What We Were Like

Los Angeles AA groups began springing up during the early forties. Meetings were held on West Seventh Street and Wilshire Boulevard: quite a drive from the San Fernando Valley in the days of gas rationing. "Willing to go to any length," the early AAs traveled wherever there were meetings in Southern California by pooling gas coupons and riding together in one of the few automobiles that the members possessed. The comradeship enjoyed outside the scheduled meetings was crucial to these men and women. In those days, alcoholics were ostracized; alcoholism was viewed as shameful and disgusting due to ignorance about the disease.