San Jose - A City To See (1972)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ธ.ค. 2012
- This student/amateur film by Louis Ventura, Jr. is a time capsule of San Jose in 1972. With a low-key, one-take voice-over and the "Shaft" theme as background music, it's an unusual but fascinating historic document of a growing, developing city and its recreational attractions. Aerial views of the city provided on a flight by Cliff Hodges from Aero Trends at Reid-Hillview Airport, film of the rides in Frontier Village, shots inside the "Beautiful" Eastridge Mall, and shots of PSA and TWA planes at San Jose Municipal Airport are unusual scenes. For the making of this film, Mr. Ventura also visited the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, Alum Rock Park, Backesto Park, the Rosicrucian Museum, Vasona Park, Oak Meadow Park, William Street Park, and the Winchester Mystery House. Though he may be perpetuating a false story about Sarah Winchester's beliefs, it was the theme-park story of the day to say she thought building the house would gain her immortality. Overall, this film is a glimpse into San Jose's past that we seldom see, but many will remember.
A part of the Pioneers Film Archive
Property of History San Jose
Special thanks to Ken Middlebrook
Audio conversion by Tim Peddy
Edited and digitized by William Foley
All Rights Reserved
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This makes me cry. I was graduating eighth grade when this was made. And now our beautiful valley has been overrun, turned into a techno anthill, versus the Valley of Heart's Delight and the world's fruit basket it once was. It breaks my heart.
i feel the same... We used to visit my grandparents in the 70s. Those are the best times of my life.❤
It's called progress my dear_________ I came to San Jo in 72 .What a different place. Sheppard,Mc collam, Belden, James Lick, Independence High School wasn't on Drawing board yet.Jackson and Avalani apts. Ray Garza,Junior Sanchez,the Sanchez sisters and Little To only,Zoria farms,The Horseshoe west side now no sign of either canneries and barrio that was home to do many hard cannery workers,Sicilian,Mexican,and others.
Overfelt and it's wrestling program,Pacific Islanders,newcomer Vietnamese, Philipinos,Persian,and so many others from around do world .San Jose is a true melting pot where we all blend in nicely. No drama. Original Joe's still here so is Original Mike's Pasta Specials now a chop house. Mike came a long way to get where he's at now Shout out to Da man.
Of course we need to have progress and evolve. To build better schools. Transportation. I think what the OP was referring to was the lack of respect and patriotism.. referring to the good old days. We were all hard working migrants that loved this area and wanted to get ahead and make something of ourselves. We had a drive. And we were proud of our work and so happy we all got along.
Problem is the 50’s boom after WWII was so successful that the next two generations became complacent and with a lack of drive. Now the youth want what their parents had but not much desire to thrive. Get ahead. They imagine the government will take care of them somehow. So they keep voting extreme liberal. Pipe dreams of green energy instead of learning how to move forward in the real world. We’ll get there.
My family moved to San Jose in 1954 from Berkeley when I was 9 years old. I lived there until 1961 when my folks bought their first new home in Santa Clara. I went to Walter L. Bachrodt Elementary, Belden Elementary and Peter H. Burnett Jr. High. I graduated San Jose High School in 1963 and in 1964 moved to L.A. My first job as a kid when we moved to San Jose was picking Apricots in an Orchard on First Street where the City Hall is now. There was a Barber Shop I went to that was on the corner of First and Younger where I heard the news about Richie Vallens and The Big Bopper dying in a plane crash. I loved going to the Rosecrucian Museum. I remember when the "Plateau 7" restaurant opened up. I took my girlfriend there on a date when I was a Senior in High School. I loved those days as a kid and teen in San Jose. Going to the County Fair was always a must. I even sang there several years and once even opened for Ricky Nelson. So many good memories. Most of my friends are gone now. Whether it was Viet Nam, or just getting older, so many have passed away. I'm now 76 and still live in L.A. My folks eventually moved here in 1984. All of my relatives in San Jose are mostly gone except for a cousin or two. When I see pictures of what San Jose looks like now, I can hardly recognize it. So much has changed. It was a great place to grow up. Sometimes, I really miss those days......
I was 12 when this was filmed...and cried when I watched it. I will love San Jose forever
Susan Wellman did you move away from San Jose ?
yes, I did. I can't afford it now. Now I live in a place I'd never heard of before. I'm a Native of: San Jose Hospital, San Jose Ave, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. Old Almaden ie, New Almaden the Almaden Club, the Almaden Mines,,,Family.
Susan Wellman I was seven in 1972 ...the whole thing makes me want to cry.. it haunts me... Takes me back to my grandparents home when my parents were young and alive and happy.
Same!! Born in 1960. I was fortunate enough to be able to see all of the open land that had ACRES of Orchards on it.
@@Icprince2004 by anyyy chance would you happen to know about any crime that might have happened in around blossom hill? I’m trying to figure out the history of the home I used to live in that was RIDICULOUSLY haunted. I can’t find anything on the internet. I’d be so great full if you know anything at all 😅
Pioneer H.S. Class of '73. This makes me wanna cry.
So many memories brought back. San Jose born and raised. Thank you.
muck4doo do you still live there ?
Yes 1972 a very good year.
I wish i was born in your times because san jose seemed more peaceful and better compared to my generations when things changed. Was born in 88 in this city and still live here but i just wish i saw how it use to be in the 70s
Same
Angelray Vega
I lived there in San Jose in the 80’s and still seemed a decent city, when Silicon Valley was just getting off the ground.
