May 27, 2016

Memorial Day has snuck up on me again.  Click HERE to take another look at the Crawford High Graduates Who Died In Vietnam page -- and remember them.

Nancy and I DID travel to the hinterlands for breakfast last Friday.  We dined at Major's Coffee Shop in Pine Valley.  Lulu Anaya Bayless '63 asked what hinterlands meant.  I assumed meant the boonies. Turns out it also means "away from the coast" -- so I nailed it.  Remember, even a broken clock is right twice a day.  Well, maybe not a digital clock.

Earl Altshuler hosted a Crawford Baseball Alumni Party on May 14th.  Click HERE for a bigger picture -- and names.  Yes, Bill Sandback is in there.

Click HERE to read the Golden Anniversary Pacer from May 26, 1966.  Von Jacobsen and Nancy Miljas were the Senior Sketches subjects.  There's a nice photo of Richard Robinette directing the band, plus all manner of tux and corsage ads for the Senior Prom.

I don't have a follow-up, but I thought you might enjoy this photo of Lloyd's Furniture, 4275 El Cajon Blvd, that popped up this week on Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook page.

Remember Cinema Grossmont?  Apparently it's not there anymore.  Click HERE to look over some artwork from the theater's opening.  Do you remember what year that might have been? You'll find out when you click the link.

Lots of folks weighed in on the 395 and Highway 80 photo, some of whom pointed out the Helms Bakery on the left.   Click HERE to revisit the page, read about the Helms delivery trucks, listen to the Helms whistle, and look at a Howard Rozelle photo of the Mrs. Conkling's delivery truck.

A number of you pointed out that I neglected to share the graduation year for the late Cecilia Abbott. She was Class of '59.

May 20, 2016

Information on reunions for the above classes can be found on the Reunions Page of this web site.

Speaking of the Class of '61, click HERE to read the program from the Senior Play

Greg May posted this photo on his Vintage San Diego Facebook page as the intersection of Highways 80 and 395 in the 1950s.  Looks like Fairmount Avenue to me.  Was Fairmount ever 395?  Click HERE to read more and peruse an enlarged version of this photo.

This photo of the Rancho Drive-In popped up on Greg May's Facebook page this week.  It appears to be the same one taken by Pat Patterson, uncle of Julie Eskew Daniel '64 and posted on my web site. Click HERE to see it slightly enlarged.  Click HERE if you have Facebook and want to see some other Rancho photos.

Ken Daly '63 shares a remembrance of Scott Brown on the Class of '63 Obituary Page.

Ardis Waymire Brown sends word that her classmate Cecilia Abbott Kounaris passed away January 9, 2016.

May 13, 2016

Happy Friday the 13th!!  Looks like it'll be a beautiful day.

I thank you and Chassion thanks you!!  The Crawford Soccer GoFundMe account reached its $2500 goal late last Sunday.

Terry Walker '62 (that's him below) will be hosting the 2016 San Diego Follies at Helix High School June 16-19th.  Click HERE for details.

Here's the May 12, 1966 Pacer from 50 years ago.  Click HERE to check it out.

I was perusing the San Diego Historic Neon Facebook page when the familiar photo above popped up.  Seemed like as good an excuse as any to revisit the Don Jose's Mexican Food page.

Turns out College Avenue and 60th Street aren't the same street.  That's just one of the things I learned when folks got back to me about "King" Arthur's Court.   Click HERE to learn more.   I've included links to the Aztec Drive-In and Aztec Motel.

May 6, 2016

Am I the only one who thinks Ron Howard and Padres' Manager Andy Green are twins separated at birth?

Chassion Griggs, the new soccer coach at Crawford, is working to get college scholarships for players he thinks can play at that level.  An important step in the process is for them to be able to participate in "Club Soccer" after school and on weekends.  San Diego United Club has agreed to accept Chaisson's best players at a stunningly-reduced entry fee.  He has set up a GoFundMe account in hopes of raising the $2500 that will cover the cost for six students he's got his eye on.  Click HERE to read more and -- hopefully -- help out.

You are invited to an evening of musical entertainment featuring pianist David Geist '80 and Hannah Kornfeld in the Crawford High Auditorium on Wednesday, June 1st.  Click HERE for information on how to support this Crawford fundraiser.

This fun map of San Diego, created in 1928, showed up on Facebook this week.  I've enlarged it and put it on my web site for those of you who don't "do" Facebook.  Click HERE to check it out.

Also appearing on Facebook was this postcard of "King" Arthur's Court, a "motor lodge" at Highway 80 and 60th St -- El Cajon Blvd and College Avenue in modern parlance.  Click HERE if you'd like to see it enlarged.

A final Facebook entry is this seven minute computer-generated video showing the history of the late China Camp Restaurant from its beginning as Tops.  Click HERE to watch -- and prepare to turn down the irritating music.

April 29, 2016

Ay Caramba!!  If my calculations are correct, next week's Colt First Thursday Fiesta will take place on Cinco de Mayo.  That's May 5th, by the way.  No matter how early you arrive, there will be Crawford people already chatting and dining.  Amigo Spot • King's Inn • Mission Valley

Dave Palmer was looking for information on the Class of '66 Reunion and found my website.  He's now listed on the Class of '66 Email Page.

Renewal notices for the quarterly 12-page alumni newsletter have gone out to those who subscribe from the Class of '71.  Click HERE if you'd like to subscribe.

