Philip George (Phil) Swanson (Swanson)

Went to many Waylon concerts over the years. Big Oak Ranch, Del Mar Fairgrounds. Saw Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in Manilla, they did "Jackson" together.   Don't forget Merle and Willie.  Have seen them in person too but Waylon was the greatest IMHO.  Died of diabetis in Phoenix. He wouldn't let them take his foot. That Highwaymen show was a great concert.  

Bruce Wilson

Gypsy : Thanks for info and offer.

Phil: Big Oak Ranch. Now that's some news right there. Only saw Waylon up in Golden Gate Park in SF.

Merle is sick with pneumonia in both lungs. He canceled all February performances

I saw Link Wray and Dick Dale (not at the same time) at the Glendale Car Show (open air) my favorite small(est) venue shows.

I bought Dick's latest CD, which he autographed for me. Link Wray died not much later.

OK, why not. Link at Glendale, no footage of me. No autograph. Keep on Rumblin'

Jim Hawes

Bruce,

WOW, you really rang my Dick Dale bell! First time I saw him was at the Rendevous on Balboa Peninsula in 1964 Easter Week. http://www.100megspopup.com/ark/RendezvousBallroom1941.html

Went up there with Jim Probert, his cousin, and I think Steve Williams(?). We all slept in "the Hearse"! The show featured Dick Dale, Beach Boys and the Righteous Brothers! Dick Dale was at his best and ruled the night!

Later he married a young Hawaiian lady and they opened the "Sugar Shack" near March Air Force base in Riverside (1970's). Marsha and I went there a couple of times but he was always on tour. He kept touring (still does) and I've seen him a couple of times at the Belly-Up in Solana Beach. His son plays the drums in his band!

At 78 he's only 20 or 30 years younger than Keith Richards (who is actually only 72)! So hopefully he will be around and blasting surf music for a few more years.

Your posts are keeping the memory active, my friend!

Jim

Bruce Wilson

Jim:

Oh yeah. The famous "vous". 

Good to hear your story and a little bit about Jim and Steve. Steve is a (retired?) dentist in Hawaii. I think I found him, but wasn't sure so I didn't try to contact him (yet). 

I went to that place up by Riverside (late sixties or early seventies). Mr. Dale  had a huge book of songs so he could accomodate all the requests ... and some aninals..

Bruce Wilson

Bruce Wilson

This might jingle jangle a few synapses. I saw this fellow at the Palomino Club in North Hollywood sometime a while back.

Bruce Wilson

I remember more guns. Sometimes your memory plays tricks on you when you're trying to be so quiet.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Here is my guess for the girls in Bruce's post 1823, all from the Hilltop Class of 1965.  I am not sure of a couple of them.

L to R Back Row:  Mary Cotton / ? maybe Sandy Putnam / Patty Jenkins / Jennie Russ / Susie Crouch / Susan Davis

L to R Front Row: Valerie Pietruzka / Sally Pettit  / ? maybe Susan Rockar

Can you verify, Bruce?

Your reunion committee has been throwing around some dates for the 70th Birthday party and came up with Saturday, August 13.  What do you all think? 

Dennis and I have been out of the country for most of the last month, so I want to thank everyone for the very nice birthday wishes.  And no, I am not 70 yet.  This was year 69, but I am going to enjoy seeing all of you at the 70th birthday bash!     

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Sorry about the photo of the girls from '65.  I hadn't looked back far enough.  RE the Phairs: My parents were good friends with the Phairs in the early days -- David and Patty.  I remember going to their house on occasion. Anyone remember William's Men's Store on Third Avenue? It was on the east side downtown near Chub's.  I had my first job there when I was 16 (1963) wrapping Christmas gifts. 

Bruce Wilson

Sorry Rosie I was going to tease you a little bit (there's a saying about that which escapes me).

I stuck the names back on the original  photo post just today so I wouldn't have to re-type them and was going to put a fake group up here. Potential participants were Ruth Boland, MaryLou Agatucci, Julie Chamberlain, Annie Marston, Liz , Becky Rule ...

Anway, for the curious the names are now there on the original post and Rosie was much better at the identifications than I was, though I knew a few..

