Old Redwood City. California

MEZES PARK aka Tank park back in 1993. Redwood City

Summertime 2012 Downtown Redwood City

n 1961, Syufy Enterprises Circuit built the Whipple Drive-In at E. Bayshore Road and Whipple Avenue. The name would later be changed to the Redwood Drive-In and would add three screens. With a 25-year lifecycle, the drive-in was closed following the 1986 season and demolished in 1987 to make was for the Syufy’s 12-plex, the Century 12 Cinema which opened in 1989 and closed roughly 20 years later by Cinemark.

Circle Star: Redwood City- San Carlos

They are Open on weekdays only: Pulgas Water Temple in Redwood City 05/05/21

MARINE WORLD / AFRICA U.S.A. With approximately 66 acres of reclaimed tidelands of San Francisco Bay within the confines of Redwood City. Numerous shallow sloug...hs, which have long been filled in, are known to have meandered across the property in its natural state. The general area of the site was diked off from the bay about 1910 and was used for pasture until about 1946 when it was converted to salt evaporation ponds. The site was then cleaned and leveled, and between 1964 and 1965, received about two feet of fill. Construction of Marine World took place between 1966 and 1968. Available topographic surveys indicate that surcharges of two to three feet were placed over some of the old slough areas prior to construction of the animal park. Marine World opened in July 1968. The park was owned and operated by the American Broadcasting Company. Ralph Helfer bought out Marine World in 1972 when it went bankrupt and added a wildlife park and "jungle theater", renaming the park as Marine World/Africa USA. The park moved in 1986 to Vallejo, to eventually become Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The land of the former Marine World/Africa U.S.A. is now occupied by the world headquarters of Oracle Corporation. A few years before the park's acquisition by Six Flags, a new dinosaur-themed area was added, using animatronic dinosaurs in a jungle-like an exhibit.

Happy birthday to the GOAT!

JOHN LEE HOOKER - BOOM BOOM (in colour) The video here is rare footage of JOHN LEE HOOKER performing BOOM BOOM on a porch surrounded by fans (Newport Folk Festi...val 1963). I've upscaled the original black & white clip and colourised where possible. The video is courtesy of 'Fifties, Sixties & Seventies rare music clips' - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO66YUjiJR18K5cMSZxs_sA "Boom Boom" was the song that crossed over, marking Hooker's only entry on the US Hot 100 and becoming his signature song. "I used to play at this place called the Apex Bar in Detroit," said John Lee. "There was a young lady there named Luilla. She was a bartender there. I would come in there at night and I'd never be on time. Every night the band would beat me there. Sometimes they'd be on the bandstand playing by the time I got there. I'd always be late and whenever I'd come in she'd point at me and say, 'Boom Boom, you're late again.' And she kept saying that. It dawned on me that that was a good name for a song. Then one night she said, 'Boom boom, I'm gonna shoot you down.' She gave me a song but she didn't know it." I took that thing and I hummed it all the way home from the bar. At night I went to bed and I was still thinking of it. I got up the next day and put one and one together, two and two together, trying to piece it out - taking things out, putting things in. I finally got it down right, got it together, got it down in my head. Then I went and sang it, and everybody went, Wow! Then I didn't do it no more, not in the bar. I figured somebody would grab it before I got it copyrighted. So I sent it to Washington, D.C., the Library of Congress, and I got it copyrighted. After I got it copyrighted I could do it in the bar. So then if anybody got the idea to do it I had them by the neck, because I had it copyrighted. About two months later I recorded it. I was on Vee-Jay then. And the record shot straight to the top. Then, after I did it, the Animals turned around and did it. That barmaid felt pretty good. She went around telling everybody I got John Lee to write that song. I gave her some bread for it, too, so she was pretty happy." Hello, and a warm welcome to everyone who has joined COLOURING THE PAST. The page is my attempt to add a little colour to the cheeks of the past. It's not intended to offer anything 'better' than the original black & white footage; just a different take. Running the page is a ONE-MAN OPERATION. I write and research the articles, and edit the videos which involves several hours of work - upscaling, colourising and tweaking in various software. This takes almost a day of unpaid work. If you could see fit to make a small donation then I would be genuinely grateful. Thank you and best wishes, Paul Just visit one of the links to donate (all secure connections): PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/decade7787 JUSTGIVING: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ctp

Corner of Broadway Av & El Camino Real Sequoia High School. Redwood City

KMart Shoppers..last call....!!! The last remaining Kmart in the Bay Area. Kmart Redwood City is finally closing. Kmart has been one of my go to stores since I was a kid, when Kmart was popular like Walmart and Target . My mom used to especially like taking me on Caltrain to the San Mateo Hayward Park station to go to the San Mateo Kmart, which we miss dearly. It’s really sad to see the chain die down. Last chance to shop there before it’s gone forever

