Awwww, the memories.  I grew up in Anaheim.   Lincoln Elementary, Sycamore Jr. High and then on to Anaheim High School.  You bet it's changed.  When I go "home" to visit my mother and sister, it just doesn't feel like "home" anymore. 

 I think what I miss the most is the old downtown Anaheim.  My great Uncle was a baker at the bakery.  He would work all night and then leave us a bag of fresh baked donuts on our doorstep at home.  The Fox theater was affordable.  I seem to recall winning a raffle they held one day.  I won a doll.  In the summer, my friends and I would go to the Pearson Park "plunge" and while walking home would stop in to the SQR store to use their bathroom.  I had never shopped at the SQR.  It was a "rich" store to me.  But, it sure was fun to use the elevator and to look in the window with awe at the mannequins. 

I lived near that Van's factory store that you spoke of.  My family, back to my great grandparents have always lived on that side of town (East and Broadway).  The circus used to unload down there by the train tracks and start their march down to the convention center.  That was near Kwikset.  There was an orange factory there too.  I really don't know what kind of orange processing they did but we would always go there and "steal" a few oranges off of the conveyor belts that were inevitably left after the processing was done. 

While trying to modernize and appeal to a new generation of families, Anaheim has lost it's appeal to me.  Gone is the hometown feel of downtown Anaheim, only to be replaced by cold, unfamiliar strip malls.  I believe they call that progress.

I could have written this piece.  I delivered for the Anaheim Bulletin for several years.  Also the Herald Examiner on weekends and for the Independent on Thursdays.  I collected and porched my papers in those neighborhoods around East street and behind between Broadway and Santa Ana streets.  Rose, Bush, Vine, etc.  Remember MCP just past the railroad tracks on Santa Ana?  My dad drove a truck for Merrifield in those days and they hauled oranges and grapefruit for MCP.  

The little house I grew up in on East street last sold for $525,000.00!  We paid $7,900.00 for it brand new back in about 1960.  I attended Lincoln elementary, Sycamore Junior High and Anaheim High.

I remember Cotler's Men's store.  The SQR with either vacuum tubes for transporting funds back and forth or the little basket on a wire.  The Wagon Wheel bar on Anaheim near Lincoln which used to be called Center many years ago. Now Center is a little strip of street up by State College.  

We used to walk from East St. up to State College and hang out at the SavOn there and a Woolworths behind it.

Anaheim used to smell so sweet in the morning but I was through there about five years ago in my old "hood" and all I could smell was smog and diesel exhaust.  We used to go to a little store on Broadway and Bush streets that was run by a nice old couple George and Mary I believe.  They lived behind it. Down the street from me on East and Broadway there was a big house and across the alley from it was also their property and it always had a lot of junk behind the fence.  The house belonged to someone named Chet Kuebler or something like that.  It always had a sign in front about pump repair I believe.  My best friend at the time lived on Rose behind me in a cool old wooden frame house.   Smelled good when it rained. 

I'm sure there is nothing left of all that.  When I turned 18 and was going to Fullerton College during the day, I worked nights at Kwikset Locksets for three year.  I hear they are gone too.

Well I could go on forever and ever but eventually you'd be bored to tears and I am not nearly as eloquent as you in describing my old home town.

Thanks for putting it out.  

Joe 

Okay, one more.  And I know you'll remember this.  Way back when, before porn became the norm, there was a theater on Lincoln,  East of the Fox Anaheim called the Garden Theater.  It became the Pussycat later on, but in its heyday it always played horror films and only cost $.35 to get in as opposed to the Fox Anaheim for $.50.  I saw the Pit and the Pendulum there starring Vincent Price and I remember the poster in front saying that no one would be seated in the last ten minutes of the movie.  Implying of course that it was so scary we'd all be out of our seats.  Funny the things that stick with you.  Yep, rode my green sting ray all around those parts and came off of the loading ramp at the train station one day hard and landed my most delicate parts on the bar between the seat and handlebars.  Surprised that I had children later on. 

Oh and one more you'd remember if you went to Anaheim high.  Sarge the parking lot guard.  He was a fixture there for many years.  Werner's made me think of that. I remember before the 57 and the 91 were built. Just read Roxanne's entry above. Man, she must have lived next door to me or something.  I also remember Van's tennis shoe factory and many people in the neighborhood worked there when it first opened.  Pardon me for saying so, but it was not the big thing it is today. In fact, if I remember right, it was somewhat of a sweatshop then. 

Joe 

I was born in 1946; and lived in Anaheim from then until 1980; and saw all the changes mentioned.  I also was privledged to have been allowed to sing for 8 weeks, for Cliffie Stone, at Harmony Park Ballroom.  Cliffie did his weekly TV show Hometown Jamboree, live, from Harmony Park.  I got to know some of the great recording artists and movie stars that were long-time regulars on Hometown Jamboree "Molly Bee", Gene O'Quinn", "Tommy Sands", "Speedy West" and of course Cliffee Stone and some of the other greats he managed; including Tennessee Ernie Ford.  Harmony Park has been bulldozed now; as has Melodyland Theater, where I saw the Animals perform.

I was one of So. Cal's first FM Rock-Jocks; opposite Wolfman Jack (late-night on weekends) on Acid-rock KTBT 94.3 fm - Garden Grove; and while the Wolfman and I never met, he'd call me and we'd talked nightly on the phone.  I did get to see him (but not meet him), when he did a personal appearance at Anaheim's Fox Theater.

I got to meet Richeous Bros "Bobby Hatfield", a couple of times, when he visited his grandparents, at their Anaheim Blvd. "Hatfield's Cleaners".  Also got to know and work with many other 1960's recording artists; as many of us were from Orange County.  The names include Bobby Hatfield, Dick Dale, the Rillera Bros, the Johnson Brothers (aka the Spats), the Rumblers. etc.  In the 1970's I was to tour with the Coasters (they were from Willimgton); and I got to rehearse with them; but I had other committments; and had to pull out of the tour.  BS&T's bassist Jim Fielders and I tried to get a band going for several months; as did Dick Dale's Gary Guidace.

My grandparents lived in Anaheim for decades, before I was born; and I learned a lot of the 1930's and 40's history from them.  Carl Karcher (aka Carl's Jr.) used to be the only worker at his Lincoln Ave. Hamburger Stand, during certain hours of the day; and he waited on us personally, then sat down and chatted with us, in his patio area.  He used to have 3 Red Stars on every cash register tape roll; and if one came up on your receipt, your food was free.

I can't remember the names of the cafe's, but one was on the NW corner at Lemon; and the other was a Grill, in front of the Fox Theater.  Had my shoes repaired at the shoe shop, shopped at the SQR, Kress, Rexall Drugs, JC Penney's, McCoy Drugs, and most other shops along Lincoln.  My mother even worked at the Kress store for a year or so.  I swam in the Pearson Park Plunge; and performed on the Amphatheater there as well.  Went to Magnolia H.S., Dale Jr. High, Orangeview Jr. High; as well as Trident Jr. High (it's first year open).  Went to Knott's Berry Farm (many times), before they charged to get in; and went to D-Land, for dances in Tomorrowland, when for $1.75, you could pay a park admissions (rides were then extra).

I miss the good old days; and from what I saw of Anaheim the last time I visited there in 1988, I'm glad I left when I did.  Our upper middle class street (everyone had gardners then), had very few lawns anymore, motors and broken down cars on what was lawns, and grafetti all over the walls of the homes.  That is not the Anaheim I grew up in.  When I went to Dick Dale dances at Harmony Park, I lived near State College Blvd.  My car broke down; and I felt 100% safe walking all the way home.  I would not feel safe out at night there anymore.

I remember when Vice-President Nixon's brother opened Nixon's Restaurant (and nightclub) there at Katella & Harbor Blvd.  When teenagers hanging out together at night, was not a reason for the police to call in the gang squad.  When I put on dances throughout the county; without any fear of a gang fight.  Even the motorcycle gang members that hung out at Harmony Park (during Dick Dale's time), treated the Harmony Park regulars as if they were family.  Our family had entries in the annual Halloween Parade there.  I also remember Alex Foods; which was right around the corner from Carl Karcher's Warehouse.  Don't forget all those drive-in theaters and the Bean Hut on N. Anaheim Blvd.  I played the (then ailing) Anaheim H.S. pipe organ; as well as performed on the stage there (actually most stages of that day that were in Anaheim).  I never made it big; but, all my friends did; and since I got to work on stage with many of them, I'm ok with that.  I'm probably the only person that knew three of the four guys that died in Vietnam.  Two went to Magnolia H.S with me; and I went to church with the third (Tom Watts).

Yes, the Anaheim we knew is gone, but there again, if we look around, so is most of the people we knew there.  Some living elsewhere; and others have passed on.  I frequently wish the Anaheim we knew was still there.    Don Kirk

Don,

  The Bean Hut and 94.3.  Whoa.  Two thumbs way up for both of those.  I had forgotten both of them but they were the goods no question.

J oe

Wow! I was researching the Harmony Park Ballroom / Dick Dale (I collect surf music) and came across this site. At 41 years old, I am just old enough to remember the "original" Anaheim before it all changed in 1982 and 1983 with the construction of the Towne Shopping Center on Lincoln Ave. between Anaheim Blvd. and Harbor Blvd. Everything was torn down! Why couldn't the city be as smart as Fullerton and keep some of the old flavor of downtown along with some of the new stuff.

The stories by Roxanne and Joe Young mimicked my life very closely. I grew up at 909 E. Santa Ana St. just two houses from Vine St.. There used to be a six acre parcel across the street with all those sweet smelling strawberries. Going to the local 7-11 at the corner of East St. and Santa Ana St. for goodies and some video games. Ringling Brothers offloading down the middle of Santa Ana St., and the little store at Broadway and Bush that had the large Pepsi logo painted on the side of the building. There was the old train depot on Atchison St. next to the orange juice canning factory where I used to get free oranges for helping the truck drivers off load their trailers. I did the same thing at MCP with the trucks full of lemons. My dad and I used to stop in at Weissers Sporting Goods on Lincoln Ave. since he knew the owners. Having a quick bite at Pup N' Taco at the corner of Lincoln Ave. and Olive St.. Wandering over to Pearson Park for a swim or ride the bikes or skateboards around. Speaking of bikes. The exciting day back in the early 1970's getting my first Schwinn Stingray at the local Schwinn Shop on Lincoln Ave. near Atchison St.. The mechanic who worked for the older gentleman who owned the store went on to buy the Scwhinn Store and relocate to the Southeast corner of St. College and Ball Rd. next to the service station.

I now collect vintage Vans memorabilia. I remember the Van Doren Rubber Company at 704 E. Broadway St.. Does anyone have anymore stories, merchandise, or photos to share with me. Vans became the big thing in the late 1970's. I was a part of the bmx and skateboard crowd. 

Does anyone have any photos or handbills of Harmony Park Ballroom?

I spoke with Dick Dale at a concert on 5/31/07 and he says any memorabilia from Harmony Park is rare to come by these days.

I ran across this blog by accident and I am very glad I did. I grew up in Buena Park, and then lived there after I was married. Growing up there was great, the neighborhood I lived in, near Lincoln and Valley View, was a safe and fun place. When I was little though we lived on Lincoln, near where Centralia elementary was, I don't know if it is still there. We used to walk to school, and there was a turkey farm there. I was always so afraid of those turkeys! We could walk to Knotts Berry farm, and would have the best time. When they started charging admission, it made my dad mad, so we didn't go for a long time. I have alot of memories of Disneyland (that is where we went for Grad night) I went to JF Kennedy in La Palma, graduated in 1977, and moved to Texas in 1994. I have only been back to California once, and was not at all impressed. Also, my first apartment was on Crescent, can't think of the cross street right now, but there were still strawberry fields down the street, and we would go after dark and pick strawberries to make strawberry daiquries. (we also drank Boones Farm, Oh my I haven't thought of these things in 30 years!) Anyways, this was fun remembering the old times, and amazing to think that others think about this stuff also.

HI Anaheim!
I still have one of those pink SQR plastic hangers!

Living in SC now, but miss CA

First graduating class from Sycamore Jr. High, then on to AHS & Valencia!

I was born and raised in Anaheim. I went To George Washington elementary, Fremont Jr. High amd Anaheim High. All the places named in this site are very dear memories.One site missing is the Chung King restaurant.I have yet to find a place with such great Chinese food.My 2 sisters and myself worked at the bean hut after school , my sisters car hopping and I worked the soda fountain.

On weekends my sister and I sang with local bands which led us to sing with Art Laboes revue as the Petites. It all seems like a dream but we sang at El monte legion Stadium and while waiting for the show to begin mingled back stage with Ray Charles, The Medallions,Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Tony Allen and too many more to mention. One great memory was Art Laboe introducing us at The Harmony Park Ballroom as the hometowm girls. We were appearing there with the Olympics and danced on stage to the Hully Gulley.I went from kindergarten to high school with Bob Hatfield and have all our class pictures. Our paths never crossed Singing but saw him at many Anaheim football games.Many years later he was appearing in Tahoe and I told the people I was with that I grew up with him they looked as if they didn't believe me. After the show a man came and told me that Bob wanted to see me back stage, they stayed with their mouths open as I got up to go.

I moved far away to the city of Orange(ha ha) and hardly ever go to Anaheim. It is so sad to see how they knocked down all the historical buildings. Here in Orange they have preseved the city as much as it looked like back then, and still has the hometown feeling.

