Erle Stanley Gardner

Some of you know already the Erle Stanley Gardner was the #1 mystery author of the 1900s, created the character Perry Mason, took him from books to radio, to television.

Gardner loved the desert and he loved Baja. He wrote several travel adventure books about Baja and the desert between 1948 and 1969.

Choral Pepper was the editor of Desert Magazine during most of the 1960s and her husband Jack was the publisher/owner, in Palm Desert, CA. One day, the Peppers got a phone call from Erle Stanley Gardner (a subscriber) and he announced he was coming to see them with a proposal.

It's about time I open up my boxes of Choral Pepper's photos and scan more to share... I will add some I do not believe I have scanned before.


1965, searching for lost mines in Arizona.


Gardner and Choral Pepper at a Baja campfire (1966)


Erle and a new friend, El Coyote (Bahía Concepción) 1966


Erle's new Bronco, 1966.


San Ignacio from above.


Crossing the San Ignacio River, before pavement.


River view from the Mulege missions back


Butterfly (3-wheeler) with Erle and Land Rover, at Bahia Concepcion 1966


Mission San Miguel, 1960s




[Edited on 12-5-2020 by David K]

I am suprized that you didn´t mention the TOYOTA? What a classic!

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

So...Erle was a pioneer "influencer"? [Edited on 12-5-2020 by AKgringo]

Very much so...
The whale watching (1960 book) and painted caves (1962 book) and three-wheeled off road vehicles (1967 book) were made famous or known, thanks to him... all while we watched Perry Mason on TV!

1960:


1962:


1967:


1968:


[Edited on 12-6-2020 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

It was the first photo I posted! He also owned a Land Rover wagon and had a Bronco when Ford first made them... on the '66 trip.

I know but you usually go into a toyota love fest. He had good taste in vehicles!

Quote: Originally posted by David K

More photos added! chippy, it was Nomads (Amigos de Baja, then) who turned me onto the Tacoma 4x4, in 2000... Been the best vehicles of my life (on my 3rd and final)!

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

Quote: Originally posted by David K   More photos added! chippy, it was Nomads (Amigos de Baja, then) who turned me onto the Tacoma 4x4, in 2000... Been the best vehicles of my life (on my 3rd and final)! Never say final! It´s bad luck. Better penultimo! [Edited on 12-5-2020 by chippy]

More

The Grasshopper was the custom JW Black-made dune buggy they used so much.


This image at Mission Santa María in the 60s was printed in reverse.


The original Highway 1 along Bahia Concepción.


Gardner caravan, south of Gonzaga Bay (I think)

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista

Thanks for the excellent history and photographs! Wonderful aerial view of old San Ignacio. Makes it clear where "La Huerta" hotel gets its name.

My pleasure... It was people like Erle Stanley Gardner and Choral Pepper who made Baja so appealing to explore when I was a kid. 'Off the Beaten Track in Baja' (the one you see above) was a book I asked my mom to buy for me when I was 10 years old, in 1967! Choral Pepper's Baja book came out in 1973, as I was starting high school... I really loved it!

Here are both editions of her book (1973 & 1975):



It was such a thrill to meet and become friends of Choral in the final years of her life.

More ESG books (that are not Perry Mason stories)

1948:


1961:


1963:

(a gift from elgatoloco and Baja Barb, 11/2001)

1965:


(Internet photo)

1968:


I have alose read Erle's final Mexico book, but it was borrowed and not in my collection. From 1969:

(photo from Internet, this book had almost no Baja content)
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Gardner was fascinated with houseboats in the Sacramento Delta, too (photos from Internet):

1965:


1967:


Choral Pepper told me that she could not figure out why Erle had this fascination with those 'house boaters'!

Erle Stnley Gardner

One of my favorite Gardner saying is 'When driving on desert roads it is best to slow down so you will get to your destination sooner.'

Quote: Originally posted by K7BVT

One of my favorite Gardner saying is 'When driving on desert roads it is best to slow down so you will get to your destination sooner.'

Good one! Enjoy the journey as much as the destination!

Great pics! Love the Bronco.

Notice how in all the books with Baja in the title he doesn't refer to it as "The" Baja!

So Cal Nostalgia