September 18, 2015

Remember when folks showed up in the neighborhood with a pony and a camera?  This 1948 shot of "Cowboy Johnnie" Fry was taken right at the front door of our Quonset Hut in the 32nd Street Naval Housing.

I'm pretty sure you've seen this photo of the Loma Theater before, but I'll run it by you again.  Click HERE to look at some other movie marquees I photographed around 1980.  Remember leaving the movies without disconnecting the speaker?  Remember when one stalled car could keep almost everyone from leaving the lot?

Crawford defeated Kearny last Friday 35-28 and remains unbeaten.  Tonight's game against La Jolla Country Day starts at 7 PM.  I'm pretty sure La Jolla Country Day is right next to the San Diego Police Department's Northern Division in case those Country Day kids try any rough stuff.

Craig Juleen '70 checks in from Alpine, a little upset that he missed his class reunion.  He especially hoped to make contact with Brian Seltzer and Randy Naiman.  I don't have emails for them.  Do you?

It's a darn shame.   The Class of '65 reunion is next weekend and I still have five untouched copies of the Centaur given to me by Jesse Morphew.  I had hoped someone on the committee would want them as door prizes, but they politely declined.  Any ideas?

John Dunbar '64 died March 31, 2015 according to his daughter Amber Dunbar-Truehart

Kathy Houser Nolan sends word of the passing of her cousin Patricia Parker Headley '64, who did not survive her most recent bout with cancer.  Click HERE to sign the on-line Memory Book.

September 11, 2015

WHY AM I HAVING DREAMS about my babyhood in Florida and the year I spent in Guam?  Oh, maybe because it's unbelievably hot and muggy in Pacific Beach.  Well, the Waffle Spot is air-conditioned.  Nancy and I went last Fry Day and were excited to see that the lobby was finally open. Too bad it was a 35 minute wait to be seated.  We went next door to Albie's Steak and Eggs.  Last time this happened we didn't find parking until we reached Brother's Restaurant on Waring Road.

Crawford scored 25 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to beat Escondido Classical Academy 32-19 last Friday and are now 2-0.  They'll play Kearny at Kearny tonight at 6:30 PM

Susan Marshall Gordon is looking for convertibles for the Homecoming Game to be played Friday, October 16 at 6:30 PM vs Holtville.  Because Crawford's field is still under construction, the game will be played at Lincoln's (almost) new facility.  Call or text Susan at 619-865-3410 or click on her underlined name to email her.

Speaking of snazzy cars, John Ramsey '60 has written an article entitled Three Porsches In My Life for 912 Registry Magazine.

Greg May posted this photo to the Streetcars Album of his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  He says it was taken June 1, 1948, which he may have deduced from the Rodeo advertisement on the front.  It's the #7 car headed west on University Avenue, leaving the Tower Bar and Euclid Avenue in its wake.

Turns out Greg May even has a Chicken Pie Shop Album on his Facebook page.  Gives me an excuse to show the photo Nancy took of the Utility Box Artwork outside the current Chicken Pie Shop.  That chicken looks to me like he's biding his time before taking his revenge.  Click HERE if you'd like to look at some more Utility Box Artwork.

Services for Harry Longdon ’65 will be held at 3 pm Saturday, September 12th, in the chapel at City View Church, 8404 Phyllis Place, San Diego, CA 92123.  He succumbed to adult leukemia on August 26, 2015.  A celebration of his life will follow at the home of his long-time friend Rick Bonnett in Serra Mesa.   Click HERE to read the complete obituary.

September 4, 2015

Enjoy your Three Day Weekend.  I hope -- like me -- every day is a Weekend Day for you.  Wait a minute!! I spent all weekend folding, tabbing and labeling 485 copies of the September Alumni newsletter.  If you're a subscriber your copy is in the mail.  It features a cover article on singer/songwriter Stephen Bishop, a '69 graduate of Crawford.  Click HERE for information on how to subscribe.

Classes don't start for another week, but the football season is underway and Crawford's already a winner. They thrashed Orange Glen High School last Friday in a game played at Hoover.  Click HERE to read all about it.  They play Classical Academy, another Escondido team, at Hoover today at 3:30.

If I understand correctly, there are legions of Facebook fans who don't believe there ever was an East San Diego.  Ed Fazio, whom I don't know, posted this photo of the #7 bus in the rain on Broadway enroute to EAST SAN DIEGO.

Facebook, on almost a daily basis, has new, old photos that excite me.  Greg May just added this photo of Farrari's Dairy and Jack Murphy stadium under construction to the Mission Valley Album of his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.

We already mentioned the passing of Randy Robbins '67, but the Union-Tribune has now published his obituary.  Click HERE to check it out.

August 28, 2015

IT'S DARK AND COOL IN PB -- and I wish it would stay that way.   Well, at least the cool part. Nancy and I will give the Waffle Spot another run this Friday morning.  Last Friday there was no parking, so we peeled off to the nearby Adams Steak & Eggs.

This Harry Bliss cartoon from last week cracked me up.  I wonder if it's the first of a new genre -- gay Boy Scout cartoons.  Maybe he's metrosexual.