My niece who lives in Colorado saw this web site and forwarded it to me since she hears me reminiscing about the good old days.

We lived in La Habra, but my Dad was the 1st driver for Merrifield Trucking about 1942?, I believe.  He drove a fruit hauler during WW2 to the docks in Long Beach for the war effort.   Joe do you remember your Dad mentioning Jim Deaton?  The company had a bowling league, which met at Anaheim Bowling.   

We enjoyed Werner Dinner House into the '60's when we moved from the area.  I remember the fragrance of chichen and fresh baked rolls.  Can smell it now!

Chris, I just stumbled upon your great blog.  Maybe you can assist me with my memory.  My family and I stayed at a hotel that bordered a strawberry field in 1993 I think.  I remember walking to a donut shop and convenience store next door.  Do you know this location?  I think it may have been torn down for the California Adventure expansion. 

Aloha

Hi Chris Hendricks - just clicked on this blog by chance. I grew up during that wonderful Anaheim era as well. Your name sounds very familar but I might have you confused with a friend I knew who lived on East Street next to the Alpha Beta Supermarket. I think his name was Henderson. I attended Lincoln elementary in from Kindergarten, then went to Fremont Jr and Anaheim Sr Highschools. Can anyone remember Hub furniture store or Currys Ice Cream Parlor with the big cone sign? That old bike shop was called Elers. He was my neighbor and remember his store very well. And I also remember a very small store on Broadway st close to Vans, the owners I remember were elderly but they had a wonderful oak wooden glass cabinet with a delicious array of penny candies nicely displayed on several shelves. Those were the days. Guess we all have great memories to share - Happy I found this blo. Oh yes I alsol remember Sarge - He had a great heart.

Robert

All of these comments bring back my entire youth and the 60s. I know how everyone loved the 60s, each day except the war time (67 on up) I went to Ball Jr Hi and knew David Nuiuva before he was a surf champ; now he, Don Brown and Dan Thorn own/operate a cool surf place and also a club in Cabo. Their happy. I miss Harmony Park 3 nights a week ( I had too) nothing was more fun then dancing in those long rows! I baked Dick Dale a birthday cake and gave it too him (Blue icing on top for h20 and a surf board) then I saw him years later (1971) I believe in some Hawaiian club in Calif playing. Then I worked w/ him on "Back to the Beach." He's great. But most of all, I miss Anaheim. I lived there again 1983-87 becauee I missed it. But everyone here forgot to mention Retail Clerks dance at night on Beach Blvd and it was 1.25 to get in I believe plus Eddie & The Showman played.Thanks everyone for reminding me about the Bean Hut and more.I even miss Disneyland. Remembre when it cost 1.25 to get in without buying a ticket book. And there were dances at the Spacebar (Stevie Wonder) (Magnificent 7) and the other small places to dance! I miss being young. I also went to Loara Hi

Thanks everyone for the wonderful memories.  I lived off of Ball Rd and Harbor and walked everywhere, to school, Jerrerson Elem., Fremont JH and Anaheim HS.  We walked to Disneyland, my Mom even worked there when I was little, I went with my Dad to pick her up after work and saw  Mickey take his costume head off one day and totally freaked me out! I was probably 5.  Fireworks every night, baseball games in the middle of the orange grove behind our house, with all the kids in the neighborhood. We had more than enough oranges to keep us happy.  Sorry to say, that Orange Grove is now an RV park, or last I heard.  I remember when the 1st McDonald's went in on Ball Rd across from Market Basket.  SQR, goodness, that was where you went to get your first grown-up "undergarments"!  Was it Rexall on the corner by Fox?  They had the biggest candy counter I had ever seen, back then.  There was the greatest toy store by Woolworth's, I loved stopping there as we walked home from the Dentist.  There was a Hot Dog stand across from the telephone office (I think), it seem's it may have been more mobile like at the Fair  than an actual restaurant. They would open the sides and you sit at the counter on stools and watch them fry the hot dogs, so yummy.  Sarge?  Yes, he was the parking lot "guard" at AHS and he seemed so ancient, he was what, 40?  I think for the most part we subconsciously desire to return to the past, wouldn't it be fun though.

I'm so sorry I found this site and comments thread so late.  I grew up in Anaheim - East Anaheim - right across the street from Katella HS and before that near Lincoln and Rio Vista.  I too remember the 49 cent Fox theater, Van's factory (frequently raided by immigation) - do you remember the Pancake House, Satelite markets, Goonie Golf (this was a small miniature golf course next to Gilmores Restaurant near Lincoln & St. College), The City Shopping Center (now the Block) Skyslides, go-cart tracks, Capri's restaurant at Lincoln & St. College - near there there was the Boston Store, Grants, Thriftimart, the LaPalma restaurant on Anaheim Blvd., The Tampico Motel (still there)  Does anyone remember Bonzai minibike park by the Stadium?  Beefrigger restaurant (my first job), the Cinedome theater, the Orange Drive in, Heinz restaurants (bought out by Carl's Jr.) The A&W by Anaheim HS.  I went to Sunkist Elementary (We had to walk thru a drainage ditch that ran thru an orange grove to get to Sunkist - that orange grove is now the 57 frwy) & Juarez Elementary then South Jr. High & the Katella HS. Around 1975 I went with my best friend to old downtown Anaheim because I'd heard they had begun to demolish it and I took some great pictures of the abandoned buildings, SQR, Fox, and a Jewelry store-I can't remember the name but I still have those pictures - I knew, even then, that we were losing something wonderful and I wanted to capture what was left before it was all gone.  What an awesome place to grow up! 

I remember around 1977 driving along the 5 frwy on a warm summer night - you could smell the strawberries - and I said to my friends in the car with me, "Isn't is wonderful to be young & growing up in Southern California!"

Boy . . this walk down memory lane has really got me thinking.  In one of the comments earlier someone mentioned the Independent newspaper - I think the guy said he delivered it on Thursdays.  If I remember correctly, it was green and I remember it only came once a week and as far as I knew - no one ever read it - I guess someone must have but no one that I knew.  I remember the Anaheim Bulletin and my mother telling a friend of hers - maybe it was 1969 or 70 - that the owner of the Bulletin's son was killed on a motorcycle, I believe it was, and that's why he always put photos of terrible car/motorcycle wrecks on the front page.  True?  I have no idea.  I worked at the Anaheim Stadium - Summer 1976 & 77.  I remember when the Angels drew 8,000 crowds and marijuana, alledgedly, grew in the outfield from pot seeds left over from all the concerts.  Thinking back on that now - sounds pretty unlikely.  I remember going to see this lineup at the Stadium in '77: REO Speedwagen, Flo & Eddie, CAL WORTHINGTON!! Black Sabbath & Boston!  Unbelievable.  I lived down the street from Clyde Wright who pitched for the Angels in the early 70's.  I remember that every Halloween my friends & I would constantly return to his house for more candy and a glimpse of the beautiful, young girls he had sitting at his front door in mini-skirts & go-go boots handing out candy.  Here's a little trivia: Where did the school & street name Katella come from?  Well, it came from the Wagner sisters, Kate & Ella.  Katella HS sits on Wagner Ave. and I went to school with some of the Wagner kids, in fact, the Wagners used to live in the ranch-style house next to Katella HS.  I don't think it's a private residence any longer.  Oh - the the tennis club next to Boysen Park - the beautiful old home there at the corner of St. College & Wagner - that's the old Wagner family home.  I remember when it was sitting abandoned with its windows broken out - as kids we were scared to death of it.  Remember Dick Darling's Silver Fox supper club (Ball & St. College) or Mr T's - the old tastee freez?   Remember KWIZ and what was the radio station off of Ball Road?  Remember the band Eulogy?   Good times!

Good ole KEZY where East St. ended at Ball Rd.(1190 East Ball Rd.). The FM station kicked backed while the AM station kicked ass! It was in Skateboarder magazine and promoted that way. Speaking of skateboarding, how about The Concrete Wave tucked away at the corner of Ball Rd. and Harbor Blvd.. I think it used to be at the end of Citron St. up against the 5 Freeway. Ken, would you mind e-mailing those old pics of downtown Anaheim. My dad, who grew up there from 1944-1962, would like to see them. He worked for Pacific Bell Telephone and was around when old Anaheim went down. Was he upset!!!!! The Katella High School history was very cool. I went there in 9th grade from 1980-1981 due to a boundary screw up. That was the year of the infamous Black Flag riot at lunchtime. After that, I went to Anaheim High until 1984.

    Oh WOW! All of theses writings bring back such great Memories for me.  And yes, I am the Cop's Daughter that Chris speaks of scaring him to death when answering the door to him. Even though Dad has long since retired, he still has that intimidating air about him.  I guess it's true... once a Cop, always a Cop! ha ha!     I do still live in Anaheim and as my Husband, Eddie of 28 years has said many times I will probably "Self-destruct" if I ever leave.  Eddie works for the City of Anaheim's School District.  Not growing up here, do you think I have him brainwashed? ha ha!  People are right about most of the changes being for the worse around here.  But, if we look hard enough, I am sure we can find that everywhere.    Our parents probably feel the same way about our time.  My Dad graduated from Anaheim High in 1949.  He worked after school at the MCP plant off Santa Ana & Atchison others have spoke of, as his Father drove Truck for them.  After going into the Airforce for 4 years he came back to Anaheim bringing his Bride from Oklahoma where he had been stationed, became a Police Officer, and served for 28 yrs.  Once retired, he got out of Dodge like most.  But, I know that he is still proud of growing up in and serving Anaheim.     I remember working year after year on floats for the Annual Halloween Parade downtown for the APA.  It really wasn't work, it was spending the day with our "FAMILY" and accomplishing something together.  We were all so proud during the parade when we saw our Float coming down Harbor Blvd.  And speaking of parading does anyone remember the Halloween Kiddie Parade? We were all stars then in our Halloween Costumes, waving to our parents sitting along the curb on what seemed like a long route downtown to Pearson Park.      What I remember about the Fox Theater, was that my Optometrist's office was right across the street and every time I got new glasses over the years, (got my first pair in the 4th grade, ugh!) I would put them on and see if I could read the Marquee across the street.  Dr Hulbert would just smile at me, I'm sure I wasn't the only kid that couldn't see past their nose that did that.  :-)    My first job was at Carl's Jr at Lincoln / Rio Vista, which believe it or not is still there! It really hasn't changed all that much except they put in a DRIVE THRU where the pick up window is on the passenger side of your car! Of course they waited til Carl was gone to pull that stunt! So, if you want to drive thru there, better take a friend!  ha ha!   And Yes, I also remember KEZY 1190 Radio station!  I won two different contests from them!  DJ, Dave Forman was totally a Great Guy!  The first price I won was a book of 20 coupons for Slurpees at 7-ll. I think I was about 12 at the time and was able to take my friends for Slurpees quite a few different times on that coupon book!    The 2nd contest I remember quite well as pretty embarrassing even tho the listeners for the radio station wouldn't have had a clue.  We were suppose to keep track of numbers throughout the day (and what else does a teenage girl have to do during the summer while laying by the pool but listen to the local radio station) so that was the "K-eas- y" part.  When it came time to adding the numbers up, I must have gotten heat stroke!  When Dave asked me for the total, I guess I was close enough that he then asked me to tell him the numbers I had written down, he said that I had them right and to add them again.  Well,  I still came up with the wrong total (brain fade in the sun I guess!) and he just laughed and told me... Look you listened to us and got all the numbers correct so if you just say "978" on the radio I'll give you the prize!  I will never forget that number 978! Anyway, I won 978 Blue Chip Stamps and back then you could get a lot of stuff for that many stamps! So, I headed out west, to Lincoln & Brookhurst to the Blue Chip Stamp Store where I redeemed them for Kitchenware for my Mom :-)   The one thing, I do wish, is that our daughter Raechel had grown up in the Anaheim I grew up in, it was sooo different back then.  But, I am proud to say she's a Katella High Graduate(2006) just like her Mom(1975). And believe or not she now works for Disneyland!  Don't look now, but, yes we have all sprouted Mickey Ears!  And with our Cats names  "Nala" & "Tigger" We are definitely in trouble, huh? 

WOW! How funny that I got so wrapped up in the olden days that I just noticed I forgot to put my Married last name... or maybe that isn't so funny!  yikes!  Anyway, Just wanted to add... That the "Original Pancake House" on East Lincoln Ave (next to the backside of Lincoln Elementary) is still there and you can drive by every weekend and still see the lines of people waiting outside for their turn at that Pancake Breakfast.  :-)   btw, I too would enjoy seeing any pictures from "Back in the Day" thanks!

Its just me again, after reading all of this again, it saddens me because I loved the 60s. Hungtington Beach, Newport 43rd Street Crew (Surf club I belonged too) Harmony Park dances, Retail Clerks dancing, Ball Jr High, Loara Hi, Disneyland once a week getting in (without rides for 1.25) and dancing at the Space Bar with Stevee Wonder, the Magnificent 7 (Bruce McCoy-David Amaro-Kirk Steinbeck)

Knotts Berry Farm night (pay just to go to the Wagon Wheels parked in a circle and kiss in them! with tunes playing. I really miss my fun life. I cherish every day in Anaheim and continue going back just because. I used to live on Cerritors near Dland.  

Did anyone ever attend or watch on tv the first "International Skateboard Championship" held at LaPalma Park back in May 1965? This was only the second skateboarding contest ever held, and it was on ABC Wide World of Sports. I am lucky enough to have most of the contset on dvd. Also, I have the third issue of Skateboarder Magazine from August 1965 which was dedicated to this contest. Very Cool!!! Orange County in general spawned a lot of great things and memories that have gone on to live in pop culture history and be noticed around the world.

Great comments, everyone!   I'm now 54, born in '55, but lived in Anaheim from ages 10-30, 1965 to 1985.  Loved the old downtown.  Went to Edison Elementqry, Sycamore Jr. High, one year at Anaheim High, transferred to Katella, where I had more friends, lol, and graduated there in 1973.  Went to Fullerton College (JC) and Cal State Fullerton, got BA in 1979.  Also worked 25 years in radio, KNOB and KYMS/fm, KWRM-1370 AM in Corona and then moved here to Monterey in 1986.

Lived at Acacia and Hedgewood, between State College and East Street.  Loved the old Halloween Parade every year, the kiddie parade and the big one on Saturday nights.  Melodyland was great.  Guess I missed Harmony Park, but sounds cool.  First job was at Disneyland.  Miss the old downtown for sure, SQR, Fox Anaheim, etc.,etc, old Anaheim Blvd/Los Angeles Street, Center Street, etc.  Remember when the Bulletin was going in the '60s, it was the Santa Ana Register, not OC yet??  And wasn't the Register and afternoon paper or had morning and afternoon editions?  

KEZY began as K-Easy in 1959 in a small space at the Disneyland Hotel, before it moved to Ball Road at East Street, after going to a Top 40/pop rock format.  The FM, old KEZR which became KEZY-FM came later, at least with ratings.  I recall DJs like PD Arnie McClatchey, Mark Denis, Jim Meeker, etc. in the late-'60s and early-'70s. 

Yep, I recall those days before the 57, had to take Brea Canyon Rd to get to Pomona, Garden Grove Blvd was Highway 22, Beach was Highway 39, and in driver's ed at Anaheim High, circa 1971 or so, took the 91 out past State College with our class and hardly any traffic back then!  Wow, what changes, for the worse, I'd say.  The plunge every summer was the greatest too.  Football games at La Palma Park, and how about the big one, 1966, CIF 4-A semi final game between Anaheim Hi and Mater Dei at Anaheim Stadium?  More than 30,000 saw it, still a CIF Orange County record!  Anaheim won 7-6, but lost in the finals the next week to El Rancho...But Anaheim High won the CIF football crown the next year, beating Santa Ana High in the finals.  Nice memory of Bobby Hatfield's parent's cleaning business too.

More later.

Jim Hilliker

Monterey, CA

jimhilliker@sbcglobal.net

Great comments, everyone!   I'm now 54, born in '55, but lived in Anaheim from ages 10-30, 1965 to 1985.  Loved the old downtown.  Went to Edison Elementqry, Sycamore Jr. High, one year at Anaheim High, transferred to Katella, where I had more friends, lol, and graduated there in 1973.  Went to Fullerton College (JC) and Cal State Fullerton, got BA in 1979.  Also worked 25 years in radio, KNOB and KYMS/fm, KWRM-1370 AM in Corona and then moved here to Monterey in 1986.

Lived at Acacia and Hedgewood, between State College and East Street.  Loved the old Halloween Parade every year, the kiddie parade and the big one on Saturday nights.  Melodyland was great.  Guess I missed Harmony Park, but sounds cool.  First job was at Disneyland.  Miss the old downtown for sure, SQR, Fox Anaheim, etc.,etc, old Anaheim Blvd/Los Angeles Street, Center Street, etc.  Remember when the Bulletin was going in the '60s, it was the Santa Ana Register, not OC yet??  And wasn't the Register and afternoon paper or had morning and afternoon editions?  

KEZY began as K-Easy in 1959 in a small space at the Disneyland Hotel, before it moved to Ball Road at East Street, after going to a Top 40/pop rock format.  The FM, old KEZR which became KEZY-FM came later, at least with ratings.  I recall DJs like PD Arnie McClatchey, Mark Denis, Jim Meeker, etc. in the late-'60s and early-'70s. 

Yep, I recall those days before the 57, had to take Brea Canyon Rd to get to Pomona, Garden Grove Blvd was Highway 22, Beach was Highway 39, and in driver's ed at Anaheim High, circa 1971 or so, took the 91 out past State College with our class and hardly any traffic back then!  Wow, what changes, for the worse, I'd say.  The plunge every summer was the greatest too.  Football games at La Palma Park, and how about the big one, 1966, CIF 4-A semi final game between Anaheim Hi and Mater Dei at Anaheim Stadium?  More than 30,000 saw it, still a CIF Orange County record!  Anaheim won 7-6, but lost in the finals the next week to El Rancho...But Anaheim High won the CIF football crown the next year, beating Santa Ana High in the finals.  Nice memory of Bobby Hatfield's parent's cleaning business too.

More later.

Jim Hilliker

Monterey, CA

jimhilliker@sbcglobal.net

Great comments, everyone!   I'm now 54, born in '55, but lived in Anaheim from ages 10-30, 1965 to 1985.  Loved the old downtown.  Went to Edison Elementqry, Sycamore Jr. High, one year at Anaheim High, transferred to Katella, where I had more friends, lol, and graduated there in 1973.  Went to Fullerton College (JC) and Cal State Fullerton, got BA in 1979.  Also worked 25 years in radio, KNOB and KYMS/fm, KWRM-1370 AM in Corona and then moved here to Monterey in 1986.

Lived at Acacia and Hedgewood, between State College and East Street.  Loved the old Halloween Parade every year, the kiddie parade and the big one on Saturday nights.  Melodyland was great.  Guess I missed Harmony Park, but sounds cool.  First job was at Disneyland.  Miss the old downtown for sure, SQR, Fox Anaheim, etc.,etc, old Anaheim Blvd/Los Angeles Street, Center Street, etc.  Remember when the Bulletin was going in the '60s, it was the Santa Ana Register, not OC yet??  And wasn't the Register and afternoon paper or had morning and afternoon editions?  

KEZY began as K-Easy in 1959 in a small space at the Disneyland Hotel, before it moved to Ball Road at East Street, after going to a Top 40/pop rock format.  The FM, old KEZR which became KEZY-FM came later, at least with ratings.  I recall DJs like PD Arnie McClatchey, Mark Denis, Jim Meeker, etc. in the late-'60s and early-'70s. 

Yep, I recall those days before the 57, had to take Brea Canyon Rd to get to Pomona, Garden Grove Blvd was Highway 22, Beach was Highway 39, and in driver's ed at Anaheim High, circa 1971 or so, took the 91 out past State College with our class and hardly any traffic back then!  Wow, what changes, for the worse, I'd say.  The plunge every summer was the greatest too.  Football games at La Palma Park, and how about the big one, 1966, CIF 4-A semi final game between Anaheim Hi and Mater Dei at Anaheim Stadium?  More than 30,000 saw it, still a CIF Orange County record!  Anaheim won 7-6, but lost in the finals the next week to El Rancho...But Anaheim High won the CIF football crown the next year, beating Santa Ana High in the finals.  Nice memory of Bobby Hatfield's parent's cleaning business too.

More later.

Jim Hilliker

Monterey, CA

jimhilliker@sbcglobal.net

I just had a thought.  There was a builder "Lusk" homes that took over a development "Meridith acres" out in the Tustin/Orange area. Those houses were 2 story and VERY big for the time (probably 2000 sq ft) My friend worked as a "laborer" and it turned out that the houses were white because the original builder went bankrupt after the houses had just been "fog" primer painted and they left them white because they couldn't afford the colorcoat. They sold it as a SPECIAL deal and the "spin" worked so well that they started building all their homes white and turning it into a marketing tool. My dad was in advertising and just thought that was the greatest example of turning a deficit into a "priviledge" with proper marketing. Lusk built a lot of homes in the Huntington Beach area off of Goldenwest and used that same marketing spin. The oil drilling rigs in your backyard became something of a "status" symbol even though they smelled and the lines meant you couldn't dig a pool. The old runoff pond/swamp, from the sewage treatment plant,  was marketed as a "wildlife santuary" and people paid extra to be in that area. They put in a horse facility close to there and a lot of the horses got sick (probably from mosquitoes and west nile). Those of us familiar with the area thought that the "newbies" were crazy for wanting to live there and pay so much for a house. BTW, a NEW house on streets like Seabreeze, Deep Harbor ect. cost $35,000 around 1969 or 70.

I grew up at Katella/Brookhurst from 1957-1977. Walter Elementary, Trident Jr. Magnolia High. A&W root beer on Ball and Brookhurst, Brookhurst Loge Theater on Ball, Shopping Bag grocery store on Katella, Wonder Bowl, Ice Skating Rink, the Plunge, Anaheim Stadium. The old Anaheim Library bld. is still there. And orange groves everywhere. Orange County plaza and Helen Grace Ice Cream Parlor. The old Anaheim is gone and what they replaced it with is awful. Old Anaheim is now T.J.

I moved from La Habra to Anaheim on Holloween of 1957. I was about 12 years old at that time.I went to J.C.Fremont, Trident Jr. High,Brookhurst Jr.High and back to J.C.Fremont until October of 1960. Moved back down to Anaheim and graduated 3 years late from Anaheim Union High School. Anaheim,California was a fun town to live in as a young man. I remember the Fox Fullerton,SQR, Fender Insruments,The Fox,LaHabra,Garden and Anaheim and Orange Drive ins.Chunkings was a good Chinese restaurant and I enjoyed their food many times.I remember when McDonalds opened on Ball Road near Harbor.The beaches were always beckoning to me as I was born in San Pedro at wars end.I remember Anaheim at about 35 thousand residents and Santa Ana about the same amount.Iwatched them demolish the old "Santa Ana"water tower in the early 60`s,and then the Orange City water tower a few years later.I remember Winchell`s donuts near Hatfield`s cleaners,"Heartbreak Hotel" (aka "Pickwick"hotel").Its good to be an old man,and to be able to look back with so many fond memories. Lucky Jackson.

Wonderful reading all of these blogs.  I found this site when I Gargled 'Taco Snacks' , lol.   I moved to Anaheim when I was 9 back in late 70's.  Schools: James Madison elem, Trident Jr high <(Taco Snacks and little pizzas- first break), Loara High.  I remember the gocarts at the corner of Lincoln and Beach,  the batting cages next to Alpha Beta on Brookhurst, they had trampolines and if your were really good you could jump from one to another.  Someone also mentioned Concrete Wave how about Skatetopia in Buena Park > http://www.skatopia.net/node/591 .... Aww those were the days.  Oh and I think the last Love's restaurant is now gone : (  but I here Chris n Pits is still on Euclid.  Oh last one how about the Anaheim Mall..   Good times.  

Jim

Wow Iam back from memory lane.  I grew up in Anahiem lived on Sycamore and Olive St.  The kiddie parade was great and the night parade our neighborhood would be so packed.  The cleaners back in 1977 or so was redeveloped into a grocery store by my father Fred Arce.  Winchells was still open back then. My dad redeveloped that into a taco stand named Fernandos during the time of the great Fernando Valenzuela.  We were know for the breakfast burrito by the City of Anaheim employees and the APD.  We hit recored #for sales the night of the halloween parades had to have the whole family there for cust. service and security.  Those were the good ol days. Nobody has mentioned the Elks Hall that was at the corner of Anaheim Blvd and Sycamore.  Lots of weddings and dances there.  The little store on Bush and Broadway still open it is called Holguins.  I loved walking home from school Fremont and Anaheim down Lincoln I would save money and shop on my way home.  The Valencia Hotel went up in smoke just as we were let out of school that was so sad that day.  I would buy Cords(courdoroy) pants at the Williams Co.  The lincoln spirits was the closest market where I lived.  Bills burgers had the best specials and the house of humor was great for a good laugh.  So many memories and not enough pictures.  Please post any and all your pictures people.  It may all be redeveloped but pictures brings it all back.

Please Post Pictures.  

in the summer of 1973 i had just finished a 2 year trade school, my first child was born in june of that year and we were living with my father in law in anahiem,my wife and i decided to go to the drive in movie one night just to get out of the house so we loaded up a huge bean bag chair into the back of the truck along with sandwichs,chips,drinks,ect and diapers, baby bottles and so forth and went to a drive in that was to the east of state collage ave somewhere around ball rd if i remember right,we backed the truck in and put our daughter between us on the beanbag,the weather was perfect,we watched the first feature and normally never stayed for the second feature as they were almost always duds,but the weather was so perfect, our daughter was sound asleep and the mood was just  right so we decided to stay,well turns out that was a good call the second movie was american graffiti and everytime i see that movie it brings back memorys of that night

Was looking to see if there was anything about Fremont Junior High when I lucked onto this blog. I'm probably am older than any of you who've commented up to now. I grew up on Harbor Blvd. (South Palm Street then) near South Street in the 1950's. Moved there in 1948 (when I was 3) and went to Benjamin Franklin elementary, Fremont and Anaheim Hi until we moved to Garden Grove when I was 16. Last time I saw my house it was still standing--I think it was the Realtors Assn. Don't knowif it's gone or not. I don't go there.

 There were orange groves across the street from us until the early 50's, I think. Relatives from back east would help themselves to the "free" oranges much to my mother's chagrin. My dad and mother both graduated from Anaheim Hi in the 40's and my dad Paul Tschann managed the Western Auto store (on Center St, I think) until he went to work for AAA in the 50's. He was well know round town  in those days for his outrageous sense of humor. My grandmother owned and operated the first beauty college in Anaheim on the corner of Lemon (called something else now) and La Palma, across the street from La Palma Park (I wonder what's there now?). My mother worked for General Electric somewhere off East Street, I think.

I grew up in the Anaheim Library. Last time I was there, it was a museum and they had seats from the Fox Theater and those tubes from the SQR store. That was about 15 years ago and it was the first time I really realized that I was OLD! I was there to see paintings by my first husband Bruce Sanford Day that were being exhibitied. He's another OC old timer--grew up on an orange ranch on Fairhaven Avenue in Tustin. The 55 freeway runs across it, I think.

I have photos (in color!) of the Kiddie Parade on Center Street. Also some of my mother at Anaheim City Park later Pearson Park. We attended the old St. Boniface Church on Harbor and Center (?). Was furious when they tore it down for the "modern" new church.

Anaheim was a wonderful place to grown up in then. We walked all over the city. Walking home from Anaheim HI we sometimes went through downtown and stopped at a coffee shop (might have been called Leo's???) where my friends all had fries and a coke and I had mashed potatoes (real ones) and gravey. My best friends were Bonnie Schroeder and Linda Schwacha.

Worked at Dland my senior year in high school. Had a blast. Dated a COLLEGE (Cal State Long Beach) man I worked with at the Tomorrowland food concession--Fred Ramirez. Wonder where he is now?

Was looking to see if there was anything about Fremont Junior High when I lucked onto this blog. I'm probably am older than any of you who've commented up to now. I grew up on Harbor Blvd. (South Palm Street then) near South Street in the 1950's. Moved there in 1948 (when I was 3) and went to Benjamin Franklin elementary, Fremont and Anaheim Hi until we moved to Garden Grove when I was 16. Last time I saw my house it was still standing--I think it was the Realtors Assn. Don't knowif it's gone or not. I don't go there.

 There were orange groves across the street from us until the early 50's, I think. Relatives from back east would help themselves to the "free" oranges much to my mother's chagrin. My dad and mother both graduated from Anaheim Hi in the 40's and my dad Paul Tschann managed the Western Auto store (on Center St, I think) until he went to work for AAA in the 50's. He was well know round town  in those days for his outrageous sense of humor. My grandmother owned and operated the first beauty college in Anaheim on the corner of Lemon (called something else now) and La Palma, across the street from La Palma Park (I wonder what's there now?). My mother worked for General Electric somewhere off East Street, I think.

I grew up in the Anaheim Library. Last time I was there, it was a museum and they had seats from the Fox Theater and those tubes from the SQR store. That was about 15 years ago and it was the first time I really realized that I was OLD! I was there to see paintings by my first husband Bruce Sanford Day that were being exhibitied. He's another OC old timer--grew up on an orange ranch on Fairhaven Avenue in Tustin. The 55 freeway runs across it, I think.

I have photos (in color!) of the Kiddie Parade on Center Street. Also some of my mother at Anaheim City Park later Pearson Park. We attended the old St. Boniface Church on Harbor and Center (?). Was furious when they tore it down for the "modern" new church.

Anaheim was a wonderful place to grown up in then. We walked all over the city. Walking home from Anaheim HI we sometimes went through downtown and stopped at a coffee shop (might have been called Leo's???) where my friends all had fries and a coke and I had mashed potatoes (real ones) and gravey. My best friends were Bonnie Schroeder and Linda Schwacha.

Worked at Dland my senior year in high school. Had a blast. Dated a COLLEGE (Cal State Long Beach) man I worked with at the Tomorrowland food concession--Fred Ramirez. Wonder where he is now?

I found your page while searching for my grandparents store that was just east of the Fox Theater... Hoffmans Shoe Repair.

I lived in Anaheim from my birth in '54 to '69, when we moved to the Palm Springs area. And like your many followers here, I remember the old downtown quite well. I bought my first car model at Toy City. My first 45 at the record store downtown (I can't rember it's name) with my saved lunch money. I went to St. Boniface from '64 to '68. My best friend was Jeff Kartcher. His uncle was the famous Carl. Then to Fremont Jr. High in '68-'69.

My dad was born in an old house next to Anaheim High school in '27. They lived on oranges during the depreesion. And even hunted for game where Disneyland is now.  He went to St. Boniface, Fremont Jr. High and graduated from Anaheim High in '43.

I remember riding my bicycle to Anaheim Dodge everyday, when in '69 they got a Dodge Daytona in. And trying to talk my parents into buying it. I know where that car is today, and it's worth big bucks now! They should have listened to me.

And Terry, I was in the parking lot of St. Boniface when they tore down the steeple of the old church in '67?

And all of you with the Van's memories... my cousin Yvonne was their first salesgirl.

Katella High School - Class of 1983

Lived in Anaheim my entire life until about 6 years ago. I was the kid who was hit with the orange that started the Katella riot with the punks coming to see Black Flag. Played East Anaheim AMERICAN Little League and lived on the street with "Mini Mart," a block away from the "Airplane Park."

This last Christmas I took my kids tot eh park and though it has changed it was so comforting to see the old plane sitting there. Still iwshed i could have shown my kids how we used to crawl in though the back it to hide or make out!

I remember on the last day of Angel Spring Training they would do a work out on Boysen Field (the very best baseball field in the city at the time outside of the Big A). We were allowed to walk with our chairs out to the field and watch the Angels practice. Bruce Bochte, Clyde Wright, Bobby Bonds, etc...

I also went back to check out the stage built on the playground at Roosevelt Elementary and recalled that some sort of Time Capsule was cememnted into the stage and wondered whatever happened to it. I wrote a story about what i thought the world would be like in the year 2,000 and it was placed in the capsule...I didn't know about 10 foot fences surrounding a school back then  :(

Yes, unfortunately, downtown Anaheim was leveled in the '80's in the name of redevelopment spurred on by the then mayor.  However, a groups of locals got together, marched into a city council meeting with attorneys, and were successful in stopping any more demolition.  A historic distric, the Anaheim Colony, was created within the boundaries of the original city.  Although the downtown was destroyed, most of the historic residences still remain.

To Kurt Hoffman,

Do you remember when your cousin Yvonne started working for Van Doren Rubber Company? Also any other info and pics would be awesome! I collect vintage Vans memorabilia. I grew up a block from Vans when they were on Broadway from 1966 - 1984.

Does anyone remember where the Jack's Surf Shop was in Anaheim. This was the second store, the first being in Huntington Beach, and I believe the Ahaeim store opened in the early 1960's. The owner was Jack Hokanson who graduated from Anaheim High around 1954.

ra.dawson@yahoo.com

Three years after my first post I refound this site.  So much memories have been added to the site since then.  Although I went to Harmony Park to hear Dick Dale 3 times a week (in the summer 4 with Sunday added) and requested songs from Dick every night, he never knew my name; although about 4 years ago I emailed him from his website and he answered.  Since then, a drummer was wanting to join the band I was starting; and he said he had played for Dick Dale for awhile; and I didn't believe him.  I emailed Dick about him and Dick emailed me his personal phone number.  When I called, we remissed about Harmony Park; and he too cannot find any photos of the place, except one of him playing his guitar there.  If anyone can send pictures of Harmony Park (outside and inside), I'd greatly appreciate it; and I'l see to it that Dick Dale gets copies.  BTW...  He's had a rough few years with cancer; and although he's about 70 now, his son (about 20) is stepping into his shoes, playing on-stage with him and hopefully will see to it that long after his dad is gone, Dick's music will live on forever.  As for Louie-Louie...  I sang at Harmony Park two years after Louie-Louie was written there; and we were all under the impression that the song was written in the dressing room backstage; not by the West stage door.

The minature golf course next to Gilmores was knick-named "Mini's" by a group of us that hung out there in the early 60's.  The guy saying he's the oldest here beats me by one year.  I was born in 1946.  Back in the 50's and 60's, the Carl's Jr. behind the big Carl's Restaurant on Harbor Blvd. was a drive-in restaurant; and the low riders would come through with their air shocks and literally sit their cars down on the ground.

My mother and dad knew Walter Knott and Carl Karcher.  I delivered newspapers to Denny's main office right behind the Thriftimart at Lincoln and Knott; and got to know Harold Butler (Denny's founder) and also his wife (actor Tom Nix's daughter).   Many of the people I knew were either stars or big business people, but I was not able to make it big myself.  I remember the shoe shop, and the grill next to it.  Also the stationary store and on the corner, another restaurant, that somewhere I still have a menu I talked them out of their last day open.  I was one of the last 1/2 dozen customers to pay that day.  If I remember right they served cake to everyone at closing.

My mother worked at Kress, Penney's, the Owl-Rexall Drugs and the SQR (SQR = Susan Q Reiner or Rainer).  The jewelry store was in what used to be the lobby of a theater; and my grandpa told me that in the 1940's they held at least one KKK meeting at theater.  I understand that the Broadway Center is also gone now.  I don't know if I mentioned it before, but on the first day Anaheim Stadium was open, I was going up and down the isle by first base yelling and selling "Popcorn".  I used to eat at the Clock Restaurant on Harbor.  It later became Sambo's.  I worked at Ball and Harbor part-time when not in bands at Burgerland as a cook.  I met Gary Lewis when his band worked in Tomorrowland, just before their first record came out; and their first appearance on Ed Sullivan.  I sometimes now book shows; having owned a live stage theatre in 2005; and Gary Lewis' wife Donna recently emailed me asking if I want to book Gary next fall.  I'm working on another theatre deal now; and if it goes through, I'll hopefully be bringing Gary Lewis to N. CA (I now live in Redding).  It's been almost 40 years since I last saw him; although I've email contacted him a few times in the past few years.

I graduated from Magnolia HS in 64 (should have been Anaheim High, but due to a bad hip I could not climb stairs so they allowed me to stay at Magnolia when I moved to East Anaheim.  At Magnolia, I went to school with Rumbler's lead guitarrist Johnny Kirkland and Thunderbird's roller skating team member Danny ?????.  The recording group the Spat's played at a dance there and since I was working with recording bands as a relief sax and keyboard player, they let me get their home phone number; and I somewhat kept in contact for a couple of years.  I really thought they would remain on the charts for years, but the Beatles knocked a lot of entertainers off the charts when they came out.

BTW....  Remember the beauty College on Anaheim Blvd (across from city hall now)?  Bobby Hatfield used to go there and flirt with the girl's taking beautician classes there.  I'm surprised it never got out about that.  In 1972 I ran for Anaheim City Council (lost bad); but ended up working for mayor Dutton's re-election in 74 and with him owning 3 gas stations (besides the Palm's Restaurant), I had a full tank of gas all the time (FREE).

I miss the old Anaheim; and wish it was back; although I know that progress, if you want to call gangs and grafitti progress have happened.

I don't know if any of you remember it or not; but someone doubted me until I found it also on the internet, but Walt Disney wanted to one-day extend the monorail to Knott's Berry Farm.  I did meet him when a kid.  Mom, dad and I were in the restaurant on the right at the end of Main Street (D-Land) at the entrance to Tomorrowland; and we were next to the door out to the covered porch.  Sitting at the table right outside was Walt Disney, his wife and 2 grandkids.  When he was leaving (I was bout 13), I went out the door as he did and asked for his autograph.  As he was giving it to me, about 30 other kids suddenly showed up also wanting his autograph.

At Anaheim Convention Center, I saw the Doors, Who, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Jefferson Airplane, Red Skelton, Johnny Carson, Doc Seversen, Irene Dunn, Nixon, Danny Kaye and who knows who all else I saw there.  I worked twice for 4 months at El Toro Marine Air Station and stood about 6 inches from President Johnson and shook hands with President Ford.  When Nixon was VP, I saw him at Knott's Berry Farm and shook his hand as well.  The Branding Iron restaurant on Harbor was a major political hangout; and I dined, danced and drank twice there with Maureen Reagan (Pres's daughter).  Back in those days, everyone who was anyone ended up coming to Anaheim; and I made it a point to either see them, or meet them (through my working entertainment connections).

I left Anaheim in 1982; although I visited Christmas of 88.  I wish I had not visited; as the great memories I had were all gone (places and people I knew).  I keep wanting to go see D-Land again, but I know that I'd have to drive by where Harmony Park once stood; and seeing it gone would make me want to cry.  It's hard enough looking at aerial photos online of where it once stood; yet alone having to see it gone face to face.  Of all the places in the world I'd like to own, is a "still standing" Harmony Park Ballroom (although it now gone).  Ask any Harmony Park regular about the place; and whether Cliffie Stone, Dick Dale or Dave Myers was there, it was "Anaheim".  The retail clerks was ok, but it did not have the lifetime charm of either Harmony Park Ballroom; or the Balboa Rendesvouz Ballroom.  I could go on about other venues (Eric Burton's Golden Bear), etc., but this blog is about Anaheim.

Don Kirk  don_l_kirk@hotmail.com

It's been a couple of years also since I posted my Anaheim memories here.  I think it is nice that the old Anaheim Carnegie Library is now the Anaheim Museum.   Nice place to visit and see some old Anaheim memories.  Also, if you got to the website for the Anaheim Public Library, they have a great archive of old pictures/photos online of the history of Anaheim, showing the old stories, old schools, old downtown area, Pickwick Hotel, etc and other old landmarks.   It's a fun to spend a couple of hour looking at those old pictures of Anaheim's earlier years.   I recall that the demolition of the old downtown began after the Pickwick Hotel burned down.

