Your First Kiss in Orange County

Anonymous recalls her first kiss in Orange County, along with other assorted memories...

I grew up in LaPalma attending Luther elementary, and Walker Jr. High, I lived 3 miles from Knotts Berry Farm and remember it prior to admission fees. The Graveyard with that beating heart was my favorite. The chapel with the glowing Jesus cards were cool too. Boysenberry anything is still my favorite. Our Brownies and Girl Scout troops would go often and always assembled at the Wagon Train for rest and relaxation. Other fond memories were penny candy at Stop n Go, Carls Jr., and riding our bikes to the beach. I had my first "real" kiss from a guy named "Manny" who is now a pastor. It rocked and happened at the Disneyland Hotel on a landing after we rode the Monorail over there. We snuck off from G.L.A.S.S. (Greater Los Angeles. . . ?) it was a church night at the park. Felt bad but a kiss I will remember the rest of my life. I was 13 and he was an older man of 17. My good friend Marys brother. I reside in Texas now and miss O.C. alot. The best years of my life were there. Would love to return and do often. Anyone know a David Taafe from Buena Park ? He lived in the San Marino st's...cannot remember which one. Kinda near Ralphs Market and Shakey's Pizza. I really cared for him and wondering what became of him. Annette, I will always cherish our memories of childhood!! Deanna you are my dear friend, and anyone remember "Crazy Clown", was it a myth or what....scared me!!!

Read More

The Dory Fleet of Newport Beach

Anonymous asks if anyone remembers the dory fleet out of Newport Beach..

Anyone remember the Dorry (Dory, Dorrey?) fleet out of Newport Beach near the Pier?

I didn't frequent Newport Beach much while I lived in OC, but there is a website dedicated the dory boats...

http://www.doryfleet.com

Read More

Garden Grove in the 1950s & 1960s

Linda asks if anyone remembers a girls softball field being there on Chapman & Dale, as well as a big slide on the corner of Beach & Acacia...

I grew up in Garden Grove in the 50's and 60's. Went to Lawrence Elementary, Alamitos Jr. High and Rancho Alamitos High School - graduated in 1973. Does anyone remember the girls softball field located on Chapman and Dale in Garden Grove (where there is now a 7-11?). Nobody believes me!

Also, anyone remember the big slide that was next to the Del Taco on Beach and Acacia? It was the kind you see now at the OC Fair where they give you the burlap potato sacks to sit on and you would get burn marks on your skin if you touched the slide on the way down? I remember when that Del Taco was built - we used to go hang out there. Now the hookers and druggies hang out in there - so sad.

Regarding the comments about the hippies: I don't remember the problems with them at Knott's - I could swear it was Disneyland!

I remember the place on Garden Grove Blvd. named Kiddie Land. I loved going there! It was small but then, so was I.

I remember going to the Strawberry Festival when it was at Garden Grove Park on Westminster Ave. near Bolsa Grande High School, not squeezed into the area on Euclid.

I also remember going to visit friends with my parents near Irvine Park and going up Chapman Ave. (no 22 Freeway yet) and Chapman east of the traffic circle at Glassell was a two-way dirt road surrounded by nothing but orange groves.

One correction: The restaurant located on Garden Grove Blvd. and Newland was called the Jolly Knight -loved that place and was really sorry to see it close.

Reading all the posts brought back a lot of memories - thanks!

Linda

Read More

Huntington Beach in the 1960s & 1970s

Greg offers up his recollections of living in Huntington Beach during the 1960s & 1970s...

We first moved into OC in 1966 and lived in Fountain Valley for a year, then moved to Huntington Beach in 1967 on Kamuela off of Brookhurst and Garfield. Memories of growing up: I can remember seeing the Fountain Valley Drive-in get built and still lived in OC when it got torn down. I can remember sitting on the roof of the house with friends and we could see the fireworks all the way from Disneyland. Every 4th of July, we'd have a block party on our cul-de-sac and a cop on the street would bring in contraband fireworks. Later in the evening, after we shot off our red devil stuff, the golf course across the Santa Ana river bed (which wasn't concrete yet) would have a fireworks show.

I remember Foster's Freeze in the old Lucky's shopping center and the Carl's Jr. across the street (my dad and I would fight over the fries on the way home.) Riding bikes down Brookhurst to the beach, you felt perfectly safe. A funky pizza place (can't remember the name) in the shopping center on Brookhurst and Adams, right next to the TG&Y ("To Gyp You") My parents and I were eating there the night LBJ announced he wasn't running again. Later, the fish and chips place next to the Sav-On Drugs next door.

I went to Edison High (class of 74) and spent more time on the Pier (on my own "personal bench" than I did in class, which is why I almost didn't graduate. Warm summer days and cool nights. Sitting with my family around a fire ring, roasting corn and hot dogs. What a great place to grow up!!

I now live in the east coast but, God willing, I hope to move back there this fall. You can never go home again, of course, and HB is far different, but it's the one place I still call home.

Read More

Harlem Globetrotters Visited Spurgeon Intermediate

Anonymous provides some random memories of Orange County, including a visit by the Harlem Globetrotters to my middle school alma mater, Spurgeon Intermediate...

