January 12, 2024

 

Don't get it?  Scroll to the very bottom for a clue.

Last week's story about the closing of the Santee Drive-In brought back memories of the Campus Drive-In.  Click HERE to take another look at the Campus Drive-In page.

I've added a couple of pages from a 1955 program to my Balboa Stadium Auto Races page.  Click HERE to take a look.

When I wasn't building model airplanes -- when the cool kids were going to dances -- I might have been working on my stamp collection.  The Holy Grail of philatelists was the Inverted Jenny stamp, which you can now purchase from the post office.  Of course, it's not the original.

I thought you might enjoy this map of San Diego County dated 1940.  Then I discovered I'd already posted an almost identical map dated 1935.   Click HERE to peruse enlargements of both images and join me in scratching your head.

Diane Jean Baxter Alvarez ’64 -- known to all as Heidi -- passed away at her home in Medford, Oregon on September 28, 2023.  She  was retired from Hitachi Computer Products, located in San Jose, California.  Heidi married her first husband Don MacFarlane ’62 in San Diego in 1966.  With her second husband, and kindred spirit, David Alvarez she shared 39 years of happiness and life adventures.  She is survived by her sister Ann Baxter ’63.  I miss her dearly -- Susan Robertson Strom ’65 (Heidi’s first cousin)

I found my THRILL on Blueberry Hill

January 5, 2024

Remember pay phones?  Remember checking to see if someone forgot their change?

The Santee Drive-In closed last week end.  Click HERE to read the article in the Union-Tribune

I think we're down to the last couple of Joe Courtney 1954 photos.  This one looks north on 395 at the Washington Street turnoff.  Click HERE to see a larger view.

Once again I'm pondering the fact that Dietra Anderson was going to a gala function every weekend while I was home trying to get the decals right on a Revell model airplane.  I guess there really were parallel universes.  Click HERE to check out the invitation to the Class of '62 Junior Ball.

Bill Wolf ’68 passed away December 19, 2023 at his residence in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Bill was married to classmate Kathy "Kat" Lally.  Bill served in Viet Nam and had a long career as a San Diego Police Officer, retiring as a Sergeant -- Don Christofferson

December 29, 2023

 

(Note to self:  Don't start drinking until Monday evening)

I assume I'm not the only one wondering what the tattoos
on today's youngsters will look like in 50 years.

Chris Mannerino (not a Colt) took this stunning photo a couple of weeks back for a magazine article he's doing on the Coast Guard.  Click HERE to see it enlarged.

Christine and Ernie Griffin traveled to Montevideo a couple weeks back to visit with Lauren Montaldo, daughter of Crawford's first exchange student.  Click HERE to revisit the Darwin Montaldo page.

Some '68 Colts gathered at the Filippi's Mother Ship in Little Italy for lunch on December 14th.  Click HERE for a slightly larger photo and names.

I think that's Johnny Downs hawking Hage's milk.  I thought he was a Golden Arrow guy  Click HERE if you'd like to see the photo a little larger.

December 22, 2023

 

A whole lot of Gary Larsen cartoons have to do with animals.  I love this one.

Turns out the ironically named Paul Goodbody, in the December 15, 1973 Pacer was spoofing disc jockey Perry Allen, who had apparently appeared in print ads imitating the iconic Burt Reynolds photo in Cosmopolitan magazine.  So now you know the REST of the story.

I've added this Joe Courtney photo of Horton Plaza to another photo, which may have been taken by him at the same time.  Click HERE to see them both.

Paul Dean '61 passed away last week.  I have no details.  He was still a practicing dermatologist at Grossmont Hospital as late as last month.  I've put some things together on a Paul Dean page.  Click HERE to take a look.

December 15, 2023

 

Every mother's worst fear

Here's the cover of a "hip" invitation to a "beat' party at the Raborn residence on College Avenue -- "Off limits for squares."  Click HERE to take a look.

I've added this rendering to the La Cresta Motel page.  I've also added a couple of clippings that show its evolution from a Highway 80 motor court to an El Cajon Blvd rent-by-the-day motel of questionable repute.  Click HERE to check it out.