I do not remember Williams. I'm still trying to figure out whether Yardage City occupied two different locations, which I'm pretty sure it did. Norman's actually had two locations also: downtown CV and then later down south of L Street  sort of across from the San Diego Country club. I wonder what became of all the weaponry.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

We just got the news from Madeline Bazzel Hooper that we have lost another classmate -- Susan Painter.  Here is what Madeline wrote: 

"Just ran into Susan Painter's sister at the store. She told me Susan passed away November 2015 from Bronchitis. Lots of good memories from elementary school. She lived only two blocks away but we just never connected. Please pass this on. Thank you, Madeline"

This brings the number of deceased classmates (that we know of) to 47. Come on, everyone out there -- Stay healthy or get healthy.  We don't want to lose any more!!!

Bruce Wilson

FIFTH COMMENCMENT - HILLTOP HIGH SCHOOL 

I'm coming up with 478 names of participants.

So for those that we can confirm about 10% have shuffled off.

Some more girls. Yeah still got 'em.

Not your standard slide rule. Never did hear what the kid's punishment nor his father's was.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Hey Bruce, do you have a drone that you take all these aerial photos?  Pretty neat pictures. 

Philip George (Phil) Swanson (Swanson)

Also saw Waylon at Del Mar Fairgrounds and on the USS Ranger concert on deck.  Many showed up for that including Alabama. 

Bruce Wilson

Rosie:

Drones are an interesting technology, but subject to abuse. A great number of folks getting into the drone industry are very much in favor of regulation. I don't have one, but I've thought about it. With all the GoPro technology and drones I think a saturation point will be reached - soon?

This aerial is courtesy of Google and shows M&B's sunset viewing point at the famous (or perhaps infamous) Brujo Park.

I have found some interesting drone reports of the CV and Surfside areas that I'll put up.

John Carleton Cowherd

Rosie:  I worked at Irvings Shoes (a few doors south of William's) in High School.  Every payday I would walk over and buy a shirt.  I still have the Pendleton that I got there. When I left to go into the Navy, William (we called him Bill) and his wife gave me a pair of slippers in a travel pouch, so I would be comfortable on my ship.  They were the nicest couple.  Sometimes Irving would send me over to do odd jobs for them at the store.

Bruce Wilson

Hey John:

I have a couple of Pendletons. I don't remember where I got them.

Some more girls.

Probably not Third Ave. - I'm thinking Telegraph Ave. Berkeley.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Hi John, thank you for responding.  I am so glad someone else remembers the Williams.  Very nice people who provided me my first paycheck. From there I got a gift wrapping job for Christmas at Robinsons-May at the Broadway shopping center. I was at Southwestern College then. Other jobs on my way to my degree -- Taco Bell (in San Jose), Penney's men's department (Broadway shopping center), the U.S. Post Office (Downtown and Coronado), Earl Clark's Pool Hall (south end of Third Avenue), and Sears (Broadway shopping center). I loved the pool hall job, and to this day I love to shoot pool.  Anyone up for a game of 8-Ball?

Karen Etsuko Tachiki (Savel)

A short message in memory of Susan Painter. In August of 1956 I met Susan and her mother at Hilltop Drive Elementary School. Our mothers were enrolling us as new students there in the fifth grade, Mrs. Treais' class. Susan was the first friend I made in the new world of Chula Vista, many worlds away from East Oakland California. We were school friends for fifth grade. She was also in Mr. Hall's class and after that I don't remember having classes with her in junior or senior high school. Knowing there would be one familiar face in that new school was a comfort and reassuring for a somewhat shy ten year old.

After the 50th reunion, I happened to be out walking on East J Street and Susan and her sister Nancy were doing some work in their yard and we stopped and chatted with them. And it would have been the first time I had seen her since high school. I was very surprised that Susan had known quite a lot about our classmates even though she had not attended the reunion. I assume she had contact with some classmates to have this information. And she also remembered quite a lot about the history of Chula Vista. I remember thinking it was too bad she hadn't attended the reunion and not participated in some of discussions about the history of Chula Vista on this forum.

A remarkable experience for me to remember an event in life that happened about 60 years ago. And important for all who have young grandchildren, to know that positive experiences for any of them can be a good lasting memory many many years later. 

George Bracey Gillow

MORE ON MEN'S STORES

Williams Men's Store was at 271 3rd per below picture. In 1952 Loria's Mens Store is listed at that location. I noticed a Williams D D at 281 in the 1952 directory. 

