Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
98 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 rename the street Cannery Row 13 years later. Along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, worldwide interest in Steinbeck's por trait of life among Bay Aquarium, worldwide interest in Steinbeck's por trait of life among the canneries was—and remains—instrumental in transforming what the canneries was—and remains—instrumental in transforming what was once a rusty, tetanus-rich environment inhabited by a cadre of was once a rusty, tetanus-rich environment inhabited by a cadre of sketchy characters (or as he wrote in the book: "whores, pimps, gamblers, sketchy characters (or as he wrote in the book: "whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches") into a wholesome family tourist destination. and sons of bitches") into a wholesome family tourist destination. In 1930, Steinbeck returned to Pacific Grove with his first wife Carol In 1930, Steinbeck returned to Pacific Grove with his first wife Carol In 1930, Steinbeck returned to Pacific Grove with his first wife Carol In 1930, Steinbeck returned to Pacific Grove with his first wife Carol Henning, taking up residence in his family's summer cottage. It was dur- Henning, taking up residence in his family's summer cottage. It was dur- ing this period that Steinbeck cemented his friendship with Ricketts, the ing this period that Steinbeck cemented his friendship with Ricketts, the man who would be the inspiration for one of the author's most loved man who would be the inspiration for one of the author's most loved characters: Doc in "Cannery Row." characters: Doc in "Cannery Row." The "Doc" moniker was strictly a literary device: "Nowhere did The "Doc" moniker was strictly a literary device: "Nowhere did Steinbeck string the two words 'Doc' and 'Ricketts' together," says Steinbeck string the two words 'Doc' and 'Ricketts' together," says Cannery Row historian and author Michael Hemp. However, there are Cannery Row historian and author Michael Hemp. However, there are apocryphal stories about young neighborhood boys knocking on the apocryphal stories about young neighborhood boys knocking on the door of Ricketts' Pacific Biological Laboratory at 800 Ocean View door of Ricketts' Pacific Biological Laboratory at 800 Ocean View door of Ricketts' Pacific Biological Laboratory at 800 Ocean View Boulevard to be treated for minor scrapes. Boulevard to be treated for minor scrapes. Steinbeck overheard the boys call his personable, compassionate Steinbeck overheard the boys call his personable, compassionate friend "Doc" and, like every good writer, filed away the encounter for friend "Doc" and, like every good writer, filed away the encounter for friend "Doc" and, like every good writer, filed away the encounter for future use. He borrowed liberally of his good friend's personality to future use. He borrowed liberally of his good friend's personality to form the character of Doc (and others, including ex-preacher Jim Casy form the character of Doc (and others, including ex-preacher Jim Casy in "The Grapes of Wrath"). The two shared a cherished friendship that in "The Grapes of Wrath"). The two shared a cherished friendship that This photograph of Steinbeck and Elaine was taken at Viking Press in New York during a 1962 press conference, 6 This photograph of Steinbeck and Elaine was taken at Viking Press in New York during a 1962 press conference, just after the announcement was made in Stockholm that he had won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Even though Steinbeck, like many small-town people who hit the big time, moved on to brighter lights and bigger cities, the shadow he cast in and around Monterey County has loomed large in the decades since his passing. Photo: Courtesy of Trotter Galleries