An interesting little photo from the Chollas Towers radio base.  Click HERE to see it enlarged.  I've also added a link to the photos I took of the demolition of the towers on November 10, 1995

An intriguing snippet from the December 15, 1972 Pacer.  Click HERE to read all six pages -- and get back to me if you know the back story on this photo.

December 8, 2023

WHAT?  Hanukkah's already begun?  I guess I didn't get the memo.  I hope my Old Testament friends enjoy the remaining festivities.

Great cartoons don't need captions

Now I know how the students in last week's ESL cartoon felt. (Actually this was a protest in Ukraine, and I sneakily cropped out the signs that were in English)

If my information is correct, these Colts from '69 just happened to be in Sydney, Australia at the same time and connected on Facebook.  Click HERE for an enlargement and caption.

Click HERE to flip through the pages of another treasure from the Dietra Anderson Collection, the Garden of Fashion Show from May 12, 1961.

Click HERE for an enlargement of this gorgeous night shot of Boulevard Dodge, at 2644 El Cajon Blvd.  I've added a current photo and a little more information.

 

December 1, 2023

I bet this really happened somewhere.

Dave Sleet wonders if the Kingsmen who played at the April A'La Mode dance in 1960 were the same ones who had a hit with Louie, Louie.  I suspect not.

I think I've shared this photo of PSA flight attendants Adele Rabin '69 and Debbie Roel '68 before, but Scott Shaw has added two more images that you can see if you click HERE.

Speaking of Scott Shaw, he's also shared his artwork for the front and back of a new album by the Space Pistols.  Click HERE to see both sides enlarged.  See how many San Diego landmarks you can spot.  I see the Tower Bar.

Here's another Joe Courtney photo from around 1954 -- a view of Mission Valley from the Presidio.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

George Glover did some research and found out all about the Miramar Base Housing photo.  Click HERE to read what he found

Jim Barber ’67 passed away after a short illness in Hamilton, Montana November 5, 2022 .  He had been living in Darby, Montana for the past 30 years, having chased his dream to be able to fly fish in his favorite places forever.   In 1971, he joined the Army and served in Germany.  After that, he worked for UPS while completing a Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a minor in Mathematics.  Once in Montana he fished and worked in the log home building industry.  And, he fished some more.   By his request, his ashes will be scattered in the Bitterroot River, near where he lived in Montana.   Jim and his best of buddies, John Bowman, have hopefully reunited and are fishing in the trout-filled rivers up above.  Jim is survived by our sister, Linda Barber Hatfield ‘68 and myself-- Sandy Barber Pikula ‘71

 

November 23, 2023

It's TURKEY Day!!

 

Still my favorite Turkey Day cartoon

I don't have any information on this photo, other than its title: 
Miramar Base Housing • 1956.   Click HERE for an enlargement.

I've added some items to the Parkway Bowl page.   Click HERE to take a look.

Looks like Dietra Anderson attended the Spring Dance on April 22, 1960   
Click HERE for the inside details.

Click HERE to read the November 22, 1972 Pacer

November 17, 2023

Uh, oh -- Somebody borrowed their father's horse

Jack Tempchin ’65 and Nathan East ’73 were on stage Sunday night for the Joe Walsh VetsAid Concert at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista.  Click HERE to read the article in the UT.  If your not sure where or what the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre is, I’ve listed its iterations at the bottom.

The Balboa Park Miniature Railroad is 75 years old.  Kids got to ride free last Monday.  Click HERE to revisit our web page.

This Joe Courtney color photo from the '50s was taken at Five Points.  Click HERE for an enlargement and some other stuff.

Click HERE to learn all about Dietra Anderson's date with Lee Young at the Jeff Greenleaf Benefit Dance on November 4, 1960.

From the November 12, 1958 Pacer -- 65 Years Ago

From the November 14, 1963 Pacer -- 60 Years Ago

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2022 -- North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

2017 -- Mattress Firm Amphitheatre

2013 -- Sleep Train Amphitheatre

2008 -- Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

1998 -- Coors Amphitheater