Bonnie submits a memory of the merry-go-round truck that used to offer rides for 10 cents...
Hi Steve, I grew up in Santa Ana in the 50's and 60's. We lived on Oak Street and then in the mid 50's moved to Bristol Street. I attended Edison school and after the move Glenn Martin. I attended Smedley Jr. High and then we moved to Ventura.
I found your site today, after finding an item on Craigslist. When I was a little girl a man named Mr. Beyer drove a truck around town with a little Merry go Round on the back. It cost 10 cents to ride the Merry Go Round. I went to school with his son Richard. Anyway, I was looking on Craigslist today and there is Mr. Beyers Merry Go Round truck for sale for $9,999.
In later years he would dress like a clown and people would hire him to bring the truck to birthday parties. In fact my children attended a birthday party in the 90's and there he was!
In the 1960's my dad open a billiard room, called the Bristol Cue. It was in the shopping center on Bristol and McFadden. It was quite the hang out for teenagers. It was during the Vietnam war and many of the young men were drafted but kept in touch with my dad, Neal Crooks. I have lots of memories of Santa Ana, those are just a couple. I really am enjoying reading all the comments. Sincerely, Bonnie
I managed to find the Craigslist ad Bonnie mentions. It's described as, "12 Horse Merry-go-Round mounted on Truck with Built in Music Player. Colorful Hand painted Antique wooden horses well preserved, excellent condition."
Orange County Memories is about the history of Orange County, CA as told from the people who lived and worked here.
Wow! I rode on that merry go round many times during the years we lived on Shelton Street, 1958-1961, not far from Bristol, where they later build Saddleback High. Mr. Beyer would park right in front of our home and all the little kids who were too young to go to school yet (we didn't have day care in those days as all of our moms stayed home while our dads went to work) ran outside to line up to get on the merry go round. And it cost ten cents a ride. This was a big deal to us and we would wait what seemed like years for Mr. Beyer to return. We never knew when he would show up, but when he did we were in heaven riding on our very own personal merry go round. He didn't dress as a clown back then. I wish I could buy it and share it with the kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods. This merry go round symbolizes the often ideal conditions of growing up in OC back in the 50s, 60s & 70s. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThere were so many great "surprises" living in Santa Ana, but the merry-go-round was the best. Does anyone else remember the Helms Bakery Truck that would drive by with donuts? Or the Chicken Delight truck that brought fried chicken in two paper plates stapled together? Santa Ana was a great place to grow up!!
ReplyDeleteI remember riding this merry-go-round back in the early 70s. It was for a birthday party in Garden Grove near Chapman Ave. & Brookhurst. All of the kids were in shock when Mr. Beyer drove up the driveway dressed as a clown. Great memories!
ReplyDeleteI remember this merry-go-round truck in the early 90's! I was a student at Monte Vista Elementary probably 1st or 2nd grade. I would walk home down McFadden towards Raitt and I would stop by on Townsend St. to buy candy from the produce trucks. And sure enough Mr. Beyer was at the end of Townsend St.!!! Great memories!!!
ReplyDeleteI hired a merry-go-round truck for my daughter's 2nd birthday (1974) we lived on 18th ave near Tustin rd behind a car dealer on 17th in a condo. It was a tiny cul_de-sac, only about 15 houses. My daughter was too scared of the clown & wouldn't get on the truck but all the other kids had a lot of fun
ReplyDeleteHis name was BUMBLE the CLOWN he lived on south Baker st. second house from Edinger st. Grandma lived down the street. Used to help him wash his truck. First with him than his son, would never tell me his real name.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where to find one of these today? I am working on a TV show for fox and I am unable to find one.
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