Broadway & El Camino Real Redwood City

El Camino Real Burlingame 1940s

Woodside Store The Woodside Store was constructed in 1854 by two early pioneers named Robert Orville Tripp and Mathias Parkhurst.Tripp was a dentist from Massachusetts that came to California during the Gold Rush.This redwood emporium sat in the middle of the San Francisco Peninsula's lumbering district; it was, for a time, the only general store and stagecoach stop between San Francisco and Santa Clara.The store sold everything from food to construction supplies and also served as a post office, bank, saloon and dentist office.The store was operated by Tripp until his death in 1909, at the age of 93. Legend has it that Tripp had a very large dog that would follow him and they are photographed together.It has been rumored that there is a ghost of his dog, haunting the Woodside Store.

Cruising El Camino Real 1920s....

Tankpark Redwood City

French Fries..please!

Woolworth's - for all your Thanksgiving Needs. [Nov 1965]

Around this time every year my mom would pull out her Johnny Mathis Christmas records. She loved Johnny, who grew up in San Francisco, and to this day it wouldn't be Christmas without his music.

back in the days

Broadway at Main street, Redwood City, California (from the collection of Michael J. Semas). Image taken 1909-1911 by George Besaw of Reedley, California. Redwood City is the county seat for San Mateo County since it was formed in 1856. The land the city is located on was part of the Rancho de las Pulgas land grant deeded to the Argüello family in 1795. The city got its name from the redwood trees growing in the hills a few miles from town. Also, the Port of Redwood City (in use since 1851) is the southernmost deep-water port in San Francisco Bay. Today, Redwood City is home to several global technology companies. Broadway at Main street today

Dedicated to a San Jose classic that is gone... Harry's Hofbrau

https://www.sfgate.com//Woodside-Deli-closes-for-good-afte Damn.

John Lee Hooker owned five houses in his later life, including houses located in Los Altos, California; Redwood City, California; and Long Beach, California. Ho...oker died in his sleep on June 21, 2001, in Los Altos, California in his home He is interred at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, California.He was survived by eight children, 19 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. See more

THE VALLEY'S SNOW DAY. San Jose. January 21st, 1962. Back in the sixties, there was a day in which Bay Area children really were able to join in on all the fun.... On Sunday, January 21st, 1962, the children awoke to a dazzling sight. It had snowed --- and not just a few ice crystals on the grass --- it had really snowed. While there had been dustings here and there over the years, this was our version of a blizzard --- an inch and a half were reported in most places and close to 9 inches up in the mountains on Skyline Drive. After an extremely warm and dry winter that year, the storm was part of a cold spell caused by wayward Canadian winds that settled over the Western United States. That early Sunday morning, the temperature dropped to 26 degrees and by 4AM, the falling rain began to turn to snow. As it turned out, it would keep on falling for the next three and a half hours and by the time breakfast was on the table, most youngsters were already outside having a once-in-a-childhood experience. Soon, the whole city was a giant white playground. Snowmen were being built all over town, snowball fights broke out everywhere, the 10th hole fairway at Los Altos Country Club became a makeshift ski resort and smaller towns like Palo Alto stores ran out of film. So many families took rides north to the mountains that Page Mill Road became bogged down in traffic. Many hit the road to Mt. Hamilton, only to find the road closed. Other cars never started at all. One gas station owner reported that he sold 150 gallons of antifreeze by noon, three times the usual amount for an entire year. And so many locals were on the telephone giving amateur weather reports that the lines were completely jammed by 6:30 in the morning. One thing no one seemed to be doing was going to church. Local ministers reported that 40% of their usual congregations were conspicuously absent --- apparently out admiring God’s work personally. Years later, many still remember that single snowy day of their youth. In 1976, it had snow again, a 100-year event occurring twice in less than two decades. On that day, a whole other generation of kids experienced the wonder of waking up to find that the whole world had gone white. (photo: three family members enjoying snowfall in San Jose near 780 Irene Street, standing in front of Marvin McArthur’s 1960 Ford. From left to right: Flora Albanese Talesfore, Marvin Moot McArthur, and Christine Albanese McArthur. (likely 1962). (Image courtesy of San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives)

UNION GASOLINE Redwood City 1929.

Broadway & Main Redwood City

Then, Then and Now, Bank of San Mateo Building, Redwood City, California. Then image #1 taken in 1909-1911 by George Besaw of Reedley, California. Then image #2 taken in 1991 and obtained from Wikipedia, Now image from Google Maps. It's always comforting to see how some buildings are spared the wrecking ball. This beautiful structure occupies the northeast corner of Main Street and Broadway in Downtown Redwood City. From Wikipedia: "The Bank of San Mateo County building was completed in 1900, the second location for the First National Bank of San Mateo County, and survived the 1906 earthquake. The bank which was originally established in 1891 eventually merged with Wells Fargo Bank in the 1970s."

