Tuesday, July 07, 2009

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.

73 comments:

  1. I loved when you said "what a great place to grow up". My sentiments exactly. It was just the best, most fun place you could ever be to grow up. I can't imagine being anywhere else as a kid or a teenager. It was so different back then, wish it was like that now.

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  2. I grew up there a little later than you - off of Newland and Adams, I lived in that house for 30 years. I graduated from Edison as well in 1990. I remember so much of the same places that you do, and I am getting homesick again.

    Thanks for the memories!

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  3. Born there in 1962,moved away in 1993.
    I'm in Prague,Czech Republic now.
    My fondest memories are from there,and it will always be the only place i call home. I feel especially blessed for having surfed for nearly 25 years.
    Oh, you mean H SALT ESQUIRE fish? I loved that batter,second only to the batter fried fish at the costa mesa fish fry!

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  4. That pizza place was either Straw Hat Pizza (in the very corner of the lot), or across the street was the newer pizza place, Lampost Pizza.

    Remember Ferrells Ice Cream at that corner, too?

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    1. Yes! for I'm certain "I made a pig of myself" there on at least a couple of occasions.

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  5. I ate a trough!

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  6. Welcome back Steve. I moved to HB in 67 as a kid and like you all seemed then as now to have been perfect. Played in fields that lined Gothard from Edinger to the coast.
    Graduated from Marina in 79 and am raising my two sons here now. They are finishing high school. So many people now but life was slower then. (had fog on so many nights because the sun would warm the ground all day, 75% of HB were farms and then cool moisture laiden air rolled in at night)
    Our family use to bowl at Huntington lanes on the hill at Beach and Adams just N of the Newland House (an Albertsons now) and the view from the back door on the South side of that building would let you see all of Orange county out thru the Irvine Co prop 20 mils south!
    As we got older we would catch the train, Southern Pacific (the Engineer let us..he went to our church) to the beach. He would slow or we would catch him at one of the two wood yards, throw our surf boards on a flat car or box and off we'ld go.
    I even remember the old drive in on Gothard and Warner, sitting in the tomatoe fields in lawn chairs with my friend cause they lived in the tract there and listening to the movie on the old hang on your window speakers.
    I still have several friends from HB that I am close with. God has truely blessed me

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  7. Does anyone remember the car hop restaurant off of Beach Blvd? There was another one in Buena Park or Anaheim too.

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  8. Does anybody remember the smorgasboard on Beach Blvd probably in the vicinity of Adams or Yorktown? As a young and dumb highschooler (FVHS '77) I can recall 'munching out' there several times with the bros, literally eating 'til we were sick. The name and exact location are kind of fuzzy.... hahahaha!

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    1. Wasn't that called Sir George's Smorgasbord? Great memory!

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    2. Yes it was called sir georges smorgasbord

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    3. Sir George's Smorgasbord

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  9. majskyking@gmail.com says ....Why no comments about Seal Beach? My family and I moved there in 1946 ....bitchin' town! My dad had the town's only bakery ... opened first bakery across the street from the Bay, closed that one and moved up the street and opened next to Vinzant's Five and Dime.I'm a 1948 graduate of Seal Beach grammar School ...was on PCH and 12th - now a 'mini-mall'.Truly a fun town to grow up in ....not many people in the forties, but that's sure changed. Holy moly! Would welcome any comments about Seal, Surfside Colony or Sunset at email address shown above.

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    1. HI:
      I read your paragraph about "old" Seal Beach. My family and I moved to Seal Beach in 1947 (when I was four years of age. I loved attending the old Seal Beach Grammar School. Swimming next to the pier in the summer was great fun. I remember the Green Parrot cafe where all of the older kids hung out. The Bay Theatre was a great source of entertainment (especially before television), but usually the first-run movies at the Bay had already been out for two to three years--and the Bay was only open on Friday nights and weekends. The Airport Club split the City into two factions--those who liked it and those who loathed it. I knew the owner, Bill Robertson. The Airport Club later became the Marina Palace dance hall for young adults. Robertson subsequently moved to Oregon where he died. Robertson, his wife and two sons lived about four houses away from my family. The Airport Club made Robertson quite wealthy--I remember my jaw dropping when I saw the older son driving a brand new '54 Chevy (unbelievable at the time). How about your memories?

