October 2, 2020

 

Another tidbit from our Humorist in Residence Paula Kincaid

Linda Thomas didn't go to Crawford, but was recently added to the Fry Day email list because she is a neighbor of Gail Schindler Fogelman and, by a circuitous route, now a friend of mine.  Linda's been going through her late husband Gary's stuff and was wondering what to do with the ring he got when he graduated from San Diego State College in 1963.  I guess you know what happened.  It's on its way to David Sleet in Atlanta and will soon cross the pond to Belgium, where it will be prized by Marcel Hebbinlink, who worked with Dave at State in the late '60s.  Dave says I'm a matchmaker. Isn't there a song about that?

Are you getting tired of photos of Torrey Pines Beach?  Too bad.  Here's one from 1941.  Click HERE to see an enlargement and a Wizard of Oz moment.  And I'm not talking about the alleged Poppy Fields. 

Remember the Aztec Drive-In Restaurant on College and El Cajon?  Me neither.  Our family usually headed west on El Cajon to Keith's Drive-In.  Someone recently waxed rhapsodic about Azteca Tacos near 54th and I ended up on my old Aztec Drive-In page.  They are not the same thing.  It would appear that the Aztec Drive-In fed the hungry from early in World War II to around 1962.  Click HERE to check out the updates I made to the page.

Holy Crap!!  How did THAT happen?  We're now looking back at 60-year old student newspapers.  Click HERE to read the September 29, 1960 Pacer and learn about the man who replaced Mary McMullen as Principal.  Also the results of the Football Carnival, whose program we featured last week.

Click HERE to read the Pacer issued on September 30, 1965.  That's only 55 years ago.  The cover story has Sheryl Slayen and Chris Benson making plans for Club Week.  I don't know what that it, but I'm picturing Cave Men with Clubs.  Maybe I better go back and read the article.

Jo Ann Tomlinson Gorsic ’61 passed away August 27, 2020 according to the Alumni Association web page.

Christine Phillips ’68 died September 22, 2020.  Her brother Greg, also a member of the Class of ’68, let me know.  He is an old and dear friend from both Pershing Junior High as well as Crawford -- Kat Lally Wolf ’68 

September 25, 2020

Matt Marquez posted this on Facebook on September 9th.  I almost don't want to tell you what it is, but here goes -- Crawford's auditorium being bulldozed.  I think the photo is looking southwest, towards Colina del Sol Golf Course.  

Don't you love the colorful cars of the '50s?  Click HERE to see an enlargement of this 1955 color shot of the Santa Fe Station.

I've added a current photo of the view of Torrey Pines Beach from Del Mar.  Click HERE to see all three photos on the web page.

The above image caught my eye as I was leafing through last Sunday's U-T.  For a microsecond I thought it was a Lincoln High graduation photo, but I was pretty sure -- even with the pandemic -- that graduations don't happen in September.  Turns out they're Marines from Camp Pendleton learning how to put on emergency suits before they head out to fight fires.   Click HERE if you'd like to read the article.

I got to thinking about Naugahyde during the really hot weather last week, and the sound it makes when you exit a restaurant booth in bare legs.  A friend once excoriated me for the Naugahyde seat covers in my '77 Pontiac 'entura.  (It WAS a Ventura, 'til somebody stole the V.  Or maybe it just fell off).  Do you know how many naugas died to so you could have seat covers?, he chortled.  Turns out it got the name because it was invented in Naugatuck, Connecticutt.  (Thank you Wikipedia).  Back to that sound.  You insisted it was the naugahyde, but when you tried to recreate the sound it never worked.

We never did find a photo of the Carnation that supposedly existed in the 6600 block of El Cajon across from the Imperial 400 motel, nor even documentation that it ever existed.  Someone did mention a Carnation next to Don's Hamburgers on 54th and El Cajon.  Here's a photo I took in 1959.  I was probably waiting for my mom to pick me up from Horace Mann.  Click HERE if you'd like to see it enlarged.

 

We've probably posted this before, but here's the program from the 22nd Annual San Diego City Schools Football Carnival, played at Balboa Stadium on September 24, 1960 -- sixty years ago yesterday.  Click HERE to read the whole thing.  Howard Nott got his photo in the program representing Crawford.

September 18, 2020

 

I love Stranded on a Desert Isle cartoons.  This is Wednesday's Harry Bliss.

