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Another Successful Pikin Chixs Affaire
5 hours ago
I'm a blogger and internet marketer, motorcycle rider, and craft beer lover.
117 comments:
Although I went to Santa Ana High, my brother and sister went to valley. We all went to Edison and then Lathrop. I graduated in '59, my brother in (I believe '61) and my sister in (I believe'62.) We were all frequenters of the In and Out, and it has always reminded me of Happy Days. Names like Cunningham and Fonzerelli (reminds me of Faducia)...get the picture?
One of my memories was of cruzing North and South Halls. There was a little record shop on the other side of Main and a little down from Lathrop. Use to buy all of my 45's there. Those were the good 'ol days.
I read comments about SAVHS and violance in the 1980
Addendum: /though I wrote about the good old early days of my family life 1960 in Santa Ana I do have to say gang activity was a lot different in the 60’s at SAV than what I’ve read about for the 80’s. Just as adult gang organization, culture diversity gangs and juvenile delinquents are different so is the time line for the local gangs. Just think about it: 1965 the Black Panthers, organized after the death of Malcolm X: they fought for economic, social, and political equality for all. The Panthers started the Free Breakfast for school children, in 1969 they fed over 10,000 children everyday. Funds came from the money made off the Mao’s Red Book sales. Raymond Washington a 15 year old high school youth founded blue bandana gang called the Crip and attempted to preserve the Panther aura. 1972 After a conflict between the Crip and the Pirus and other LA gangs, a new pack wearing a red bandana called the Blood. In 1980’s the ideology changed, no longer did gangs fight for equality instead they fought for turf rights for the sales of narcotics, cocaine, and other drugs. Thousands of dollars were made by gang member overnight. Homicides were on an upward surge. The shift was off equality for all to drug, money and greed’
The first black gangs developed in So Cal in 1940-50 in defense from white teenage gangs determined to attack and harass black youth. In the 1960 era central LA; Watts, Central Ave, West Adams gangs scuffles were hand to hand fights or with knives and tire irons. In 1968 the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and two months later Robert Kennedy, a US politician sympathetic to the civil rights movement was also assassinated.
So then in the 1970-80 LA gangs, just 35 miles away from SAV, crawled its way into Orange County. Greed, drugs, turf, and money took over the civil rights ideas. Again adult gang organization, culture diversity gangs and juvenile delinquents are different so is the time line for the local gangs. Gang member do not look for revenues from legal aspiration, they just rob, kill, and open meth labs in local neighborhood. There was one kid in our neighborhood, name was Eddie (RIP), he said people don’t fight anymore, they just shot-shot to kill.
Ruth, RVX10@aol.com
I was born in Riverside but actually was raised on both sides of Orange. I attended Heim Elementary school and Perelta Jumior High School and later El Modena High. Neither Heim or Perelta exists any longer. That's a sign we're getting old!I saw the Orange mall being built as a kid. We were so excited! I lived off of Galley St by the old Olive School and church. We were surrounded by orange groves that use to really set off my allergies! I can remember collecting bottles and we would take them over to the liquor store and buy candy. Use to hang out at Eisenhower park before it was a park. Godd memories.
Can anyone recall the burro rides at Knotts Berry Farm? Or, all the rabbits and chickens that used to run loose around, which is now the parking lot? Back then it was all dirt. We used to take our rabbits and chickens down there when we got too many and let them go.
I remember the burro rides at Knott's. I also remember the burro rides at Disneyland. When I talk about them, people look at me like I'm crazy. As a kid, the burro rides were the first thing I'd want to do.
As a teenager, I kept my horse at one of the many back yard stables in Santa Ana Heights. I have many happy memories of riding bareback on horse during the summers and running him through one of the inlets, waiting for the low tide to hit so we could get sopping wet.
I remember when the dike that runs across the back bay use to used by cars before a bad storm in the '60s broke it, never to be repaired. My dad would drive all us kids over it in our old '59 ford wagon. You entered it on Irvine Ave. (when Irvine use to be a 2 lane road) right past Monte Vista Ave. (where I grew up), drove through the back bay onto the dike and ended up on Back Bay Rd. by The Dunes. I especially loved that excursion during high tide when you'd see fish jumping all over the place.
Someone mentioned the Buster Brown store. I totally remember that place! It was so fun to go there, I loved it. They had a wooden carousel that had wooden horses that you could ride. I also remember the big shoe that was a house and you could go inside? Cant remember if that was Buster Brown's or Standard Brand shoes. Either way, what memories! thanks!
Does anyone remember a drive-through hamburger place on Beach Blvd. north of Westminster Blvd., on the east side, in the late '50s or early '60s? Not a drive-in, a drive-through. My memory tells me those were some of the best hamburgers I ever had! I can't remember the name of the place.
Also, across the street north of Knott's Berry Farm there was a place that sold pottery--a kind of a discount or outlet place. It was similar to the more famous places in Laguna Beach.
Carol Kennedy
One vivid memory of Knott's Berry Farm when I was a kid, is the hobby shop which was close to the haunted shack. I remember, being a train buff, that there was a model train running along the ceiling all around the edge of the rooms. Also, there was in a glass case, a (I think brass) live steamer which was very old. I seem to remember a drawing like a blueprint of a steam locomotive. Please, someone confirm this. I keep this memory close to my heart.
Also, one other fond memory involves Disneyland. In the GE Carousel of Progress, when you would exit the ride, you would walk down a semi-dark corridor which had a glass case featuring a miniature future working model of I believe Epcot Center. This was in the mid to late 60's. I have asked some Disney employees, but no one can recall this.
Phil Beltran
Santa Clarita CA
I was born at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach in 1960. I was raised in Costa Mesa and lived in Santa Ana, Tustin, and El Toro until 1990. I now live in San Jose CA. The thing that always amazed me about OC growing up is how fast the area developed and grew! It seemed like the place just popped up overnight. It some ways it is very sad to see such massive and sprawled out growth.
Me and a bunch of friends go down to Ticketmaster at the South Coast Plaza in 1983 to buy tickets for the 1983 USFestival. That was the best 20 bucks I ever spent on a concert. I know, I know, that was in Riverside county, but I think alot of us Orange county kids went. I was 16 in 83.
leogent@hotmail.com
Great site Steve. I went to Valley too. I transfered to Mountain View later. Class of 85. I remember the Crack club. Remember Warren?
...Leo
Curious to know if anyone has heard about Luis Vasquez or Vazquez; played tennis / was in band. We were somewhat nerdy pals and given the circumstances incredibly innocent / somewhat naive - cutting school to play video games at a donut shop, I believe on Edinger, was the height of excitement. Loved my experience in the marching band. Also was in French Club. I would have been class of '91 if I hadn't moved after my junior year. Ended up with a BA in philosophy from Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, and MA from NYU in Latin American Studies. Went to Diamond and Carr and wonder now and then how my ex-class mates are doing. Vividly recall Mr Scarfone throwing erasers at loud students at Diamond ('82-83 or so) - believe band teacher was Mr. Moss at SAVHS (~'88-90) - it's been forever since I've thought of our bus trips to football / baseball game. All the best to everyone at SAVHS '87-91. Gardening in our brownstone in Park Slope, Bklyn, Santa Ana seems like a whole other world a lifetime ago. Like I said, through my somewhat sheltered eyes - it was an idyllic youth.
