Author Archives: Bruce

PACIFIC AVENUE PARADE (BEFORE OUR CITY COUNCIL STOPPED THEM). Send in your best guess on the date of this parade. Note too that the parade is heading South. We’ve a collection of parade photos and it’s surprising how many times … Continue reading →

GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN AT UCSC, AGAIN.This photo of “Ronnie Babe” at UCSC was taken October 18, 1968. Still trying to set the record straight Ronnie was sworn in as Governor a few minutes after midnight on January 2, 1967. His … Continue reading →

EARLIEST PHOTO OF DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ. This was taken around 1859. It’s of course what we now call Pacific, Front, and Mission streets with that Jamba Juice, US Post office and stuff there now. Back then it was Willow, Front … Continue reading →

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN ON UCSC CAMPUS.Believe it or not the students were protesting by means of a vigil the increase in student tuition. This was on May 18 1967 just before Ronnie was elected Governor. photo credit: Covello & … Continue reading →

SANTA CRUZ, THE BAY, THE SAN LORENZO, NEARY LAGOON…1948. Just waiting for the Tsunami!!! But seriously squint closely to see the huge sand bar under the San Lorenzo Bridge where our city-owned parking lot used to be. Those were the … Continue reading →

FLYING A GRAND OPENING. June 7, 1957. Real Santa Cruzans can identify this corner as Mission and King Streets intersection. I thought the clown was Hocus Pocus a genuine landmark of local history but this guy’s too thin. Except for … Continue reading →

EARLY BIG CREEK POTTERY. (l to r.) Bruce McDougal, Marcia McDougal and yours truly May 18, 1970. The little goat’s name was Natoma and we had just created the Big Creek Chapter of the Natoma Street Tap Dancing Society (explanations … Continue reading →

END OF THE LINE. Horsecar #1 at Soquel May 1890. This horsecar line went from Ocean Street to Arana Gulch (2 miles). That’s the Netherton and Williams Saloon in the background. That’s Ed Ely at the reins. photo credit: Covello … Continue reading →

THE BOARDWALK SWENSON LA BAHIA.Ignore those fancy 3D dreamscapes that Jesse Nickell and Charlie Canfield claim represent their noveaux La Bahia. Here’s what it’ll look like straight on from Beach Street. When opponent/realists say it’ll look like Waikiki, this is … Continue reading →

PACIFIC AVENUE AND MISSION STREETS ca. 1924-27. That would be Wachovia or whatever name that bank has now where the Arlington Hotel used to be. Then there’s Lulu Carpenters, the very old and almost original Bookshop Santa Cruz location. Odyssey … Continue reading →