Author Archives: Bruce

CAFFE PERGOLESI. January 20, 1954. As we can see this was once Dr. Miller’s office…and the home of pain. Now it’s Caffe Pergolesi the home of coffee and pleasure, at the corner of Cedar and Elm streets. The original Pergolesi … Continue reading →

LA BAHIA…FORMERLY CASA DEL REY APARTMENTS. The La Bahia Apartments were originally designed as the luxury Casa Del Rey Apartments. Back in the Golden Age of Santa Cruz Tourism, before WWII, they were part of a sprawling tourist complex that … Continue reading →

SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL CARRIERS. This was taken June 9, 1956. These young whippersnappers would be about 55-60 years old now. Note the narrow bike tires!! Those station wagons parked in the background were the Sentinel delivery vehicles. I believe this … Continue reading →

BOARDWALK FILLING IN THE PLUNGE April 25, 1963. This was before they decided to install the miniature golf course. It was an amazingly successful place for folks to swim who didn’t want to brave the ocean. It was a salt … Continue reading →

THE GOODTIME WASHBOARD 3 WITH BING CROSBY. That’s my old trio with Wayne Pope, Bing Crosby, me and Pete Arnott during our appearance on Bing’s Hollywood Palace nationwide TV show from April 1, 1964. Also appearing on that show was … Continue reading →

REAL FISH, REAL FISHERMEN ON OUR WHARF, circa 1910. That was back in the days before mercury levels and men were men. See those frames holding the boats? Those were because the tides were so high they had to raise … Continue reading →

THRASH MOTORS in April of 1959. Then it was Pontiac Grill at the corner of Front and Cathcart Streets. Then it was Café La Vie now it’s The Surfrider Café. If you read closely you’ll see that the window ads … Continue reading →

UCSC LAND before UCSC. This 1957 photo shows High Street turning into Empire Grade at the bottom center with what’s now the Barn Theatre most prominent. Then there’s the Cook House. The Cooperage, Glenn Coolidge Drive and the Carriage House … Continue reading →

CHRISTMAS BEFORE THE TOWN CLOCK WAS THERE. This was taken December 26, 1951 at Pacific and Water Streets before they rescued what’s now our Town Clock from rotting in Harvey West Park. That’s after they removed it from the top … Continue reading →

SANTA’S VILLAGE. May 9, 1959. (Right to left) Real reindeer, Santa Claus (aka Hocus Pocus), George Liberace (Liberace’s real brother) and some odd-looking Pee Wee Herman type guy. Santa’s Village opened in 1955 in Scotts Valley and went bankrupt in … Continue reading →