I also have relatives in Santa Ana, CA, who I run into visiting mutual relatives in Mexico.
I attended the Boy Scout National Jamboree in 1953. It was held out in what was then the Old Irvine Ranch, Orange County. No houses, just lots of acreage under cultivation.
At the closing ceremony a candle lighting was held with all the Scouts and Vice President Richard Nixion in attendance. Hollywood movie star Dorothy Lamour visited the Jamboree also.
45,000 Boy Scouts attended. Does anyone out there remember this special event?
My daughter just told me about this site and in a few minutes I’ve become addicted.
Perhaps someone can help me recall a specific candy store in Santa Ana. Era – early 50’s.
It was on North Main just below Buffum’s. It wasn’t McFarlan’s (sp?) which was on Main closer to 4th. And it wasn’t See’s which was on main just below 4th.
The store actually made “hand-dipped” chocolates in-house.
I went to John Adams Elementary school in the late 50s, then onto Smedley Jr. High school. I remember walking to the (I think it was Tastee Freez) right beside the school for Tacos. My fondest memory is of a dear Teacher. Mr. Owen Brown. He taught math at Smedley. I reached the 7th grade in 1963 and could not multiply (my father was a Marine and we moved so much I never seemed to catch up with school work). This teacher made me a "deal" if I met him after school everyday he would work with me, and in less than a year he had my math skills at grade level!
As girl scouts we learned to dance on skates (roller) I believe it was at the Skate Barn?
We left our garage door open all day, got out our bikes, road to the rec park near John Adams Elementary school, and Wanda (anyone remember her) taught us how to make larrets, and other crafts? Remember the sports teams? Volley Tennis? Volley Ball, etc?
Remember the May Day festival at John Adams, and I remember celebrating the year Hawaii and Alaska became States!
Hey Leogent...I was in that line at South Coast Plaza for US festival tickets too. Half the fun of going to concerts in the 80's was spending the night on the sidewalk in front of Sears. First, you had to get permission from your're parents cause you were going to be out all night. Second, you had to get your sleeping bag and a flashlight together. If you were lucky somebody's folks would give you a ride, if not we had a long walk to the Mall (lived across from Saddleback). Didn't some guy get pushed through the plate glass window that night, landing in the lawnmower section at Sears? (that might have been Van Halen tix...dunno?)
Great Concert...Bad Sunburn@Heavy Metal Sunday
Oh my Goodness, thought I was the only one with fond memories of Farrells ice cream parlor we had one in San Jose at the Eastridge Mall... what ever happened to these great places??? they are not around anymore and we miss them dearly!
Mary Romero
Walnut Creek, CA
Growing up near Main St Garden Grove. My family was sponsered by the United Methodist Church to come to America. My Mother and Father were War refugees from Indonesia. We lived in Holland before we arrived in 1960. As part of the sponsership we were housed in a Old House on Acacia St. Yes it was Haunted ! I have great memories of that house though. My Brother and Sisters used to play around the Train tracks behind our house. We used to climb on the Box cars. We also used to play at the "Veterans" thrift store. Once we were under the store and found a trap door that went directly into the store ! The store was closed and we walked around in there. We were just kids and thievery was not in our minds. It was real exciting though ! Some days we would just follow the train tracks. Once we followed them up to the SA River bed. When we saw the bridge my sister said we were in SF ! We really believed we were. I remember Wheelers Mkt in front of the Church. The Old man was a crank and his wife was nice. We would scour the streets for deposit bottles and return them there for candy. There was directly across the street a Barber shop (now at the museum) where my pop would take me. Euclid Park was were we played in that big dip that used to be a creek. This creek ran through GGHS down the "Golden Fleece". I remember when they had Easter Egg hunts there also. I can't talk about Main st with out mentioning the Gem Theater. We stood in line down to the curb waiting to see movies.
Later on in the early 70s I would watch "Trog","Tora Tora Tora", "Sam Whiskey" and "Butch Cassidey". Now to name stores you would probably remember, Rainbow Liquor, Joy Bell, Zlakets, The Bookman, Les's Barbershop (and his Golf clubs in the corner)the Photo- grapher (where we had our football and class pictures taken). A guy I Knew had parents that ran one of the Thrift stores there. Now sadly I drive through there and realize how small that area is. It was once my universe, a place where a boy with 2 legs and a quarter or 50 cents could have so much fun. It was safer back then also.........
I lived in La Mirada and went to Wm. N. Neff High School. Neff was an "expansion" school, built in the late 50's or early 60's I think, to take the overflow of baby-boomer kids from La Mirada High. Our mascot was the Trojan, the colors were black and gold. I graduated in '79 and in the early 80's due to a drop in student population, Neff was completely leveled and turned into a business park. I believe the street name still is Trojan Way. Here is a link to a website with info and pictures:
http://www.ourlamirada.com/schools/neff.html
BENNY GOULD where are you...been looking for awhile now...by public records it looks as if you have married now (finally ! omg).Please find me in the Dallas, Tx. area. Would love to talk to you. DAVID EARLEY please get in touch with me I am so worried about you since we lost contact 'round Dec. You are hiding out well my dear. Probably not far though.
A big shout out to all the LaPalma/ Buena Park kids I grew up with. I miss O.C. immensely!
A dear friend who graduated from Estancia High School in 1968 tells me she played in a train car or cars at Newport Harbor High School. She says she was a little girl so it would have had to be late 50’s to very early 60’s. Her grandparents lived directly across from the Tennis Courts and Davidson Field and she says these cars were to the left of the tennis courts in front of the football field. If it was 1962-63 maybe it had something to do with Davidson Field Stadium being built that summer of '63. Prior to that Newport had only the white wooden bleachers for seating at games.
Does anyone recall these at all? I have many 50s and 60s Newport Yearbooks and nothing shows up in those.
Does anyone remember Pizza Man ?
I remember the commercial on tv. "Pizza Man.....He Delivers".
Roxanne
What a great site you have. Our family moved to Irvine in 72 and all six kids went to University High School. We all have memories of South Coast Plaza, OC Raceway, El Toro Airbase and all of the undeveloped areas that seemed so vast at the time. My mother, brother and family still live there and enjoy the master planned community of the future.
i rember the 4th of july parties at scottmans cove in the early 1960s and the cars lining the highway walking down those steep trails to the beach
and the big bon fires running across
the fire and one guy falling into the fire his name was brad as i rember
been a long time ago anyone rember those days newport pier in the 1960s
yogi.is.tltltallman@hotmail.com
I well remember the polo field in Garden Grove. There was a very nice white house fronting on Garden Grove Blvd. It had white two story columns. Rather like a colonial house. Very nice. I believe it was all owned by the Post family. I do know it was all sold and the house moved somewhere in the county, I believe. My sister's first apartment in the early 70's was on the old grounds, I think.
In the 60's my grandparents came to visit and stayed at the Saddelback Inn. It's why I looked it up b/c we're planning a trip out there next month. I remember that ashtray too because my mother and grandmother both smoked. Sigh... I miss my grandparents
I have such fond memories of the Gourmet Restaurant at Disneyland Hotel, back in the mid '50s when it was privately owned and truly a great hotel, not an extension of Disneyland as it is now. It had REAL class. Having moved here from Minnesota in 1955, it was one of the few FINE dining restaurants in the area, the dining room being one of the best around, similar to the Jolly Knight and later, Ruben's (not Ruben's Plank House). It was fine dining at its best . . . however as a child you could get a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, Child's Spaghetti Plate, or several other children's meals served as nicely as your parent's steaks or seafood. It was dark in there, but having the great children's menu made it "ok". They even had Gerber Baby Food on their menu! The rest rooms were equipped for "Little Ladies" with little short toilets and low sinks as well as soap and lotion dispensers mounted at the proper height for the "Little Lady". (They also had hand lotion for the "Big Ladies" as well). Outside the restaurant there was a small mall with shops and a radio station which I believe was KEZY. We would go out there and watch the DJ spin records, then shop at the kids shop as well as the other shops. My parents would usually run into someone they knew so my brother and I would have to w-a-i-t as they talked themselves out. It was there, in the shops I met actors John Payne and John Wayne. Walt Disney was known to have dinner at the Gourmet Restaurant and at times he brought the Mousketeers. I still have a children's menu from the restaurant which opens up into a long train with Walt Disney's autograph on it. I asked him if I could be a Mousketeer, and he asked if I could sing and dance. In my honesty, I answered that I could sing but i was just starting dancing lessons the next week. Didn't do me much good! On another trip to the restaurant, he was there with the full group of the Mouseketeers, including Annette, Cubby ... from the oldest to the youngest, plus Roy and Jimmie. I got all of their autographs on yet another style children's menu, but alas, time took its toll. I don't know what happened to that one.
I also saw the Chalet Restaurant (or Pancake House) on a postcard posted with another comment. That was another one of my parent's favorites, especially on Sunday morning after church.
CJG
THE REUBEN E LEE - Certainly many people remember that restaurant in its better days. It was probably my favorite until they sold it and it began to change.
I am particularly wondering if anyone has the recipe for their AWSOME vegetable chowder. I am very good at duplicating recipes but that one has always eluded me!
CJG
Pizza Man -- he delivers! I always begged my mom to order Chicken Delight. Remember, "Don't Cook Tonight, Call Chicken Delight!"
Linda,
I too loved Kiddie Land. It was such a special place for little kids. I've never known of an amusement park quite like that - just planted on a corner waiting for our parents to take us there! The rides were even smaller and less sophistocated than the kids carnival rides that came with the traveling carnivals. But we loved them.
Speaking of the carnivals, does anyone remember the carnivals that used come to the same center in front of the All American Market.
The location you gave for The Jolly Roger is correct. One of my friends and I drove by there last week and I was pretty sure that's where it was, but not definitly so. You would NEVER know now it had been there. There's not a trace of anything akin to the restaurant standing there.
I'd just be so happy to have Bob's Big Boy back again, the way it was, no change in recipe or menu and Priscilla's Bakery with all of their cakes and frostings like they were then. . .as well as their cherry streudel and their white bread.
Anyone remember Treon Drugs?
CJG
Sneaking into Disneyland.
We lived off West Street, near Disneyland. Back in the 60's and early 70's, you didn't need a pass to re-enter the park. They simply stamped your hand with that really interesting smelling "black light" ink. To re-enter the park, you simply put your hand under the black light and the cast member let you back in.
Did anyone else ever play this game as kids? There were two main-gate exits - hand stamp line and direct exit. We would hang around the direct exit gate until a bit of a crowd would form. We would emerge from the crowd and approach the guy stamping hands, saying "oh, were we supposed to get our hands stamped?"
We always had lots of tickets in our pockets from "back east" relatives who would visit Disneyland and leave their tickets with us. So between the tickets and the question, they guy would always stamp our hand - and we had another day in the park.
Does anyone remember MAXWELLS Bar, early 80's , Was it on the HB Pier?
Man Oh Man, This is a great site!! Thanks Steve.
...Mid 1970's. There were three of us. Steve, George and me. Under the cover of night, with the Moon our only light we went to work. Our mission, the strawberries at the corner of Euclid and Chapman Blvd. in Garden Grove. At first it went pretty smooth. We bagged a whole bunch of strawberries but all of a sudden, a sound, some lights. Steve started to run first, we followed. I stayed close behind Steve. We were headed for the Dairy on the other side of the street. Next thing you know. Steve disappears right before me. I hear a big thud and I realize that he had just fallen in a huge hole. He managed to crawl out right about the time we passed him up. We cross the street to see our friend Kevin who worked at the Dairy. We tried to act normal. No cops. Phew, that was close.. I don't remember what happened to the strawberries.
Does anyone remember the Naugle's chain of Mexican restaurants? There was one on 17th in Costa Mesa, where I think the Jack in the Box is now. Their specialty were "Macho" burritos and "Macho" Nachos, names appropriated by Del Taco when they acquired the chain in the 80s. Good stuff.
Martin (Newport Beach)
Naugles was the BEST at 2:00am after an night of partying at the club or morning after hangover, I miss naugles Brookhurst/Hamilton,HB.
Ok,
Who remember the Dunes Cantina in Surfside? I worked there with my brother and friends in the mid-late 70's as a dishwasher and waiter while going to Huntington High.
Corky and Candy were the owners and the film "phantasmagora"? was partly filmed there.
Corky always kept a huge plastic horse tied to the roof. One Saturday afte a big off shore wind the horse blew off the roof and was hanging with a rope around it's neck.....what a site!
the salsa, the burritos, the wine margaritas!WOW!
the place had been there since the 20's and many movie stars had stopped there on their way to newport back in the day.
Daimon sushi bar is there now after corky sold to Hussong's Cantina, which it was for about two years.
Troy - Northern Cali Boy Now.
This is really neat. My name is Heather Fugate, my dad is Robert Fugate he was an hellicopter mechanic. I lived on El Toro when I was in kindergarten until the beginning of fourth grade, that would have been in 1990 or 91 to about 95 I think. I remember walking to and from school, I lived up the hill across from the school on I think it was the first road. There was a basketball court on the corner. I've recently found my best friend that lived on my street. Also, when we were stationed in Hawaii I found my best friend from second and third grade in Mrs. Rose's class, I loved her! If anyone remembers me give me a holler hotpinkz71@yahoo.com. Thanks for doing this website!
I'm looking for anyone who remembers "Marina Palace!" It was a rock club for teenagers. I believe it was in the Sunset Beach, Seal Beach area. It had a rotating stage and 3 bands would perform on weekends. While one band was finishing their last song, the stage would begin to rotate and the next band would come around already playing their first song. You were always guaranteed to hear Smoke On The water at least 3 times a night.
The late 60's at Scottmans Cove...........The trails down were very steep but it was sooooo worth it at night. Lots of bon fires, stars and swimmming in the ocean. Those were the days!
Does anyone recall a place located on Beach and Lampson back in 1935 called the "Palm Leaf" stand? It was owned by a man named Thomas Hasack.
Click on this link or copy & paste into browser to see a photo of it: Picture of Thomas Hasack's "Palm Leaf" Stand
What ever happened to the Little Village Cafe pictured here: Click here to view
Hey, this is a great site ! I'm loving it. I grew up at Knotts and I am the daughter of Claude K. Bell. My dad built statues for Walter Knott while we were all growing up. The miner and the donkey, the saloon girls, The men sitting on the benches, Statues of Walter Knott, statues in the mine ride, etc. My three sisters and I have so many fond memories. We use to dance in the Bird Cage Theater , take turns swinging each other in the big black molasses pot outside the church , I would dream of growing up and becoming a can-can dancer in the saloon!
