Radio Veteran Announces His Dream: Centennial Marker for Movie Studio

Wade Douglas lives about a block and half from Mostly Mission, a furniture and crafts store in The Village, and for years he wondered why no historic plaque marked the shop—site of La Mesa’s one-time movie studio.

So two years ago, he recruited some friends, including old media colleagues—he was a longtime radio reporter for KSDO and KOGO, and worked for NBC San Diego—to help distinguish the old Wolf Building.

A little after 10 a.m. Friday—on the 100th anniversary of the American Film Manufacturing Co. occupying the space on what was then known as Lookout Avenue—a 23-by-17-inch stainless steel and photo-engraved marker was unveiled at 8360 La Mesa Blvd.

“It was an oversight that needed correcting,” said Douglas, 66, speaking as cars and trucks rushed by the dispersing sidewalk crowd.

He recalled doing some backyard landscaping a few years ago and telling a neighbor about the old Flying A studio nearby.

Now he jokes that the plaque will improve his property value. 

But Friday morning, he and Mayor Art Madrid lifted a black drape from the plaque to applause from 50 witnesses, including members of his committee, the La Mesa Historical Society and assorted media.

The plaque, made by Paul Riha of Carlsbad’s Stone Imagery, had been installed a week earlier (by Riha) but was covered by cardboard with a note attached.  Nobody removed it until before the ceremony.

Riha discounted the price of the project, which ended up costing $2,000, Douglas said.

Douglas said his efforts were slow-going until he joined forces with the Historical Society—and “that turned the trick.”

Former Historical Society President Donna Niemeier made a “substantial” donation to the project, while Douglas contributed a “reasonably substantial” amount, he said.

Despite being laid off at KOGO in 2008, Douglas still possessed his trademark baritone Friday—giving several interviews, including one to Ken Kramer, the La Mesan best known for his Ken Kramer’s About San Diego historical pieces on TV and radio.

Virginia McKenzie, who with her husband owns the Mostly Mission shop now accessorized with the outdoor plaque, said she moved from a nearby location to her current site in July 2010.

Several months later, she said, Douglas told her about the building’s ancestry.

“I was really excited,” she said. “I thought: ‘Wow, that’s so neat—you know, that there’s a bit of history right here.”

McKenzie said the shop was formally occupied by , which moved to Santee.

McKenzie shared her own history, saying she always wanted to own her own business.

“So I quit my job of 22 years [as a horticulturist for the landscape and irrigation supplier Hydro-Scape Products] and opened up my little shop a block down from this one,” she said.

“Then the recession hit, but by golly I was still successful.”