s . In 2018, Union Walk,
9401-475: The help of his manager, Larry Parnes , Kristofferson recorded for Top Rank Records under the name Kris Carson. Parnes was working to sell Kristofferson as "a Yank at Oxford" to the British public; Kristofferson was willing to accept that promotional approach if it helped his singing career, which he hoped would enable him to progress toward his goal of becoming a novelist. This early phase of his music career
9520-629: The historical significance of the Santa Fe Trail , El Monte built the Santa Fe Trail Historical Park in 1989, at Valley Blvd and Santa Anita Ave. The trail remained America's greatest route for several decades thereafter. The El Monte Historical Museum at 3150 Tyler Avenue is considered to be one of the best community museums in the state of California. The Asian population of El Monte had grew significantly between 1980 and 2008, and continued to grow. According to
9639-535: The home of Cliffie Stone 's Hometown Jamboree , a country music television program that was initially broadcast locally on KLAC , then moved to KTLA . Originally, Hometown Jamboree had been a radio program that was broadcast live on Saturday nights from Placentia . Stone recalled that Tennessee Ernie Ford , one of the performers on Hometown Jamboree , had been the catalyst for the change of venue and broadcasting medium: He'd heard about El Monte Legion Stadium. The crowds had gotten too big for Placentia. We needed
9758-583: The honor during the April 16 awards show in Nashville. Previous recipients include Cash, Hank Williams Jr. , Loretta Lynn , Reba McEntire , and the Dixie Chicks . "John was my hero before he was my friend, and anything with his name on it is really an honor in my eyes," Kristofferson said during a phone interview. "I was thinking back to when I first met him, and if I ever thought that I'd be getting an award with his name on it, it would have carried me through
9877-581: The host of a rock and roll radio show in Los Angeles. His "Oldies, but Goodies" programs had become so popular that the crowds who converged onto the Scrivner's Drive-In location on the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Cahuenga Ave. in Hollywood , where the show was broadcast live, caused traffic jams in the area. At first, Laboe sought a new show venue within the city of Los Angeles, but was dissuaded by its laws that placed restrictions on gatherings of people under
9996-408: The most common ancestries. There were 27,034 households, out of which 53.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
10115-433: The most common foreign places of birth. In 2022, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority 's Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count counted 230 homeless individuals in El Monte. The El Monte City Council has seven members—an elected Mayor and six council members elected by districts. The Mayor and City Council are elected by the voters of El Monte and are responsible for overseeing the delivery of local government services to
10234-423: The name refers to a mountain, but there were no mountains in the valley. The word is an archaic Spanish translation of that era, meaning "the wood". The first explorers had found this a rich, low-altitude land blanketed with thick growths of wispy willows, alders, and cattails, located between the two rivers. Wild grapevines and watercress also abounded. El Monte is approximately 7 miles long and 4 miles wide. When
10353-669: The natural harbor at San Pedro . In the early days, it had a reputation as a rough town where men often settled disputes with knives and guns in its gambling saloons. Defense against Indian raids and the crimes of bandit gangs, such as that of Joaquin Murrieta , led to the formation of a local militia company called the Monte Rangers in February 1854. After the Monte Rangers disbanded, justice for Los Angeles County , in
10472-522: The passage of Proposition 14. He continued to play at benefits for the UFW through the 2010s. In 1987, he played at a benefit concert for Leonard Peltier with Jackson Browne , Willie Nelson and Joni Mitchell . In 1995, he dedicated a song to Mumia Abu-Jamal at a concert in Philadelphia, and was booed by the crowd. He performed in benefit concerts for Palestinian children, and said that he "found
10591-450: The population is Hispanic or Latino of any race (60.9% Mexican, 2.3% Salvadoran, 1.2% Guatemalan, 0.4% Nicaraguan, 0.3% Honduran, 0.3% Cuban, 0.2% Puerto Rican, and 0.2% Peruvian). The Census reported that 112,395 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 317 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 763 (0.7%) were institutionalized. There were 27,814 households, out of which 14,557 (52.3%) had children under
10710-417: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 65,593 people (57.8%) lived in rental housing units. According to the 2010 United States Census, El Monte had a median household income of $ 39,535, with 24.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line. As of the census of 2000, there were 115,965 people, 27,034 households, and 23,005 families residing in the city. The population density
10829-421: The rationale for their purchase: [W]e knew the boys were coming home from World War II and needed a place to have their parties and their meetings and to have a good time. Another Legionnaire, Marshall Walker, said that the building was also intended to be a "living memorial to the war dead". It was initially renamed El Monte Athletic Club, but was later called El Monte Legion Stadium. The American Legion leased
10948-560: The residents of the city. The city manager is Alma Martinez. In the California State Senate , El Monte is in the 22nd Senate District , represented by Democrat Susan Rubio . In the California State Assembly , it is split between the 48th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Blanca Rubio , and the 49th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Mike Fong . In
