Natural history, genealogy, architecture & Mr. Toad

Today's photo is an example of "programmatic architecture" (buildings that look like other objects or other kinds of buildings.) In this case, it's Walker's Richfield Gas and Service Station at the corner of First St. and Harbor Blvd in Santa Ana, in 1957.

The O.C. Natural History Museum is continuing the process of making the old United Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana (1911) their new home. Although the parking may be a problem, it's otherwise in a great location -- between Main and Bush St, on Santa Ana Blvd. There's a disputed rumor floating around that the builiding itself (which needs extensive work) may have been designed by noted local architect Frederick Eley. Click here for a pdf of the building's historical survey information.

Yesterland is waxing nostalgic for the original Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland. As Brodie Bruce once said, "...EVERYONE wants Mr. Toad's Wild Ride."

The next meeting of the Orange County California Genealogical Society will be held the morning of Jan. 5th. These meetings always feature a variety of programs that are helpful to both new and longtime genealogists. For meeting and seminar times and details, visit the OCCGS website.

Westminster, Hobby City, Nixon, Vic Stapf, etc.

The photo above shows Westminster as it appeared around 1920. The community finally incorporated as a city in 1957. The last event in Westminster's year-long 50th birthday celebration will be a New Year's Eve bash at the Rose Center, 14140 All American Way, 8pm-12:30am. There will be a classic rock band, dancing, dinner and champagne. Tickets are $55 per person. Call (714) 895-2860 for more information.

Today's post is made up almost entirely of interesting stuff I should have posted earlier this year. Somehow it all slipped between the cracks until now.

For starters, I just noticed this old open letter (link) from John Taylor, which covers a lot of the controversy surrounding the handover of the Nixon Library from the Nixon Foundation to the National Archives. It makes for interesting reading.

I also just discovered that Vic Stapf has a blog now. I've enjoyed his "Photos of the Forgotten" website for years, so I'm happy to see this new development. (Link) . Vic has also turned his collection of Disneyland-area postcards into a book, called Postcards From Anaheim. He describes the book as, "96 pages of the Googie glory that once surrounded the Disneyland theme park. Available now through the blurb.com bookstore in either hard or soft cover editions..."

The soft housing market means that Hobby City (on the Stanton/Anaheim border) will still be around for a while longer. The original plan was to tear out this quirky roadside complex and replace it with a bunch of condos. We've been talking about the phenomenon of "preservation through neglect" for ages, but now we seem to be experiencing "preservation through economic slump." In any case, read the latest about the Hobby City situation in the Register.

It recently occured to me that I'd never posted a link to the Home & Garden TV segment on the Daigle House. Although it's sort of a puff piece, it's interesting and proves that you never know what you'll find when you restore an old building. (Link)

Date shakes, Landing Hill, lions and wall calendars

How's this for complicated: The image above is a scan of a photo of a painting of Mission San Juan Capistrano as it appeared 100 years ago. (As always, click the image to enlarge.) The photo comes from the Library of Congress' collection.

Orange Coast Magazine reporter Cynthia Furey, is "working on a story about the Crystal Cove Shake Shack (or Crystal Cove Date Shack, in previous years)," and could use our help. If you know anything about the history of this place or have any "nostalgic stories about the shack," please send her an email, or post it as a comment to this blog.

Jamie Cleland and Andrew York will present a program entitled, "Settlement and Ceremony at Landing Hill" at the Jan. 10th meeting of the Pacific Coast Archaeological Society (PCAS). Landing Hill, located between Alamitos Bay and Anaheim Bay in Seal Beach, is known for its many archaeological sites. For more information, visit the PCAS website.

Outside The Berm recently posted photos from the opening week of Lion Country Safari in Irvine. Personally, I think Irvine could be livened up a great deal by bringing back the lions -- But this time without any fences.

Daveland posted its 500th entry on Christmas, and it's good stuff. It begins a multi-day series of photos from Disneyland's opening year, 1955.

The 2008 O.C. Mexican American Historical Society wall calendar -- featuring a historic photo for each month -- is now available for $10. Visit the OCMAHS website for details.