Good news to any of you oldies but goodies who loved and love surf tunes..........My favorite man of my lifetime, Bruce McCoy from Loara High, was in the band, "The Magnificent Seven" however, they changed their title to The Nocturnes. Happily they are still playing ! Original members, Bruce, Kurt Steinbeck, Paul Floodman and a few others are playing and their great to hear. Type in The Nocturnes Band 7-09 and it should come up. Nocturnes Band 7-09  plus, Bruce is in another beach band called the Breakaways,  at http://www.thebreakaways.com and you'll love it..You can get a glimmer of them on YouTube..I love them. Enjoy!

Back here again.  I'm now running for a seat on the Redding, CA city council (election Nov 2, 2010).  I recently inquired with the city of Anaheim about holding a Harmony Park reunion and they said that they were against it (they didn't say why though).

The more I read news articles about Anaheim, the more I find that it's changed.  Melodyland (theatre and also Church) has been demolished; and the street Freeman way is now renamed.  I recently looked on mapquest at Anaheim; and it looks like the old Pickwick Hotel is gone as well.  The drive-in that someone else mentioned was just past Anaheim Stadium (or whatever it's called now), and it was the Orange Drive-in.  I also read above that downtown was demolished in the 80's, but it was the 70's; as Thom was Mayor when went down.  I'm still looking for pictures of Harmony Park Ballroom, both inside and outside.  The library says that they have 5 or 7, but for them to photocopy them and ship them to me would cost about $50.  If anyone is still in Anaheim, I'd pay your copying costs and postage, if you would get copies of them for me.  My email is don_l_kirk@hotmail.com  If I could live anywhere in the world, I'd pick remaking the 1950's and 60's Anaheim.

I remember in the 60's at the Winchell's at Ball and Euclid, a group of motorcyclists didn't like one police officer; and the shopping center where Winchell's was located, was L shaped.  This officer always left his motor running when he went inside to get coffee.  We got word a few minutes before he arrived (usually at the same time everyday) that the motorcyclists had a semi waiting behind the shopping center with car ramps into the trailer.  When the officer arrived, the motorcyclists got in his police car and drove it to the back of the center and into the truck.  They then drove the truck around to where Winchell's was (on Euclid) as the officer came out and found his car missing.  (no cell phones or portable radios then).  We watched the truck go by (he honked his horn) as the officer was putting money into the payphone, to call in that his police car was missing (OOPS - embarassing).  Several years later when in Orange, they tore-down the old brick factory to build something, they drained the pond there; and found his police car (I read that in the Anaheim Bulletin back then).  Another officer (Hatfield) was a motorcycle officer and on a hot summer day he pulled into the Winchell's at State College and Lincoln.  When he put the kick-stand down, it sank into the asphault and laid-down.  A guy who did not like him offered to sit the bike up (Hatfield was too small to do it).  When he got the bike up, he smiled at Hatfield and then laid the Harley back down (OOPS again, embarassing).  How I lucked out and saw both of those incidents I don't know, but I did.

The LaPalma Park used to have a yearly festival with a carnival.  I was there every year.  When I was young I always rode our donkey (Jack) in the Kids Halloween Parade.  I also remember when Col. Sander's came to the reopening (just moved about 500 feet) of the Kentucky Fried Chicken at State College and Lincoln.  Two weeks earlier he made a statement at an opening how terrible the new place cooked his chicken.  When he tasted the chicken there in Anaheim, he stated "This is the worst chicken I've ever tasted".  It was headline news that night and next day.

The drive-in theatre on Lemon.... Was that called the Anaheim Drive-in, or what?  I had my apendix out in the OLD Anaheim hospital (1 block North/West of Anaheim Blvd (then Center St.) and Lincoln.  Doctors back then made house calls; and I had a deadly asthma attack; and my doctor was at a party and wouldn't leave.  My dad called the police and another doctor at that same party came.  He told my dad that another 1/2 hour without treatment and I would have died.  That was "about"19 53 or 54.  The old Anaheim Library was built as a Carnegie Library.  The old post office was right behind it on Broadway.  Anaheim Park was then a place to go.  Amphatheatre, Plunge, Ball Field and Gas Grills (you put a dime in the slot and it lit for several minutes).  Art Linkletter opened Wonderbowl on Katella Ave., just around the corner from the Disneyland Hotel.  Is that part of the Disney Hotel comples now?  I used to own the Hancock gas station at State College and Lincoln.  I read in the newspaper where the band Mod Inc. was going to soon record and release a record.  Two weeks later I was in the band.  We never cut the record; but did some gigs; including a dance I held at the Hyatt House Hotel across from D-Land; and also a televised battle of the bands at the LA Olimpic Auditorium.  We met Paul McCartney's double there; and he had the custom made bass guitar Paul had given him.  Paul had three (3) made; at $5000. (I think each, but it might be total).

A year or two after Anaheim Stadium opened, a military jet flew over the stadium during a game and crashed into what was a field across the street from the main entrance to the stadium.  The military sealed off the area real quick; although I was there before they were and while the pilot ejected just in-time, the plane was nothing but tine pieces of scrap metal.  I remember the Goodyear Blimp flying over ever day most summers; and one day I was on S. Harbor Blvd.and the blimp was hoovering about 50 feet off the ground over Harbor, directly in front of the Goodyear store there.  As I remember more, I'll post again.

Sorry for the mis-spellings on my post just above this one.  I didn't proof read it.

Some great reads here. I grew up just south of Anaheim in GG near Euclid and Chapman. I was born in 1956.   We could see the Disneyland fireworks from about three doors down on the cross street where there were no trees.  I remember Harmony Park as Don said as I went there a couple of times in High School. I also miss the old Golden bear in Huntington Beach. (We had a rubber factory in GG too and I worked there on summer when I was 18. They shut the plant down at the end of every August for two weeks and when they asked if I was coming back after the break I said no!)  The woman I am with now her Uncle is the Drummer from the Chantays so he probably played Harmony Park at on time or another. My first concert was Blood, Sweat and Tears in 1969 at the Convention Center.  I paid for it with 350 pennies and I sat behind the band. I was 13.   My best concert there was seeing Emerson, Lake and Palmer in 1974. Some really great memories here. Thanks for sharing. 

Hey, you are all kids!!!  I grew up at 507 North Vine Street.  Attended Lincoln Elem., Fremont Jr Hi, and graduated from AUHS in 1956. Great to read all the posts and to remember good old Anaheim

Hi,  I was raised in the middle of an orange grove by Placentia.  and yes I think someone took all our small towns.  It is solid concrete now.  I miss the old places,   Bean Hut,  Hill side Drive in. Taco tia.   And Carls they had the best Grinder sandwiches,  I went to Valencia High school.  was glad to find this site.   My brother and I used to go up on the 2nd story and we could see the Wed. night fireworks a Disneyland over the orange trees.   and we were about 9 miles away.   what a way to grow up.    Mary jane Nickles Dahlquist

Just an added comment, my actual favorite man of my lifetime was and IS Larry Trevett..

Loved him now 48 years..and will continue until the end of my time..we're toether again where we belong.

Loved these memories.  I grew up at 400 So. Vine.  The grocery store on the corner of Bush & Broadway was owned by George and Mary Ann.  They were elderly and very kind to all the kids in the neighborhood.  My mom used to send me to the store to get 25cents worth of balony or a dollar's worth of round steak and tell George tenderize it, she would say.  My older brother, Richard, remembers when George and Mary Ann would let them watch tv (because not many people had a tv in their home) at their house.  Every year, George and Mary Ann would host a Christmas party for the neighborhood kids.  Right after Thanksgiving they would have a sign up sheet to attend their party.  We would get so excited and could hardly wait.  They would give us cookies and punch and show us cartoons from a  film reel.  At the end of the party they would gift each child with a box of chocolate covered cherries!  We were so lucky!  Every time I see a box of chocolate covered cherries, I remember George and Mary Ann.

The LaPalma Restaurant aka The Beanhut (corner of Anaheim Blvd/LaPalma) was a drive in restaurant with car hops.  It was owned by a wonderful and generous man, Joe Cano. (later on he would build floats for parades).  My brothers, Richard and Frank worked there as did my cousin, Bobby and friends from our neighborhood.  The food was great!  I have never found any place that serves the same flavor of the Beanhut!

My mother worked at the Van's factory in Garden Grove.  Who would think that I would be buying Van's for my grandson at almost $50.00 a pair!

My cousins and their cousins, we all lived within a few houses from one another ,would run to the corner every time the fireworks show started at Disneyland.  We had a perfect view!  The 76 gas company was across the street and the tanker trucks were always rolling down our street. (it is now replaced by apartments). 

I remember SQR, Hurst Jewlers (where we used to order our high school class ring), the Fox theater (my youngest brother worked there), Leo's restaurant, the record shop, Chun-Kings, JCPenney's, Cotlers men's store, McMahans furniture, etc, etc.

I attended Lincoln, Broadway, and Jefferson Elementary, Fremont Jr. Hight, and forever I am an Anaheim Colonist!!  Class of 64!  I remember the little shack on the corner across from Anaheim High School where they sold Alex Tamales and all kinds of junk food before school and after (Macres Flower Shop is still there).  The Foster Freeze where you could get a hamburger for 15 cents.

Also, don't forget Jiffy Burgers on Center/Kroeger where we would hang out after school.  Criss Business College was next door and where I learned to type during the summer between 7th and 8th grade.

I remember when it was safe to go to the city plunge (Pearson Park) and walk home after an evening of swimming and see the fireworkas as we walked home.

There is much more, but later!  Thanks for this blog

When I go to Disneyland w/ my niece, she knows how special it is for me. Each ride on the monorail I remember in the early 60s, how I used to get on the ride at the Disneyland Hotel and buy my ticket to get in and get off of that ride at the Spacebar for the rock n roll dances and sometimes Stevie Wonder would sing there. Me, Linda Weir and Shelly Trezzo would go in for $1.25 without buying a ticket book..and I still have one old one. I still keep in contact with them too..Shelly and I used to go to Harmony Park dances with Dick Dale and His Del Tones each friday or sat but Id go alone on Wednesdays just because I could. Sadly that barn turned into a store years later and I think its gone. I miss the Surf Shake, the Bean Hut as others do....Newport Beach where I was a member of the 42nd Street Crew Newport Surf Club....

Wow... a lot of memories... So here are some of mine to add to the other nostalgia here...

We moved from L.A. (where I was born) to Anaheim in 1955, the same year Disneyland opened. Our house was one of the first tract homes in the area on Guinida Lane (not far Ball Road, off of Brookhurst). My parents paid $10K for the house, with a VA down payment of $100, over half of which was refunded to them because there were things still incomplete when we moved in (what a surprise, a contractor didn't finish on time [lol]). We watched the Disneyland fireworks from our front lawn, and the end of the light display in the sky was always the cue for all the kids on the blocks to go inside.

I was too young to have attended the shows at Harmony Park, but in the 1980s I sang for about three years with Dick Dale (live and on his Tiger's Loose album). We ate regularly at Werner's, and while I know many wax poetic about the lemon meringue, the chocolate cream pie there was absolutely the best I've ever tasted. No one ever has been able to top Mrs. Werner's chocolate cream pie. I've been a vegetarian since 1986, and never really liked much meat anyway, but the ham and the pork chops there were scrumptious, and practically the only time my parents could get me to eat anything with a face or that had babies. :D

Yep, I remember when Knott's was free and we'd wait in line for chicken dinners (dad loved the place). Personally, I wasn't much on the chicken (everyone else eagerly devoured it), but the mashed potatoes and the pie were always quite memorable for me. I LOVED Mott's Miniatures and could spend hours in there checking out all the teensy stuff. My sis had friends who performed at the Birdcage Theatre there, and later, when I was with the Fullerton Civic Light Opera, met a few folks who were working there in the 1970s. One of Dad's ham radio buddies, Andy Divine, used to wander around in costume and do the old west stuff they had going on in the 1960s for visitors, and I remember seeing him a number of times as a kid.

Walt Disney sent his team to "character up" the cafetorium at the new Anaheim elementary school named in his honor, and I can still remember the feel of the velvet drapes on the stage and a mini-version of excerpts from the opera, Hansel and Gretel performed on the stage he helped pay to create -- and how he'd come to the Magnolia School District schools and tell us stories. I went to Salk and my mum was the secretary to the superintendent of schools during that time, so we'd always get a heads up as to where he'd be and when. He told us to call him Uncle Walt (we did), and we'd also see him a lot at Disneyland -- usually dressed up in a Union soldier's uniform on Tom Sawyer's Island near Fort Wilderness and the wild blackberry bushes by the river -- other times as a sheriff in Frontierland. It was funny to me that the adults rarely recognized him out of his TV "uniform" of suit & tie.

Walt also did something that shaped a lot of my childhood... He had donated (loaned?) a bunch of his films & cartoons to the Anaheim Parks & Recreation (or to the schools, I don't remember which). Every Saturday during the year (every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday in summertime) we could go to Salk School and watch a few cartoons and a feature film -- often the nature ones, but some of the full-length cartoon features as well. Many a day was spent watching Chip 'n' Dale and The Yellowstone Cubs, etc. and I thought everyone grew up watching Disney stuff. I didn't realize how special it was until well after childhood had ended. There were also games to play (karoms was my fave) and lots to do during summer days in Anaheim. I don't remember her name, but recall her mum -- one of the Karcher family girls was at my elementary school, and her mother always brought cupcakes and goodies and such for the special occasion parties.