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  10. I believe Seal Beach is in L.A. county, not Orange County, but I too lived there-- for 15 years--in "Old Town". Worked there, too. Fun walking to the bank, the market (John's--not there anymore!),the beach, the library, restaurants, church. I lived there in the 70's and 80's. I'm sure the 40's was a great time to live there!!

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    1. Seal Beach is a city in Orange County.

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    2. Seal Beach is in Orange County

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  11. Orange Newport Huntington Yoot.January 16, 2010 3:24 AM

    Graduated from Canyon in Anaheim Hills in 79 but lived in Orange and rode down that Santa Ana River Bed bike trail every chance I could get to go diving. Took 45 minutes. I miss the swap meets, strawberry fields, way less graffiti. I lived 3 miles from Angel Stadium and Dismal Land and also sat on the roof to watch the fireworks. Sometimes drove to a vacant lot next to D land for them. We drove our VWs everywhere but mainly to HB and NB. Those were the days. They fill my dreams. I covered the land. Trabuco, Santiago Canyons, Mojeska. Then came the band days playing up in LA on the strip. Got to meet all kinds of stars and comedians. Even worked for Mitzy Shore at the Comedy Club. Wont name drop but all the biggies. Then it crashed. LOL. Would've been better with the money I have now. Living on the stupid east coast. I miss all of you. Carry on carry on. This feels like something written in a year book but hey.

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  12. I remember TG&Y and the fish and chips place! I also remember going up to Mesa Verde park and you could see the FV Drive In sign. I grew up on Atlanta and Magnolia and I too spent many days out of school lol. I would go to the library (when the main library was the one on Main street) and sit there all day and read.

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  13. Bob King says to Anonymous poster December 6, 2009: If you lived in Seal for fifteen years and thought that the town is in LA County, you must have been heavily involved in mind-altering drugs!! Seal is now and has always been in Orange County - the San Gabriel River separates LA from Orange. Check any map. Hope you don't vote!

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    1. People that lived in seal and los al often times had both a 714 orange county phone line as well as a 213. Los angeles line and some had only LA lines this could cause confusion

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  14. I lived in the Glen Mar tract at the corner of Adams and Bushard in 1963. There wasn't much around there until the Alpha Beta opened with the Enco station out front. There was a Drug Store that was part of a small chain there too. I remember the smorgasbord on Main Street too. It was a Swedish place and we used to buy their homemade sweet bread by the loaf to bring home.
    After high school (HB '64), I worked at the phone company at Euclid and GG Blvd. I made enough to buy a condo at the corner of Brookhurst and Adams(Continental townhomes) for $11,200. There was a pedestrian crosswalk right there at the corner of Continental Dr and Brookhurst. At the corner of Adams and Brookhurst it was a four-way stop. I ended up living in five different homes in HB and Fountain Valley for the next 35 years, raising my kids and enjoying the area in a way that could only happen in that era.
    Ah, the memories!!

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    1. The drug store next to Alpha Beta was High Lo Drugs. The smorgasbord on Main St was called Villa Sweden

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  15. Hi, I grew up in Artesia in the 50s and 60s, and one of my memories of Seal Beach and HB were the great snacks that that you could get at the shacks at the beach. As a child I loved the little wax bottles, you bit off the top and then drank the contents! Also, the best were something called "strips" served with a spicy sauce, great burgers, too.

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  16. I grew up in Huntington and spent lot's time at Seal Beach pier. Anyone remember Dickie? He carried his iron around to iron out the waves for the surfers. Everyone took care of him at the beach. He was mentally challenged and everyone loved him. To charlene from Artesia, you can still get strips with cheese and sauce down at the pier and at Bolsa Chica and Warner at what used to be Pedro McCoys. Nothing better than sand, waves and strips!! What fun we had growing up. We lived at Heil and Bolsa Chica near Ed's Dairy and had freedom to run crazy.

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    1. I lived in Los Alamitos in the early 60's and remember Dickie running up to me with a telephone and telling me that it was Present Kennedy on the line. I still visit at least once a year eventhough I'm stuck in Lodi, CA.

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  17. i grew up in Huntington. Goldenwest and Slater. Best years of my life between Pier 1 and 3 and right in front of Dwights!

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    1. Dwight's strips are still excellent. I remember the hot guys that would play volleyball everyday in front of Dwights - great times!