Two Main Streets, decked out for Christmas

Main St., Ghost Town, Knott's Berry Farm, decorated for Christmas, mid-1960s.

Pacific Coast Highway and Main St., Huntington Beach, Christmas 1935.

I probably won't post again until the 26th or 27th, so I'll wish you all a Merry Christmas while I have the chance.

Cold War Xmas, Stephanie George & Yost Theater

Here's a photo from the Orange County Building Department's Christmas party in 1957. They gussied up the office rather than having the party at a restaurant or hotel. The homemade decor is interesting, especially the timely Sputnik replica hovering above everyone. (The USSR launched the real Sputnik on Oct. 4, 1957.) And what's that strange butcher paper mural behind them? An enhanced version of the image also posted above. (Click the image to embigulate.) Your guesses are welcome.

I'm happy to report that Stephanie George is now the full-time Archivist for CSUF's Center for Oral & Public History (COPH). Way to go!

There's now some interest in renovating the old Yost Theater in Downtown Santa Ana and using it for live entertainment again. Click over to the Register's article for more information.

Corona del Mar, Taco de Carlos & William Wendt

Here's another example of old municipal holiday decor -- This time from Corona del Mar in 1946. I'm including both the whole image and a larger cropped view of the Santa Claus portion. I also posted another 1946 O.C. Christmas photo over at Greetings from Downtown Huntington Beach.

At OCThen, Steve remembers the short-lived Taco de Carlos -- an early attempt by Carl Karcher Enterprises to enter the Mexican fast food market. I only remember visiting the one in Fountain Valley, and I honestly don't remember much beyond the logo featuring "Happy Star" in a sombrero.

The Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society is creating a "Santa Ana Room" (presumably at the Howe-Waffle House), where they'll display items from Santa Ana's past. They are looking for anything old that has Santa Ana on it, including "advertising items, old photos, products made in SA (with the city name on it), etc." If you would like to donate any items, contact them via email or leave a message at (714) 547-9645.

 

The Bowers' blog recently featured an entry on Southern California artist William Wendt and one of his paintings, Trees They Are My Friends (1935). Is it just me, or does that title sound vaguely like LOLCat syntax?

Knott's Christmas, Orville Hanson, & Book Baron

Today I have two images from Knott's Berry Farm in December 1966, both from the collection of the Orange County Archives. The first is Santa's Igloo. The sign in front says, "Santa will be in his workshop 12 noon to 6:00 pm." 

The second photo is of Bob's Men's Shop, which (from the early 1950s until just recently) stood where the giant Snoopy store is now located on Grand Ave. Personally, I miss Bob's. They had a lot of great stuff, including a good stock of Pendelton wool products, Reyn Spooner shirts, high-end western wear, and a stock of good quality ordinary things like belts and ties. It was always easier to find good stuff there than at Macy's, Bloomingdales, or any of these other East Coast outfits.

Sadly, longtime Huntington Beach resident Orville Hanson passed away on Dec. 16th. I hear that his funeral will be at First Christian Church on Main St., tomorrow (Dec. 21) at 11am. Born in 1919, Orville was a member of the HBHS class of 1937, an oilworker, and more recently was the chairman of the City's Historic Resources Board. As Diane Ryan put it, "Huntington Beach has lost an important link to its historical past. Orville will be missed."

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The Book Baron is now closed for good. I hear that Acres of Books is likely to be next. This is a seriously disturbing trend. Book-buying sites on the Web have advantages too, but they don't let you browse and discover books through serendipity.

Christmas, Tustin, Carol Jordan & Huntington Beach

Well, here's something you won't see anymore: A nativity scene on the front lawn of your neighborhood elementary school. Specifically, this photo shows Huntington Beach Elementary School (now Ethel Dwyer Middle School) in 1946.

Carol Jordan's book, Tustin: An Illustrated History, has just been published by the Tustin Area Historical Society. This book has been out of print for many years, and the Society and Carol worked together to revise and update this new edition, including the addition of many new photos. To find out how to buy a copy, visit the TAHS website.

I don't have a lot to write about this week, so here are some old wax recordings of Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit.