George Bracey Gillow

KEN KRAMER "ALL ABOUT SAN DIEGO"

Ken Kramer has done a great TV series of little know stories about San Diego (these are real, no parody).

You can see them on his website at: http://kenkramertv.com/.

Some are on YouTube if you search on Ken Kramer.

I have seen stories about Johnny Downs and Oscars.  But no recordings of the Johnny Downs show, just movie clips of when he was in the movies.

Here is one interesting story:

Bruce Wilson

REAGAN

Reagan's ties to the San Diego region extend beyond his presidency:
- The 1957 film "Hellcats of the Navy," which featured Ronald Reagan and his future wife Nancy Davis, was filmed in San Diego. It was the only film that starred both Ron and Nancy.
- On August 2nd, 1969, then-Governor Reagan gave the dedication speech for the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.
- Reagan was a frequent visitor to the Hotel Del Coronado during his terms as governor and president, and held events at the iconic hotel, including a meeting with the President of Mexico in 1986.
- Ronald Reagan nicknamed San Diego his "lucky city." 
- Reagan won the majority of votes in San Diego County in the 1966 and 1970 gubernatorial elections, as well as the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections.
- San Diego has played host for many of the significant events and speeches that would mark the life of Ronald Reagan, including events at the El Cortez Hotel, UC San Diego, the Embarcadero, and the San Diego Concourse.
- Ronald Reagan ended both of his presidential campaigns in San Diego. When he joined George H.W. Bush on his 1988 presidential campaign, he shared with San Diegans the reason behind his special bond with our community: 

"I closed both of my campaigns for the presidency right here in San Diego. And you see, there was a reason for that. You see, when the parades have ended, the shouting is over, the speeches are done, and the final bell has sounded, a fighter wants to return to his corner and be with his family and friends while he waits for the verdict of the judges. And whenever I finish in San Diego, I feel I'm with family, and I know I'm with friends. I love San Diego." - Ronald Reagan

Bruce Wilson

Not a classmate.

Jayne Mansfield (1961 Fiesta de la Luna queen) and 1962 (prematurely greying).

Such a cutie before the film business turned her into a sexbombshell.

Bruce Wilson

For all you OscarsAficionados out there, I just got independent verification of the Oscars in San Ysidro (It was on the eastside of San Ysidro Blvd. just north of the pedestrian exit from U.S. Customs).and a photo of the  site of the National City (16th and National Ave) Oscars.

Bruce Wilson

Cosmosina's replacement (both played by Lisa clark)

Bruce Wilson

Sharp eye there Shayne. I did not notice the cigarette business.

Sad? to say but the 77 building was demolished after I moved back down to CV. It's not on Hollywood Blvd., but it does have it's own plague.

Also sadly, Duke's (both Santa Monica and Sunset Blvds) has closed. 

Cars and drive ins.

I had three VW's. One bug two vans. There is a local VW club that sometimes meets at the shopping "center" just east of the Junior High School. Why it's now a middle school is beyond me. Did it originate in Middle Earth?

I had that exact same luggage rack shown in the foto. In fact I have so much junk I still may have it. I know I still have my 280Z ski rack. Whoops! Just remembered I still have the 280Z. The brake shoes rusted to the hubs and it sounded like an explosion in the garage when I broke them loose. 

I gotta get off the computer and get to work.

Bruce Wilson

Could be a duplicate but nobody will notice.

Indulgence is a virtue very hard to come by.

-Marty Balin

-

Andie (Joan) Ault (Harvey)

Hey, Shayne! I heard great things about Devereaux School....good for you. Yup, Isla Vista was a magical place. If you lived "on the beach," it was on Del Prado. I lived on Sabado Tarde, the first street inland from it, in my soph, junior and senior years. If you graduated from UCSD in '68, then you were there when they burned down the Bank of America. We all hated that bank, but they had a monopoly: it was the only bank in IV. When that happened, I cheered from afar (Mission Beach).

Bruce Wilson

Hey yo A:

I had forgotten, but the bank in Berkeley mostly got it's windows broken. The one in Irvine burned.

Not a big fire as far as fires go. It was a case that was never solved. Maybe Kookie and EZ Jr. could take a look into it.

Berkeley - no more windows

Irvine

Isla Vista

Shayne Maree Schuller (Morgan Sledge)

My mom lobbied against the Coronado Bridge, callling it "the bridge to nowhere", But in the cold war, mobilizing the Navy rather than driving around the Strand was probably the motive. Now it mobilizes tourists. Remember the camoflauge netting we drove under near the Naval Station?

Ronald Reagan spoke at UCSD when I was there and he wasn't warmly received by the students. His daughter, Patti Davis (she took her mom's maiden name to be anonymous, but wasn't) worked at our restaurants in Santa Monica as a singing waitress. Many of the talented waiters have become very successful in the entertainment business, making records, films and t.v. shows. Katey Sagal is the most well-known, Michael Winslow, the black comedian who made all of the sound effects with his voice in all of the Police Academy movies, and Danny Elfman, who did all of the music for  Batman and  Tim Burtons's fillms   and the Simpson theme song  worked there.too.

Bruce Wilson

SMSMS:

More recently there was consideration given  to building a tunnel from the bridge terminus to the Navy base.

I had never heard of the netting until Michele's father mentioned it. It apparently didn't stretch down to CV. It was done in Burbank and up in the Bay area also.

Can't remember whether I put the photos up here. I think I did.