There were even a couple of instances when Walt went onto the local radio station (I think it was probably KEZY) to invite everyone to bring their ticket books to the park, that admission was free because it was raining and "we're lonely" at the Park. We showed up once in our "yellow Sears slickers" as Walt admonished, and quite surprisingly, the downpour ended within a half hour of our arrival. We had a blast.

My dad, being Italian (grandfather from Calabria), found the best place for southern Italian food in an Anaheim restaurant called Timponi's. As was his habit, he got to know the owners and we became sort of like family. I actually learned a lot of my Italian cooking from Rose Timponi, hanging out in the kitchen and playing junior sous chef as she'd make meatballs and sauce, and my sis worked there as a waitress during her high school days. Later, he became friends with the owners of Adamo's, near Disneyland, and hung out there a lot. I think it burned down at some point...

I recall the Alpha Beta, Sprouse Reitz and the Baskin Robbins/31 Flavors in the same lot, and further around the corner in what seemed to be a huge shopping sprawl to a kid, was also a movie theatre, where we spent many a Saturday watching two movies and cartoons. Parents would drop us off in the morning and pick us up in the afternoon -- mostly to make sure we bought our tickets and went into the theatre, not because it was so far we couldn't have walked (even though it was a bit of a hike). In the same lot was also an art shop where we got a lot of our paintings framed, and the owner was Dutch, I believe, and one of the few master guilders in this country. About halfway from our street on the way toward Ball Road, there was a liquor store (next to a pool supply place) on Brookhurst. That little store was where we'd pick up our candy or snack stuff, rather than going all the way to the Alpha Beta. I remember one day (literally) running into Dan Blocker ('Hoss' on Bonanza) who was picking up some soda and goodies -- okay, so I ran into his kneecap... he was pretty big to an 8-year-old. He was such a cool guy -- we found out from the store owner that he had property somewhere in the area and would come out to the area whenever he could get away from his TV obligations. He'd buy us all popsicles every time we saw him there and was tickled when we'd talk to him about whatever episode of the show had aired that week. He was as "aw shucks, ma'am" humble in person as he appeared on the show.

We moved from Anaheim to Fullerton just before I entered high school, and when the Angels moved to Anaheim, dad was there on opening day. I remember all the flak about the name of the team, since Anaheim had put up a lot of money for it to be built there. In retrospect, I can understand the reasoning behind the cowboy naming them the "California" Angels at the time -- Anaheim was largely unknown -- but when Moreno changed the name again, it brought up a lot of old wounds -- and much more vehemently, since Anaheim had definitely made a name for itself since the 1960s. The same year Arte changed the name from the Anaheim Angels (the name with which they captured their only World Series title, I might add), Anaheim appeared in several Top 25 Vacation Destinations lists, and L.A. appeared on none. But I digress...

During the mid-'60s I went to high school in Fullerton (at Troy). When talk turned to baseball one day, one of my fellow orchestra members informed us that her dad was the general manager of the Angels. As a huge baseball fan even then (http://open.salon.com/blog/redsterla/2010/07/27/why_i_love_baseball), I managed to wrangle a few invitations to the Big A. ;) It was the only time I didn't sit way up top at the stadium (we couldn't afford anything but the cheap seats). The Big A was in the outfield (not in the parking lot), and there was no tacky Thunder Mountain-like sculpture with shooting fountains behind centerfield.

I saw a Nolan Ryan no-hitter in 1974, Rod Carew's 3,000th hit and many other Angels milestones. My mum lived down the street from the Big A for a time, and when we weren't at the stadium at a game, we'd still be able to hear the yelling of "Yes We Can!" during the exciting 1979 season. I still have my "Yes We Can!" button from that time, and was fortunate to have been to game 4 of the 1986 ALCS when the Angels won in extra innings (before the game 5 meltdown and subsequent end of the post-season for the Angels).

Something I really miss was even pre-Disney partial ownership of the Angels. There were days when it would be a double event -- you could go to an Angel game in the day, then after 4pm could go to Disneyland, all for one special price. We'd go to the baseball game, and then head over to Disneyland. It was what was called a "mix-in" -- where anyone at Disneyland could stay there (they wouldn't close up the Park and shoo everyone there out), but after the "official" closing of the Park at 6pm, only people with the special tickets could get in. We were always exhausted and dragging when we got home, but pleasantly so, especially if the Angels won that day!

We lived on a cul-de-sac, and except for the kids at the end house of the curve (who went to Catholic school), all of us walked to school. It was like a parade started at the end of the street, and ending with the high school kids going to Magnolia making sure all the kids going to Salk had gotten across the street and onto the schoolyard (the field at Magnolia butted up against the kindergarten playground). Far cry from many years later -- I was told by some locals in the area that simply didn't happen any more, and a lot of the high school kids would hang out trying to sell drugs to the elementary school kids in that same spot, or bully them for their lunch money and such. What a shame... From protectors to predators...

I suppose that pretty much everyone who lived in newly formed communities during the late '50s, '60s and even through the early '70s, and who have watched them grow (sometimes well beyond their wildest dreams), have some of the same nostalgic "what happened to my home town?" thoughts. It was a much more naive time, and there was still the sense of community where everyone knew their neighbors, we weren't married to our technology, and watching TV meant a family sitting together to watch a program on one of the "Big 3" (or later, one of our 3 locals stations). Sunday night was "Bonanza" and during the weekdays it was Sheriff John ("Put another candle on your birthday cake"), Engineer Bill ("Red light! Green light!" to get kids to drink their milk). Tom Hatten showed us how to draw Popeye, and there was always something new to see on Ed Sullivan's show. But we didn't sit around waiting for a TV program to come on -- there was always too much to do. We didn't have "play dates" but just wandered out into the front yard, looked around to see who else was outside and started playing. As kids, we didn't sit around all day, but spent most of it outside, running around, playing baseball, freeze tag, hide 'n' seek and whatever else we could make up as we went along.

Anaheim was a wonderful place for a kid during that time... a place which, perhaps, cannot exist in today's overly-saturated, media-driven, yet highly apathetic world. Even when the rather turbulent '60s and the social problems and the war invaded our homes via the TV, there was a brutal honesty to the information that came our way. It's why we went to the streets in protest without benefit of social networking, cell phones, or CNN 24/7. I think we're so inundated with fake images from a gazillion channels and shows that many have forgotten there's a world outside their keyboards and/or "media" rooms.

I suppose I just sound like an old fart whining about how much better it was in "the good old days" but I truly cherish that I was able to see a semi-small-town Anaheim through young eyes and was able to live there when there was a naive innocence to our lives there.

Thanks for this page!

I take it back, nothing in life is as it seems. I'm now heartbroken..

I was born & raised in Anaheim & so was both my parents Earl & Joyce & my siblings Steve, Kevin & Teresa. I believe my grandma Mable Kopfer was born there too. My parents are 83 & 84 yrs. old & live in Yorba Linda like most old Anaheim residents moved up into the hills like Anaheim Hills or Yorba Linda etc. Not me, moved to the Central Coast & live in San Luis Obispo County. I own a plumbing business "MARK NELLESEN PLUMBING".

I grew up in an orange grove when there was one. Ha Ha Lived in just 2 houses my whold growing up life. First house where I was born & my dad was born across the street at my grandpa's house (Frank Nellesen) Our house was on the corner of Romneya & Cherry Way. We used to take the family station wagon to the Anaheim Drive-in down. The first Carl's was down the street at Harbor & Romenya & was called Carl's Famous Fish & Chips or Carl's Restaurant I believe. We loved the fish & chips & then later there was the first Carl's Jr. across from my church & school St. Boniface (both closed now). I could walk through my back yard past my Uncle's house through the orange groves (where I had many tree forts) & end up finding my way to the corner of Euclid & LaPalma. Then would hop a brick wall to the Morturary & cross street to Alpha Beta where also the Chicken Pie Shop was & still is.  My Uncle Al & Aunt Bernie (Dad's older brother who owned the 76 Union Gas Station on corner of Lincoln & Olive) lived behind us & Mack & Virgina McDonald lived across the street from them (only four houses in our dead end street then. I went to Patrick Henry Elementary School until 2nd. grade , then rode my Swinn Sting Ray (with sissy bars & banana seat) all the way across town to St. Boniface school after that until 8th. grade then going to Mater Dei one year & Anaheim High 3 yrs. to graduating in 1973. We had a huge swimming pool in back yard. Great memories. I used to ride my bike to my Grandpa's (Ross Kopfer - mom's dad) Anahiem Barber Shop to see my grandpa & he would allow me to shine shoes when the black shoe shine man Al was off that day. Think I got .25 a shoe (but polish would get on the white socks so had to give customer money back) I would save money to buy some creatures at Anaheim Pet & Feed Store. I would go to the Fox Theater & watch Mary Poppins I think seven times in a row with my Grandma? Visited Ronny's Coffee Shop all the time & the other restaurant on corner of Los Angeles Street (now Anaheim Blvd) forgot name but my Grandpa would always buy me a T-Bone Steak that was yummy. Used to go up the elevator at the S.Q.R. store & there was a shoe store that was under it where got my shoes. I love to go to Armstrongs to get their shoe string french fries. Loved to eat at Werner's Dinner House. When I was 12 my dad (Earl from THE EARL'S PLUMBING) built our house on the corner of Westmont & Dryer down the street from the Broadway Shopping Center (Now Anaheim Plaza) Our house was 5000 square feet & we had a swimming indoor pool with the house built all the way around it. I could sneak out w/o my parents knowing it because my room was all away around the other side. Got caught a few times. I loved baseball & made the all stars in Anaheim Little League as second base. The field is still there. I was at the first Angel Game & my dad (or The Earl's Plumbing) had season tickets 4 seats 11 rows up from the Angel Dug out. Still an Angel fan!!! My dad gave up his seats a while ago (no comment).  My grandpa used to ride his bike (he never drove) all the way from Anaheim Barber Shop to my little league games. My Grandma & Grandpa used to take me to Disneyland most & sometimes my folks (I went to Disneyland at least fifty times a year) We also went to Knotts Berry Farm & it was free and no admission gate. Loved the Chicken Dinner House. My Mom, her mom, her mom & her mom (yes all five generations at once) & my older brother & I would all go out to Knott's for the day & my dad would pick up my grandpa from the barber shop & meet us at the Chicken Dinner house after they got off work for dinner. We had a beach house in Newport Beach on 30th. & Ocean Front that my dad built & cost him a total Forty Thousand Dollars. We had amny great memories down there with our best friends Ed & Velda Brunet. (Now Velda Wilson) who lives in Emerald Court in Anaheim. My dad recently sold the Beach House (we were all mad at him & my mom for selling it- no comment again) :) He sold it to Paul Kott an old friend (well used to be, just kidding) Paul & Lisa Kott got a good deal though, so maybe we can get a good deal renting it this year? :) Anyway I can go on & on of my stories & memories of growing up in Anaheim. I know that God has blessed me & I have 3 kids & now 2 almost step kids & a wonderful woman & great life. I was in the Jesus Movement in the 70's & beacme a Christian at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa & was a Jesus Freak then (as my dad called me) & still one today. I will write more if anyone interested? God bless. Mark Nellesen

I am pleased to see many names I recognize, after all, the class of 59 did have a huge graduating class!  

I live in Florida most of the year, but spend several weeks and sometimes months in SoCal, Murietta, CA.  After all, my two children live in CA, one in SoCal and one in San Francisco.  My sister, Anita, who also is an AUHS graduate lives in Temecula.

One of my first disappointments from Anaheim was losing Fremont Jr. High School!  WOW ... that was a shock.  But, then so was losing the Currie Ice Cream store.  Am I dating myself?  YES!!!!

It would be great to hear from any of you who are involved in this...Carole Lindskog

Ok so I had to jump in here with just a few memories as this is great to read that so many folks are shareing in their memories of Anaheim of being such a great place to grow up. My elementary school was Horace Mann, then Freemont and on to Anaheim High. Just was in Anaheim last week, good to see that Anaheim High was still there. Does anyone remember the Licorich Pizza on Lincoln? Great place to find all those record albumbs of the early 70's. I'm curious to know when that store closed down. I did see Vissors Florist still in the same location they have been in Anaheim for some time. Also saw the old " Little Store " that was called Davis Market that was on Harbor Blvd. near Horace Mann. 

A short story of my 2 years working at Disneyland, circa 1974,1975 and part of 1976. Hppe you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

He Came In for Free   - by Lydia London (my pen name)

"To all who come to this happy place: Welcome.  Disneyland is your land.  Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth my savor the challenge and promise of the future.  Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."  Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955 4:43 p.m.

     Someone dropped him off at the main gate every morning as we opened.  The ticket takers knew him, and watched the rookies to watch for him.  What was his name?  I wish I could remember.

     He was the sweetest man in our park.  We let him go on all the E rides.  I served him Walt's food. But most of all, we watched out for him. 

     Disneyland is a well crafted illusion: it's actually quite small, once you learn your way around.  So he was always where someone knew him.  He could wait in line, or we'd signal him to come to the front of his favorite attractions.   His sheer excietement and pure happiness kept me going that entire sweltering summer. 

