Author Archives: Bruce

DEL MAR THEATRE February 25, 1957. That’s Brad McDonald (Mr. Capitola) on the far right. That’s a wax dummy of James Dean (he died Sept. 30,1955) leaning against the car. I have no idea who the guy on the left … Continue reading →

SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? I’ve always thought Morrissey Boulevard looked like a street down in Los Angeles (Malibu? Long Beach? Santa Monica?) somewhere, but even more so in this photo of yesteryear… There’s a bank on the corner now, and … Continue reading →

AFTER THE 1894 FIRE. This is looking South on Pacific Avenue just about at the corner of Cooper and Pacific. Note the future town clock on top of the Odd Fellows Building and the fireproof bank vault sitting where the … Continue reading →

HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL GROUND WORK. 1967. Here’s a great shot of the much debated La Fonda overpass and the ground moving preparation for Harbor High School. That’s Morrissey Turnoff in the upper left and De LaVeaga Elementary School in upper … Continue reading →

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT IN SANTA CRUZ. Eleanor was here April 26, 1962. She’s shown here shaking hands with then Mayor Bert Snyder. That’s Democrat activist Erva Bowen smiling proudly on the right. Erva was president of the NAACP, President of the … Continue reading →

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ 1966. All of “Old Santa Cruz” was still here …The Mc Hugh Bianchi Building, The Tea Cup, and The corporate Union 76 Station!!! With the “new clock tower” structure (that went up in 1976) we actually have … Continue reading →

VIETNAM VIGIL, NOVEMBER 27, 1965. There’s not much of a caption needed for this photo. It’s obviously taken in front of the Post Office at Water and Front streets. Do note (it’s hard to miss the gung ho stalwart with … Continue reading →

LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR. This was taken at the inauguration of the “Loch Lomond” reservoir in Ben Lomond on July 27th 1963. Left to right that’s Margaret Browning, Anne Laurie, Capt. Wesley M. Hoffer (the then Sheriff of Santa Cruz County) … Continue reading →

HERB CAEN IN SANTA CRUZ, JUNE 18,1978. That’s me talking to Herb Caen at the Miss California Pageant. It was the only time I attended. My “Goodtime Washboard 3″ had played for his and Jessica Minford’s joint birthday parties in … Continue reading →

BAD FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT 10:40P.M. APRIL 14, 1894. This is the block bounded by Cooper Street, Pacific Avenue and Front Street. There wasn’t any water pressure because the City Water mains had been turned off. All this according to Sheila … Continue reading →