We attended Sunday school in the large Bull fighting arena, the stage depot and the wagon camp. My dad never missed a sunday at The Church Of Reflections. Walter Knott and my dad were friends and my dad opened up a Portrait Studio at Knott's on a verbal agreement. He was there for over 40 years.
I remember everything that you all have mentioned and more. Knott's Berry Farm was my play ground for so many years. Such fond memories !
Thank you Knott's Berry Farm for your wonderful memories....luv Jeannie Bell
Don't see any references to the following...but does anyone remember:
1. The Cuckoo's Nest/Concert Factory in Costa Mesa
2. Belisle's Restaurant in Garden Grove
3. Chris & Pitts
4. The Oil Fountain on the south end of South Coast Plaza next May Co.?
or 5. The Lone Ranger Restaurant on Beach in HB
6.the Orange(juice) Shack on PCH north of Laguna.
7. Hart's Sporting Goods in Costa Mesa
8. The Long Beach Pike ( I know not OC, but still close enough)
9. Coast Music in Costa Mesa
10. The Opening of Two guys in HB with specail guest "Danny Bonaduce" in attendence.
What a great site! I love to tell my kids about OC "back when". We moved to Laguna Hills in 1977 from Kansas. I remember we would drive around just taking pictures of flowering ice plant and my mom declaring how beautiful everything was. We took swim lessons at the "new" El Toro HS and for fun, toured the model homes for the tracts they were building in the eucalyptus woods. I remember there wasn't too much east of the 5 freeway except Saddleback Plaza which had The Velvet Turtle and Casa Maria's. Then they expanded that center and added a 2nd movie theater. Both the first and 2nd theatres had 3 screens and we used to call them "1-2-3" and "4-5-6" to designate which one our friends should meet us at. I remember the utter horror I would experience if my parents forced me to go to KMart and how I wouldn't even want them to park our car in the lot in case someone saw it. My friends and I took the bus from Laguna Hills Mall to Laguna Beach when we we were in 5th grade. I can't imagine letting my kids ever do the same. Later we moved to the Wind Rose tract out El Toro road where we had to CAMP OUT for 3 days to be in line to buy our house. While we were waiting for that house to be built, we rented a place on 2nd street in El Toro across from some old "haunted" house in a big Orange Grove. One morning I woke up and they were moving that house and mowing down the orange groves. Just like that - gone. I later found out that house has been preserved at Heritage Park off Lake Forest Dr. I remember that old 2-lane El Toro Road winding out to Cooks Corner and the bee farms they had along the way. One day while waiting for my school bus at 7:30am along El Toro Road, a big flat-bead hauling bobcat tractors came flying down the road and one of those tractors broke free, rolled across the road and down into the creek. The truck never even slowed down. I bet he was surprised when he reached his destination. I never mentioned it to my parents and I always wondered how long it took before someone ran into that bobcat in the creek. My dad was a land surveyor and he would take us out on his jobs which were usually all still avocado or orange groves. We really had some good guacamole in the 70's! I will always love the times I spent in South County in the 70's.
Mike McGiffin - I used to throw pizzas at Mazotti's in the early 70's and deliver them to the bands thru the back alley of the Golden Bear. I saw so many great groups play there and have great memories of all the fun times.
Did anyone here attend the Orange County School of Nursing in the 1950's. My father worked there and also did the photography for the yearbook. If anyone has memories of him, I'd sure like to know.
Man, oh man. I used to drive my 1965 Olds Cutlass into an orange grove just off of the 55 and polish the heck out of that 4-on-the floor...souped up (8mpg)car..Loved the smell of the orange blossoms and driving from Irvine to Newport Beach..quiet drive then and beautiful coming over the crest on the TWO lane McCarthur Blvd...Nostalgia definitely creeping in. JB
Many memories of Belisles...Huge amounts of food (did not have to watch my weight then)..Would go there after I was on call at the old Orange County Medical Center and chow down....Would definitely be on Guy Fieri's show now..if they were still open..anyone remember the overly large cinnamon rolls..delicious..with steaming hot coffee we needed badly (or thought we did) JB
**This is for Novadude** Yes i remember the ortega hot springs!!! Swinging from the tree into the large tub, making a bon fire, smoking some organic tobacco!! Your post really took me back. I was there in the mid 70's. Good times!!
When I was a kid, my mom and grandma used to take me and my sister to a restaurant in Anaheim that is now a skechers store. The restaurant had this back room that had reddish lighting, and they had a cage with iguanas in it! I used to order their mini cheeseburgers all the time...does anybody know what I am talking about? I can't remeber th name of it at all.
To JB and driving in the orange groves. In the 60's, my brother Rick and his friends would go groving all the time off GG Blvd and Haster. Or, any other orange groves for that matter. They mostly stayed on the dirt roads but the cars always had fresh orange juice all over them when they came out. They called it "groving". Not to many groves around anymore.
Belisles Restaurant (used to be in Garden Grove)menus for sale on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Belisles-Restaurant-Menus-Orange-County-CA-Landmark_W0QQitemZ290388876662QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439c869d76
Here's a website I found while reading about the old Saddleback Motorcycle Park. It's a website that shows various years of aerial photos of different areas around the country. One area that is covered is Orange County. The controls are kinds screwy for zooming in, zooming out and panning, but once you get if figured out, it's lots of fun! I lived for four years in Irvine, and it was cool seeing what it looked like when I first moved there, and then what it looked like 8 years later. The website is: www.historicaerials.com
Oh My God - yes - I remember the Santa Ana Clubhouse. I remember alot of Marines used to go there. I went several times with Ruth (can't remember her last name). We went to La Mirada HS.
Maggie Jones (Flores)
I remember The Zoo on the corner of Macarthur & PCH circa 1970. I think a Tommy Bahamas is there now. There was somebody in a gorilla suit waving at passerbys in front of the restaurant.
Mike Galli-Orange
Speaking of the 80s, Bouzy Rouge in Newport Beach?
Does anyone remember the place called the SHACK-later called TEEN CANTEEN in GardenGrove, it was a blast even got on kids on the WINK MARTINDALE TV SHOW....Had live music once in awhile it was really a cool place..
Karen Davis-SantaAna
I never was in the diner at the John Wayne airport, but I do remember my aunt and uncle living close to the airport and they had a very large barn on their property and the kids were not allowed to play in the barn as the folks were afraid that one day one of those small planes could hit the barn. They lived across the street from the old Paulareno drive in. I also remember the old skating rink in Garden Grove, my husband was hit by a driver in a hurry to turn into the driveway at the skating rink, this happened on Apr. 2, 1957.
Leslie, do you remember the name of the skating rink? Did you go to Santiago High?