A few members of Crawford's Class of ‘70 met at Kaffee Meister in Santee Wednesday to hear Guy Gonzales and the "The Gypsy Swing Cats"  Pictured are L to R: Debbie Mitton, Patty Crohn, Barbara Alvarez, Wayne Zucker, Debbie Picon, Guy Gonzales, Geneene Thornton, John Pacheco, and Kris Pruski.  We plan to meet every fifth Wednesday   -- September 30th, December 30th, March 30th, etc.   All Crawford alumni are encouraged to attend.

Greg May continues to post great stuff on his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  Here's a shot of the Carnation on Ohio and El Cajon Blvd.   Now if we could find a photo of the Carnation near El Cajon and Montezuma that the Crawford kids frequented.

Remember Big Oak Ranch in Harbison Canyon?  Greg May has an album of photos taken by Jerry May.  I wonder if that's his brother.  Would it have killed him to sneak some shots of the Swallows' Club?

Randy Robbins ’67 passed away at home in El Cajon on July 18th, according to his sister Beverly Robbins Lachman ’68.  He had been very sick with various ailments for more more than a decade.  He won four Emmys for directing The Young and Restless soap opera in the 1980s.

August 21, 2015

IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH but it looks like it will be a beautiful day.  The Wingo Women have returned, so I'm hoping Nancy will take me to the Waffle Spot, even though the lobby at the "Winchester House" King's Inn is still undergoing a "remodel" and a special path is required to get to the restaurant.

Dana Moffat -- granddaughter of Mike Fry and Karen Kees --  and her three boat-mates, bought home the gold in the World Rowing Junior Championship on August 8th.  Now, Dana -- second from left in the photo above -- will be rowing in senior matches with the UC Berkeley rowing team. A much sought-after young rowing powerhouse, she was awarded a full-ride four year scholarship to Berkeley.

Remember "The Tin Man" that stood atop the gas station on 32nd and University?  Greg May has a photo of it on his Vintage San Diego Facebook Page and, better yet, a Ken Kramer "About San Diego" story on its history.

Greg continues to add photos to his Jack-in-the-Box album, including a few taken by yours truly and at least one from my web site.  

Alan Osborn '64 forwards a snapshot of his English class, taught by E T Ross in Room 202.  Maybe you can help ID some of the students.  Click HERE to get to work.

August 14, 2015

IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH.  It's going to get hot at the beach, but I won't get any sympathy from the folks in East County.  Looks like it's gonna be another breakfast with Uncle Ben.

If you've wondered why I haven't mentioned Nancy and breakfast lately it's because of the Wingo Women's World Tour.  Nancy, Lisa and Leanne have been exploring America's highways and byways for nearly a month.  This vintage photo was taken earlier this week in Estes Park, Colorado, which -- I hope -- means they're headed in a southwesterly direction.  I'm not holding my breath. They were headed west from Syracuse, New York earlier in the trip and decided to take a detour to Williamsburg, Virginia.

From my classmate Terry Walker '62 -- "Once again I will be hosting, as well as dancing and singing in the San Diego Follies “Hit Parade.”  There will be six shows over four days August 20 through August 23.  It will be held once again at the Lincoln Performing Arts Center in San Diego.  With the Palm Springs version  shut down permanently, this is the “only game in town” for us old codgers.  The theme will be “Top 40” countdown of the greatest songs of all time.  The show is produced by Christian Community Theater and its organizer Paul Russell, a member of Crawford’s Class of ’71.  There is a cast of over 60 and a 15-piece orchestra.  Fun for everyone."

Girls Galore from ’64!  Here is a photo taken Wednesday of a bunch of us who met at the Olive Garden in Grossmont Center for lunch.  Front row:  Mary Anne Graham Schofield, Gloria Blish Michealson, Anita McDonald Perry.   Back row:  Shirley Jackson Peterson, Gail Bell (Jim Bell's wife); Mary Hansen Herrmann, Kim Beavers Shannon, Nancy Gibbons Potts.  Some of us meet monthly for lunch and it is always a lot of fun.  Shirley Petersen comes down from Los Angeles every month and Gloria Michealson came from Arizona! 

My classmate Ron Jagodinski '62 forwards a photo, taken by his Mom around 1956, of two Admirals' Barges at Broadway Pier.  That's a British warship in the background.  Click HERE to see an enlarged version.

Do any of you remember this "classic" record?  It was a 33 1/3 RPM cardboard record in the middle of a 1966 MAD Magazine.  You tore it out and played it.  I used to have and actually put it in the middle of a book to keep it flat and then could never find it again.  Here is a picture of the record and I have attached the actual song.  Only MAD Magazine would have put out something like that way back then -- Rick Middlestead ’64  

(I wasn't sure how to share Rick's MP3 attachment.  I will attach and send it to those who ask.  Be warned, it's basically two minutes of intermittent belching -- John Fry)

Click HERE to read the January 21, 1966 copy of the Horace Mann Cougar Times, from the collection of John Pacheco '70.