Bruce Wilson

The mystery guest, though he looks suspiciously like a younger version of the fake Oscar, is actually Russel Forester, the architect responsible for Oscar's buildings design.

Bruce Wilson

Duke's on Santa Monica Blvd. 

Hilltop High School attendee/musician Tom Waits inside about 1975.

Inside of Duke's Sunset Blvd -  noboby eats there anymore

Bruce Wilson

Oscar's home, designed by Forester.

He also did these.

Bruce Wilson

If memory serves, Mickey MacFarland (brother of Donny (my brother's fraternity brother) and both Lincoln basketballers) managed this one.

Shayne Maree Schuller (Morgan Sledge)

Ricky Lee Jones, a good friend with Tom Waits (HHS?), also worked at the restaurant in Santa Monica and he came in. I just dvr'd a Tom Waits show. His lyrics are comparable to Leonard Cohen's, dark and soulful, good storytellers..

Bruce Wilson

"Tom Waits (HHS?)"  Not questioning the Master of All CV Trivia now are ya? 

Tom Waits (did he graduate?) was class O'68. As was Pete Vredenburgh who was on my little league team.

The bottom photo of Duke's on Sunset (down below) has a photo of RL Jones (but it is not with Mr. Waits, it's with Chuck E. Weiss sitting at the original Duke's). Mr. Weiss was a drummer who played with Lightnin' Hopkins, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), Roger Miller and others.

Tom Waits, Chuck E. Weiss, Rickie Lee Jones and Dr. John (Mac Rebennack)

For those inclined, check out Tom Waits collaboration with John Hammond (Wicked Grin) and he wrote one of my favorite car songs Ol' 55. There's a rougher version but maybe too rough for this venue. Then there's always The Eagles version too.

Bruce Wilson

Speaking of 1968, vandalism occurred at this San Diego County high school and students walked out for 10 days. Name?

Robert Eugene (Bob) Beckwith

Bruce you mentioned Pete Vredenburgh.  John was his older brother and in our class and good friend.  Does anyone know where John is now??? Thanks for letting me know.

Bob 

Bruce Wilson

Didn't mean to slight John, but I was just referring to 1968 below. John was on the team too (right behind me). 

I'll have to remember to ask Mickey if he remembers what he was thinking about.

BTW Sarah McLachlan does a nice, mellow version of Ol' 55.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRdP0ud4UKo

P. Vredenburgh,  J. Hedderson, R. Torres,  C. Cogswill

Bobby Brown, Bruce Wilson, Mickey Wright, Steve Baitey , ? Courtney

Tony Clayton, Pete Casey, John Vredenburgh, Jim Eshbach, Frank Ragen, Mike Hollister

Mr. Hollister

Missing: Tim Young

Bruce Wilson

Apropos of nothing, just a cool LeRoy Grannis photo.

Bruce Wilson

Certainly a member of the "all names team" for sportsters and quite a speedster, from Lincoln, Vernus Ragsdale (RIP). I have not found the Grambling sprinters photo yet, but I'm still looking. He was more of a sprinter and football player, but played I played B-ball with him a couple of times and he was pretty good on the court too. Very friendly guy.

It's hard to read, but he will "always remember the Hilltop, Saints, San Diego games"  (1962).

Additionally, "Enjoys going to the library". I'm skeptical here, but I won't say why. Likewise, how I ended up with a signed copy of his photo and how Bill Barney's warm up jacket was lost and returned to him.

How have Rags' times held up? Excerpt from SAN DIEGO PREP SPORTS HISTORY

2013: Boys’ All-Time Best Performances 100 Meters

10.30 – Riley Washington – Southwest – 1992*

10.74hc** – Vernus Ragsdale – Lincoln – 1962

* Best through 2013

** HC means that a “hand time” has been converted to what the time would have been had there been electronic timing, as there is today

http://www.partletonsports.com/?p=4191

George Bracey Gillow

V-J DAY 70 YEARS

This Friday, August 14th, is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.  The official word of the Japanese surrender came out on news wires about 4.00 p.m. San Diego time (Pacific War Time).

The pictures below were taken, that afternoon, looking east on Broadway from 4th Ave. near Horton Plaza and the US Grant Hotel.  Almost all of the buildings shown in the pictures are still there.

The Google street view shows the area today looking east from 4th Avenue.

We have gone to the Grand Grill lounge at the US Grant Hotel (Home of the famous mock turtle soup--since 1910) on August 14th at 4.00 p.m. on the 50th and 60th anniversaries where we made a toast to honor the great people who, over 70 years, ago saved the world.  (We are going to try and get down there this Friday, but have a potential schedule conflict.)

Then we would take a walk east on Broadway to 6th Ave. The area has changed little in 70 years. A must is a stop at the Marriott hotel.

The Walker Scott department store building is now an office building and has a Sushi bar restaurant.  The Lion department store building is still there.  Today, you can see the edge of the building where the "LION" sign is seen in the 1945 view.

The San Diego Trust and Savings building is now a Marriott Courtyard hotel.  The original ornate bank teller cages are now the registration desk and a large vault is used as a conference room.

Below is the Walker Scott building then and now.  Can you imagine if you could go back in time what people on the street, 70 years ago, would have thought if you told them there would be a Sushi bar there and Japanese cars on Broadway decades later?

The San Diego Trust and Savings then and Marriott now. 

 The conference room at the Marriott:

The Lion department store building today, former Bank of America building on the left:

Bruce Wilson

Good idea George. A couple more.

Bruce Wilson