Orange County is not the Same anymore. I grew up in Santana and I went to Santa Ana High School in the early 90's. I was raised in the FXTROOP barrio which was one of the biggest barrios at the time. Now there are not as manny gangs (barrios)out there anymore. But what is disturbing to me is that I see what I think is a chicano and turns out to be a pisa, No disrespect. For instance you got all this new generation listening to corridos and wearing cowboy hats and boots, some driving nice cars, some not, but whats more puzzling is that most are born here. You'll see them sometimes on Bristol street for example with Mexican flags, and the little hynitas actually like that. What get under my skin is when I'm paying for something at retail store or something and the cashier thinks that im pisa until i respond in engligh. And thats that im well groomed with the latest designer clothing. Sometime I see somebody and think they are pisas but then I hear them talking in english to there kids or wife, or the cashier and then I say to myself, thats a homeboy (chicano). I guess you could say that im guilty of stereotyping too. But for the most part there is alot more pisas nowadays and when I hear some Latinos speak english I feel good inside like im not the only one, I dont care where there from or where they came from, Im just glad that there are still some homeboys around and that I'm not the only one left in SANTANA.
I discovered this site this afternoon and am very excited to be taking this trip back in time! I grew up in Santa Ana in the late 50's, early 60's and attended Diamond School briefly, then John Adams, St. Anne's, and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Later, in 1961 our family moved to Tustin. We came to the area like many others because my father was a Marine stationed at LTA and later, El Toro. I read a few entries that brought tears to my eyes from those who attended Glenn L. Martin school. Mrs. Capozzoli was mentioned as a favorite teacher. Mrs. Capozzoli was my mother. She passed away in 1989 at the age of 69. After coming to California, until the day she retired from teaching, my mother taught 3rd grade at Glenn Martin School. She love the school and being a teacher. I just ran across a photo album she kept that shows each class of children every year that she taught. I'd be happy to share these class photos. I am sure many readers would be able to find themselves. My father, Louis Capozzoli, retired from the Marine Corps in the early 60's and became the night editor of the Santa Ana Register. He wrote a weekly Sunday column called the Orange County Military Beat. This was about the families and servicemen of Orange County. I also have all the copy for his columns. I am sure many of you will remember the column.
Looking forward to more of this.
Linda (Capozzoli) Herbst
I'm trying to find out if anyone remembers a large pizza place on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach, past Dover, about where a large ski shop went up.
It had sawdust on the floor and the wait staff wore straw hats, string ties and arm bands and there was a player piano playing Scott Joplin Ragtime music. They gave all the kids free Kazoos with their pizza dinner.
Was it Shakey's or something else?
Hey, regarding the pizza place in the "Annonymous said" section above, I was told by one person that the name of the place was "Magoo's."
Anyone else think this name is accurate?
Anyone remember the Red Onion, Peppers, and Bentley's Nightclubs back in the day?
I attended Valley High from 1978 to 1982 & was once president of Hmong Club, I am not sure if the club still exist, I hope it's. We had great teachers, great principal, great campus police/security. Class of '82, please keep in touch, what are you up to after all these years. If any of you know where is Mr. L. Bratcher please let know. I heard that he left VHS to work for SAUSD. chakoua@hotmail.com
Does anyone remember a niteclub called Jagg in Lake Forrest? It was mainly a goth / punk club. It was off of lake Forrest & a street called Rock (I think). We use to go every weekend then we'd all end up @ Dennys. Also remember Kingdom of the dacing stallions in Buena Park, Sensations in Anaheim, & SCREAM in dowtown LA! Wow what good times in the mid to 80's to early ninety's! Kristine
Does any one remember the old Saw Mill and chicken feed on Raitt street. Raitt and 3rd street that is, in the city of Santa Ana.
Hey there,
I'm a fifth generation native to the city of Orange. My father grew up in the little white house behind the green hedge on the corner of Lincoln and Glassell. The old grove house across the street? That was my great-grandparent's house and my grandfather grew up there.
I spent a lot of time with my grandparents in the house on Lincoln Avenue in the 1970's and 1980's.
Back behind the little white house, my grandmother had a clothesline. When the weather was nice, she would hang out her laundry. (She had to as she didn't have a dryer.) I can remember when the orange trees on their property were blooming and my grandfather was plowing to prepare his garden (the property was about an acre and enough of it was open for growing that my grandfather could actually plow the garden plots) . The backyard would smell of orange blossoms and dirt.
And I'd walk between the damp sheets my grandma had hung up on the line. They always smelled of the Downy fabric softener she used. The cool felt good on my hot, sweaty skin. I'd go back and forth and back and forth between the hanging wash until the sheets were almost dry.
When I would go to bed that night, my sheets would smell like Downy fabric softener and sunshine.
To Karen Davis, yes I remember the Teen Canteen on Chapman next to Earl Warren Elementary School. We used to go there all the time to listen and dance to live local bands. Remember the big man Vern who ran the Shack? Or did you ever see the big dogs out in the back on chains?
I think they were guard dogs and almost bit us one time when we were messing with them.
Growing Up in Anaheim & Garden Grove ~ 1960-1963
Hello Steve & Co.,
My Grandparents bought a nearly abandoned adobe house in Anaheim, on Orange Avenue in the early 1950's. They transformed it into a Tropical Paradise, and 'Orange Avenue' and the area was just that, an Orange Grove-scented Paradise. We’d go to Lin-Brook Hardware, on Lincoln & Brookhurst on Saturday mornings. My early childhood was spent there and my parent’s house - on a little 1-block street called Wooley Lane, in Garden Grove - just off Josephine St., near Garden Grove Blvd. I went to Stanford School when I was little just at the end of our street. The front of the school bordered Magnolia St. Our neighborhood was very rural back then, lots of big old Eucalyptus and Palm trees. Our house was a custom kind of mid-century style, but the surrounding houses were very stucco, mid-50's style. There were many much older farmhouses on Josephine & neighboring streets. My favorite was riding my bike to Paul's Market, an ancient little corner store, just across from the Jolly Knight on G.G. Blvd. If you had .25c for candy, you were rich ! That market stood for many years after.
My Dad, Grandfather (& myself) were Car Guys. Garden Grove Blvd. had many little used car lots to check out on a Saturday Morning. I remember used 50's Corvettes, semi-Hot Rod '55-57 Chevys with prices on the windshield of $699., $899, etc. My Mom bowled at the Grove Lanes Bowl in the center there with the Grove Theater and Priscilla's Cake Box in the corner. She was in League and I'd get dragged along, then we'd go to the Fire Rock Room lounge where she'd have a beer and I'd have a Coke. Very red Lava-50's in there, it was cool. KiddieLand, with a little motorboat & Car Ride. The trampolines were in a vacant field just behind the Center. One of your readers described his family owning the Surplus store down the street, I loved it, what better place to 'Play Army'? We went to Bill’s Ranch Market sometimes. Once on the way during a Cold-War era ‘Air Raid Drill’, air raid sirens went off while we were driving, a whole fleet of ‘Nike’ ground to air missiles popped up out of seemingly empty field, off ‘Hiway 39 and G.G. Blvd., to the Northeast of it. Crazy.
Main Street in G.G. was truly a small-town classic Main St. back then. We attended the Methodist Church when it was a classic Mission-Revival style church. The Strawberry Festival in the City Park across the street, and the Gem Theater. I held my 1st girlfriend's hand on my first date there later in 5th Grade. I loved going to the Hiway-39 Drive-in, with the huge pastel Pacific mural of the sailboats on the front. The playground in front of the screen. Richie Valens blasting before the movie.
