Information and photos for people interested in the history of Orange County, California.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Knott's Berry Farm and another Anaheim book
The photo above was taken at Merritt's presentation on Monday. From left to right: Tony Baxter of Disney Imagineering, your truly, Bud Hurbut (the genius behind the Mine Train Ride, the Log Ride, and many others at Knott's), Kevin Kidney (extremely talented artist), and two more folks who I think are also from Imagineering.
Naturally, since this was probably my only chance to have my photo taken with these guys, I *had* to blink. Still, it was quite a moment for me, getting to stand around and talk with legends.
Anyway, that was Monday, and the rest of the week has been uber-busy too. Between family stuff, work, and the battle to save my home from a poorly planned nearby construction project, I just haven't had much time to post updates. And as you can see, this isn't much of an update either.
I can, however, report that Steve Faessel's new Anaheim book is excellent. His knowledge and hard work really shine through. Even historians and long-time Anaheim citizens will see photos they've never seen before. Alternately, you could ignore the photos and simply read the captions for a good summary of Anaheim's history from 1940 to the present.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Old newspaper photos, Fort Wilderness, Orange, etc.
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UCLA has opened up online access to 5,124 photos from their L. A. Times and L. A. Daily News photographic archives. I provide a link to this collection with the warning that you will likely be lost in the site for at least a couple hours. And yes, it includes some Orange County stuff.
The Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation has revamped their website at www.foxfullerton.org.
The Orange Community Historical Society's next meeting is May 24, 7pm, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., Orange. Historian and County Archivist Phil Brigandi will speak about Orange County place names.
I don't remember if I mentioned that the new Orange Public Library & History Center is open for business. It's on the same site as the old library, just a couple blocks east of the Plaza on Chapman Ave.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Roadside O.C., etc.
Yes, I have a soft spot for mid-Century roadside architecture. Today’s image is an architect’s illustration of the Aztec Motel at 7620 Beach Blvd, in Buena Park, next to the Medieval Times dinner theater. The building still stands.
And speaking of cool mid-Century roadside stuff,...
There’s an 11th-hour effort afoot to save the landmark Leisure World globe in Laguna Woods. Couldn't they just cut the "Leisure World" lettering off the globe and avoid all this legal unpleasantness? (I don't think you can copyright a generic image of planet earth.) Links follow:
- Residents band together to save the globe.
- “Globe-Watch” at the MODCOM bulletin board.
Today’s Register article about the Santa Ana YMCA Building had some accuracy problems, but the historical information was fairly interesting.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
From the mountains, to the sea, to all of Orange County...
Happy birthday to Santa Ana historian Francelia Goddard, who turned 100 on Friday.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Airport, Civil War graves & Anaheim preservation
Charles Beal has completed his "Civil War Veteran Graves of Orange County" project. The project is featured in the May edition of Point of Beginning (a professional land surveying magazine) and is slated to be featured in a Register article sometime around Memorial Day. Way to go!
The O.C. Historical Society will meet at 7:30pm, Thursday, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St, in Orange. The topic will be the creation of Anaheim's newest historical district. I will probably be there.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Cowboys, Knott's, H.B., Rossmoor & Mao-sketeers
Over at Greetings from Downtown Huntington Beach, I just posted a short bio of the late George Arnold -- Perpetual H.B. City Council candidate and rabblerouser.
On a related note, Christeen Taniguchi will speak on the subject of O.C.'s programmatic and roadside architecture (with an emphasis on Hobby City and Knott's Berry Farm) at this weekend's California Preservation Foundation conference at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. If you're going to this confab, be sure to check the schedule.
Plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery. First, China built its own Orange County and now this... Cory at BoingBoing writes, "Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing is basically a weird, Chinese clone of Disneyland. Japanese bloggers have blogged a bunch of photos of the park and its characters." Weird.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Dorthea Lange, El Toro, Fullerton Arboretum, etc.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Rancho Days Fiesta at Heritage Hill Historical Park, 25151 Serrano Rd., Lake Forest, 11am to 4pm. Events include Indian dancing and music, mariachis, living history presentations, educational exhibits, and an arts and crafts fair. For the kids there will also be hand cranked ice cream, candle dipping, early American crafts, butter churning and pony rides ($1). Adult admission is $4. Child’s admission is $3. The park’s historic buildings will be open courtesy Amigos de la Colina. Feel free to dress in Rancho period clothing if you choose.
An old El Camino Real bell will be rededicated at it’s new home in the Fullerton Arboretum on Saturday, May 12. This event will also include the opportunity to tour the Heritage House Museum (a.k.a. the Dr. George C. Clark House), the new O.C. Agricultural & Nikkei Museum, and to see the newly restored Chapman Wisteria Arbor. Cake and other refreshments will be served in honor of Dr. Clark’s birthday. The event runs from 1pm to 4pm. Admission and parking are free.
See footage of Tomorrowland on opening day in 1955. Narration by Bob Cummings.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Vi Smith, Orange, and a bunch of links
If you thought you saw Huell Howser walking around Orange last week, you were right. Phil Brigandi gave Huell a tour of his hometown for an episode of “Visiting… With Huell Howser,” to air later this month on PBS.
Today’s O.C. Register features an article about changes in Tustin’s Old Town district (Local section, pg 5), but it doesn’t seem to be on their website. However, here’s a link to a related article from last week. Meanwhile, go read the dead tree version of the Register.
Also in the Register: Mike Harrah is moving the Basler Home; some of MCAS El Toro’s trees are spared the ax; more “Doheny House” news from Dana Point; and Disneyland’s C.K. Holliday steam locomotive will leave the park for an appearance at Fullerton’s annual Railroad Days event this weekend.
Do you have any local history you'd like to share, or related events you'd like to promote on this blog? Send me an email.