     In the early hours, when the sun started to rise, I'd wish that I could sneak him in. Our park was closed, empty and immaculate.  The dew smelled so sweet before the smog set in.  Did we speak in muted tones? Maybe my memory is exaggerating.  It was a magical time in the magic kingdom.  And the castle looked exquisite at 6:00 a.m. - majestic, calm, waiting for its kingdom to enter.

     The gates would open, and in a heartbeat, we'd be flooded with our guests. They carried green plastic bottles of Sea & Ski suntan lotion and gold and white bottles of Coppertone QT.  White Stag shorts covered albino legs.  By the time the fireworks exploded, they were all as pink and orange as my Tomorrowland costume. They matched the smoggy Anaheim sunsets.

     I never saw him leave at the end of the day.  Did he look up at the Matterhorn and marvel as Tinkerbell, in her irredescent green costume, flew across the sky?  Did he head down Main Street out to the parking lot?  Some of our other guests locked arms and skipped out, humming "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me..."

     I'm glad we hid the clocks from them.  I'm glad car phones, faxes, blackberries, laptops and IPods weren't invented.  I'm glad they had a suspended moment in time to enjoy their friends and families.

     I'm really glad he was there that summer.

     It's a small world, after all.

Where did my stadium go? Now it's a group of restaurants with a ball game in between!

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My parents and I move to the west end of Anaheim in 1955 (pre disneyland).  My father was a carpenter and my mom and her friend had a hamburger shop inside the poker / pool hall down town. Per my mom, when Mr Disney proposed coming into Anaheim, it was with a few conditions.  One being the open poker had to be closed.  I guess he felt this wasn't family oriented and didn't go with the atmosphere he wanted to bring to the area.  Mom lost her business and was pretty upset.  I went to school Savanna Elementary in Stanton, Orangeview JH in Anaheim and  Western HS and graduated in 66.   I too miss the Anaheim I grew up in.  I use to drive the back roads of Anaheim/Stanton /Buena Park when I was 12/13 yrs old and my parents were never worried about me or the others on the road (which were few and far between)  ...  Those were the days...  PS  Harmony Park and the Buena Park Retail Clerk Union Hall in Buena Park were "the bomb" back then...

Linda Turek

McGoldrick Watkins

Does anyone remember the SQR store or Williams Sporting good?

Sure do.  But the 1st Sporting Goods store I remember was Center Sporting Goods which was on Lincoln just west of State College (Placentia back than)

All this talking about when Anaheim destroyed down town--- I was working at the Anaheim Bulletin on the Copy Desk , and there were articles and pictures of the proposed re-development of the downtown area-- complete with a lake , which never materialized. People in general were not happy with the elimination of the entire downtown area, but that was also when the Broadway Shopping Center (Now Anaheim Plaza) was in its heyday! By eliminating the stores downtown we all had to shop at the Braodway and Robinson's---and they added all those other stores too-- hence it became one of-- if not the first MAll in Orange County.How about ordering our Class rings from Victor G. Loly's Jewelry store-- with the clock in front---, and how about the Chung King resteraunt on Center St., Or cruising the Bean Hut, Carl's on Harbor and Romneya, or Oscar's on KAtella, and who could forget our rivalry with Western High School! The Kiddie Parade, The Halloween Parade, (on TV even!)------and in East Anaheim--- how about Burger Chef (now Angelo's), and the best ever french fries--and Woolworth's that became Grant's, that is now a Kmart! And the memories go on and on!

 And for whoever lived behind the house with the water pump--- I think its still there !

We lived off East St. between South and Vermont---and our neighborhood is still in tact-- although now there are a million cars on the block-- but still looks in pretty good shape !

Its good to reminisce--- take your mind off the problems of today-- even if its only for a few minutes!

4/21/11 -- A friend Don Varry class of AHS 1963 just sent several of the Anaheim High alumni this page.  thanks Don.  It's been interesting reading about the best of times in Anaheim.  I drove by Lincoln School  the other day and it has been totally taken down to the dirt, even the tall pine trees are gone and they call this progress.  I was born in Anaheim area at the then Orange County Hospital in 1934 - making me now 77 years young.   I marched and twirled my baton in many a Halloween Parade, watched during WWII the service men jitterbug at Harmony Park while my aunt and mother served sandwiches.  Later opened a dance,baton, music studio after enjoying a professional career  dancing the CanCan at Knott's Berry Farm's Calico Saloon, later 1954 appearing in Las Vegas with Frank Sinatra in the revival of the New Ziegfield Follies then to Hollywood to appear in a couple of movies, do some modeling and perform as showgirl /dancer in the  Frank Sennes  Hollywood Moulin Rouge dinner theater, and enjoy teaching dance and baton twirling at my studio in anaheim.   Married now 51 years as of April 9th, 11 our daughter Shannon Gottlieb attended Katella High School and is Dr. of Clinical Hypnotherapy  in Maui, and son Mik also from Katella High  is a Senior Security Computer Engineer at Experion.   We still live in Anaheim and I am a volunteer with the Anaheim Family Justice Center 150 Vermont at Lemon . We are a model for the nation and world for one of the most complete centers helping with Family Domestic Violence issues, child abuse, Elder Abuse and we also are able to issue tempoary restraining orders using our in house close television to  court in half a day.    Love to hear from friends,  alumni and former students.

Jo An Burdick Gottlieb  hightoss@msn.com

My Brother send me this site! I didn"t know it exsisted.Boy this really brought back a Flood of memories.I moved to Anaheim in 1955. When Disneyland opend. Think I was the first one there> LOL The area I lived in was off Lapalma& Euclid.It was all orange trees and An Avocado grove. I went to Adelaide Price,Fremont, Brookhurst and Anaheim High.think I remember Joe young? Bobby hatfield Bobby Rydell Rich Dawson I think I remmber you? I was good friends with Tom Watts,We all got drafted in :67"All of my friends made it except TOM. He lived on citron next to A. Price. We built an underground fort in his backyard. he was a Grt.Guy I remember all the GRT places that everyone has spoke of. I remember THE BEAN-HUT Drive IN.Best food ever.I had a 56 Chevey Station Wagon then. Turqoise&White.I remember THE CAR HOPS that were mentiopned by Lupe and Susana. I remember "BOBBY"She was a Cute Girl! We went out a few times. I think I toook her to the Anaheim Drive -In once? She took me to her house,I think on Lemon St.I remember a Barber Shop. I think her Dad cut hair? Don"t remember what happened with her and I,but I remember her to this day.I worked at The Lapalma chicken Pie shop someone mentioned. Still there! Has the same owners who bought it from the original owner ,Spike. Still makes Grt Pies. I live in Corona Now so I go by there sometimes.My neighborhood is pretty much run dn. Cars line the street and have multible families livin in 3bedroom houses.Lots of Eithic mix! Used to be a nice midclass neighborhood,not anymore. Some of the folks that were there when I grew up are still there. A FEW! remember Gilmores Cafe. My brother and I worked there for a short time. My Grandmother lived on the corner of East Street& Whilemina,so i spent alot of time ther also. I remember walking to Grandmas from my house. i remember KERRS Market. Went to school with Norma KERR. I remember Dn town The Garden Threater Horror Movies for 25cent. The fox, Chung King Tastee freeze. i plan on going to Anahein like next week to go to The Pie shop. Maybe I will take some pics and post.What memories All of dn town has changed,but the residencials are still there. I ended up workin at Disneyland. We Opened The Pirates of The Carribbean Restuarant in New Orleans square. i was the first COOK there.I also was a character in the summer. Knew Paul Castle,The original Mickey mouse,and his daughter Paula. Also met Waly and Roy and alot of The mouseteers! Hope people are still keepin up and posting. If anyone remembers me SAY HI!

I remember going to Mass @ St. Boniface. I sang & played a wooden recorder @ the Saturday evening folk Mass. (1973-1975). I wasn't a good singer but met some nice friends there. Phil C. played the flute. My younger sister sang.  John & Linda & Eilleen were a few of the really good singers. John & Linda sang @ my first wedding, a shame it only lasted about about 18 months!  They could really sing. I heard that years later, they got married. I wonder what happened to them? John had a beautiful Ovaiton accoustic guitar. Linda had long, straight strawberry blond hair. Eilleen had red hair & sang an acapella version of Amazing Grace that would leave you in awe.  I remember Carl Karcher's family went to Mass, too. I thought it was great that the owner of all the Carl's Jr. & Taco de Carlos restaurants had his kids go to public schools. They were all nice kids. What fond memories you have brought back to so many folks! Thanks!

I was in the marching band at Anaheim High and we won the biggest honor, the Sweepstakes trophy, at one of our parades my sophmore year. I'll never forget that day.

I grew up on 207 S. Bush street,(gone now), went to Lincoln School,(gone now), Broadway School,(gone now), Freemont Junior,(gone now),Anaheim Hi,(not the same). I remember that before ther was a Santa Ana Freeway,(now I%), we drove Manchester Street to get to other towns. A Sunday drive to my grandmother in Artisia was a drive sure to require at least onr tire change. I remember Holloween downtown, when the store merchants allowed us to paint on the windows with poster paint, Orangen black and white. All the teen girls got a white shirt from dad, dyed them orange and ran around down town while the boys had pea shooters and squirt guns filled with peroxide. I became a firefighter for the city and my last big fore was the Valentia Hotel. That is when the downtown started to fail. I moved to Northern Californis forclear water, clean air, and very few neighbors. I come back to Anaheim for family visits to Disneyland, but the City has lost it's charm and buried my memories under asphalt ans new streets with names I can not relate to.

WOW, Joanne--- I rememebr walking by your studio on my way to school every day--always idolized you when I would see you preform, and when my daughters were old enough i got them into baton twirling! My older daughter even got into twirling competitions! You were a true inspiration! Those must have been good times, cuz the memories I have of those days are as clear as if they were yesterday. I went to Marywood when it was on the corner of Broadway and Harbor, for a year-- before transfering to the best High School around--- we had the Best Band, with Mr. Reynolds, the best football team, with Coach Van Horbeck, and, oh yeah, what about Marching in the Rose Parade. And the memories go on and on and on!!!!!!

Thanks for this great blog.  Have enjoyed reading the comments.  We lived on Clara St. in west Anaheim my entire childhood.  Went to Clara Barton, Trident Jr Hi, Loara HS.  For anyone who is interested and wants more info - Loara HS Class of 1971 (the class with which I graduated) is planning a 40th (gah!) reunion 24 Sept 2011.  They have a Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/home.php?sk=group_179817178715388&ap=1

Back in the late 1980's, one of the final farmers in Anaheim succumbed to big development and the pressures of politics when the city demanded he turn over his land:

http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-09/local/me-14429_1_council-members

My mother Phyllis Cockrum was a teacher's aide at many of the Anaheim elementary schools from about 1964 to 1978.  The ones I remember are Francis Scott Key, Benjamin Franklin, and Betsy Ross.

We satched the D'land fireworks from our back yard every summer night.  I miss the smell of orange blossoms.  We were a bit young for the Harmony House - our dad would say when we drove past the place, "If I ever catch you girls in that place, I'll whip you until you can't sit down!"  I was SO looking forward to going there, but it was closed by the time I was old enough to go dancing.  Bummer.

Lydia his name was Arthur and we all knew and loved him...

BRD, thank you very much.

WOW!  Finally!  Had a hard time finding anything on  "Anaheim,CA--1959"  Glad I was patient.  Tnx to all of you for the walk down memory lane.  I lived in a house right on Harbor where the Bank of America now stands.  Attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary School.  Went to South Jr. High the first year it opened.  I remember being able to go to the Fox Theater for a quarter & I think it was 3 Bubble Up soda caps.  Getting my P.E. clothes @ the SQR store, upstairs where they had a sitting   area for small kids. A couple of tables with books to read while mommies shopped.  I went once a week to the beauty college to get my hair done, (also to be used as a model for my Uncle Roy who attended there. The Chung King restaurant was the bomb.  Best Chinese food ever!!  The Bean Hut had bomb bean & pork w/green chile burritos!  Where are you Bean HUt?  It was safe to rollerskate with your friends until dusk, go swommong @ Pearson Park plunge for a quarter, and walk home with friends when it closed @ 9:00p.m.  The original library is still standing on Anaheim Blvd.  It is now the Museo. (museum.) Fremont Jr. High has been long gone yrs. ago.  Bobby Hatfield attended Anaheim High School.  There was also a record shop right on Lincoln that my sister & I would go to once a week w/sister's friend to buy 45's (small records) like ten at a time!  LOL Also a variety store that had a fountain grill where you could order food & sit & eat indoors.  WOW!  I would much rather have the Old Anaheim back!  Anyway, tnx to all of you who lived & experienced some of the same things I did.  Tnx for the memories.

What a great thread! Much younger here than the rest of ya, but grew up on Claudina, and was researching the local legends I had heard as a kid. It was so easy to imagine Anaheim in the 40's and 50's, even in the 70's and onward.

The neighborhood knew my house on Claudina to be "where Bill Cosby sometimes visited," and in the 70's and 80's curious passersby would sometimes slow down to see if they could catch a glimpse of him! No idea how that story came to be. The house was the home of Adolf, Anna, and Dorothy Stoll, if any of you knew them.

Does anyone know the history of the original NorthGate Market at North and Anaheim Blvd? I grew up directly behind it, and found it neat that the name was a reference to the old north gate of the city. It's now a large local chain of markets of the same name, yet a review of the NorthGate Market website seems to imply the name comes from the fact that the current owners immigrated from Mexico to "el norte" in the 80's... My mom would drive the market nuts in the 70's buying odds and ends with food stamps several times a day. What I remember most is the barrel of pickled pigs feet, covered in flies!