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    2. Dwights is still great! I remember the group surfers that played volleyball in front of Dwights, they were hott! Great times.

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    3. Dwights still has the best strips on the planet. I remember the hot surfer guys that played volleyball everyday eight in front of Dwights.

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  18. To answer some of the above posts....The smorgasboard was called Sir George's and the Drug Store next to Alpha Beta was call Hi-Lo...I lived in the Glen Mar tract off Magnolia and Yorktown from '68 to '77, went to Wardlow and my Mom used to let us kids walk to the Alpha Beta shopping center alone all the time....I won't even let my daughters walk to school 200 yards away alone in Rancho Santa Margarita!!! Anyone remember Lucci's?? It took over the old Albertson's market building when that Albertson's moved next to the K-Mart on Magnolia and Garfield....Lucci's was so good!!

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    1. YES!! Totally remember Lucci's. We lived in the neighborhood right behind it, from '71 til I went to college in Santa Barbara. We loved the food from that Italian deli.

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    2. Lucci's is still there, they say they are the oldest continuously running business in HB

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  19. I lived in Huntington Beach for a couple years back in 1970-71. I was 12 to 13 yrs-old then, and I lived in an old ship-lap siding house on California & Joliet Sts.. The house is still there using a "Bing" search. My friends and me were all into sting-ray bikes with banana seats, mustache handlebars, knobby back tires and high sissy bars on the back of the seats. We would set-up plywood "jumps" in empty lots and vacant land and make small off-road tracks. We would ride the alley ways on trash day and find great stuff. My Mom didn't think it was so great though! We would make the rounds on our bikes, checking for change in phone booth coin slots and collecting deposit bottles to take to the store to buy soda pop and candy. We went to the Huntington Pier almost daily in the summer to go body-surfing. I can remember feeling Pismo clams under my feet while in the ocean and would harvest them. Of course, who could forget feeling the Tar on the beach under your feet too!

    I had a lot fun there back in those days. There was a lot things there a kid could do!

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  20. mary deery neigerAugust 17, 2010 10:13 PM

    wow, lots of memories...moved to HB in 1961. attended Peterson school in Pacific Sands tract and Dyer for middle school. Huntington High for freshman year and Edison when it opened! We were the 3rd graduating class in 1972. How about the riots in downtown...we were forced into the "head shop" on PCH to escape the cops! Raised two kids in HB and Costa Mesa. What a great environment. They enjoyed Junior Guards and all the beach had to offer.
    Many great memories of downtown and the library, villa sweden etc.

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  21. I grew up on "goat hill" (Costa Mesa) in the 60's and 70's. We would come down Adams Ave to go to Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor. And in HS I worked at the "Love's Wood Pit BBQ" on Adam's and Brookhurst. If I'm not mistaken, the guy who owned that place sold it and founded "Claim Jumpers." And I still think the best pizza I ever had was at "Back Alley Pizza" in Fountain Valley.

    It was a wonderful and safe place to grow up. I would not trade a minute of it.

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    1. I grew up on Goat Hill Costa Mesa. Do you remember the Dog Kennel owned by the Thomson's, And the Horse Ranch own by the Walker's !! ( 40s,50,60.)

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  22. I grew up in Huntington in the 60's and 70's lived in the Seahaven tract at Adams and Magnolia. Went to Newland from K to 8 and Edison 9 to 12. Worked at the Two Guys at Adams and Brookhurst. Surfing, Skateboarding, riding stingrays. What a way to grow up!

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    1. We lived there too! Graduated Edison in 1975, and I also worked at Two Guys. What street did you live on? we lived on Albatross.

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  23. I went to Newland school 75 and we would rumble in the park against Wardlow every chance we got! Whats up Newland Neptunians!

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  24. What a great site! Family moved to HB in 1963. Seahaven at Cannery (later Magnolia) and Adams. Started school at Fountain Valley Grade School (now gone), went to Bushard (actually 5 unoccupied tract homes off Yorktown and Bushard) before Wardlow opened. Then went to Newland when it opened. Grad from Edison in 1972. Played HB City League baseball at JRP in Pacific Sands. Lots of bean fields and tomato fields. What a great place to grow up. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

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  25. we moved to HB in 1965 lived in house off of bushard and magnloia. went to HBHS as Edisong was not built yet graduated in 1969. we would walk or ride our bbikes to the beach at brookhurst. Surfed the river jetty all the time. I rmemeber there was not much around there but empty oil filed and tomato fields. Yes it was a great place to grow up. I runn in the hald marathon every year now and how the city has changed. it was better back than however progress waits for no one.