11067-671: The role of "Pop", a retired thoroughbred horse trainer. The movie was inspired by the true story of the mare Mariah's Storm which won the Turfway Breeders Cup Classic. In 2006, he received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and released his first album full of new material in 11 years; This Old Road . On April 21, 2007, Kristofferson won CMT 's Johnny Cash Visionary Award. Rosanne Cash , Cash's daughter, presented
11186-659: The same time, a miniseries that attempted to depict life in America under Soviet control. In spite of the success of Highwayman 2 in 1990, Kristofferson's solo recording career slipped significantly in the early 1990s, though he continued to record successfully with the Highwaymen. Lone Star (1996 film by John Sayles ) reinvigorated Kristofferson's acting career, and he soon appeared in Blade , Blade II , Blade: Trinity , A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries , Fire Down Below , Tim Burton 's remake of Planet of
11305-421: The school as well as the public in El Monte. Concerns about its soundness after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake nearly resulted in its closure, but tests that determined the building was stronger than previously believed, as well as the prohibitive costs of erecting a new auditorium, led to its preservation. El Monte Union High School, however, moved to a new campus. In 1945, the American Legion , Post 261 bought
11424-515: The seven-episode TV series Amerika with Robert Urich and Christine Lahti . In 1989, he was the male lead in the film Millennium with Cheryl Ladd . In 1996, he earned a supporting role as Charlie Wade, a corrupt South Texas sheriff in John Sayles ' Lone Star , a film nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay . In 1997, he co-starred in the film Fire Down Below with Steven Seagal . In 1998, Kristofferson took
11543-418: The town in March 1862 to suppress any rebellion, it was shut down three years later at the end of the war. El Monte was listed as a township in the 1860 and 1870 Censuses, with a population of 1,004 in 1860 and 1,254 in 1870. The 1860 township comprised several of the old ranchos in the El Monte area, including Rancho Potrero Grande , Rancho La Puente and Rancho La Merced . (This area presently includes
11662-418: The venue, renaming it El Monte Legion Stadium. In addition to using it for their meetings, they also leased it out for sporting events and concerts. Between 1949 and 1962, Legion Stadium overlapped as the host venue for Cliffie Stone 's Hometown Jamboree and Art Laboe 's "Oldies, but Goodies" concerts. These became an important part of the history of the country music and nascent rock and roll subcultures in
11781-410: The war after speaking with returning soldiers who had seen combat. Speaking about a soldier who had told him that he had witnessed other soldiers throwing people out of helicopters during interrogation, Kristofferson said, "The notion that you could make a young person do something so inhumane to another soldier—or even worse, a civilian—convinced me that we were in the wrong." Kristofferson called himself
11900-443: Was $ 32,439, and the median income for a family was $ 32,402. Males had a median income of $ 21,789 versus $ 19,818 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 10,316. About 22.5% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over. Mexican (62.0%) and Chinese (10.1%) were the most common ancestries. Mexico (63.6%) and Vietnam (13.5%) were
12019-499: Was 12,139.5 inhabitants per square mile (4,687.1/km ). There were 27,758 housing units at an average density of 2,905.8 per square mile (1,121.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 72.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, 35.67% White , 4.9% White Persons not Hispanic , 0.77% Black or African American , 1.38% Native American , 18.51% Asian , 0.12% Pacific Islander , 39.27% from other races , and 4.29% from two or more races. Mexican and Chinese were
12138-409: Was 31.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males. There were 29,069 housing units at an average density of 3,013.0 per square mile (1,163.3/km ), of which 11,740 (42.2%) were owner-occupied, and 16,074 (57.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%. 46,802 people (41.2% of
12257-406: Was 4.24 and the average family size was 4.43. In the city, the population were 34.1% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males. The median income for a household in the city
12376-425: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.04. There were 23,347 families (83.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.23. The population was spread out, with 32,234 people (28.4%) under the age of 18, 12,814 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 33,263 people (29.3%) aged 25 to 44, 24,567 people (21.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,597 people (9.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
12495-467: Was a commercial failure, setting the trend for most of the rest of his musical career. Artists such as Ronnie Milsap and Johnny Duncan continued to record Kristofferson's material with success, but his distinctively rough voice and anti-pop sound kept his own audience to a minimum. Meanwhile, more artists took his songs to the top of the charts, including Willie Nelson , whose 1979 LP release of (Willie Nelson) Sings Kristofferson reached number five on
12614-499: Was abandoned and the future of the auditorium was debated. James Thurman, whose company had built it, said that one of the trustees of the El Monte Union High School District board had a personal grudge against him that led him to vigorously campaign for demolition. Tests demonstrated that the building was capable of withstanding significantly more stress than had previously been believed. The building
