Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hi All,

Hope the start of the holiday season is going super for everyone.

I am working on a short story idea about free gambling (junkets) flights that I use to take in the late 1960s and early 1970s from San Diego Airport to Las Vegas (during the time I was at UCSD). The deal was that you showed up about 11:00 PM at San Diego airport, went to a particular gate where you would get a ticket/boarding pass, boarded the plane (I think it was Western Airlines), and by about 1:00 AM you landed in Vegas, then off on a private bus to I think the Flamingo Casino, gambled until about 6:00 AM (and eat a big free breakfast), then bus back to the Vegas airport, and the same plane brought you back to San Diego. I think Kennedy and Cook did this with me several times, but honestly, I can’t remember. Does anyone remember these San Diego to Las Vegas gambler flights? George you are good with CV and San Diego history so maybe you have some idea about this. Of course, at my stage in life I could be imagining this based on a movie, story, dream, or … who knows.

Ciao, Jerry

P.S. For your enjoyment here is a link to my latest story and photos: 

https://wander-mag.com/articles/travel-well/motovun-croatia-hilltop-haven-tranquility-truffles-timeless-charm/

Roy E. Winchell

George Bracey Gillow

Jerry, sorry it has taken so long to respond to your question of post 4040 about the Las Vegas Gambling Flights.

There is not much history about these flights. They began in Los Angeles with what they called champagne flights. As you mentioned they would fly people in the evenings to Las Vegas, give them Champagne and fly them back the next morning. Some planes had a piano on board.  

The flights were done by a number of strip casinos. However, they found that they often lost money because many people who took the flights did not do much gambling. Eventually the junkets became less common.

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hey George, Thanks for getting back to me on my rather vague gambler flights memory. I can’t recall too many of the details, but I do remember eating big free breakfasts at whatever casinos we were taken to and I think I came out ahead, but that was not from the casino tables but from individual betting with other gamblers in the airport waiting areas and on the plane. I do pretty clearly remember going to Caliente for the horses and dogs, losing mostly, and also betting at Jal-Alai in downtown TJ, always losing at Jal-Alai. Another weird gambling story was in 1959 with my parents at the Rosarito Beach Hotel. My brothers and I were there when it was raided, but somehow, because I think my dad has some connections in Mexico, and could speak Spanish fairly well, he talked his way (maybe bribed), out of being arrested, but I do remember it was a long ride back to CV in the middle of the night in that four door Plymouth Fury. Ciao, Jerry

Bruce Wilson

I was doing a little catching up and discovered sadly that David Lindsay had passed away 12-4-2024. I had not seen nor heard much about David and was surprised and quite impressed by the twists and turns of his career.

THANKS TO ROY WINCHELL FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

Only foto I had readily at hand.

Harse Hitchcock Lindsay Smith Newall Vredenburg Morgan 

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Yo Jerry, Good to see your post about Royce. Being a Cheerleader, I remember him very well. If I recall correctly, he always seemed to be so grown up and discipline, with me being a real ‘squirrel’ (still am). I hope your family and friends (neighbors) are doing okay with all the fires and destruction near Pasadena. Problem is, looks like we are all in for more extreme climate issues as we go forward, everywhere. Take care and be safe. Ciao, Jerry

Robert Eugene (Bob) Beckwith

Time to chime in!!!
Not sure this applies or even of interests.  Wanted to share a picture taken some time after we graduated.
Mike and Turrie Swift are on the left and both have passed.  Janet is standing next to me, Class of 66, her daughter Emily, called to say that Janet passed a couple of weeks ago.  On the right is sister, Caro,l (class of 61) and her husband, Ritch Adiair. The picture was taken form a spot that you probably can’t get to easily today (certainly not on dirt roads) We were at one end of “H” street and Gaylord Hotel at the other end.

If you haven’t floated the Middle Fork of the Salmon, I’m going encourage all to put it on your to do list. It’s a 6-day 100miles of free-flowing river.  The stop at Loon Creek hot spring is worth the trip itself.  Hot water up to your neck.  The river flows through part of the Frank Church Wilderness, let me know if you are interested or want trip details.  
Janet and her family lived across the street from us in C.V.  Her brother, Jess and Mark (both Hilltop Grads) are planning to come to her memorial. Jesse, his wife, Deb, and I graduated from The College of Idaho. I hope to be at Janet’s memorial on the 15th of March.  Before or after would be a grand time for mini reunion, if anyone is interested.  
Wishing all the best for New Year 2025.  More fun to come.
Bob

P.S. If you can't get the picture, want it, send an email to beckwithroberte@gmail.com and I will get you a copy.