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  26. wow this brings back alot of memories Igrew up at Goldenwest & Heil I remember all the open fields where we would ride our dirt bikes & fishing at the lakes on Goldenwest where the library is now I graduated from Marina in 75 what an awesome place we grew up in !!!!

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  27. Hi There I grew up in Huntington Beach too, Remember this... when my family first arrived in HB in 1969. Newland street stopped just a bit north of Indianapolis then it started again at Adams. I could ride my mini bike from my house at Newland and Indianapolis to the Mobil station at Beach and Adams. I would fill up for something like a quarter which makes me sound like I'm a ancient but I'm 47. I also rode my minibike through the oil fields to the spot where Edison HS now stands. In the summer I remember watching the ladies on the tomato picking tractors from my back yard. Many times my friends and I would go into the Tomato fields with a salt shaker and eat tomatoes. I went to Peterson elementary (if anyone remembers placing a time capsule there please chime in because I remember we placed one in either in '72 or '73 I think it was either near the new flag pole or maybe at the edge of the field near the 3rd grade play grade where a new tree was planted) anyhow I digress.. how about Pup n Taco or Nagules. Or does any one remember Tanaka nursery or better yet the rope swing behind it that went over the pond right off of Beach blvd next door to McDonalds just north of Indianapolis. Do you remember when the Newland house was an abandoned old haunted looking house? How about Swensens Ice Cream. Pats ski shop next to Lucci's which is still there and still the same. You can still get the same torpedo sandwich you got back in the 70's. Way back in time there was a place called Shultz's slot car track also at Magnolia and Adams. How about the Mushroom farm? or the motorcycle park at Talbert and Gothard? How about Huntington Center and the old fashioned ice cream bars and lemonade. Back then sheep hills really had sheep in it not just BMX'ers.Wow now I am really feeling old,but I have a few more. Bob's big boy,Two Guys,Grants,Woolwurths,The PX, Lone Ranger,Two Guys from Italy, Sir Georges smorgasbord, Villa sweden, Fedco,Gemco, tastee freeze, adventure playground or Huck Finns play ground,the brick train station at 5 points... I could go on and on and I suppose I have, I hope you remember some of these and they bring back the same memories they do for me...just thought of 2 more pioneer chicken and better yet Larry's broasted chicken OK OK I will stop now but Huntington Beach is and will always be my town.

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    1. Great memories & thanks for sharing. I can totally relate! I moved here with my folks in 1968 and lived on Bushard & Hamilton. I graduated Edison in 76 & worked at Pat's Ski & Sport 1977- 82. I'm now looking for anyone that worked in Pats organization during that time as I'm searching out a few old friends that worked with me. Thanks for any help (=:

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    2. Swensen's Icecream with the scale train going around the perimeter of the ceiling!
      Grew upin 1980's HB. never thought they would not be around :(

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  28. What a fabulous walk down memory lane. I transplanted there when I was 8 or 9. Went to Peterson, Dwyer (anyone remember Mrs. Flaws, Mr. Borden, Oh my gosh....Mrs. Catlin???? Edison High when it was 3 years old then Huntington High. Does anyone remember the "Pier Preacher"? He was always dressed in black from head to toe because he had allergies or skin cancer. He always had a smile on his face and sang loudly and openly to the Lord. We were idiots then. Some of these idiots would goad, harrass, tease, and sometimes steal his hat. There were too many "options" open to kids then, especially when your leash was way too long. That man prayed for all of us and at that time, was the only person who truly cared for all of us beach brats. He took his life in his hands stepping onto that pier and praying for us. I've never forgotten him and wish I knew his name. Does anyone remember Jack and Karen Leto? They owned a small, upscale clothes store on Main street between Jack's and George's surfshops. Does anyone remember the rock n' roll place called The Syndicate on PCH with a pool hall right next door? The Hessian motorcycle gang and a big galoot named Tiny hung out there a lot. Remember when the surf shop under the pier would put out those HUGE speakers outside of the shop and play blasting tunes all day long? The smell of Bain de Soleil, iodine-tinted baby oil, strips, pot, tear gas, locals versus out-of-towners????? The first smoothie I ever had was in Jan's at the back of George's Surf Shop. I can still taste the best tuna salad and tuna sandwiches on the planet. Live out of state now but kept my Mom's house in Surfside condominiums (Beach and Atlanta) When I come back to Huntington, no trip is complete until I get a tuna salad from her new shop further up Main St.. Tar sticking to your feet, towel, bathing suit bottoms, scraping it off with a stick, removing it with nail polish remover. The smell of rotten eggs in the morning from the Edison Electric plant. The winds shifted and blew it northwest in the morning. It was nasty. Bike riding, walking, hitchhiking...It was a different world then. I've enjoyed taking this little stroll. I'll check back some other time to see if anyone can remember some of these things. I have to comment: That bread from Villa Sweden was incredible and the swedish meatballs too!