12733-411: Was about the last three years before I started performing, before people started cutting my songs. I would work a week down here [in south Louisiana] for PHI, sitting on an oil platform and flying helicopters. Then I'd go back to Nashville at the end of the week and spend a week up there trying to pitch the songs, then come back down and write songs for another week. I can remember " Help Me Make It Through
12852-474: Was beginning to decay. In December 2009, it was announced that Kristofferson would be portraying Joe on the upcoming album Ghost Brothers of Darkland County , a collaboration between rock singer John Mellencamp and novelist Stephen King . On May 11, 2010, Light in the Attic Records released demos that were recorded during Kristofferson's janitorial stint at Columbia. Please Don't Tell Me How
12971-625: Was born in Brownsville, Texas , to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson, a U.S. Army Air Corps officer (later a U.S. Air Force major general ). During Kristofferson's childhood, his father encouraged him to pursue a military career. Kristofferson moved around frequently as a youth because of his father's military service, and the family settled in San Mateo, California . After graduating from San Mateo High School in 1954, he enrolled at Pomona College , hoping to become
13090-548: Was considered a Confederate stronghold sympathetic to the secession of Southern California from California to support the Confederate States of America . A. J. King an Undersheriff of Los Angeles County (and former member of the earlier "Monte Rangers" or "Monte Boys") with other influential men in El Monte, formed a secessionist militia company, like the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles , called
13209-527: Was done in Nashville. Kristofferson released a new album of original songs titled Closer to the Bone on September 28, 2009. It is produced by Don Was on the New West Records label. Prior to the release, Kristofferson remarked: "I like the intimacy of the new album. It has a general mood of reflecting on where we all are at this time of life." On November 10, 2009, Kristofferson was honored as
13328-405: Was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score . The album Music from Songwriter , featuring Nelson-Kristofferson duets, was a country success. Nelson and Kristofferson continued their partnership, and added Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash to form the supergroup the Highwaymen . Their first album, Highwayman , was a success, and the supergroup continued working together for
13447-466: Was presented to him by his aforementioned mentor, Professor Sontag. In 1958, Kristofferson was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford , studying at Merton College . While at Oxford, he was awarded a Blue for boxing , played rugby for his college, and began writing songs. At Oxford, he became acquainted with fellow Rhodes scholar, art critic, and poet Michael Fried . With
13566-518: Was preserved after establishing that the cost of demolition would be in excess of what was spent on its construction. The remaining school buildings continued to be used until April 1937, when the threat of a student strike successfully persuaded the El Monte Union High School District board to move classes to safer facilities. Construction of the new El Monte Union High School began in December. Throughout this period,
13685-617: Was still kind of an invasion of privacy that I wouldn't recommend. To be honest, I don't think he was there. John had a pretty creative memory." Upon hearing " Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down ", however, Cash decided to record it, and in 1970 Kristofferson won Song of the Year for the song at the Country Music Association Awards . In 1966, Dave Dudley released a successful Kristofferson single, "Viet Nam Blues." In 1967, Kristofferson signed to Epic Records and released
13804-481: Was successful as a performer following Johnny Cash's introduction of him at the Newport Folk Festival . In 1971, Janis Joplin , who had dated Kristofferson, had a number one hit with "Me and Bobby McGee" from her posthumous album Pearl . It stayed on the number-one spot on the charts for weeks. More hits followed from others: Ray Price ("I'd Rather Be Sorry"); Joe Simon ("Help Me Make It Through
13923-412: Was the highest-rated television program in Los Angeles and drew upwards of 4,000 people to Legion Stadium per show. Among the performers who appeared on the program at Legion Stadium were Molly Bee , Billy Strange , Joan O'Brien , Tex Ritter , Lefty Frizzell , Tex Williams , and Johnny Cash . Hometown Jamboree was cancelled in 1959. In 1955, Legion Stadium attracted the attention of Art Laboe ,
14042-761: Was then in the 2001 Tim Burton version of Planet of the Apes . He also played the title character "Yohan" as an old man in the Norwegian film Yohan: The Child Wanderer . He co-starred in the 2011 film Dolphin Tale and its 2014 sequel, Dolphin Tale 2 . In 2012, Kristofferson was in Joyful Noise with longtime friend Dolly Parton . In 2013, Kristofferson co-starred in The Motel Life , as well as Angels Sing with Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett . In 2006, Kristofferson starred with Geneviève Bujold in
14161-508: Was unsuccessful. In 1960, Kristofferson graduated with a B.Phil. in English literature . In 1961, he married his longtime girlfriend, Frances "Fran" Mavia Beer. Kristofferson, under pressure from his family, joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant , attaining the rank of captain . He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker , Alabama . He also completed Ranger School . During
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