Author Archives: Bruce

A PRESIDENT VISITS SANTA CRUZ!!! Teddy Roosevelt came here on May 11, 1903. He  gave a speech on Pacific Avenue and went up to Big Trees to declare it our first California State Park. This is about where The Regal … Continue reading →

ALMOST WORLD FAMOUS “PORNOGRAPHIC” STATUE ON HIP POCKET BOOKSTORE. The Hip Pocket Bookstore preceeded Bookshop Santa Cruz and was in about the same location as Bookshop is now. This statue by Ron Boise was erected September 10, 1964. There are … Continue reading →

MAIN STREET (now Pacific Avenue) and the intersection of Mission and Willow Streets. Circa 1880. Pacific Avenue now goes right up north through those buildings behind the trolley car. Nowadays on the left side we have Bank of The West, … Continue reading →

PRO VIET NAM VIGIL SANTA CRUZ POST OFFICE November 27, 1965. Note the poster messages, “Quarantine those Pacifists!!! They all got yellow fever!!” and others state an appeal for Peace in Viet Nam. The tee-shirted gut on the left is … Continue reading →

TWO WAY TRAFFIC ON PACIFIC IN 1953. It really should be made a closed Mall, but here’s what it used to look like. Remember too, it had out of town corporations like Bank Of America, Woolworth’s, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penneys, … Continue reading →

                                                  Santa Cruz Admission Day, looking North at 11:27 am 1888. A very different Pacific Avenue back then. If you look closely you’ll see the future Town Clock atop the O.D.D. Fellows Building on the right. This is between Church … Continue reading →

                                                  RONALD REAGAN AT THE CIVIC, Oct. 8, 1966. Ronnie was running for Governor back then,  and he beat Pat Brown. Look at the rapture in those seven teeny boppers eyes. He was certainly no Donald Trump!!!      photo credit: … Continue reading →

                                                                                                    WHARF AND WEST CLIFF DRIVE. 1955. Alert eyes will notice no lighthouse, no Dream Inn, the active Sisters Hospital, and The Ideal Fish restaurant was then on the north side of the wharf. I’m not sure but it … Continue reading →

                                                                                                    FRONT STREET & SOQUEL. January 1957. From what I can figure, this is about where Tonic Beauty salon and University Copy are now located near Cathcart and Front.              photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional … Continue reading →

                                                  SANTA CRUZ TAXI FLEET. The fleet is receiving a safety award, on May 7, 1951. Sort of odd, if you notice, that some of the cabs are Yellow Cabs, others are ACME. Also note that there are only four … Continue reading →