The first Jack-in-the-Box, according to the Foodmaker archives, was built in 1951 on the main east-west thoroughfare leading into the city.   I guess that would be Highway 80, or as we know it today, El Cajon Blvd, at 63rd St.  Click HERE to read more and see some pictures.

Oh, my, it's been 55 years since the Class of '66 celebrated its Senior Year!  Click HERE to read the Pacer for September 16, 1965.  Mrs. Charlene Archibeque headed an alphabetical listing of 21 new teachers.

Just wanted folks to know that my sweetheart Bob Bennett passed away September 7th after a brief illness.  Bob was in the class of ‘61 and we reunited in 2010.   Bob was a talented artist, musician and athlete.  He was a kind and generous man who was a true blessing in my life.  We shared so much history and treasured memories during the last ten years.  He will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him and his legacy will live in our hearts.  No services are planned and Bob's ashes will be scattered at sea.  Bob is survived by his twin brother Dick ’61, brother David '67 and three children -- Donna Johnson ’62

September 11, 2020

 

You can never go wrong with bathroom humor.  Here's a Bliss cartoon from earlier in the week.

The letter from AARP promised a FREE GIFT!  As opposed to a gift that's gonna cost me money?  I could never join a group that printed a blatant redundancy on its invitation.  You can take the English teacher out of the classroom, but you can't make them any less cranky.  (See below)

I was reading a novel this week in which the protagonist came in out of the cold and took off his beanie.   You KNOW which of the above I immediately thought of.  I thought the one on the right was a Watch Cap or Stocking Cap.  Language changes, but I'm having a hard time with it.

Who knew there was a Toy Hall of Fame?  Well, Yahtzee made it this year and some other folks did too.  Click HERE to read the article in the New York Times.

My classmate Ernie Cowan takes us to the High Sierra in this week's outdoor column in the Union-Tribune.  His writing successfully took me away from the daily travails for a blessed few minutes.  Click HERE -- and enjoy!!

I now have two vintage photos looking south on Highway 101 from Del Mar.  Click HERE to see them both.

Time for another look at one of my menus from Oscar's Drive-In.  It's oh-so frustrating that photos of the very popular hangout at El Cajon and Menlo have still not surfaced.  Click HERE to remember and dream.

Last, but certainly not least, is the December 16, 1966 Christmas Vacation issue of the Horace Mann Cougar Times student newspaper, courtesy of Dave and Linda Roberts Ponsford.  Click HERE to peruse all eight pages.

September 4, 2020

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend

Another humorous snippet from Honorary Colt Paula Kincaid

Here's the February 28, 1967 Horace Mann Cougar, courtesy of Dave and Linda Roberts Ponsford.  Click HERE to read all four pages.

Did you know Sandra Seiden from the Class of '67?  She passed away in 2007, but had no photo in the yearbook.   Paula Novell Strauss is the keeper of the Helix High Memorial Page and sent me Sandra's picture this week.  I still haven't figured it out.  Perhaps she transferred to Helix for her Senior Year.

News from the Alumni Association of the passing of Rita Hampton Ferreira sent me to the 1975 Centaur to scan her photo.  While going through the yearbook I discovered . . .

an ad for Sheng Haw Low on 58th and University

and this cute color photo of Crawford cheerleaders and mascots

Rita Hampton Ferreira 

November 4, 1957 - August 14, 2020

August 28, 2020

 

Took me a while to get this one.  You gotta know a little bit about dogs AND poker.

KPBS2 is re-running a great 2-hour documentary on the history of the circus in America.  It made me think about the great 1949 color photo of the Clyde Beatty circus in San Diego sent in by Bob Richardson.  That's his sister Margaret in the red sweater.  Click HERE to see an enlargement on the web site.

Dave and Linda Roberts Ponsford have sent me three Cougar Times from their days at Horace Mann.  I'm saving the best one for last.  Click HERE to see the April 28, 1967 issue.

Peter Sullins sends word that his wife Shirley Secor Sullins '62 passed away May 21, 2020

David Fichman ’66 passed away on the morning of November 22, 2015 in San Francisco, CA.  He moved around a lot as a kid but predominantly grew up in Ewa, HI, New Orleans, LA, and San Diego, CA.  He earned his Masters in Public Administration from San Diego State University and decided to become a teacher.  He has been a prominent member of the Sonoma community as a history teacher for the last 20 years at Altimira Middle School and more recently at the Sonoma Valley High School. He led both the Gay-Straight Alliance and Fly Fishing Club for his students during his career. He was an avid fly fisherman, kayaker, reader, and teller of "bad" jokes.

