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The District WeeklyWed. October 31
 

IGOR’S ALLEY
Myth: Varies. A thorough Internet search turned up dozens of stories about Munchkinlands/Midgetvilles/Midget Towns (there’s one in every state!) but the references to Igor (a.k.a Egor, a.k.a. Eegore), a rumored evil resident of Long Beach’s Midget Town—the other Midget Town, that is—are few.

As I heard it, the legend of Igor, or “Igor’s Alley” as it is commonly known, is this: Igor was a crazy midget, and one night, Igor completely lost it, stabbing his wife and children before hanging them outside their house (which butted on an alley) on meat hooks. But at least a few folks know an entirely different story (the phrase regularly pops up on “You Know You’re From Long Beach If . . .” MySpace posts—alongside Camp Hi-Hill!).

According to one, written by a blogger named Scooter, the allure of Igor’s Alley (one block east of Country Club Drive) was in fact Igor’s house—a looming blot of a thing with a visible exterior doorframe on the second floor and no stairwell or porch connected to it. Then, legend holds, Igor hanged someone from “some sort of dealie” from the door. (Scooter figures the structure was probably once a barn, or that there was a porch there and the new owners ditched it.)

Another story holds that it’s a “pitch black, one-way alley . . . no way to turn or anything,” and that if you proceed down the alley, you will encounter a “swimming pool full of dead roses and a chair on the edge of the diving board.”

Reality: Going out on a limb here, but I’m going to guess the legend of Igor is just that—a legend. Should someone want to search through death certificates and trace the etymology of the story, I’ll be your partner, but for now it’s probably best to leave this one undetermined. Having carved out (sorry) a place in our local lexicon—and hearts (sorry)—“Igor’s Alley” remains a fantastic local spookytime tale—and an even better adventure at night. // ELLEN GRILEY

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  • danielgray
    I remember as a kid being taken out side the Downey Midget town.. I saw it for myself . Little houses, the whole thing. I dont know if its there anymore..but I doubt they will murder you , but they were pretty upset that people would sit outside and stare at them like they were in a zoo.
  • Michell Kinney
    I live in the Igor house. The stories crack me up!!! Email me with any questions.
  • greggga
    It's a beautiful house how many rooms are there?
  • Michell Kinney
    I live in the Igor house. The stories crack me up!!!
  • clayton
    alright egor was a butler who worked in the house and there were these kids that live and played in the alley behind where he worked and he hated the kids because they were loud and made messes so one night he snaped and hung all the kids
    there's a ledge where u can see a semented door way and thats were it supposidly happend

    drive down the alley at night with your lights out crazy scary
  • Ray Spitzer
    I am Herbs brother and saw Michelle crash that day. I believe her trucks were tight and didn't turn because she hit a bump at the top and then the cart didn't go stright down hill and she couldn't make it adjust. A really bad eat. But she was one tough cookie! Herb on the other had got to aot 53 mph and his trucks were to loose and he got speed wabbles and got pitched...Someone in this world might have tape of this day...Wonder why they don't hold the ZShell Hill speed run anymo.
  • "Bloody Sunday": 1977 Signal Hill Speed Run. I was one of the few women who entered that race. There were two of us to be exact. The year before, there were no women represented. I thought that was terrible so I entered. I had a great leather outfit made by Bates Leather and was sponsored by my Dad's ship repair company. The other woman, Leslie Jo Ritzma, made it down and got the record for first woman to make the speed run. I unfortunately, as others that day, crashed...(my boyfriend at the time, Herb Spitzer, also crashed...let's just say, it was an exciting day for spectators!) I was not hurt but gave my mother a fright by doing a roll to the side just after the crest of the hill right in front of her! That was a very memorable day for me. I used to skate (roller skates) all the local skateparks and a few empty pools and am still in touch with several of "the guys" I hung with back then. (I'm a triathlete now.) Thanks for bringing some light to a great race, with or without the crashes!...You also got me back in contact with Jim O'Mahoney, a really great guy, that an interview with him alone would make for an interesting article!
  • Theo Douglas
    Ms. Schipske,
    That's amazing!
    Thanks for letting us know.
    I wonder where these "midgets" lived while they worked at Douglas; it'd make our story better if they lived here. They may have been commuters, though.
    My grandmother worked at Douglas during the war, and I know she drove in from the San Gabriel Valley every day--down Rosemead Boulevard.
  • Gerrie Schipske
    I have been working on a book about the women who worked in the aircraft industry during WWII and found out that Douglas hired "midgets" (the phrase used on the cutlines of the photos I saw) because they could fit into tight spaces like the inside of the fuel tanks.
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