One of my prized possessions is a handpainted sign from "Anaheim Cleaners and Tailors - Oldest and Best 308 E. Center." Does anyone remember that business? 

Also, the red house on Anaheim Blvd, that used to be an antique store (next to the masonic lodge), did Bobby Hatfield ever live there? I had heard that as well.

I remember the day the masonic lodge burned down from a fire caused by vagrants. It literally snowed ash all over our street.

My grandmother was Mildred Arens, a secretary for Anaheim School District in the 1960s, would love to hear from anyone who knew her, she passed about 15 years ago.

I went to Dominion Christian School, which was a tiny one-room school on the property of the huge farmhouse on North St, near the intersection of East St and La Palma.

Luckily, I still live in Orange, which has preserved the old town character, but I visit the pancake house and MexiCasa almost weekly :) Couldn't believe they tore down the Lincoln Elementary last time I was there. Another sad loss was Martenet Hardware, apparently an early victim of the recession.

What a great blog. I want to add some of my recollections of Anaheim, but first I have a request for readers:

I was wondering if any of you who were there can provide me with your recollections of the riot that happened at Katella High School in 1981 when the punk band Black Flag was supposed to play there. I was there, class of '81, but I want other people to tell me their stories for some research I am doing at the moment. I know that David, Katella Class of '83, commented on it, as well as someone else who was there. It's a longshot, but email me if you're interested.

I was born in Anaheim in '63. Like so many of you, my earliest memories are often full of orange groves, orange groves, and more orange groves. I can still smell them. Remember that Sunkist factory smell off the 91 freeway. I can still smell that too.

I lived in east Anaheim up until I was about 21. Went to Benito Juarez elementary, South Junior High, and Katella High School. I remember we used to eat at Gilmore's restaurant on Lincoln, before it was actually much of a restaurant--more of a shack, and they had these box dinners you could take out, hamburgers or pastrami dips. It was right down the street from another family fave, the Original House of Pancakes. I think the restaurant our family went to most was La Casita, a Mexican restaurant in the old downtown, right new to the Fox movie theater, IIRC.

I remember there was another theater down the street that showed "dirty movies," The Pussycat. I think it was gone by the time I would have been old enough to buy a ticket. We used to also go the Brookhurst theaters, right next to the Loge theaters. I can't remember the difference; I think the Loge used to show more "adult" movies, not x-rated, but more adult-themed, while the Brookhurst was more family stuff. I remember we saw "Tora! Tora!" Tora!" at the Brookhurst.

We used to sometimes go to Pearson Park as a family, but I remember even way back then (would've been around 1970 or so) my mother wouldn't let us go into the public restrooms alone. I didn't know why, but I found out there were perverts who used to hang around there. I remember hating all the huge crowds at the public pools. We didn't have a pool, but the neighbors did, so we usually invited ourselves over there.

My dad was a police officer, and he did a lot of moonlighting at Anaheim Stadium and Disneyland. So, we used to go to Angels games all the time, for free. Nixon visited one game, and my dad ran the APD security detail. He was able to get my sister to shake hands with Nixon, and he autographed her program. Sadly, it was lost over the years. For a family of seven people, Angels game were inexpensive entertainment (all my dad had to buy was the chow), so we went often. Whenever I smell a whiff of cigar smoke on a warm summer night, it takes me right back to that stadium; back then, people could smoke at ballgames--oh, the horror! The smell of beer and peanuts and hot dogs also conjures up memories.

We also got into Disneyland for free, and my dad had all kinds of ticket booklets for years, stashed way in a metal box in his closet. The E-tickets were the best--Pirates of the Caribbean, Matterhorn, etc.--and years later when my sisters were teens old enough to drive, they found his stash and took a bunch of e-tickets for them and their friends. Boy, was my dad pissed! He was about as mad then as when my sister stole a bunch of his silver dollars and spent them on candy at a place called Boogies, a little candy/comic book store at the corner of Lincoln and Rio Vista, right next to the Alpha Beta supemarket. That story didn't end well for my sister.

This was right around the time they opened a Carl's Jr. on Lincoln at Rio Vista, which was close to our house (Westgate drive); we'd hop the fence and go get a Space Burger, a great hamburger at the time. And I'm pretty sure they used real pototoes back then for their krinkly fries. Carl's was good back then (about '71), but within ten years they had expanded so much they became terrible. I haven't eaten at a Carl's for years. I live in the Midwest and they have something called Hardie's out here, which I think is related. But it's always looked gross so I don't know. I do remember the Heinz restaurant off the 91 freeway; didn't Carl buy them out or something? I met Carl Karcher once in '81 when he was being honored with "The Distinguished American" award. He seemed like a nice enough guy, I guess. This was right before he got in trouble for some kind of tax scandal.

Knotts Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum (Buena Park, right?) were also family faves. Other family restaurants included Mexicasa on Manchester(?), Knollwoods in Yorba Linda (great burgers), and the LaPalma Chicken Pie shop--which I never liked but my parents loved, for some reason.

I remember we lived right by the Santa Ana riverbed, which was usually empty but was pretty much a storm drain. Adjacent to the storm drain was something we called "the pit", which was a large sand pit overgrown by brush and other vegetation. There were little canyons and other ravines down there, and it was actually pretty dangerous if you got too close to the edges of the bluffs. Lots of wildlife down there, or at least for a southern California kid not used to seeing much wildlife (the first fireflies I ever saw were fake--The Pirates of the Caribbean at D-Land!): mostly snakes and rabbits and bullfrogs and stuff like that. I used to get scared down there because I was only about 7, but my brother used to love it, and he'd play army with his friends down there.

Anaheim seemed to change a lot by the end of the 70's, right around the time the Rams came to town. Lots of chain restaurants went up, and traffic started to get really bad on the 57. I think the old downtown was all gone by then. Memories of La Casita and the Fox and the SQR were gone forever.

My mother still lives in east Anaheim, right next door to Katella High School. That part of town where I grew up (bordered by Ball road on the south, Lincoln on the north, Rio Vista on the east, and State College on the west) is still holding its own, i.e. it hasn't been overrun by grafitti or too much dilapidation. Most of the homeowners take care of their yards, and the retaining walls are in decent shape. There aren't a lot of weeds on the sidewalks, no visible signs of vandalism, and no closed up businesses. It looks better now then when I last lived there almost thirty years ago. But I don't really know what the rest of Anaheim looks like because I haven't really been there in years. If it's anything like Stanton (I have high school friends who are cops and work there)--OUCH!

Thank for the memories.

Forgot to add my email, don't know if it's visible elsewhere to subscribers:

thewaldorf@gmail.com

Thanks.

Hi everyone

 I have lived all over Anaheim, first moving there in 1955 with my family to the neighborhood bordering Independancia..Gilbert and Katella.  We first went to Magnolia 1 and then participated in the huge migration (with a whole bunch of other elementary schools) to Salk Elementary).  It was all filmed and supposedly there is a video of this.  Katella was a two lane dirt road the first year and all the neighbors had to seed their yards as all of our houses were new.  Cow manure used for fertilizer was the constant aroma for years!

We too knew that when the Disnelyland fireworks went off that it was time to head home at night.  Reading all these memories I am reminded about how much freedom as children we had in those days. We rode our bikes everywhere and followed the railroad tracks to where they ended in downtown Anaheim. We built caves everywhere calling them bomb shelters, carving niches in the walls for candles. We found frogs and put them in our little plastic swimming pools.

As a teen I went to Melodyland quite often, seeing the Dave Clark 5 and the Zombies.  In fact we sneaked into a room where the Zombies were practicing on a piano and got their autographs. No security at all! When the Garden theater turned into the Pussy Cat theater a group of friends and I picketed it.  We wanted the Garden theater back so we could see the *fun* scary movies!  We ate at Leo's, shopped at SQR (with those tubes that carried the money upstairs) criss crossed the downtown streets to go Christmas shopping. Once we dined at a Smorgezboard (sp) where we ate for an hour then took a long break(a hour... 2? and then proceeded to eat again.

Random memories: Eddie's soups, a massive fight between Savanna and Magnolia football fans at half time, free Knottsberry Farm (I too was fascinated by Mott's Minatures. They have been sold off and divided) with the seals, the boxing museum which had newspapers of famous fights lining the walls) etc.  I went back to Knotts in the 90's and almost cried at the changes.

We also went to Disney for the bands and general party atmosphere on Friday and Saturdays nights.  We usually ended up at the Space Bar.  We also went to Harmony Park where once I was kicked out for dancing without shoes (one could do the James Brown slide better without them). We had to argue with security to be allowed to retrieve them! There were all kinds of places to go dancing for kids under 18. I guess it costs too much now for security and insurance to have those kinds of clubs now.

Everyone brings up the smells/aromas. I remember the orange blossoms, strawberries, jasmine smells and all the fields of mustard flowers and oh (!) in the early years all the tumbleweeds!  I think the tumbleweeds lasted only a short time because of all the development but we chased them and made snowmen out of them. Oh and the zillions of horned toads and grasshoppers!

I was living in East Anaheim when all of downtown was decimated and later volunteered with a group to save some of the historic houses and buildings, but I don't think the buildings themselves are what we miss.  I think we miss our childhood and the lazy freedom to just GO when we wanted to. My kids were brought up in East Anaheim(one was born at Garden Park hospital-demolished YEARS ago) and then downtown Anaheim.  None of them had the same relaxed and free childhood that I had experianced, but they have their own good memories. Sadly though they discovered that Lincoln Elementary has been torn down the last time they visited Anaheim.

Oh, I forgot to add that I interviewed Carl Karcher over 10 years ago in his office off of La Palma.  I brought up that I had eaten my first *fast food* hamburger at Heinz'z in Garden Grove.(off of Garden Grove Blvd.?)  He said that this place at been his and, that he had used his wife's maiden name to name it. 

HI EVERYONE.  wOW, THESE POSTINGS ARE WONDERFUL!  I GREW UP IN BELLFLOWER, BUT LIVED IN BUENA PARK, ANAHEIM AREA FROM 1963 TILL NOW.  I TOOK MY CHILDREN TO KNOTT'S TO RIDE THE MULES WHEN A NIGHT OUT WAS A BAG OF LICORICE JELLY BEANS FROM THE GENERAL STORE, AND HAVING A BAG OF FRESH POPPED POPCORN!  TOTAL COSTS ABOUT 2 BUCKS.  NO FENCES, NO ELABORATE RIDES, JUST A FUN PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS. (OR A FUN DATE).....MY HUSBAND AND I HAD A SPACE IN THE PEPPERTREE FAIRE (THE HARMONY PARK BALLROOM) FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS.  IT WAS SO MUCH FUN, WE MET SO MANY NICE CRAFTERS THERE!  THE CAFETERIA SERVED THE BEST ITALIAN SAUSAGE SANDWICHES, I BELIEVE THE LADY THAT RAN THE CAFETERIA'S NAME WAS GINA?

MY GRANDFATHER HAD A VICTROLA    STORE IN DOWN TOWN ANAHEIM IN THE 1920'S WHICH I HAVE A PHOTO OF.  ALL OF YOUR MEMORIES ARE ALSO MINE.  I MISS THE SMELL OF ORANGE GROVES, THE COWS IN BUENA PARK, THE OLD STORES AND MOST OF ALL THE WONDERFUL OLD HOMES IN ANAHEIM THAT WERE TORN DOWN FOR PROGRESS ;(   I JUST DROVE DOWN BROADWAY TODAY ON MY WAY HOME AND ADMIRED THE FEW OLD HOMES THAT ARE STILL THERE.   I ALWAYS SLOW DOWN WHEN I APPROACH THE PEPPERTREE FAIRE SITE, MISSING THE SMELL OF THE HUGE OLD TREES THAT USED TO BE THERE.  GLAD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE THAT STILL MISS THE WAY IT "WAS"

GAIL

Speaking of Orange County... does anyone remember Orange County International Raceway? I remember hearing those weekly "Be There" commercials on the radio, especially while basking in suntan oil on a blanket at the beach during those summers in the late-1960s that seemingly lasted forever. Back then, admission to those nitro-burning Funny Car and Top Fuel dragster shows were around four bucks... a great way to spend a Saturday night. BTW, thanks for this wonderful blog, which allows us the opportunity to leave our fast-paced worlds and relive some great memories of our youth.

I grew up literally next door to Disneyland in the 70s. The first time I saw that all the old signage from the motels surrounding the park had been removed and was being replaced with the generic milestone signs, I realized that the Anaheim of my youth was disappearing rapidly. A few years later, I dug out old photos that I had taken around the neighborhood when I was in high school and added scans from my motel postcards collection and the "Photos Of The Forgotten" website was born. http://photosoftheforgotten.synthetrix.com

I hope you'll take some time and visit for some nostalgic memories of Anaheim and other vanishing Americana topics.

V

Thank you. Enjoyed the blog. Lived one block west of Disneyland on Chalet from 1955 through the summer of 1968. Attended Palm Lane Elementry and Ball Jr. High. Began trumpet at Palm Lane and continued at Ball. St. Boniface was our parish. Moved to Porterville so Dad could begin his teaching career. Still miss the hometown, and many of the people I grew up with. Stumbled upon this by chance. Hope to return in the future.