Salute to Santa, Sheriff's badges, and BOOKS!

It's time to decorate for Christmas, if you haven't already. In today's image, the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce decks out Main Street for the annual "Salute to Santa" event and parade. The photo was taken in early December 1950. The Hudson dealership seen in the background is now home to "The Electric Chair." To get an idea of what the "Salute to Santa" was like, read this H.B. Independent article by Jerry Person, describing the event in 1953. . 

The Orange County Historical Society will host the first of two planned "Authors' Nights" on Dec. 13, 7:30pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 S. Canal St, in Orange. Authors of recently published local histories will be on hand to sell and sign their books. Scheduled authors for the December event include Phil Brigandi (Orange County Place Names, A to Z), Jeff Delaney (Newport Beach's Balboa & Balboa Island), Steve Faessel (Anaheim: 1940-2007 and Historic Photos of Anaheim), Jeanette Gardner and Lawrence de Graaf (Early Placentia), George Jezek and John Westcott (Orange County Past & Present), and Doris Walker (Dana Point). What a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping and rub elbows with historians! This will also serve as the OCHS's holiday meeting, with decorations, raffles, and refreshments. . 

As if that weren't enough, a the O.C. Historical Society will host a second author's night on April 10, 2008, which will include the authors of recently published histories of Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, Yorba Linda, and the Missions of Southern California. . Speaking of books, the O. C. Sheriff's Department has just released a history book. The Golden Star is "an illustrated history of the badges, patches, and insignia of the Orange County Sheriff's Department," and was written by Deputy John M. Hollenbeck. Although the subject matter sounds like it might be kind of dry, it's really a great way to tell the story of law enforcement here in O.C. It's also an impressively illustrated book and even shows how badges are made. For more details, see the printer's website.