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    1. OMG ! I remember all that. I grew up on beach blvd & garfield. My mom had a beauty shop on main street "Beach Beauty" next to the post office.I graduated Huntington high 1976. used to ride my bike from home to school then to my mom's shop after school then walk two blocks to the beach but not befor stopping by georges surf shop for a smoothie.Then I would walk accross the street to the old market where I could get a half loaf of fresh garlic bread for 25 cents. I use to sllep on the pier on the weekends anf shark fish at night or catch the shuttle boat to the old fishing barge. I would give anything to go back in time. Love those days.

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    2. Anonymous. You mentioned the pier preacher in your memories of Huntington Beach. I spent my teenage years hitchhiking from La Mirada 25 miles away down Beach Blvd to hangout and body surf between lifeguard tower 1 and 3 in the late 60's early 70's. We use to yell and scream at this preacher who seemed to be there everyday preaching the bible. I woke up in the middle of the night today thinking about him and did a google search to see if anything was mentioned about him. I'm almost 59 now serving the Lord we use to taunt at as a kid. I do have many fond memories of the beach scene at HB.

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  29. Ok.. How about some names here! I probably grew up with half you people!
    Keith Waterman.. Wardlow Warrior from when it opened to graduating (first complete K-8 class) 1972. Lived in Glen Mar (Cheaspeake Lane) from 61-75.
    Remember Pats Ski and Sport, Luccis Deli.. Shultz's hobby shop (slot car track). Robert Shultz went to Wardlow and his dad owned the shop... Tons of great stories. There is a great FaceBook page to share your stories: "You know You're from Huntington Beach, CA if"... Check it out!
    Drop some names too!

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  30. What great comments and memories...My family moved to HB in 1973 - I was just turning 7. I'm still here, near Springdale and Warner, and will hopefully never leave. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the last truly free time, where games of ditch 'em would include every kid on the block and go past dark, until it was time to go in and watch the new Happy Days so you could act like Fonzie at school the next day. I did the quintessential HB school ladder - Lark View, Marine View, then Ocean View High.
    Some of my fond memories include...

    Riding bikes to TG&Y's to buy some Wacky Packages and then to Sav-On for the peppermint ice cream (with big chunks of red peppermint candy - not like the gar-baj of today)...
    Seeing the Westminster Mall being constructed, then making it a weekend tradition of going to the movies, walking around a bit, then getting a 3 foot red licorice rope and some Karmel Korn...
    Watching un-cut movies on ON Subscription TV (that was pretty cool for a kid back then)...
    Breathing in that Ocean-y air on a slightly foggy evening before having to churn out my 7th grade Science Fair project in 4 hours...
    Counting the school days between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks...
    Coming home on Halloween with a Pillow case full of candy...
    I could go on forever as well. HB was truly a magical place to be a kid in the 70's.

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  31. What great comments and memories...My family moved to HB in 1973 - I was just turning 7. I'm still here, near Springdale and Warner, and will hopefully never leave. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the last truly free time, where games of ditch 'em would include every kid on the block and go past dark, until it was time to go in and watch the new Happy Days so you could act like Fonzie at school the next day. I did the quintessential HB school ladder - Lark View, Marine View, then Ocean View High.
    Some of my fond memories include...