One day my Mom grabbed my hand & put me in the car, "Come on Son, I want to show you something". We drove down Brookhurst, past the giant red 'T' of the Thriftimart where she bought groceries, and The Copper Penny & JC Penneys. The 'new' Shopping Center was on the corner of Brookhust & Chapman. Zody's , Sav-On, with the ice cream counter .5c single scoop, a double for .10c. Newberry's had the best Toy Dept ! There were a lot of people in the parking lot, and loudspeakers set up, a loud powerful voice booming, She grabbed my hand, rushing us toward the crowd. My Mom was petite, 5'2", but she held me up above the crowd to see. There before me, on a small stage set up, was John F.Kennedy giving a speech, not 50 feet away. This was 1962, or '63, as he was beginning to campaign for re-election.
Thanks for your blog, and I have one myself, your readers might enjoy a few related stories, at
http://federicodecalifornia.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/the-black-knight-sting-rays-hessians-•-growing-up-in-surf-city/
I'm a Graphic Designer, and have lived in Santa Barbara for 28 years now. Thanks so much & All the Best ~ Fred
fredhilldesignsb@gmail.com
For Carol Kennedy & others,
Your 'discount place' across from Knott's was called 'The Akron'.
As a Graphic Designer with distinct retro Modernist tastes, I wish I could go there now ! I get it allfrom my 'Bohemian Grandparents & their adobe house on Orange Ave., in Anaheim nearby. Back then I was more interested on the Go-Kart track just behind it, was it Lincoln Ave? at he corner of HiWay 39? Not sure now. This was all just across from Knott's on the corner, with the 'Model T, car ride and the old farm-style fence bordering it...
Cheers, Fred
There was a place on GG Blvd and Euclid called the Acacia..I worked there in the 80's and loved the crew I worked with.......Billy Michell was the owner, his wife also was there most of the time, a beautiful kind women, I think they were Greek.....The bartenders I remember were Frenchy, Linda and Mike....Waitresses named Peggy, Linda, Patti brown and Patti red...so many more whose names have escaped me at the moment.....Sunday brunch and the Early Bird special always had a lot of elderly people from the neighborhood who would put food in their purses to take home, this wasn't suppose to happen with the "all you could eat" brunch but we would always look the other way so as not to embarrass anyone....We also spent quite a bit of time across the street at the Black Angus when our shifts were over for a little relaxation...and various other places for relaxation.
It was a fun time and a good memory
Does anyone out there remember a little place in Huntington Beach called THE CAVE....This was 1967 or 68 and though I wasn't old enough to drink at that time you could get in at 18 and have your hand stamped....There was a big somoan guy named Art as the doorman who always looked very cranky so our goal was to make in laugh, not an easy task in the beginning but eventually we did it. .Our major thing for going there was to dance....we all loved to dance....one of the bands we would go to see eventually was called Manna but I can't remember what they were called when they played at the Cave....I do remember Tony Eisenbarger, Jimmy Perez, Steve Faulkner and Richard Jones were members...I think the owners name was Jerry and I think he later had a place called The Pier or Pier One.....I also remember people named Gary Temple, David Jones, Denise O'hara, Debbie Wilson, Carol, Susan, there were many others.....eventually when it closed we went to the Pier, the Attic Finnegans Rainbow and various other places in the Newport area....it was a great time and lots of fun was had by all
In the late 60's and early 70's the Denny's across from Disneyland was like an E ticket ride at the park. The franchise owners were the Bermans, the manager was a gal named Peggy who's daughter Kim also worked there. Some of the other employees were LaVera, Shelly, Lois, Paul, Barbara....Parents taking their kids to Disneyland would stop there for breakfast, you could see the main gate at Diz at that time if you looked out the window and the last thing any little kid wanted to do was finish their breakfast, they just wanted to go across the street and see Mickey....Behind Denny's was a motel called the Marco Polo, I remember Nita ran it and her daughter was nicknamed "the brat" I think her name was actually Evelyn....a lot of funny car drivers from all over the country stayed there and always came into Denny's.....We got to know them and ended up going to many races at Irwindale, OC Raceway and a Lions Drag Strip.....It was a fun time with lots of wonderful memories....One of my favorite characters was Bobbi Lieberman, her husband was Jungle Jim Lieberman.....she was an absolute hoot.......
The 80's....Mississippi Moonshine on Katella between Harbor and Haster (it is now a parking garage) Bill French was the owner, also owned Missouri Compromise in Lake Forest....Had lots of fun dancing and drinking there, bartenders I remember were Don, Tommy Crosby and Tommy Hunt, Pepsi, Todd.....One of the cocktail waitresses name was Willa.....we would all meet there and go to Rams Football games on Sundays and Angel games in the summer.....Some of the people that went there were Sharla, Gary (owned the jewelry store next door)Pony was a manager when Jimmy Chang bought it,..Jim Savage was another one of the bartenders....It was a fun place and a great place for the 80's if you loved to drink and dance!!
The Cave in Hunting beach? Did any of your friends, Gary, Denise or Debbie go to Santigo High in Garden Grove? Did you know Bobby Guidotti the drummer for a band at Pier 1? Come on back.
I was a bartender in OC in the late 70's and 80's and thought I'd post since there are so many references to old bars and restaurants from those times on this site. I started at Keno's in Tustin and then worked at Don Drysdale's Dugout in Santa Ana. Also worked later on in the 80's at Reuben's on 17th and Tustin. There weren't too many women tending bars back in those days and I had to really pay my dues -- I learned the trade from old school bartenders -- lots of great memories! Anyone remember these bars??
T
I think the Escapade was a bar back in the 60's.
anyone remember meadowview manor on taft st?
For the person asking about Jagg dance club; It is now Captain Creams gentlemans club :), and it is at Rockfield and Lake Forest in LF.
In the 50's, someone should remember that Costa Mesa was called Goat Hill. I went to grade school there and then on to Newport Harbor High. And then later there was a drive inn that all the kids went to. Can't remember the name of it. I worked at the All-American Market, I think it was onn the Coast Hwy. Went to the Rendavous(spelling) Ballroom in Balboa I think. Saw Frankie Laine there. THis is how to age myself. Jack
Answer to a question about a candy store in Santa Ana in the 50's. Was it Albert Sheetz? It was on the left side of the street, up from Buffum's, the same side they were on. Right near 4th and Main. My friend and I used to go there all the time. Marlene
I have read a lot of the comments and share a lot of the memories with many of you.Orange County used to have a lot of open space and unique activities and places to go that you could get to at will.I have watched over the years as immigrants and people from all over the place have poured in here and overcrowded every city without much concern or consideration for those of us that have spent our whole lives here ,as the fun places we know and love disappear one at a time.The juice has all been squeezed out of the Orange.Enjoy your memories,but don't dwell to long,because it will NEVER be the same again!!!!
I found out the answer to my question. The Drive Inn in Costa Mesa in the 50's was Fat Boys. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. I called a friend of mine, and she remembered it. So does anybody else remember it. Marlene
this brings back memories, anyone attend lathrop jh in mid seventies, in and out near there, and pup in taco too, anyone rememer jerrys bbq on 17th and the river, only bbq place left is chris and pitts in anheim and i miss loves.
to person about oil fountain in s coast plaza, remember throwing coins in it a rock waterall ans oilfountain, thers a chris and pitts in anaheim on euclid,
I remember Rea school and much much later 1978, all the marines at El Toro. the fish fry at the 18th street park in costa mesa. Lela Campbell
This is such a great website. Having experienced most of OC over the last 30 plus years I could read these comments for hours. How about a Top 10 restaurant list:
1) Ham's Resturant - Mission Viejo and South Coast. Best pies and biscuits. Best all around menu ever in Orange County.
