George Bracey Gillow

Disney Stuff

A very good site on the history of Disneyland with lots of pictures from way back is www.yesterdayland.com

Here are some pictures from a brochure I have from the year Disneyland opened--1955

The TV show "DisneyLand" first went on-the-air in 1955.  Below  is part of the TV guide from the first show:

      (Note on the left page is a show called "Life with Elizabeth".  It stared Betty White)

George Bracey Gillow

More Disney

Another good serial from the Mickey Mouse Club was "The Hardy Brothers" which also stared Tim Considine and also Tommy Kirk. There is lots of stuff on the Internet and YouTube on all off this. Tim Considine went on to act in a number of movies and TV shows including the oldest son on "My Three Sons"

Here is a short video on the opening theme to one Hardy Boys show called "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure"

Andie (Joan) Ault (Harvey)

Hey, Gail - I worked at Disneyland, too - as so many of our generation in my family did! In the summer of 1968, right between graduating and starting my credential program, I was a clerk in a toyshop in Tomorrowland. However, they called me many times to sub in the music store on Main Street, since they knew my background as a music person. Like you, I had to wear a full-on Victorian outfit, and I swear the skirt weighed 15 lbs. D'Land's wardrobe department had only real-deal authentic outfits appropriate for actual stage productions.....they didn't mess around. The music store had 2 steps up between the two levels, and to go up to put in a piano roll for the player piano at a guest's request (which happened MANY times a day), I had to hike that #@$% heavy skirt up, and again to go down. I started developing fearsome biceps. And....Spin and Marty, YES - and all the rest. Weren't we ALL addicted to Mickey Mouse Club? Until a few years ago I still remembered all the words and music to the theme songs on each day of the week: Music Day, Anything-Can-Happen-Day, etc.

Christine Elaine (Kris) Hoover (Sweet)

Wow - I'm a Disneyland alumni too - worked as a clerk in many of the Main Street shops - blue and white striped blouse with puffy short sleeves and long blue skirt.  Also often was assigned "parade duty".  Loved chatting with the guests especially the kids as they waited for the parade to begin.  When people ask me for directions, I still find myself using the two finger point.  As a retiree, if I lived close to one of the Disneys, I think I would want a job there again.  I also remember going to Disneyland a couple of times with the band, and stopping at Knott's Berry Farm either on the way up or back.  First sight of Disney was the Matterhorn over the orange groves!  Good memories!!!

George Bracey Gillow

Disneyland--Some More

I enjoyed hearing the stories about working at DisneyLand.

When I first went to work for NCR one of the programers in our department had worked at Disneyland.  Her father worked for Disney studios and got her the job.  But she was really disappointed when her only job was riding on the back of the parking lot tram.  So it is neat to hear about working inside.

Remember Ron Zeigler, President Nixon's press secretary.  When in college in the late 1950s he worked in AdventureLand as a "skipper" on a jungle boat.

Walt Disney had an apartment above the fire station on Main Street.  Here is a link to a good virtual tour of the apartment:  www2.ocregister.com/multimedia/disneyapartment/

One opening day in the summer of 1955 two of the hosts were Art Linkletter and Ronald Reagan.  Here is a good YouTube news story remembering the event including a blooper by Walt Disney.

Jim Hawes

Wow! So many of you actually got to work at Disneyland! With Disneyland being so close to all of us growing up (I remember all of the "A" - "E" coupon ticket rides) I met quite a few people that worked there after high school...... AND....the after-hours parties were "Legendary"! True?

Andie (Joan) Ault (Harvey)

True, Jim. Very true. ~ Forgot to mention that our shop was right next to the Tomorrowland Stage, and we watched the "Kids of the Kingdom" sing and dance through several shows a day. One of those "Kids" was Ernie Becerril (class of '62), Marti's brother.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Hi Everyone,, Thanks to all who have shared stories and personal remembrances.  What an amazing bunch of classmates we have!  Disneyland is still one of my favorite places to visit.  I always wanted to work there but never had the opportunity. 

A few of our classmates have e mailed me their bios, and I thought I would share with you their amazing stories (with their permission).  The first is Jim Hawes.  Here is his communication:

"First of all thank you for the effort in pulling together so much information and so many high school memories. I can't believe so many fine classmates have worked in the teaching profession and helped nurture a fine generation of young people. My wife Marsha taught K-6 for 28 years in the Carlsbad School District as an art resource teacher. I see that there were others that taught here in North County. Cheryl Ernst (married name - class of 62 or 63) was the CBSD Superintendent and I think Judy Peters held that position in San Marcos! Ricky Ledford held a position with the State Dept. of Education and visited Carlsbad. Dr. Jerry Olivas also taught in Carlsbad.

We constantly meet many of Marsha's former students here in the village. This is a very rewarding experience as I am sure you know! It reminds me of all the times I talked with Mrs. Wulff, my 5th grade teacher. She lived on "L" st. and I would always wave or stop and say Hi when I saw her. Even after high school. Her daughter Pam was in HHS class of 63.