George Bracey Gillow

The link below is of a pdf presentation document that I did about the year 1945.

I believe that was the most eventful and consequential year in history.

It, also, was the year I was born.

The presentation has some of the significant events of 1945 and some interesting side stories.

I would appreciate any comments, corrections, or criticisms.

https://www.hilltop66.com/000/7/5/9/29957/userfiles/file/The%20year%201945%20Rev1.pdf

(Note that this is a link that Nova Paine created for the Hilltop 66 site.)

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Yo George, Very, very well done with that 1945 presentation. 1945 was definitely a consequential year for the US because it pretty much laid the foundation for the US domination of the world. Many things come to mind for me with regards to the ending of WWII. First, the deeper analysis of the behind the scenes carving up of the world by the west, mostly the US, and the East, Russia (with the US occupation of Germany and Japan—currently maintaining about 60K US troops in Germany and 50K US troops in Japan). In my assessment the US was mostly the ‘winner’ here which has, despite all the negativeness about how bad off the US is, has resulted in the US having the biggest economy (GNP) in the world, by far, with practically every other country way behind. China in 1945 barely had an economy, but that is changing really fast. The US also, by far, has the strongest military and defense in the world (China is hot on our heels here too). The US also has one of the highest standards of living. This is somewhat debatable, but I say this based on my time spend in many other countries for extended periods—UK, Isreal, and Italy. I sincerely believe we are all pretty lucky we were raised in CV by those post WWII parents. I do like how happy they are in Finland but too dark and cold for a Southern California Surfer (me). Where to go from here? It seems like we need another Yalta conference, but this one has got to involve everyone—big and small countries/economies and be based on reality of how close the world has become and will continue to be with a focus of the conference being on quality of life for the entire earth. And in the process, as you have done George, study and learn from history. (As a side note, I think I am a philosopher 😊—or … ) Ciao, Jerry

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Yo Everyone, Here we go with another beautiful Spring in San Diego with good surf everywhere. Sorry if you have moved out of the San Diego area and can’t afford to move back. Premium gas at Costco Carlsbad is ONLY $5.49 per gallon, but surfing is free with water temp a crisp 60 degrees Fahrenheit. And talking about surfing, here’s another one of my crazy stories about a surf trip Danny Ramirez, Larry Cook, and I took to Mazatlán in August and September 1965. I am a little surprised that I can remember this adventure so well, but it was a very memorable experience. https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/mazatlan-coming-of-age-surf-trip  Ciao, Jerry

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

George Bracey Gillow

Victory in Europe--80 Years

Tomorrow, May 8th, is the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Here is the video of VE Day celebrations that I also have a link to in my 1945 document of Post 4047 on this HHS 64 site:

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Thank you Geroge for sharing that video of celebrations of the European end of WWII. It was interesting to see in that short segment of rather calmer of USSR celebrations given they were the really big losers when it came to casualties, around 25 million, with the US at about 400 thousand. Anyway, it was good to see that excitement and hope in those celebrations, but too bad WWI was not The War to End All Wars, with WWII being somewhat of an continuation of WWI, and currently the world continues to keep shootin’ at each other. Ciao, Jerry

George Bracey Gillow

Jerry (a.k.a. Surfer and Computer Education Specialist.)

Thanks for your comments on my 1945 document and the VE day video. And for your analisis of the WWII and the post War era.

Also, I enjoyed your article in SurferToday.  I never was a surfer but wanted to surf. Just did not get around to it.

George Bracey Gillow

More on VE Day--80 Years

The father of Pope Leo XIV, Louis Marius Prevost, was a lieutenant in the USN in WWII. He was the executive officer of a Landing Ship. The ship was in the landings on D-Day (June 6, 1944) and Operation Dragon, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. His ship also was involved in other operations in the Mediterranean.

It is interesting that his son was elected Pope on May 8th, 2025 the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Operation Dragon:

George Bracey Gillow

The Gaylord Pacific Hotel has offically opened on the Chula Vista Bayfront.

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Yo George and All, Thanks for the Gaylord Resort post George. It looks like some ‘brutalist’ architecture to me but hey, keep it simple, it’s Chula Vista. I did see that the Gaylord had “The Hilltop Suite.” That’s great! Apparently, it features a life size picture of me in 1964 in my Cheerleader outfit. They offer an option for me personally to stay in the Suite with the guests. Of course, I would wear my all-wool Cheerleader sweater and bring my megaphone. Additonally, for a slight extra cost I can bring some ‘product’. I also heard that they are working on some bay front walks. A proposed one is called “When Jerry Worked at Rohr.” It features a walk-over of where Jerry would dump toxic waste and about approximate location of where Jerry would sleep during his graveyard shift. During the walk Jerry will share many stories about his time at Rohr, including how he could get defective aircraft parts through inspection, and how he could get laid off for one week time periods then would come back and work all the overtime he wanted before the next layoff. He may add some additional aircraft stories such as how he personally encountered Howard Hughes, not at Rohr, but when he worked at Hughes Tool Company in Culver City. Jerry will welcome sliding scale tips on these walks including $Trump, $Melinia, and $Putin crypto, but no DOGE, he doesn’t like that guy. Ciao, Jerry

George Bracey Gillow

Elementary School Arithmetic on Deportations

Here is simple arithmetic about how long it would take to deport 12,000,000 people.There are some claims that the number of immigrants needing to be deported is actually 24,000,000.

Based on the Office of Homeland Security reports and their website, the current number of deportations per day is between 1,000 and 1,500.

The ICE goal is 3,000 per day.

For 12,000,000 people it will take these many years:

@ 1,000 per day = 33 years

@1,500 per day = 22 years 

@ 3,000 per day (ICE Goal) = 11 years

For 24,000,000 people it will take this many years:

@ 1,000 per day = 66 years

@ 1,500 per day = 44 years

@ 3,000 per day = 22 years.

George Bracey Gillow

There was a very interesting article today in the Washington Post. It was about how the government tried to replace migrant workers with high school students following the end of the Bracero program in 1964.

Here is a link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-1965-the-government-tried-replacing-migrant-workers-with-high-schoolers-it-was-a-disaster/ar-AA1IZ9vg

The bus in the picture at the beginning of the article was of students from Hilltop High class of 1966. Their classcreator website has a number of posts about the event.

Perry Teaff from the 1966 class recalls that  "I was on that bus bound for Blythe. Also on that bus where a number of lancers including Jack Jeter, Nikki Martin, Geoffrey Hansen, Steve Keyes, David Peterson. We spent several weeks harvesting cantaloupes." 

The picture of the bus was from the San Diego Union-Tribune:

George Bracey Gillow

More on students doing farm work in 1965

A friend of mine, Donald Harrison, was a journalism student at UCLA in 1965. He majored in Journalism and History. He also worked as a summer relief reporter for the Los Angeles Times. They gave him an assignment to join students in Santa Paula to pick oranges and report on the experience. His article was in the LA Times on Sunday June 27, 1965.  Here are some highlights from the article:

• The work was hard but not backbreaking.They had to climb on ladders and use special clippers to cut the orange stems.Their hands got sore.They put oranges in a burlap bag then transferred the contents into boxes.
• The students were paid $1.25 per hour at first then they were paid per box. They got on average 30 cents per box. The exact amount depended on the size of a box and the number of oranges. Most students filled about 15 boxes per day at first. The experienced labors got $1.75 per hour. (I worked at the South Bay Drive-In theater in 1965. I was paid $1.35/hour).
• They lived in a labor camp that had a mess hall, central bathrooms and a dormitory with rooms for 5 students each. There were basketball hoops on the buildings.They slept in cots with old but clean blankets, pillows and mattresses.
• Meals were hot and spicy. The students ate a lot of white bread and drank a lot of milk.
• Some of the students decided to leave after a few days due to the harsh conditions. A few left after only one day.

​Pictures from the article:

​

Susan L. Frise

Bruce Wilson

its been a while - forgot how to upload haha

Not always pickin' and a grinnin'
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/07/31/634442195/when-the-u-s-government-tried-to-replace-migrant-farmworkers-with-high-schoolers

James Newton Perdue

I had a hard laugh at the two ads for this website. One was for Cialas or Viagra with a young girl that could be our granddaughter and the other was for false teeth. Targeted ads for 80 year olds?  Girls that young stopped looking at me, well, never.

Newt Perdue

George Bracey Gillow

Today is 80 years since the end of WWII.  VJ day was on August 14th in the USA and August 15th in Japan.

Below are YouTube videos of the celebration in Hawaii and a part of a PBS documentary called "Homefront."

The official surrender was signed on September 3rd and the surrender document was presented to President Truman on September 7th. From left: Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, Secretary of War Henry Stimson, General George C. Marshall and President Truman.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

George,  Thank you so much for your wonderful documentaries.  They are insightful reminders of important events in history that we sometimes forget.  Best to you!  Rosie