2) Numero Uno Pizza - Best Pizza Ever. Only one or two still around.
3) Golden Bun Hamburgers - El Toro Road. Only there for a few years in the '80s. Hand dipped ice cream.
4) Back Alley Pizza - Not in my neck of the woods but a really cool themed restaurant.
5) Skinny Haven - Ate there a million times. Mission (La Paz store) plus Huntington Beach.
6) Naugles - Kind of hidden from the street in Lake Forest.
7) JoJos - I seem to recall they had a decent Monte Cristo.
8) Thriftys Ice Cream - At one point a triple was 15 cents. Even when they raised their prices it was way cheaper than 31.
9) Sambo's Restaurant - Had a really organised fan club for kids. Good Pancakes too.
10) Bobby McGee's and Chart House. BMG extremely popular in the late 70's and early 80's. CH was bought out by another company and never the same since. Remember their brown bread (squaw bread)?
SOC
I was born in Long Beach and moved to OC at the age of 8. It's with tears I write this memory as what "growth" has done to the HB Pier area is heartbreaking to me. A former Hippie girl, who at the age of 13 (1968) began hitch-hiking down to the HB pier every day to return home for dinner only to turn around and do it again in the evening. My girlfriend and I would walk the pier barefoot, selling LSD- I believe for $5 a "hit". We began with Yellow and Orange Sunshine... The Golden Bear and Syndicate sat side by side on the opposite side of the Highway. I couldn't count the hours we spent in the 2 places. Obviously underage, but very pretty girls, we found our way into many, many performances at The Golder Bear. During the day, besides the pier, we walked up and down PCH wandering in and out of various "Head Shops", black light rooms and surf shops. I'll never forget the day John Lennon and Yoko Ono's nude poster first appeared in the black light poster shops. I looked at them- in my naive youth and thought, "Dear God, please don't ever let me look like that!" Naive, as I said! I also remember a pool hall that sat right around the corner on Main St., as well. (Great place to meet guys) BUT, what I remember most of all was that we all loved each other. There were no gangs. People didn't shoot people for no reason. The Vietnam War was going on and all we ever wanted was for our friends, who had been sent off to war against their will- to make it back alive. We had "Love-Ins" and the only haters were people our parents age who simply didn't like our (lack of) haircuts! Oh, I forgot- There were bikers that hung around the Syndicate, trying to get in our pants. I believe they were called "Hessians". But, never did I see any real violent "action" come to be. It was all about PEACE,BABY-PEACE!
PS- Today I am an RN with my degree in Psychology, but to this day I still have trouble keeping my shoes on! And, I long for the smell of the ocean in my so deeply within my very soul. I'm coming home soon, HB- even though I hate what "Progress" has done to you....
remember the concret wave.the anaheim bulletin news paper.the train station restrount. mr steaks,i remember fishing for trout in the middle of the city mall.i worked for true spoke wheels ,the tressary store,fed co store.electris caracel at the city mall.i used to slide down the stairs in the big chaple at the garden grove church.
to Arizona Beach Chicky-
So you sold LSD back then and you're claiming to be saddened by the "progress" it's made? What do you think is going to happen to a town when children are selling drugs? LSD might not seem like a drug to you (like pot doesn't seem like a drug to pot smokers) but it is... What do you think long time residents of the area thought of you as you sold your little harmless "hits"? Get a grip and realize you were part of the "progress" the city made. You must still be high...
I remember when I was growing up in Whittier, that there was a little girl missing and they found her along side the Buena Park movie theater on Beach Blvd. I thought her name was Kathy Fiscus but that was the little girl who fell into a well and KTLA covered it non stop for 3 days. Which was the first CNN type coverage I can remember.
Lots of lights and mirrors, costumes and instructional posters made that space very glamorous to my 10 year old girlie side. Serena, with the big blond hair and long red-lacquered fingernails was our instructor
I'm getting The Jolly Knight mixed up with The Jolly Roger. Anybody remember The Jolly Roger?
I can remember doing something we were not supposed to do. We would drive our Volkswagon Beetle through the Orange Grove, it fit between the rows, and shoot pheasants from out the window with 22 cb caps. We also used to water ski in the back bay until it got too dark, and then stopped at Russ hamburgers on Newport Blvd. Things were so innocent then. No 405 freeway, No South Coast Plaza.
These posts are amazing- I could respond to every one. To Hip Housewife- I lived in Orange and remember a white house near Lincoln and Glassell- was it on the Eisenhowr Park side? Because I remember there was a strange church there called, "Church of the Tzaddi".
To Janie Campbell, My mom bought clothes for me at Carrie Wickett in the late '60's, early '70's. It is still there. I don't think there were Antiques stores there then like there is now.
At the corner of Dover and Westcliff in Newport Beach, across the street from what's now Union Bank, WAY before the Castaways went up, when it was a field, the remains of a big fountain or statue once stood in the weeds right next to the road.
Anyone know anything about what it was?
Cheers,
Matt Keto.
Costa Mesa
Does anybody remember the Orange County International Raceway? My friends and I used to walk down the tracks on Sat and Sun morning and got paid to clean up the parking lot.
We always found more money lost by patrons than what the track paid us
Scott P
I remember Lion Country Safari. It was a drive thru zoo and everything from Lions to Hippos. It became Wild River Water park but I think that closed last year as well. Not many people know that Frasier the parks Lion mascot is buried on the the hill above the park, you can still see the cross today.
Scott P
How many of you out there spent your Thurs, Fri or Saturday evenings at Hogue Barmichael's on Newport Blvd? They always played fun music including Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York". It was a really fun place that had some very lovely ladies who wanted to go out to dance, drink and party after a hard day at the office. After they'd close we'd go to a restaurant just north on Newport for burgers, chili, etc. Does anyone remember the name of that eatery? Post some of your fun stories about the old Hogue's on Newport Blvd.
My dad was stationed at MCAS El Toro in the mid 80's through the early 90's. My mom, dad, sister and I lived in base housing from about 1985-1991.
Our first house there was a duplex on Howe drive, with a modest neighborhood playground consisting of a jungle gym, some swings and a metal slide that connected the backyards like a cul de sac. Our immediate next door neighbors were an African-American couple, who owned a gray German Shepard named Radar, which
was a pretty high-strung dog attached to a corkscrew in the middle of the yard that you didn't mess with.
We later moved to 13652 Wake Avenue and gained a carport and a steep-as-hell driveway in which my parents parked our white Chevette. We went
through about ten cats who met their fate at the paws of the coyotes that came down from the hills at night.
I attended El Toro Marine school (ETMS) from second grade (Mrs. Young) to fifth grade (Mr. Groth) Me and my friends had many, many adventures out in the hills there, catching blue bellies, rattle snakes getting into trouble burning down the hillside behind connor drive, getting caught with nudie mags at school, and breaking into a certain industrial facility in the canyon in the same hills during christmas break... All before the age of 11.
