The Head Cocktail Waitress
This latest entry comes from Cindy Farnsworth, who messaged us memories of her time at the Cockatoo Inn, where her mother worked as the head cocktail waitress for Andy Lococo.
The Head Cocktail Waitress
Cindy wrote in to tell us about her mother, who worked and partied with Cockatoo owner, Andy Lococo. She paints a vivid memory describing the scene:
My mother, Elsie Louise Kangas worked for Andy in the 1960s and early 1970s. He came to our house on weekends and to parties at our house. My mother was his head cocktail waitress. They dressed in a beaded sequined vest and black nylons – he wore a red jacket and a big diamond ring.
A Secret (ariat)?
Cindy also mentioned a connection between Andy Lococo the legendary thoroughbred racehorse, Secretariat – who won the coveted Triple Crown in 1973, and ranks as number 35 out of 100 of ESPN’s North American athletes of the 20th century:
My mother told me he was a secret owner of Secretariat. She teased me with the possibility of my being his pony girl.
Could a link to Secretariat be possible? Being so close to the famed Hollywood Park Racetrack, the Cockatoo was a well-known hub for the horse racing community. One could argue it was certainly a possibility. According to online sources, technically, Secretariat was primarily owned by Penny Chenery’s Meadow Stable, but Meadow Stable itself had multiple stakeholders over time. That being said, during Secretariat’s racing career, Penny Chenery was the principal owner and decision-maker, and there is no widely documented evidence of outside investors holding ownership in Secretariat specifically. On the other hand, many things that happened in those days – especially under the table – were not “well documented.”
Thanks to Cindy for sharing her story!
Did you know the head cocktail waitress Elsie Louise Kangas? Know something about Andy’s link to Secretariat? Tell us about either below!
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