Here's the April 28, 1966 issue of the Pacer.  Click HERE to read all six pages.

George Sorensen '69 was Huck Finn in the 1966 Horace Mann production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  Apparently he forgot to return his 56-page songbook.  I've excerpted the first five pages.  Click HERE to check them out.

Johnny Long '61 passed away April 21st, says his sister Barbara Long Van Pelt '64.  You can sign the Guest Book via the Class of '61 Obituary Page.

Rona Goldfarb '62 died April 23rd in Los Angeles from leukemia.  

April 22, 2016

It's Earth Day.  I'm not sure what to do today.  Not like the olden days when I led my students at Hale Junior High on protest marches and ended up in the principal's office.

Elaine Robinson Davis ’61 will be the featured artist in Gallery 23, Spanish Village, April 16th to the 30th.  She will also be in booth 381 and 383 for Art Walk, Little Italy.  She would love to see old friends and classmates.

Larry Okmin '64 was "in the house" at the Amigo Spot last Saturday night.  He brought in the Little League Program above, which he found at an estate sale, to share with George Fogelman.  I snagged it before George could get it.  I had hoped to share it as a Picasa file, but I guess my Mac has gotten too old.  In the meantime, I'll post it on Facebook so some of you can read it.  You'll recognize a lot of names, if you're my age, and get a kick out of the advertisements.  Oh, by the way, Larry Okmin brought his sax and sat in with the band.  Very nice.

Julie Eskew Daniel '64 forwards a BEFORE picture of the Helix Theater (above) and an AFTER photo of downtown La Mesa.

Owen Western '63 shares a fabulous 78 record by Smokey Rogers.  Click HERE to read the back story, and listen to "No Vacancy" and "I Let My Wife Support Me".   I am stunned at the quality of the writing and singing.  "No Vacancy" is about returning WWII veterans trying to find a place to live.  It should be in the Library of Congress.  If you, like Buddy Rich, dislike only two kinds of music -- country and western -- my apologies.

April 15, 2016

THE SKY IS GETTING light in the East and a beautiful day is forecast for Pacific Beach and San Diego.  Nancy and I will try to fight through the construction to breakfast at the Waffle Spot -- or not.

I wonder if Sandy Shapery '61 played Monopoly as a youth.  I remember all-day games on my block, interrupted only by a quick lunch.  I got to thinking about all this when I spotted a photo in the Union-Tribune of what some of us, and Sandy, call the Gas and Electric Building.  Turns out Sandy owns the building, wants to remodel it, and is interested in your suggestions.  Click HERE to read all about it.

Class of '64 grads, or at least the ones who bought an annual, will recognize this photo from the yearbook's frontispiece.  I've tried to blend the two pages into one for your viewing pleasure.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

This superb photo of downtown La Mesa and the Helix Theater showed up this week on Greg Mays' Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  I liked it so much I enlarged it and put it on my web site.  Click HERE to check it out.

April 8, 2016

New technology provides new humor.  Here's a Bizarro cartoon from Tuesday of this week.

Yippee!!  J and M's is featuring Pork Chops as one of its April Specials.  Now all I need is a ride to Escondido.  Oh, wait -- what does it say in fine print?  "Served Anytime During March".

Tom Clancy and I both wrote military books.  He used his royalty checks to buy part of the Baltimore Oriole baseball team.  I may cash my $25 check and head out to the Wrangler Barbecue in El Cajon. Turns out George Glover '73 is part owner.   George got his start at a barbecue place in the shopping center at 63rd and El Cajon.

Click HERE to check out the "Boss 30" top hits on KGB 1360 for April 9, 1966.  Gee, that's almost 50 years ago!!

Jim Kermott '67 shares a classic photo of Colts and Cardinals from the "Colt Country Club".  Jim says that was any bar in Tijuana on a Friday or Saturday night.  Click HERE to see what they're drinking.  Must've been something special 'cause at least two of the couples got married.

John McGuigan '64 poses with Trooper, in a photo taken earlier this week in Squaw Valley.  Trooper is the newest Squaw Valley Avalanche dog, also known as Squawdogs.  John is in his 13th year as a Volunteer Ski Patroller.  

I've just learned of the passing of Wayne Morgan '64 on March 14th in Bullhead City, Arizona.  Click HERE to read an obituary.

April 1, 2016

The perfect day to read the best April Fool's Day publication.  Click HERE to peruse the April 1, 1960 issue of the Pacer.

If you don't get your Fry Day email, go to the Colt Corral blog.  If THAT isn't current, then you can email me and ask if I'm OK.  Thanks for caring.

The plan, last Friday, was to breakfast at the Waffle Spot, then head out to the Barbecue Pit on Fletcher Parkway to pick up a Roast Beef Plate that I could put in the fridge to eat at a later date.  The Waffle Spot was packed to the gills, so we headed to Brothers on Waring Road.  A black pickup truck entered the lot ahead of us -- and took the last parking place.  Waring to Navajo to Lake Murray Blvd got us to the Lake Murray Cafe, where there WAS parking.  After that it was a short trip to the Barbecue Pit and smooth run back to the beach on Highway 52.

Kathy Keeyes Antus '68 shares her Monte Hall Birthday photo.  Click HERE to see the enlarged version.

Click HERE to check out the March 31, 1966 Golden Anniversary issue of the Pacer.