    Riding bikes to TG&Y's to buy some Wacky Packages and then to Sav-On for the peppermint ice cream (with big chunks of red peppermint candy - not like the gar-baj of today)...
    Seeing the Westminster Mall being constructed, then making it a weekend tradition of going to the movies, walking around a bit, then getting a 3 foot red licorice rope and some Karmel Korn...
    Watching un-cut movies on ON Subscription TV (that was pretty cool for a kid back then)...
    Breathing in that Ocean-y air on a slightly foggy evening before having to churn out my 7th grade Science Fair project in 4 hours...
    Counting the school days between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks...
    Coming home on Halloween with a Pillow case full of candy...
    I could go on forever as well. HB was truly a magical place to be a kid in the 70's.

    ReplyDelete
  32. What great comments and memories...My family moved to HB in 1973 - I was just turning 7. I'm still here, near Springdale and Warner, and will hopefully never leave. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the last truly free time, where games of ditch 'em would include every kid on the block and go past dark, until it was time to go in and watch the new Happy Days so you could act like Fonzie at school the next day. I did the quintessential HB school ladder - Lark View, Marine View, then Ocean View High.
    Some of my fond memories include...

    Riding bikes to TG&Y's to buy some Wacky Packages and then to Sav-On for the peppermint ice cream (with big chunks of red peppermint candy - not like the gar-baj of today)...
    Seeing the Westminster Mall being constructed, then making it a weekend tradition of going to the movies, walking around a bit, then getting a 3 foot red licorice rope and some Karmel Korn...
    Watching un-cut movies on ON Subscription TV (that was pretty cool for a kid back then)...
    Breathing in that Ocean-y air on a slightly foggy evening before having to churn out my 7th grade Science Fair project in 4 hours...
    Counting the school days between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks...
    Coming home on Halloween with a Pillow case full of candy...
    I could go on forever as well. HB was truly a magical place to be a kid in the 70's.

    ReplyDelete
  33. What great comments and memories...My family moved to HB in 1973 - I was just turning 7. I'm still here, near Springdale and Warner, and will hopefully never leave. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the last truly free time, where games of ditch 'em would include every kid on the block and go past dark, until it was time to go in and watch the new Happy Days so you could act like Fonzie at school the next day. I did the quintessential HB school ladder - Lark View, Marine View, then Ocean View High.
    Some of my fond memories include...

    Riding bikes to TG&Y's to buy some Wacky Packages and then to Sav-On for the peppermint ice cream (with big chunks of red peppermint candy - not like the gar-baj of today)...
    Seeing the Westminster Mall being constructed, then making it a weekend tradition of going to the movies, walking around a bit, then getting a 3 foot red licorice rope and some Karmel Korn...
    Watching un-cut movies on ON Subscription TV (that was pretty cool for a kid back then)...
    Breathing in that Ocean-y air on a slightly foggy evening before having to churn out my 7th grade Science Fair project in 4 hours...
    Counting the school days between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks...
    Coming home on Halloween with a Pillow case full of candy...
    I could go on forever as well. HB was truly a magical place to be a kid in the 70's.

    ReplyDelete
  34. What great comments and memories...My family moved to HB in 1973 - I was just turning 7. I'm still here, near Springdale and Warner, and will hopefully never leave. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the last truly free time, where games of ditch 'em would include every kid on the block and go past dark, until it was time to go in and watch the new Happy Days so you could act like Fonzie at school the next day. I did the quintessential HB school ladder - Lark View, Marine View, then Ocean View High.
    Some of my fond memories include...

    Riding bikes to TG&Y's to buy some Wacky Packages and then to Sav-On for the peppermint ice cream (with big chunks of red peppermint candy - not like the gar-baj of today)...
    Seeing the Westminster Mall being constructed, then making it a weekend tradition of going to the movies, walking around a bit, then getting a 3 foot red licorice rope and some Karmel Korn...
    Watching un-cut movies on ON Subscription TV (that was pretty cool for a kid back then)...
    Breathing in that Ocean-y air on a slightly foggy evening before having to churn out my 7th grade Science Fair project in 4 hours...
    Counting the school days between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks...
    Coming home on Halloween with a Pillow case full of candy...
    I could go on forever as well. HB was truly a magical place to be a kid in the 70's.