PIONEER HOTEL. Woodside. Aka Whiskey Hill. Dennis Martin, who came in the first wagon party over the Truckee pass in 1845, bought one thousand acres of land from John Coppinger. He put up a house and two sawmills, planted orchards, and built St. Dennis Chapel, which for years was the only place of worship between San Francisco and Santa Clara. Eventually, a direct road was opened from the redwood forests to the head of the tidewater in Redwood Creek -- now the heart of Redwoo...d City. The lumber was dragged by oxen teams over this road and floated by raft to San Francisco. By 1855, there were at least eight sawmills and one shingle mill in Woodside. As the lower hills were timbered out, the mills were moved up the canyons and over the hills. People were attracted to this beautiful valley, and by 1852 there was a regular stage coach service to San Francisco. Another result of this boom was the number of saloons which multiplied on Whiskey Hill Road. Gradually, the character of the valley changed. The sawmills were replaced by farms, small cattle ranches, and vineyards. In the 1880's prosperous San Francisco families began to establish country estates in Woodside. The Pioneer Hotel was built in 1882, and the original facade still stands. Independence Hall, built in 1884, was originally located on what are now the elementary school's tennis courts. It was moved in 1894 to Albion Avenue, but closed in 1921 due to "rowdiness" during prohibition. In 1944 it was rededicated as Scout Hall. However, in 1972 the land on which it stood was sold, and it was moved back to the elementary school. It was moved, finally, in 1991, completely restored, and now stands next to Town Hall, at 2955 Woodside Road. It is used for Town meetings and events. The Saloon was built in the mid 1800's when the lumbering trade was being born...place was known as Whisky Hill then came the Pioneer Saloon...a stage coach stop and a "skid row" where the lumber jacks could let off steam from the hard work dragging lumber down to the Redwood saw mills.

Broadway Redwood City

Found this going through some old letters from 1968-69. Round Table pizza in Redwood City.

Broadway at El Camino Real, Redwood City ( 1940s)

Redwood City's Algiers Motel & Restaurant, formerly "The Southern" Co-owners Joe Bracco & his Brother-in-law, Bill Doyle

Johnny Mac's in redwood city around 1955. Had the best double decker sandwich called the big mac. Couldnt ever understand how they got away with that name? Born & raised in Redwood City, I remember the first Johnny Mac's very well...It was mine & many other Sequoia High School students favorite hangout...Later, when I was a RC Police Officer, Johnny Mac's was on "my beat" & still the best place for a hamburger...The Big Mac...I laugh when I read about either a VP or a franchi...se owner of McDonald's claiming they "invented" the "Big Mac" around 1968, when in fact, the Big Mac was served at Johnny Mac's in Redwood City since around 1947, through the 1950s & part of the 1960s before it sold & was renamed to Cindy's...The Big Mac disappeared until McDonald's pu them on their menu! The restaurant took its name from Johnny MacLane, one of its three owners. In homage to his Scottish heritage, the carhops' uniforms were dark green with sections of green plaid and gold trim The trio had opened a Johnny Mac's shortly beforehand in Redwood City and went on to open the Burger Barn restaurants in San Jose, one of which still stands on Forest Avenue. MacLane died of a heart attack after that, but the others went on to start the Burger Pit chain as well. See more

Broadway Av Downtown Redwood City

Plaza MERVYNS , veterans Blv. Redwood City

May-June 1947 issue of California Highways and Public Works. "El Camino Real looking north at Broadway, Redwood City."

Redwood City 1911, practically begging people to pay $1 down for a $150 lot, touting the Dumbarton cutoff & Redwood Creek's deep water harbor. If they only knew hat was to come!

Southern Pacific Redwood City switching crew. They worked Redwood City, San Carlos, and on weekends did the run up to the quarry west of San Jose, run by Permanente. About 1959.

Emerald Lake...back in the days...

Not Old picture...but Redwood City downtown

Vintage photo ,early 1909, view of Main St.where BC Rohr Real State was located in Redwood City.

Broadway Av. & El Camino Real / Redwood City(1930s)

REDWOOD PLAZA - Downtown Redwood City early 1990s

Downtown Redwood City

aka Tank Park Redwood City

On this day in 1906, San Francisco was rocked by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. The damage wasn't limited to the city itself, however. Here on the Peninsula, the S...an Mateo County Courthouse was destroyed, along with several other buildings. After the debris was removed, the only part of the Courthouse still standing was the dome. See more

MONTANA & The Big Boys @RedMorton RWC

Although not in San Francisco but brings back a lot of memories. Watch the video.