There was also a Rogers Men-Children's store at 279 3rd.

I did not see any Irving shoe store in 1952 directory but there was Karls at 265 3rd with Irving Rawling as manager. Maybe the name was changed.

Also below is Lanes Men's Store.  

Roberta Ann (Robin) Chavez (Groefsema)

I worked at Sears when it opened.  90 cents an hour.  Left making $1.10.  Irving still lives in Mission Bay as far as I know.  Saw him in June.  The Shapiro's owned William's men store.

Bruce Wilson

Karen:

Thanks for the insights into your life and Susan's. It must have been a very hard transition to make. Kids were (still are) a very hard audience to play too. Michele had to adapt to life in both Hawaii and Japan during junior and senior high school years. Thankfully she made it back just in time for us to get together 45 years later.

BTW do you recognize the very tall woman a few posts back.  She is rumoured to have hung out in Berkeley, but I think I saw her at the Planned Parenthool in Oakland. Of course everybody remembers walking down Telegraph. Dogs and "spare some change"?

Well George you may have become the new Master Of All CV Trivia. I can't think of a better successor to my mantle.

Very interesting (BW anyway) that the father of my teamate Frank Ragen (of the McCallister Mortuary Yankee fame) had his office initiallly right by Zonteks. Those guys below look suspiciously to me like an Olivas, a Hargove and possibly a Jensen to me.

Rosie:

There was a "family" pool hall at one point over on F St. near the old the CeeVee bowling alley. Daddy-O used to set pins at the alley and frequent Chub's. I don't think he frequented the family establishment. My sister had a pool table in her garage that is now long gone. If we can find a suitable venue, I'll shoot some pool with you.

Your choice! You can say you learned from either Minnesota Fats or Fast Eddie. I'll take the one you don't.

In case you haven't kept current - Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee.

George Bracey Gillow

CHULA VISTA HERITAGE MUSEUM MOVED

Bruce, I think you are still the master of all trivia.

The Chula Vista Heritage Museum has moved to the main library at 4th and F St from its location on 3rd Ave.

The museum is currently featuring a display of the 1916 flood.

Here is a link to the museum's opening: http://sunnycv.com/southbay/activities/flood2016.html

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Hey Guys, didn't Nancy Painter work at the CV Historical Society? I seem to remember that.  By the way, anyone remember shopping at Nancy's Dress Shop for kid clothes when we were in elementary school?  I remember it was a very nice store with more expensive stuff, but Mom would let us get a dress there for special occasions.  It was on the west side of Third by the Universal Boot Shop.

To Gail Dillion:  Guess what showed up at my sister's house?  Our old Ginny Dolls.  They had the metal carrying cases and all the clothes.  I remember playing with Ginny dolls for hours at your house in elementary school.  We didn't do Barbies, just Ginny Dolls.  Anyone else have that experience?

Bruce Wilson

Say Robin:

Make sure the Social Security Administration gave you credit for those earnings. They are known to be error-prone.

Although I had abandoned the paper route by high school, I seem to recall calculating my hourly rate at something like eleven cents an hour. I cannot remember what my rate was when I worked for the Recreation Department which I was actually doing in high school. It would not surprise me if I have some old check stubs out in the garage. YIKES!

Hey George:

I saw that the 'old' museum moved into the library earlier. It must have been in the UT. Do you think mere mortals like the Twin Masters of All CV Trivia will now be permitted to access the archives?

Does anybody remember when the library whose site is now occupied by the Norman Center, used to be referred to as the 'old' library and there was an 'old library gang'?

So now I'm waiting for that building that housed the museum to be returned to it's rightful status as Bill's Drive In. Will Eddie Winder and Max Abanira return to flipping hamburgers (18 to 22 cents if memory serves). Will we get our baseball game back?

Say hey Willie Mays and anyone else listening in:

I'm thinking that the Universal Boot Shop, not unlike Yardage City, Norman's Cafe, Zontek's, Dr. Ragen's office, and my dad's office all occupied multiple locations on Third Avenue.

Rosie:

Michele is very busy and doesn't check in here much, but talk about the Master of Dolls, she may well be in a league of her own.  I'll tell her (again) to email you.