My first experience learning to drive was in a Ford E-350 box van. Me and my friend Russell would climb and rappel from the cliffs of the canyon located inside of a big hill between Pusan way, and ETMS. We noticed that there wasn't anybody around there for awhile; and kids we were, logically assumed that everything must have been abandoned and was ours for the
taking... Just like the movies we watched... Right? The distant figure taking pictures and the black suburban that pulled up minutes later and swept us off to the awaiting fuzz proved that our wishful post-apocalyptic scenario was just not so. I was arrested and taken to county booking, and I never saw Russell again. My mom loved my little adventures so much when my dad was off on deployment. Thanks for this site... It brought back memories of the best time of my
childhood. The other friends I can recall are: Jey Hernandez, Charles and sister Rebecca Custer on Foster ln., Sean and brother Julian (Julian burned down his neighbor's house on Iwo Jima dr.) Matt Green on Austin pl. And that
little bastard Jason, who lived on Iwo Jima dr. behind our house, who tormented me and always got me grounded by blaming me for the sh*t he did. If you want to see what our old neighborhood looks like now, go to google maps and enter any of the street names above, (EX: Wake Avenue, Irvine, CA) and select satellite images. It's damn depressing; everything has been leveled down to the foundations. My childhood stomping grounds, and yours as well, are a place that exists only in memories now. My name is Steven Weaver. If a part of your childhood took place here as well, look me up on Facebook. My Dad is John Weaver, my
Mom is Sharon, and my lil sis is Kimberly. Good times, man. Good times.
I'm wondering if anyone remembers the old Leonard's discount store in Garden Grove, near the intersection of Harbor and Garden Grove Blvds. That was the first discount store I remember going to, and I bought my first 45's there. I recall they had a special room for the new color televisions - the black and whites were still the norm, and color was really special. I used to go into that room and just stand and stare. Hardy Boy books, Superballs, and so much more to attract a boy's eye. I wonder when it closed down?
Randy
I have a friend who worked at the "Boston Store" in Anaheim at the corner of Lincoln & State College back in the summer of 1969. It was right next to the W.T. Grant Store. They're trying to reconnect with anyone who worked there around that time. I had completely forgotten about that place!
Randy, We use to go to Lenonard's all the time on gg blvd & Harbor. Bought my 1st cord suit for jr. high,(Doig),on Trask. I think it closed in the mid 70's.
Does anyone remember the name of the miniature golf place on Magnolia and La Palma! Not sure if that is Anaheim or Buena Park. It had the trampolines and the giant slide! Across Magnolia from Grant Boys! We are all racking our brains trying to remember the name of it!
Does anyone remember a Tea Room called the Mouse House in the Town and Country square, across from Fashion Square, in Santa Ana? This would have been in the mid-60's.
What was the name of the store that was built on the corner of Brookhurst/Traylor that turned into a target??? There was a gas station on the same lot before the shell staiton was there?
The abandoned mental hospital on Garden Grove Blvd. (near Euclid) had an empty swimming pool that we called the "fruit-bowl". This concrete hole in the ground was the scene of the first extreme skateboarding and mx bike riding ever seen (and the forerunner of today's "x-games"). The "fruit bowl" never gained much notoriety and we kept it that way. Unlike the publicity seeking South Bay stars, Orange County skaters like myself preferred a more low key approach. Nonetheless, the action around that pool was insane and many of the moves now taken for granted were pioneered there in the late 1970's.
Cris' and Pitts Anaheim closes 12-31-10 (other two LA locations will remain.
Does anyone remember that before that place was Cris and Pitts it was The Red Vest Restaurant?
Wow what memories this has brought back!!! I lived with my parents Derek and Malinda Cook on Connor Street from 1988-1992. I have some of my best memories from that place! I attended Westwood Basics Plus school in Irvine and rode the bus every morning from the basketball court where it picked me up at. I remember going to the stables and feeding a horse named Wobbles carrots everyday. I remember all the homecoming festivities when my Father returned from the first Gulf War. I loved going to the Commisary and the General Store that was at the base of the hills all our base housing (back part) was on. One of my uncles came out to live with us for awhile too, Daniel Cook, and attended University HS. I remember watching the air shows every year including one where the jet crashed at the show, no one was killed. I can remember hearing the constant roar of the jet engines flying over our house, having to frequently light candles cause it always seemed like the power was going out, and I remember all the Easter egg hunts on base by the park and the Hallowedn festivities every year! So many memories I can't possibly list them all. I went back before the housing complex was torn down and it was so deserted but good to see the old neighborhood one last time. I also was able to drive onto the back side of the base recently and walk around some of the old apartment and commercial buildings that have long been vacant but are still there. Yall may like to go drive around if ur still in the area and get a look for yourselves before they demolish those. Hope other Connor neighbors see this site too!!
If anyone is looking for the Golley or Vanderhoefs families let me know I have kept in close touch with them. They were on the base at the same time as my family was.
I lived on the corner of Bolsa and Verano (now Euclid) between 1949 and 1960. South of my home was a street called Smeltzer which I believe was renamed Edinger. My question isn't about the name change, it's about the pronunciation of Edinger. Is it “ed-in-jer” or “ed-in-ger?” I'm convinced it's correctly pronounced “ed-in-ger” but my older sister, who lives near the street, insists the correct pronunciation is “ed-in-jer.” So, who's right?
Those of us who grew up in Anaheim will remember the Fox Theater on the north side of downtown Lincoln. I spent many hours there from the early 1960s until it closed in the 1970s. I saw some of the best movies, and loved the art deco architecture, even though I didn't know what to call it as a kid. Before the city developers ruined downtown Anaheim, it was always great to walk or ride bikes to the Fox Theater for matinees on Saturday!
The Fox was where I first saw Bambe in the early '40's. We live just off Lincoln on East street, and my Mother and I would walk to the movies, and then she would do her shopping down town. Dad took the only car to work (a '29 Chev 2-door.) We finally moved to Santa Ana in 1947.
Can anyone remember the big old Steakhouse on Beach Blvd on the left side going towards the beach on a corner? It had the best Steaks and Ranch Beans!!! Thank you!
Johnny, I remember the Fox Theater on Lincoln Ave in Anaheim very well. I grew up on Ball Road between Harbor and Anaheim Blvd (originally called Los Angeles Street). The house is a chiroprator's office the last I saw and it is across the side street from Oasis, a rehab/treatment center (sometimes used on the Intervention TV program). The Rose family used to live there. We had orange groves across the street and at the end of the tract on the Harbor side where we would play alot of the time. Ball Road was just a two lane street at that time and the Helms Bakery truck would come through the neighborhood, and milk was delivered in glass bottles to your front door. We moved to different areas of Anaheim through the years and my high school years were Lincoln and State College area, where somebody mentioned the Boston Store and Grant's. My mom worked at Grant's in the late 60's, early 70's. But it is my early childhood, growing up a block from Disneyland, that I remember the most fondly. Things have really changed since then.
I remember the Gem theatre in the downtown area--close to the Euclid park and across from the pet store. I remember seeing the oldtimers playing shuffleboard,thinking I would never get old like that-the thinking of an 8 yr old! My brother and I used to go there quite often in the early sixties. I remember the admission was 25 cents, a real bargain! Many very fond memories. Some not so great, but there was always somthing cool to do. I also remember jamming into the Grove theatre in 1964 (I think it was ) to see a Beatles movie, wow!
Danny
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