Monday, January 07, 2008

Garden Grove in the 1950s and 1960s

OCThen reader Mark, submits his memories of growing up in Orange County during the 1950s and 1960s, and talks about watching the filming of Route 66, smelling the burgers at Zestos, the original names of streets before they changed names...

Steve, thanks for your project. I was born in Orange County in 1951 and lived there until I went to College. My memories of farmland, fields, open spaces in Orange County are hard to find these days. I moved from Orange County to live in downtown Seattle what a thrill. Today with my family we lived in Orlando Florida domninated by the Mouse. Can't hear the trail whistle like I did when I was young but it is here in Florida as well.

When I was born, St. Joseph's in Orange, my parents brought me back to a new house built off of Bolsa (1st avenue) between Newhope and Magnolia (then called Cannery). I believe this was one of the first"developments" that was to become many in Orange County. We eventually lived on Lucky Way off of Andes place, not to be confused with the "new" West Lucky Way. It was there where I went to Newhope Elementary school. An interesting note is that our janitor was Mr Wash who son Don Wash eventually became the Superintendent of schools for Garden Grove. By the way a huge man who had played professional football, he was my principal at the new Jr. High down the street Stephen R. Fitz, not really sure who Stephen R was but they named a school after him.

Growing up it was not unusual to bike to the beach, in those days we would bike down Newhope until you hit the Santa Ana River and then follow the river down to the jetty. Had to climb over a fence or two and eventually the fences got higher and higher. The names of those streets were not the same. McFadden was Sugar... Magnolia was Cannery, Edinger was Smeltzer, and eventually when you got to the beach you were at Brookhurst and 1 or 101. It was not unusual to ride into Santa Ana to watch the trains, bowl or golf. There was a 9 hole course 3 par that might have been part of Willowick that rented clubs and seemed to like kids.

One of the big thrills of 1962 or 63 was the onsite filming of the Television show Route 66 with Marvin Milner and George Maharis. I heard about it from some friends and rode my bike. Just like you see in the movies, no one paid much attention to the kids and I got up to the area where dialogue was being spoken. One of the hands gave me a cold 7-up seeing how hot I was. Even the Corvette was there. Martin Milner ended up as Adam 12. George Maharis was the Rock Hudson of early TV fame, good looking and every womans dream until it was discovered he preferred the company of men.

My father owned the Surplus Store on Garden Grove Blvd across from the Garden Grove Theatre. It was a business that developed out of WWII and the supplies of the Korean war. I grew up working there selling foam rubber, camping equiptment and Levi's. I guess the least expensive pair I can remember is the 401's selling for $2.98. Today that building is the home of a Korean Buffett. Across the street in the same center as the Grove Theatre was my favorite restaurant Zestos. I can smell the burgers cooking from Zestos this very second with onions, melted cheese, double burgers, bbq sauce and the sausages that the owners father would make. They were light years ahead when it came to shakes and malts. You could get a banana chocolate walnut malt.....fact is he had 30 or more ingredients to put into one of these masterpieces. Several of my addictions, one being a love of onion rings has its base in the deep fryer of Zestos.

Was going to list a number of places I remember.

Calva Dairy-owned by our neighbors the Hunts who had come to California as a family from Virginia. They donated the land for the Little League field that was on Bolsa between Harbor and Euclid.

Red's Ranch Market at Harbor and Bolsa.
Across the street was another market my mother liked that was not an open market. She always mentioned the flies.

Gem Theatre-went there on my first girlfriend whirl with Kathy Whitehead. Kathy's sister I believed married the famous Santiago hurler Bert Blyleven.

My folks would get all dressed up and go to the restaurant on Garden Grove Blvd...Knights Table I believe.

Cake Box Bakery...I tell my famous story about how I discovered money at the Cake Box.

In the same center, in the 50's, was the kiddie park with rides for the little ones. Hang Hong....I think was the name that was our family choice for Chinese food. The BBQ restarant that always smelled sooooo.....good.

Well I could go on and on......that is why I have one of these blogs myself....til later be well.
You can read more about Mark's thoughts on his own blog, "Cabernet & Chocolate". In fact he has an interesting article about picking up girls at Disneyland during the 1960s...
http://cabernetandchocolate.blogspot.com/2007/05/disney-delights.html

30 comments:

  1. As a kid I would beg my parents to drive from Huntington Beach to your Dad's surplus store. I loved that place and could have spent hours looking at all the old military stuff. I can remember buying a P-coat and military patches and insignia there. Also, back in the 60's it was either the Surplus Store or Grant Boys in Costa Mesa if you wanted to be cool and wear Levi's because they were about the only stores in the county that sold them.

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  2. Good memories. I went to school Kathy Whitehead way back when. I think I it was G G H S but I am not sure. The restuarant your folks liked was The Jolly Knight? I worked there for awhile. The barbecue restaurant was Chris and Pitts. I think it was the first C & P. It is all gone now. Our family loved the cake with choclate icing and custard filling at the Cake Box.
    Good Blog

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  3. Does anyone remember a restaurant in Garden Grove (I think it was there) called The Imperial? We would go there in the 50's when I was really young..I remember we would always have a long wait and there was a huge bar that my Dad liked, had italian food and the antipaso tray had the coldest cottage cheese ever, then of course you got spamoni ice cream for dessert..it was a classy place in the 50's..probably torn down years ago.

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  4. I remember that surplus store ! I used to buy my "Army" stuff there as a kid ! I remember clearly buying a helmet liner there for a buck. I probably bought it from your Dad ! Across the street was Pricillas Cake Box, The Chris & Pitts restaurant and the Bowling alley. I went for years to the Dentist there off Kerry St. It's all Korean run now. I still live in GG so I pass the old neighborhood. That old Vodie's is STILL THERE ! It's been there forever.

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  5. I also worked at the Jolly knight in Garden Grove for 7 years, the owners were Ed and LiL Ansel and David Searle. I often wonder what happened to them

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  6. The restaurant on Garden Grove Blvd may have been called The Jolly Night.My parents used to go there.

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  7. spelling check: The Jolly Knight

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  8. I remember a restaurant in Garden Grove called Belisles. I believe it was on the corner of Chapman and Harbor. They served large sized portions of food. Two people could share one meal! When the Rams played
    at the "BIG A" in Anaheim, some of the team members would eat there.Also a man dressed in a white bakers uniform would stand out in front and wave to the motorists driving by.Wonder if it's still there?

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    1. No....Belisles closed in 1995. In it's place is an Outback Steakhouse and Red Robin. I remember Belisles well!

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  9. I grew up on Village rd, where the army surplus store was. My uncle lived in the house just behind it. His best friend was the owner of the building. His name was Mr Boysen. He lived next door to the store on Garden Grove Blvd in a big white house and had horses in his back yard. He also owned the property were the Fiat dealership was. I can still remember the taste of the Zestos soft serve. Does anybody know just where the polo fields were. Were they across from the Taco Bell?

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  10. I still live right down the street from where pricillas cake box and zesto's was. It now is all korean and vietnamese stores. Very sad those were good times. Does anyone remember sprouts ritz or the little carrosel on the corner?They had a small place for kids to play. The sidewalk sparkled.I would go there with my gramma and then to the bowling alley later to eat at the coffee shop, or to Bobs big boys.I miss those places. The sign for Vodies is the only old thing left.
    Sad .

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  11. Belisles is long gone, it now is a outback and a joes crab shack.They had the biggest slices of cake ever.

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  12. If anyone is interest, regarding the Jolly Knight, I am the neice of the Ansels and my father is David Searle. We really do miss that restaurant and now live in Florida.

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    1. These messages are a bit outdated. However, there is always the chance we can still contact you. We sold our home in El Cajon, CA in March and now live part time in Vermont and bought into the Del Webb community in Apollo
      Beach, FL. We will be there from late fall to late spring. Trying to get in touch with your mother. Is this message going to Marlene? Love from Janice and Charlie White

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  13. loved The Jolly Knight as well. My family used to go there all the time. My parents just loved the piano bar and the outfit the waitress used to wear, wow! remember how they used to carry their trays.....is truely missed, awesome food to die for

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  14. Wow this is a great site. I remember the Jolly Knight too when I was younger. I remember how neat it was to walk in and see Lilly & Eddie Ansel as well as David & Diane Searle with there kids. My sister and I used to play with the Searle children in the back room. Everything changed when the restaruant went, the area is horrible now. Please open up another and let me know where it is so that my family can come and enjoy the wonder people and atmosphere.

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  15. I played little league at Calva Dairy and with the Hunt boy,Gene, I think,1956 - 1960.Did anyone keep the player stats from back then? My grandson is in LL now and is very curious. My name is John Thayer and my father recorded the stats in 56/57.