Things I remember about Orang County:

Meeting Little Oscar and seeing the Weinermobile at a candy store near our house in Murray Manor..

Playing flag football in the morning and getting soaked by the morning dew.

When some of the Harlem Globetrotters stopped at Spurgeon School in Santa Ana and demonstrated their handiwork.

Hot dog days at St. Anne School and playing Santa Claus for the little kids when I was in the 7th grade. Also being taller than th epriest when I was an altar boy there.

Everyone seemed blond and skinny to me--I was not.

Spending time at Corona Del Mar with my family on the beach.

Things were idyllic.

The Harlem Globetrotters visit schools all the time, doing performances and talking to kids about physical fitness and the value of education, and continue to make that a big part of their overall mission.

Read More

Chicago and Beach Boys Concert, Anaheim, 1975

Lisa W remembers the Chicago and Beach Boys concert in 1975 at Angel Stadium...

Does anyone remember the Chicago and Beach Boys concert in 1975 at Angel Stadium? My dad gave my boyfriend and I tickets to it. It was amazing!! The stadium was full, and we were in the upper stands, and everyone up there started jumping up and down, and security told us to stop because they were afraid the stands would fall, they were swaying!!

We waited in line all day because none of the seats were reserved so it was first come first serve.

I grew up in Tustin, does anyone remember the matinees on Saturdays at Tustin Theatre?

The Tiller Day parade?
Bonfires at the beach?
Marywood High School and the guys streaking across the courtyard?

Read More

Cowan Heights in the 1960s

funinsun2k writes about growing up in Cowan Heights in the 1960s...

I grew up in Cowan Heights in the foothills south west of Irvine Park. This was beginning in the very early 60's till about 1969 when we moved down "into town" to Tustin Meadows. One of my favorite memories from the Cowan Heights days was when me and my buddy would ride our minibikes to a spot on Chapman Avenue (near Newport Blvd. intersection). So, does anybody remember Bob and Jeans? It was a great little ramshackle buger joint/beer bar. We would go in and get a hot dog or chili burger and root beer. There was a mix of locals, ranch hands, bikers, hippies, and a few of us curious kids (I think my first time in a drinking establishment). Good food and a real cool spot full of nice folks. Sadly it's gone now like so much of our early O.C. memories. Anyhow, after our grub it was back on the bikes to either go by Irvine park, or just ride any of the endless trails we had long before disapperring due to development.

There's a bunch of memories on Bob & Jeans on a previous article here...
http://www.octhen.com/2007/12/bob-jeans-tacos-and-pool-hall.htm

There's also some mention of Cowan Heights during that time on another article here...
http://www.octhen.com/2007/07/lemon-heights-in-1950s-and-60s.htm

Read More

The Plunge at Hart Park

Anonymous asks if anyone can provide memories of going to the Plunge at Hart Park in Orange...

Does anyone remember the plunge at Hart park and the May festival they used to have there?

OC History Roundup has an article on Hart Park and the Plunge...
http://ochistorical.blogspot.com/2008/01/w-o-hart-park-orange.html

Daralee has a photo of the Plunge on her Flickr photoset of Old Town Orange...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwwp/3376880161/

Read More

Mr. T's of Anaheim

Anonymous remembers going to Mr. T's of Anaheim, a restaurant that's no longer there...

I remember growing up in East Anaheim in the 70's and 80's right off of State College and Ball. The big restatraunt across from Carls Jr. would change names every 2-3 years. But the best memory was going to Mr. T's right off the corner os State College and Ball. It was a blast to the past, i actually worked there for a summer in 11th grade flipping burgers. I remember going there to play pinball almost daily, then saving enough money for a cheeseburger and fries. Mr T's was cool is it stll there??I have been gone from Anaheim since about 1991, i went back in 2000 for my best friends wedding, it has changed so much since the 70's and 80's.

Interestingly, another reader provided some info on Mr. T's, saying that's it changed to something else...

I LIVE OFF OF SUNKIST IN ANAHEIM, MR. T'S IS LONG GONE, NOW IT'S CALLED VAQUEROS (MEXICAN RESTAURANT)MATTER OF FACT IT JUST CHANGED NAMES AGAIN RECENTLY.

Read More

BMX Tracks at Saddleback Park & Escape Country

Erick asks if anyone remembers the BMX tracks at Saddleback or Escape Country...

Does anyone remember the BMX tracks at Saddleback or Escape Country? Ive done some research and it seems Escape Country opened for BMX in 1973 and moved the track a year later to a downhill location.

I have talked to riders that swear they raced Escape in 1972 and Saddleback in 71 or 72. None though can provide exact dates or newspaper clippings or proof. Anyone got any or a photo that was dated BITD so we know its accurate?

My email is racer@themlo.com if you want to submit something to me. Thanks.

PS I recently got a Escape Country sticker given to me someone had from the old days :)

By the time I moved to California neither BMX track was running (1982).

Read previous memories on Saddleback Park and Escape Country here on OCThen.

Read More