David Ming '65 passed away July 1st.  That's all the person at the other end of David's email address chose to share.

August 7, 2015

NOT MUCH HAPPENING around the Colt Corral this week, but at least no one sent me an obituary. I've dug into the files on my web site to bring out a couple Golden Oldies.  

Here's the KDEO "Fabulous 40" for August 9, 1963.

This Oscar's Menu dates from about the same period, I think.   Click  HERE to peruse all six pages and HERE to go the the Memories Page of my web site and look at some other Oscar's goodies.

From the John Pacheco collection, here's the Cougar Times for October 29, 1965.  There's only one article on Halloween, but several on new faculty members.  Oh, did I mention Governor Pat Brown visited the school?

July 31, 2015

Remember "Dick and Jane"?  That ship has sailed several times.

My good buddy Jeff told me about the April 20th cover of the New Yorker.  I gather it came out shortly after Cuba and the US decided to be friends again.  Click HERE to see an enlargement of this vision of Cuba after American business gets a new toehold

It would appear that Greg May has added some new photos to the Streetcar Album on his Vintage San Diego Facebook page. Click HERE to check them out.  You may have to be a Facebook member. This shot was taken on Broadway in front of the old, old courthouse (I think). 

The June 15, 1965 issue of the Cougar Times, courtesy of John Pacheco, is the 6-page Graduation Issue.  It's worth checking out just for the great photos of Julie Hansell  and Louie Schwartzberg,   Click HERE to peruse the publication.

Victor Perez sends word of the passing of Beatrice Goodwin Karp '67 on July 22.  I have no other details at this time, except that her daughter Ilana Sharone Karp is a '95 Crawford graduate.

Raymond Kirk '68 passed away July 24th.  Memorial Services will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 5150 Wilson Street, La Mesa, at 11:00 a.m., reception to follow. Burial Services will be held Monday, August 10, 2015, at Miramar National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Click HERE to read his obituary and sign the guest book.

July 24, 2015

Once upon a time, in a land known as East San Diego, girls would ride the bus to North Park and shop at Whitneys.   Greg May has added two photos of Whitneys to the North Park album on his Vintage San Diego Facebook page

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Later on, driver's licenses in hand, those girls would go out in the evenings to the movies.  One popular venue was the Valley Circle Theater, about where BevMo is in Mission Valley today.  Greg May has two photos and a great Grand Opening advertisement for the Valley Circle.  The Grand Opening took place December 26, 1966.

From the collection of John Pacheco, here's the

January 29, 1965 Horace Mann Cougar.

Speaking of the Horace Mann Cougars, Vivien Messick Isom drove by the old school the other day and noticed that it was now "The Home of the Tigers".  She wonders if female faculty members didn't want to be thought of as Cougars.

Victor Perez sends word that Naida Groff, his Biology teacher at Crawford, has passed away.  Click HERE to go to the Faculty Obituary Page.

Lee Cook '66 shares the sad news of the passing of his classmate Carole Kudrna Coleman.  Click HERE to go to the Class of '66 Obituary Page and learn more.

July 17, 2015

The San Diego Union-Tribune will have completed all 100 of its 100 Memories of Balboa Park by the time you read this (I think).  The miniature railway was #94.  Click HERE to check out the series -- and HERE to revisit the photos on my web site.

Crawford’s Class of 1970 will have an “Icebreaker” on Friday, July 24^th from 4-8ish at the Bahia Resort Hotel’s Tangier Bar (998 W. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego 92109).  (Free appetizers from 3-5 so come early if you can )

This ad from the November 3, 1971 Daily Aztec recently appeared on Facebook

I had a request for a Crawford "C" with a horse jumping through it and thought I'd share what I found with you.  This decal set was loaned for copying by Sally Brett '63

Class of ’64 girlfriends Meri Pierce Knight, Kris Gjerde Flynn, Bev Bachman Fritschner, Laurie Koosed Ratner and Janis Irvine Ricards get their picture taken at Fashion Valley’s True Food Kitchen on July 14th.

Another group of '64 classmates met at Claim Jumper, in Grossmont Center, on the 15th.  Left to right are Anita McDonald Perry, Nancy Gibbons Potts, Mary Hansen Herrmann, Kim Beavers Shannon, and Shirley Jackson Petersen

John Pacheco '72 has loaned me his collection of Horace Mann Cougars.  This one has no date, but I'm pretty sure it's March of 1968.  Click HERE to decide for yourself.

Robert Quinten '71 is alive and well.   The reports of his passing, according to classmate Victor Perez, date back to a time prior to the last class reunion.  Robert apparently thought it would be fun to spread the word that he had left this mortal coil.  His photo doesn't appear in the yearbook, so I've substituted an appropriate vizage.

J Mitchell "Joe" Simon '71, on the other hand, passed away in January 2014.  Details are hazy and not likely to be forthcoming.

Karen Kessler '75 sends word of the belated passing, on June 20, 2010 of classmate Dyan McCormack Wootton.  Dyan moved to Leucadia during high school and she graduated from San Dieguito.