August 21, 2020

Courtesy of Honorary Colt Paula Kincaid

 

The Japanese, who seem to be in the forefront of Toilet Technology, are testing transparent public restrooms.  What could go wrong?  Actually, there's a switch that turns the glass opaque.  Click HERE to read the article in the New York Times.

I snagged this off the Crawford Page of the School Days portion of my web site.  It appears to have been posted a decade or so ago.  

I re-shared this earlier in the week on the Colt Corral Facebook page.  It's the Lerners in North Park on the southeast corner of University and Grim, probably around 1950.   I gather it was the go-to shop for Crawford girls before there were shopping centers.    It's now the San Diego Rescue Mission Gift Shop.  I wonder if there are any items on sale from the original Lerners.

Here's a couple of Rickshaw Boy ads from the mid '60s.  I wonder if you could use the ad below with the ad above and get three meals for $1.99?  Doesn't matter.  I doubt I had $1.99 in 1967.  Or two friends for that matter.  Rickshaw Boy sat at the southwest corner of 52nd and El Cajon, but its address was 5125.  Strange.  Corner lots usually end in 75 or 80 depending on whether they're north or south, assuming they're on the east end of the block.  They're still serving Asian food on that corner, but it's now Cali Baguette Express -- a Vietnamese restaurant.

Karen Greer Mehlick ’63 passed away at Tri-City Medical Center on August 12, 2020.  She was a fourth-generation San Diegan and graduated from San Diego State University in 1967.  In 1972 she met the love of her life, Fred, at the San Diego Naval Officer's Club. The couple was married July 6,1974 at Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala.  Karen cherished her time with her husband and their son, Matthew, including traveling, camping, and was very involved in her community and church.  Karen worked in the insurance industry as a claims adjuster and litigation manager for Allstate, Fireman's Fund, and AIG.She was a consummate volunteer and dedicated much of her life to various charitable organizations, including her most treasured experiences with Brother Benno's where she provided support to homeless in her community.

August 14, 2020

 

I think this is a chess joke

The San Diego Union-Tribune and the Women's Museum of California are celebrating a century of female achievement to mark the 100th year of women's suffrage in America.  Last Sunday's installment honored Women in Sports, and Laurel Brassey made the cut.  Laurel made history a year after graduating from Crawford High by becoming the first woman to play on an NCAA men’s varsity team -- joining the 1973 San Diego State men’s volleyball team as a setter.  An eligibility rule change enabled her to join the SDSU women’s team seven years later, just in time for the inaugural NCAA women’s volleyball championship (where the Aztecs finished third).  A U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics cost her an opportunity to play with the U.S. women’s team in Moscow, although she was a member of the U.S. women’s team that competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.  As a coach, she guided New Mexico to six NCAA Tournament appearances over 17 years.  She was elected to the Aztec Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2017.

On August 4, 2020 Bill Grigg and his wife, Jeannie came to our house for lunch and a visit.  Bill and Jeannie live in Surprise, Arizona and Gary and I live in Prescott, AZ which is 99 miles north of Surprise.  We had a wonderful Class of '70 micro-mini reunion -- Kris Pruski Wood  

Janice Ricca Hom '72 wonders if anyone remembers Rickshaw Boy on 52nd and El Cajon.  I wonder if she stole their poster.  I also wonder if anyone could name a restaurant Rickshaw Boy anymore.  Actually, I'm now wondering if I can get in trouble for even mentioning that it once existed.

This is a current photo of Lips nightclub, at 3036 El Cajon Blvd.  If you squint your eyes you might be able to picture it as the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor that existed in the 1960s.  It became a Sizzler Steak House in the 1980s.  I was amazed to learn that it had been a Carnation distribution center AND ice cream parlor during WWII and into the early '50s.   The Big Question is WHERE EXACTLY was the Carnation I remember, mentioned last week as being across the street from the Imperial 400 Motel?

I forget how it got started, but it turns out George Glover '73 is a big time hockey fan.  He shared this program from a San Diego Skyhawks match at Glacier Gardens on February 3, 1946.  Our family went to Glacier Gardens to see the Ice Follies.  It was located at 8th and Harbor Drive, not far from today's Petco Park. 

Live and Let Die topped the chart on the KCBQ Top 29 for August 17, 1973.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

Mary Ellen Wilson Lares '61 passed away April 30, 2020