I had an interesting career as a professional racing driver until 1974. Of course it was interrupted by a stint in the US Army (1966-67). Please feel free to share any or all of this with the "Car Guys" and "Gear Heads" from the class. Hope all of the attachments (10) make it!

In the fall of 1964 my friend (Dave Smith HHS 63) and I started the Southwestern College Sports Car Club. I entered many Autocross and Slalom events in the little Blue Sprite I drove to school in my Jr. year at Hilltop. That led to a start in sports car races at Riverside Raceway and other courses throughout the southwest. When I returned from the Army I joined with Chassis Engineering Co. (National City) to build and develop a successful line of small sports racing cars (the 2-seater car in the pictures). In 1972 I started racing single seat Formula cars. I opened a dealership in Riverside for the British made "Merlyn" Formula Ford race cars. This class was very popular and we saw starting fields that exceeded 50 cars. There is a picture of a "pace lap" taken at Riverside with a full field of cars. (luckily I qualified well and am the 3rd car at the front of the field). In 1974 I raced in the USAC/SCCA F-5000 series. This was a North American road racing series that grouped USAC (Indy) cars with the SCCA F5000 cars. These cars were equal to  the Formula 1 cars at the time and many international drivers took part (Mario Andretti, James Hunt, Bobby Unser, etc.) as these cars were also raced in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It was a great experience to meet and race against so many drivers I had admired during my racing years.

Unfortunately costs spiraled upward and sponsorship became more difficult to find so I retired from racing after 1974. No regrets! Raising 2 fine sons and spending time with my grandson, plus retiring with my wonderful wife of 44 years, is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Cheers,

Jim Hawes

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Another interesting e mail I got was from John Januik.  Here is a bit of his bio and words of greeting to everyone:

 Hi Rosie, I have been following the forum and decided to send some information on what I have been doing for the last 50 years. After graduation I attended college for 2 years and then went into the army. I was sent to the Defense Language School at Monterey for a year to learn Vietnamese. I went to Nam for the next 2 years where I was an interpreter with Military Advisors Command and Civil Affairs until I was wounded and returned to the states. Used my GI Bill to become a pilot but didn't use it as an occupation. Have spent most of my life as a building contractor in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska building everything from schools to car dealerships. I also contracted all of the interior cabinets and woodwork on the remodel of Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone in the late 80's. My wife, Sharman, a Home Ec teacher and I also own and operate a horse training and boarding facility south of Twin Falls, Idaho. We also raise Australian Shepherds. Tried retiring for a couple of years but missed the challenges of building so this spring I took on building a  new BLM Hot Shot Facility in Pocatello, Id. I am not much for crowds and with the ranch and building again we will not be attending the homecoming. I have enjoyed the forum and wish everyone a good time and a great future. I doubt I will ever get back to CV as my entire family and  4 of our 5 kids all live in the Northwest. If you and your husband are ever visiting this part of the country feel free to stop by and spend some time. Our doors are always open. That goes for any other classmates.
 
Thank you,
John

We certainly have had some classmates with interesting stories to tell!   I just wanted to share with all of you.  -- Rosie

Bruce Wilson

Got mistaken for this guy the other day. Was told I didn't know that much about coaching. I laughed too.

Another Disneyland alum. I never got mistaken for him, but I did meet him a couple of times at Blue Chip Computers in L.A. He is something of a computer nerd. A couple of these folks look a bit like two HHS alums. Any guesses?

Bruce Wilson

The Las Vegas Climber's Liaison Council (LCO of the Access Fund) in conjunction with Refuge Climbing Center will be hosting Jim Donini for a slideshow on his illustrious alpine career.



WHERE? Refuge Climbing Center - 6283 S Valley View Blvd, Suite C
Las Vegas, Nevada

WHEN? 10/30/14 at 7pm

COST? Free! Although donations will be accepted on-site for the Las Vegas Climber's Liaison Council.


The LVCLC and Refuge Climbing Center look forward to seeing everyone there and we couldn't be more excited to hear Jim's slideshow.

I have a feeling this is one folks will NOT want to miss

Jim (Alpinist Extraordinaire) in a more serious moment addressing the graduating class of the Special Forces Mountain School conducted in Fort Carson, Co. by the Tenth Special Forces Group.
 

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Hope you all have a great time at the mixer tonight and the function at the country club tomorrow.  Hope the weather is better there it's very cold here in Maine only 59 today.

Michele Ruth Walter

Just heard these two adorable stories about Annie Chenowith today....she evidentally told some of the brownie leaders that she "just LOVED being Catholic, because you get to stand up, sit down, kneel, etc, and never had to stay put for too long at a time" !  She also said she was "NEVER going to give up chocolate again for Leint"....too cute!  See you all later!  Looking forward to it!

Bruce Wilson

From the Tavern website.

Terrence Ryan

Another country heard from. My name is Terrence McCarthy Ryan. In school it was Terry Foster. I loathed that name. It belonged to my violent, psychotic stepfather. Long story.