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  16. My husband and myself along with a few other family members would always go to The Jolly Knight for specail occasions, birthdays and such. I have great memorys of the wonderful atmosphire and terrific food,I always had the rack of lamb, we would all have Grass Hoppers for after dinner drinks, the piano bar is also a great memory of The Jolly Knight !

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  17. My name is Jack Michaels. I got my training in bartending and cooking at Jolly Knight from chef Don Barnett. I was very successful in opening a smaller version of the Jolly Knight called Jolly Jack's in Pierz, Minnesota. I have Ed and Lil to thank for my success. I would love to hear from someone, especially David Searle.

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  18. I lived on Cannery Street in the 1950's and 60's. The polo fields were right across the street. After graduation at Bolsa Grande High School in 1965 I worked at Bob's Big Boy at Garden Grove Blvd and Gilbert. What a great time and place to grow up. Mark from the Surplus store did you have a brother named Mike?

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    1. I lived on Cannery street also . Exactly across from the pollo field. I worked there as a flag boy. Our house was moved to Loraleen Street to make the split in Cannery to form Magnolia. My father built and owned the first automated car wash across from Bob's Big Boy . Next to Calva Dairy in 1955 On Gilbert and Garden Grove Blvd.

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  19. Yes, My Brothers name was Mike. Mike passed away a year ago last July.

    Fond memories of OC and GG. I live in Florida ....and because of google street was able to go over all the places I lived in Seattle. Soon, I hope they will do it for Southern Cal as well.

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  20. I worked at the jolly knight for 4 years.I wored for the Ansels and David Searle.I have always looked back at those years as a wounderful period in my life.I made great money and had great fun.To date I have never worked with a better group of people,and I miss those people and smile when-ever I think of them. Debra

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  21. I worked at the Jolly Knight for 3 years from 1972 thru 1975 I was the Salad Girl and my brother was Clive. Luv the place and Food as i worked in the Kitchen with Don the chef also made the Cappacino mix for the drinks. Enjoyed working for all the Waitresses and Busboys. Also worked with Don and Pete the bartenders, Mr and Mrs A, David and Helen....wonderful place to work...i still have the last pic that was taken of all the crew before they shut the place down....miss everyone..so many memories of the Jolly Knight and you got to know the customers that came in every week including the Guys that came to the Bar. Will give credit to the gentleman that played on the piano...excellent player. Could go on and write a book.....of all the wonderful memories...

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  22. Anybody Remember Ed Tunks Market on Magnolia?? I grew up on Ingram Ave in GG in the mid 50's to the early 60's, I was a Paper Boy when JFK was shot and had to deliver papers that day- Everybody I had contact with was crying. Good times and sad times..

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    1. Loved Ed Tunks. It was always open on Thanksgiving, so if we ran out of anything or forgot to get something we could run over there plus liked the farmers market kind of feel.

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  23. Note to Demogirl,
    Tell your dad the Maxey's say hello, and we miss him.

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  24. Oh my gosh this is great site. Lived in the tract of homes behind Chris and Pitts, Treon Drug Store & Pricillas age 15-18 then bought first home on same street at age 23 from Pricilla's baker, Jack. Went to Zestos, Jolly Knight, Kiddie Land, Pricillas, Han Hong (ate there growing up and as an adult loved it. Winchell's donuts on Brookhurst Way. Not the same anymore

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  25. My father retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1957 and we moved to Garden Grove. At that time is was still mostly orange groves, strawberry fields and dairy farms. Main Street in Garden Grove looked like a photo of a small Iowa farm town and the Gem theater was a place where us kids used to go on Saturdays and see a double feature with cartoon in the middle for 50 cents. Our house was located on Trask Avenue and I remember sitting in my front yard on summer nights and the air was perfumed with the scent of orange blossoms from nearby groves and I could actually hear the sound of the Disneyland steam locomotive (which was four miles away). Great memories.

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  26. No one mentioned the Pink Spot? Our neighbors the Parkers owned it, I think. Best burgers around with of course their Secret Sauce.
    My friend lived in the old house at Euclid and Chapman in the orange grove - and there were cracks in the foundation from the '32 (?) Long Beach earthquake
    We would walk to the egg farm at Chapman and Nutwood. They later built dental etc offices there. No idea what is at these locations now.
    Remember the free ice cream cones and piggy banks when they opened Savon at Chapman and Brookhurst and soon after that the Von's in the same strip.

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