    ReplyDelete
  35. What great comments and memories...My family moved to HB in 1973 - I was just turning 7. I'm still here, near Springdale and Warner, and will hopefully never leave. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the last truly free time, where games of ditch 'em would include every kid on the block and go past dark, until it was time to go in and watch the new Happy Days so you could act like Fonzie at school the next day. I did the quintessential HB school ladder - Lark View, Marine View, then Ocean View High.
    Some of my fond memories include...

    Riding bikes to TG&Y's to buy some Wacky Packages and then to Sav-On for the peppermint ice cream (with big chunks of red peppermint candy - not like the gar-baj of today)...
    Seeing the Westminster Mall being constructed, then making it a weekend tradition of going to the movies, walking around a bit, then getting a 3 foot red licorice rope and some Karmel Korn...
    Watching un-cut movies on ON Subscription TV (that was pretty cool for a kid back then)...
    Breathing in that Ocean-y air on a slightly foggy evening before having to churn out my 7th grade Science Fair project in 4 hours...
    Counting the school days between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks...
    Coming home on Halloween with a Pillow case full of candy...
    I could go on forever as well. HB was truly a magical place to be a kid in the 70's.

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  36. My family moved to Garden Grove in January, 1966.
    Growing up there was the best and I have great memories.
    Does anyone remember Crawford's Market on Beach and Chapman?
    It was just up the street from where we lived. It had everything. Besides a market there was a restaurant and barbershop.
    Carl's Fried Chicken was also there.

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  37. I moved to Huntington Beach in 1964 and attended Huntington Beach High School from 1964 until I graduated in 1969. I have searched the web for hours for ANY info and especially a photo of "the world's greatest Senior Prank" (in my opinion, and which could ONLY have happened at Huntington Beach High: the tire the Senior Class of either 1966 or 1967 placed around the tower. DOES ANYBODY HAVE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS???? It took years for the staff to get that tire off the tower: it was legendary and we loved it. Is this some CIA secret now or what? I can't find anything at all about it on the web. Thanks for anybody's help!!!! I'm Valerie at szilverymoon@gmail.com

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    1. It was the class was '65. Huntington HS only had freshmen and some sophmores in '65 and the rest went to Marina. I graduated in '65 from Marina. Remember the Pavalon or "strips" at the arcade below the Pavalon.
      In '64 - 65' the Paddock Lounge on Main had steak and potato for $1.04 on Wednesdays. Great times.

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  38. Does anybody remember or have a photo of the fantastic Senior Prank of either the Class of '66 or the Class of '67? I moved to Huntington Beach in 1964 and attended HB High from 1964 until I graduated in 1969. If you were there you know what I'm talking about: THE TIRE AROUND THE PEAK OF THE TOWER. Incredible and we laughed for years because it took the staff years to get it off the tower! I have searched the web for hours and can't find anything about this at all. Is it a CIA secret or something? This is one of the funniest things that ever happened in HB and I'm totally bummed that I can't find anything about it anywhere! Please help if you can: TOO FUNNY. Thanks, Oilers and everybody else in the Wayback... Valerie Dawn at szilverymoon@gmail.com

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    1. Yes my neighbor was one of the guys that did that prank. They lifted a huge truck tire with helium balloons and ropes and lowered it onto the school tower. Hilarious

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  39. On Facebook, I belong to 2 groups. You Know You Are From ORANGE When......., and You Know You Grew Up In Orange County When You Remember......... The cool thing is, everyone posts photos to what they're commenting about. Just for fun, Google August 6, 1970 to see a strange story about the first time Disneyland had to close early.

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  40. Hi. I spent a few years in Huntington Beach in the mid-60s. I was young and we lived across from the library up from the pier. My mother and I did a lot of fishing off that pier. There was great surfing going on, though I was too light at the time to handle the board upright. When we moved, it was away from the beach, so I never did do any proper surfing. I did have my first girlfriend in HB, Lisa K. The town influence me a lot and still have some of my fondest memories there. Brian.

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  41. Old Huntinton beach -- horses - Rex Reynolds Stable--Bill Williams --pat Lockhart ---summer beach days--jacks surf shop---lino'os pizza-- Zodys dept store -- Marina vs HB basketball games-- foggy eves--golden west college summer pool. ---------just a great place to grow up and learn to live-------- uncrowded

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  42. Amazing. I completely forgot I had written about this and am amazed at all the reactions, over the years. I moved home to LA late in 2009, though I wound up in the Valley. Not the same as HB, but I'm HOME. I enjoyed seeing all the other memories (and it jogged more). The Bob's Big Boy at Adams and Brookhurst is where I had my first date and, years later, where my buddies and I would hang out and eat french fries with bleu cheese dressing after playing racquetball at the rent-a-courts next to HB High. I went to the now-defunct Lamb School (after one year at Arevalos) before heading to Edison.

