Author Archives: Bruce

                                                  ROMANCE OF ROSY RIDGE, the movie 1947. The one guy in this photo is Van Johnson who was the star of the big budget MGM film Romance of Rosy Ridge, filmed up around Felton. See below for more details. … Continue reading →

                                                  COOPER STREET 1910. It’s almost shocking that we can still recognize the old County Bank Building after all these decades.  It was built after the 1894 fire. According to John Chase’s “Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture” and Ernest … Continue reading →

                                                  SANTA CRUZ’S BIGGEST BEACH TRAGEDY, THE DREAM INN. Area environmentalists got serious after The Dream Inn became a reality. This monstrosity (a nod to Honolulu and Rio’s beaches being ruined by hotels) happened back in April 26 1963. Across … Continue reading →

ENDANGERED EASTSIDE (VILLA de BRANCIFORTE NEIGHBORHOOD). This is Water and Soquel and Morrissey Streets  on June 12, 1953. “twas long before Grocery Outlet, The Post Office, Lucky Grocery and much, much more.                                                                                                       photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical … Continue reading →

OUR COUNTY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION March 18, 1966. Not just the County Building but a great view of El Rio Mobile Home Park just behind Lenz Arts. There’s the Outdoor World building, The Taqueria place at River and Water Streets, and … Continue reading →

41st & CAPITOLA ROAD 1967. Ah, progress!! That huge building in the lower right hand quarter is of course, Orchard Supply Hardware (once King’s Plaza). 41st runs left and right in the center. Now we have two banks and two … Continue reading →

SANTA CRUZ BEACH & BOARDWALK 1940. This photo contains plenty of long ago history, By squinting you can see what used to be Opera Island over by the east parking lot in the San Lorenzo River. Note too The Casa … Continue reading →

THE ANTHONY BLOCK 1870 + . This building stood at the Town Clock corners  of N. Pacific, Water and Mission Streets. It was once the home and business location of Elihu Anthony. In this photo  he had converted it into … Continue reading →

PACIFIC AVENUE. ST.GEORGE HOTEL. This was the era of The Pacific Avenue Garden Mall 1969-70. The TeaCup Chop Suey Restaurant and bar, Tom Cahill’s fine clothing store and some other businesses  that I can’t remember.                                                             photo credit: Covello … Continue reading →

PACIFIC AVENUE PARADE, Circa ? It’s either 10 :40 am or 10:50 am. According to the two clocks in this 1950’s photo. Once again, note the two lanes of parked cars, see the marchers marching in five columns and there’s … Continue reading →