I have lurked on and off on this site. Its sort of a strange time machine where stories I had never heard have floated from across a wide distance. Some of the stories have helped me understand that time better. In my later skiing days I came across Shayne Schuller at a party in Aspen. I asked her why she was so stuck up in HS. She was truly surprised and said she wasn’t stuck up. I looked at her and said, “every time you walked past me you looked the other way. You never even bothered to say hello.” Her reply was unforgettable. She said, “I always looked away because I couldn’t see. I never wanted to wear my glasses. Since I couldn’t see who I would be talking to I just looked away.” So for twenty years I wrongly thought I was shunned by one of the popular kids in class. Perceptions in that time of being a child can be so easily skewed.

So connect this weekend. Communicate and shrug off old misconceptions. Have a drink. Smile a lot. Have fun. Have some fun for me.

When the thirtieth came around I gave it a thought to come. When the fortieth came around I was serious about coming to a Reunion. Can’t even remember why I didn’t. I made a date this time to come but again was thwarted. I am doing a documentary on the Motorcycle Cannonball Run. And, of course, it ends in two days.

Check it out.

http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com

and a site I built for my clients.

http://reservationracing.com/Cannonball.html

@Bruce

There should be some people with video cameras. See if you can gather some of the shots. I can help edit it. Could be fun for those who can’t be there. By the way say Hi To Coach Anderson the next time you see him.

Bruce Wilson

Hi Terrence:

I'm glad to hear from you and appreciate your straightforward talk. It sounds to me like you're doing some interesting work and I'll check out your links

A skier, like a working class hero, is something to be. It clears the senses and enhances perceptions.

Below: Speed skier Steve McKinney, one of my favorites, at the Everest Hang Gliding Expedition.

Can almost feel the fuzz fading just seeing this, let alone doing it.

BTW, in numerous conversations, Ken Anderson has never menitoned any student other than you and is genuinely interested in how you have fared.

Take two. Maybe it comes with the Terr(itory) but both the film-makers from my high school days are pretty handsome fellows. Is there a school to enroll in for this?

Bruce Wilson

OK. The night was a rousing success as I see it. Special thanks to the committees for all the work they put in getting this endeavor up and flying. At least some, if not all, have worked on all the reunions.

Don’t look back. Something may be gaining on you.

-Satchel Paige

She’s got everything she needs, she’s an artist she don’t look back.

-Bob Dylan

I'm surprised at who wasn't/is not going to be there. Artists and leaders of the pack?

-Bea's Cat Chatty

Corinne McCall

Hi All,

Last night was so much fun!  Great to see everyone - and to talk to so many classmates that I never really even talked to in school.  It was like meeting them for the first time - but there was still that connection from our youth.  It was so special to see Skeez!

Linda and I had such a good time we would like to come to tonite's event - but I understand it is sold out.

Please let me know if anyone has to cancel and wants a refund on their TIX... 

Best to all of you, Corinne

mccallca@yahoo.com

Bruce Wilson

DC:

We used to sneak people into the drive-in and across the border in the trunk. Are you game?

I found this from the one we attended together in 1984. Also,  a  little token from the 35th. (I won the award, not Corinne). Bea tells me I'm up for chattiest this year.

A little more sports memorabilia. The world famous PSA Jets Basketball Squad. Spotlight on James Brrown  ... er .. my baby. I'll have to fix this one up. (Arthur Conley Sweet Soul Music  (1967)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71u1ZPuLFD0  )

EOF

Bruce Wilson

Courtesy of the Wilson archive, Frank "Skeezix" Fernandez circa 2012, for those of us who missed him last night. Doing what always suited him best, sports.

James Robert McKechnie

Last night, at the Eastlake Tavern, was a wonderful evening.  Thank you to the group of organizers for all your hard work.  It was a great evening, and I'm sure this evening will be just as great or better.  It was great to see so many faces that have been away for far too long.

This first photo is Hilltop High as it exists today:

Corinne McCall

Thank you for these Jim - you can see alot of love in these photos!  

Robert Eugene (Bob) Beckwith

To one and all:  What a celebration.  To all of you that worked so hard on the reunion-thank you.

I was so impressed with the stories you shared with me.  If we were expected to leave good ol High School to farewell and make a difference we did that.  Your accomplishments dazzle me.  Well done.  I look forward to our next 50^th just to learn what we have got done. 

I will be driving back to Idaho on Monday.  If you get to Idaho get in touch.  If you need Lodging let us know.  The Lodge has plenty of space for family and friends. 

Thanks for all that you do.

Continue to Farewell

Bob Beckwith

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Love the pix Jim.  Sure sounds like you all had a great time visiting and getting reacquainted.  I was lucky enough to have Jerry text me pictures and send messages.  Love the information on the forum also.  Would have liked to hear more from Hilltop Elementary students.  My children and grandchildren have gone or are going through the three hilltops.

Bruce Wilson

Barrett, Underwood & Wilson