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  43. We moved to Costa Mesa in 1967 (I was 4), but I spent my 75 cent allowance in Huntington Beach. Bought baseball cards at Savons or pastries at the bakery next door. The ice cream at Thrifty's was a deal for a triple scoop at 15 cents. Our family would get food from H.Salt or pastrami sandwiches at the deli next to that. I night out was at Straw Hat Pizza or Don Jose's further down Adams.

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  44. Anyone remember sand dollars all over the beach in HB? Used to be entire sand dollars everywhere ....now you're lucky if you can find a piece of one.

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  45. I remember seeing that tire up on the top of the tower at HBHS!

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  46. I was born in Long Beach California in 1952 and we moved to Huntington Beach in 1960. We lived just off of Heil and Beach Blvd, in the Sol Vista (i.e. Sun View) Tract of homes right behind the car dealership. My friend and I would always hitch-hike to the Huntington Pier and spend summer days there. Some school days as well. We were inseparable. We met when we first attended Ocean View School located on the corner of Beach and Warner. It is no longer there, though. Some high rise is there now. Hey, remember the Warner Drive-In and the HWY 39 Drive-In? Anyway, the school district started moving students around the district and we ended up at Village View School and Sun View School. We graduated from Fountain Valley High in 1971.
    Yes I remember those days fondly. I remember the sand dollars, digging for sand crabs right after the surf re-ceded. I remember French fries and coke on the sandy beach and the nights by the fire rings.
    When I left home in 1971 I was 18 and I bummed the streets of Huntington for about six months. I then joined the Navy and went overseas twice on an aircraft carrier. Now I am married and living in Cheyenne Wyoming. My wife and I would like to go back to California, Huntington Beach? but it is just a bit out of our price range, now. But we have some great memories of life back there in the days of fun and sun. Life seemed so simple and innocent then.:)

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  47. Yeah, back in the day I remember Serene Scene, Greeks, Jacks, Egg Heaven, Plastic Fantastic, American Surfboards, Surf Craft, Walden Surfboards, Georges, Surf Theater, Chuck Dent, Infinity, Dyno, Soul Surfboards, Wind N Sea and many other businesses that I just can't remember anymore.
    Locals were the Hawks brothers, Charlie Ray, Norm Chapman, Smiley, Dean Cleary, Bob Bolen, Lonnie Buhn, Dale Putnam, Chuck Dent, Robert Highsmith, Mouse, the Letos, Sonny's Bar, A young Carl Hayward, Jeff Vice, and many more.

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  48. We moved to HB when I was 7 years old too, but that was back in '62. I do remember sand dollars, and sea urchins in tide pools. HB was pretty organic in the old days. What about the stickers in the grass at the recreation center? You could never go barefoot there so a trip to the beach excluded going to the rec center afterward, unless you brought some shoes...and who wore shoes? I went to Rancho View School, then Lake View for their opening year (my 6th grade), then back to Rancho View for 7/8th grade (Lake view was K-6 at the time) and then, off Fountain Valley High. I remember a farm at the corner of Warner and B Street where we had to cross for school to go to Rancho View. There was a dog on a cable and we all loved to see him in the morning. It could get pretty muddy...We also had a beloved crossing guard whose name escapes me, but he was hit by a car and killed and they never replaced him. I also remember going to TG&Y for a few cents worth of chocolate candy, and Danber Drugs when I got older to look at girlie magazines that were displayed right in the rack that was at the store entrance. Those were the good old days... And the Alphy's coffee shop on the corner of that shopping center, for whom I did a brief stint as a cook...I moved away when I found the girl of my dreams, and we've been looking for a way back ever since! Washington State is nice, but there are no beaches like HB anywhere to be found! I miss HB!!

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  49. The name of the pizza place back in the corner at Brookhurst and Adams was call the Pizza Palace. Next door to TG&Y

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  50. Swensen's Icecream with their scale model train running around the perimeter of the ceiling!
    Can't believe they closed :(

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