Memories of South Orange County (San Diego, Long Beach: apartment, new home, high school)
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How about sharing your favorite memories of the old days? For me, that would be the 60's and 70's. I'll start with watching them build the jetties at Dana Point Harbor. Any other (relative) old timers care to share?
I lived in Anaheim when Disneyland was built. We lived in a new housing tract where orange groves had been, so we had many orange tree's in our yard. At night we would go outside, pick an orange and watch the fireworks. We went to Brookhurst Jr High. Then built a new home in Garden Grove. In my high school years we moved to Orange so went to Orange High. The Righteous Brothers were the big thing, and madras shirts and of course surfing. We used to hang out at Knotts Berry Farm or Disneyland dances. Went to see Dick Dale. I worked at Beno's Donuts in Orange. After high school my girl friend and I got an apartment in Anaheim - So. Fahrion Place - and then Santa Ana - Minnie and McFadden. All those places now are slums - it is so sad to see how things have changed over the years. Going to the beach was always fun - we went to Newport most of the time. I remember the Angel Stadium being built. I left California in 1966 to move to Minnesota with my new husband. I have only been back 3 times. In 1972 I drove my two litttle girls to California to see where I grew up and see the ocean and go to Disneyland. I flew back for my dads birthday in Feb. 1986, to Upland and couldn't believe the horrendous traffic just to go to the mall for a gift. My last trip was June of 1996 - many of the towns that I remembered so well were now pretty shabby - especially the drive between Culver City to Lakewood, where my grandparents used to live. The building and houses were much older, but not many seemed to be taken care of anymore. The beautiful yards were gone and replaced by stone fences. But I will always love the beautiful Orange County that I grew up in and will always have the wonderful memories of palm tree's and sunshine (and sometimes fog) and the Santa Ana winds, and avocado orchards, and little horny toads that we used to catch that lived in the sand and lizards. The snails in the ivy, I can do without. Riding our bikes and roller skating with those old metal skates that you had to strap on your shoes. And KFWB radio. And Coors beer - was the best (I can't even gag it down now, ha ha). Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, La Palma chicken pot pie shop (Euclid and LaPalma), Winchells Donuts, great miniature golf places where we would go for our birthdays in December. Chalet Pancake House in Anaheim - the Top Hat bar in Anaheim - GG Brown Derby in Santa Ana and all our marine friends from LTA (Tustin Air Station).
I am going to try to put together a little book of places that I remember by getting photo's off the internet (all of mine got lost when I was a crazy party girl after high school). Memories of Southern California - sort of a story of my life. Oh and I forgot the Pike in Long Beach.
Sorry this is so long - but the memories just keep coming. I can't wait to read others memories.
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My parents moved to Anaheim in 1954 when I was a baby. I also went to Brookhurst. Which I hated with a passion. Anyone remember flexible scheduling? How about sex ed? Dang, that got everyone's panties in a knot. Anaheim was way ahead of it's time on that one. Anyway...
For South O.C. memories? O'Neil Park. It was a real adventure to drive there from Anaheim. I was a little kid but it seemed like the drive took forever. Lots of back roads. But O'Neil park was the boonies. We'd spread our blanket out and have a picnic. It wasn't developed at all, just a huge open space with trees and brush.
We'd go to Laguna Beach which was also undeveloped. There was some place where we'd actually use ropes to get to the beach.
As I'm thinking of memories of south county from the 50s and 60s I realise I really don't have many because it wasn't developed. And we were a family that would get in the car and take a long drive on Saturdays. No housing tracts. No malls. No UCI. You drove through south O.C. to get to San Diego. And back then you took the 5 all the way. The old timers will remember when the 405 was built and the name changes for the freeways were put in.
Seems like south county hit the "big time" when Nixon had his Western White House in San Clemente. That brought the reporters and a little national attention.
I remember all the great beaches in south Orange county where we swam & surfer at when I was younger. But I am not that old so these areas are about the same as they were 10 yrs ago. San Clemente, San Onfre, Newport beach & Huntington are great for water sports.
And back then you took the 5 all the way. The old timers will remember when the 405 was built and the name changes for the freeways were put in.
Actually when I moved down there in '68 they were just finishing I5 through Capo Beach. I think that was the final section to be completed and you had to get off and drive a ways on Avery Parkway and highway 1 then get back on somewhere in San Clemente.
Another memory was going to Salt Creek beach near where I lived on a dirt road and having to pay a guy who lived in a shack $1 to pass. Was known as "Young's Beach" then. Now of course it's dominated by the Ritz Carleton and Niguel Beach Park.
Other things I remember - Pottery Shack and the the Greeter in Laguna. The battleship New Jersey bombarding the goats on San Clemente Island. Loud Phantom jets flying over the coastline and into El Toro. College parties on Balboa Island. Diving off the cliffs at Three Arch Bay in sync with the waves coming in. Harvesting abalone from the rocks. Stottlemyers sandwiches and Swensens Ice Cream. Swimming off deserted Shark Island in Newport (now called Linda Isle). Clam chowder at the Crab Cooker. Festival of the Arts. Driving 100 mph past the Ziggurat building out in the undeveloped back section of Niguel. Surfing alone at dusk.
This isn't south OC but I remember our first trip to Tijuana with friends - only 17 but went with a bunch of guys from our apts. It was crazy down there - could drink all night. But I mostly remember the poor little kids trying to sell us a pack of gum to make some money. The poverty was horrible. And the jewlery we bought at super prices, and then the rings turned green in a few days. And everyone said not to eat Taco's down there, because they were probably dog and cat meat. And hitting Jack in the Box in San Diego for Taco's on the way home.
Come on guys, lets hear some more of your memories.
Actually when I moved down there in '68 they were just finishing I5 through Capo Beach. I think that was the final section to be completed and you had to get off and drive a ways on Avery Parkway and highway 1 then get back on somewhere in San Clemente.
Are you sure that memory isn't from an earlier time, such as the early sixties?
The freeway was finished all the way to the OC/SD county line by, at the latest, 1964. That's the point where you had to jump off the interstate and continue South through Camp Pendleton on the old road, Hwy 101, also known as "Slaughter Alley".
I lived in Anaheim when Disneyland was built. We lived in a new housing tract where orange groves had been, so we had many orange tree's in our yard. At night we would go outside, pick an orange and watch the fireworks. We went to Brookhurst Jr High. Then built a new home in Garden Grove. In my high school years we moved to Orange so went to Orange High. The Righteous Brothers were the big thing, and madras shirts and of course surfing. We used to hang out at Knotts Berry Farm or Disneyland dances. Went to see Dick Dale. I worked at Beno's Donuts in Orange. After high school my girl friend and I got an apartment in Anaheim - So. Fahrion Place - and then Santa Ana - Minnie and McFadden. All those places now are slums - it is so sad to see how things have changed over the years. Going to the beach was always fun - we went to Newport most of the time. I remember the Angel Stadium being built. I left California in 1966 to move to Minnesota with my new husband. I have only been back 3 times. In 1972 I drove my two litttle girls to California to see where I grew up and see the ocean and go to Disneyland. I flew back for my dads birthday in Feb. 1986, to Upland and couldn't believe the horrendous traffic just to go to the mall for a gift. My last trip was June of 1996 - many of the towns that I remembered so well were now pretty shabby - especially the drive between Culver City to Lakewood, where my grandparents used to live. The building and houses were much older, but not many seemed to be taken care of anymore. The beautiful yards were gone and replaced by stone fences. But I will always love the beautiful Orange County that I grew up in and will always have the wonderful memories of palm tree's and sunshine (and sometimes fog) and the Santa Ana winds, and avocado orchards, and little horny toads that we used to catch that lived in the sand and lizards. The snails in the ivy, I can do without. Riding our bikes and roller skating with those old metal skates that you had to strap on your shoes. And KFWB radio. And Coors beer - was the best (I can't even gag it down now, ha ha). Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, La Palma chicken pot pie shop (Euclid and LaPalma), Winchells Donuts, great miniature golf places where we would go for our birthdays in December. Chalet Pancake House in Anaheim - the Top Hat bar in Anaheim - GG Brown Derby in Santa Ana and all our marine friends from LTA (Tustin Air Station).
I am going to try to put together a little book of places that I remember by getting photo's off the internet (all of mine got lost when I was a crazy party girl after high school). Memories of Southern California - sort of a story of my life. Oh and I forgot the Pike in Long Beach.
Sorry this is so long - but the memories just keep coming. I can't wait to read others memories.
That was a neat post. If you aren't aware of it, there is a thread on the California forum that I'm sure you could contribute to:
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