But am sure the 70’s and 60’s & So On were amazing years there in San Jose, even without the advanced technology.
Eastridge! Wow...awesome footage
I recognized the footage of Reid-Hillview right away. I started flying out of their in 1969 at age 16 as a student pilot right after the moon landing and I still fly 47 years later, a slightly larger half million pound airplane, however. I got my pilot's license the day of the Altamont Stones concert.
In '72, depending on when this was made, I was either finishing my freshman year, or starting my sophomore year at William C. Overfelt in the "notorious" East Side. Good times.
I remember when the Emporium replaced Liberty House.
most of these still exist and look almost exactly the same, pretty wild after all these years. even frontier village, even demolished, still exists as a pretty nice park
One of my earliest memories is feeding those ducks on Vasona Lake. Would have been approximately 1973 just after this was filmed. Crazy to see here.
Memories
We had so much fun here as kids, wish I could have been able to give the experience I had as a kid to my children and my grandchildren.
Goldie Pennywell you can't because it was the time that made it wonderful.
Frontier Village - ah, memories. I remember going there in 1973 and having to cross over to the Nimitz from 680 because 680 wasn't complete to San Jose yet.
I miss my old home town San Jose ,been away for than two years , no idea as to what it even looks like today !
San Jose born and raised. I was born a year before this was made. Grew up there in the 70s and 80s in South San Jose, Blossom Valley area, when it was still a nice place. Still lots of open space before the rise of the silicon valley ruined it. Love the clips of Frontier Village.....spent many birthdays there before they sadly closed.
Blossom hill
Same! I was born not long after this. It sure has changed alot sadly.
I'm an 02 kid so I can't relate to to remembering when SJ was like this. My dad always told me that the quality of people is getting worse ever year and I never really understood it until I looked back at older footages like this. I also grew up in the Blossom valley, through Edenvale Elementary, Caroline Davis Intermediate, and Oak Grove High School. I had great experiences there, but I was lucky to be the last year of students to graduate my elementary before they implemented uniforms and put up a 10 foot black fence surrounding the entire property
Does anyone remember the Channel 36 commercials and bumpers that had Carol Doda’s image and voice, back during that era?
@Bob_88SC...indeed remember carol...everybody was bananas over her fake breasts and sultry voice.....lol.
I used to run the all night movies on Channel 36 and helped shoot the Carol Doda stuff. That was my job.
The Greatest Film Ever San Jose in 1972
Get your tissues out it's going to be a great time!
Grew up in san josey...fondest memories were of hitch hiking hwy 17 from los gatos to santa cruz...and of course: First street races on Friday sat. nights.
I have a lot of memories of Vasona Park--this brought them back!
Totally agree with you... Vasona was a destination as a family and then as a teenager riding the bicycle from Leigh and Dry Creek. San Jose was a great city to be raised in. Del Mar 84.
You had me at Frontier Village. I love you.
And then i lol'ed again at Eastridge.
OMG... We moved up here in '73; it's amazing how much has changed and also how much has stayed the same. I remember climbing the roll-up stairs to the planes at "SJC" to fly up to visit my grandparents in Eureka. Birthdays at Frontier Village. The Rosicrucian museum (a staple of elementary school field trips), picnics at Vasona - we still do that... nice time capsule! :)
The year we moved to San Jose. I was 6 and coming from a small valley town into a large, for me then anyways, fourplex neighborhood. I wasn't born there but I grew up there and a few years after this my family moved into a house very near Frontier Village. It's hard to think about those days sometimes, people tell you when you're a kid that life is short and you think it's not but it sure is and it moves quickly.
Born and raised on the eastside. Moved from Jackson Ave, to Ohio 1986 and haven't been robbed since. Miss the place though.
LOL. My paternal grandparents lived on Lyons Ct, not that far from Jackson.
Born in 1980 and grew up in Los Gatos - I live about 5 blocks from Oak Meadow currently 😂 I grew up going there and Vasona to feed the ducks, and my dad sold fine jewelry at Macy’s Eastridge in the 70s. I remember SJC looking like that, too, and flying AirCal! Great memories
WC Overfelt High School class of 75! Thank you for this!!! SO many memories!
I am 11 right now I was so curious to see what it looked like back then thanks
WOW, thanks for a great walk down memory lane! I grew up in SJ ('68-'80) and remember all those places.My parents first house purchased in Cambrian Park area was only $25,000! (1968). My mom bought our new school clothes in THAT GAP store in the Eastridge mall! Life was much simpler back then, no smartphones or computers. 10-speed bikes were a must have. It just wasnt nearly as congested back then. Parker/Jollyman elementry,(both long gone), Kennedy Jr. high, Monta Vista H.S. class of 1980. Thankyou for posting this vidio!
Yeah I lived there from 71 to 86. Uncomplicated and simple pleasures.
David G yeah back in 1967 there was not as many people. I only lived a short way away from this mall it was a easy walk. I remember being 12 and standing in the middle of the road in my housing track and it would take a long time for a car to even come by. A lot less people. That could have been because most family's only owned one car because the wife did not work. Sense my parents are no longer living it brings a lot more emotion watching these types of videos.
Omg let me just say completely blown away. Remember those good old days I'm now 50 years old I grew up in the Bay area and moved to Idaho the 1991. But looking back on all of it now I miss that I miss that sense of fun things to do in the warm California Sun. The Bay area was home to me for about 19 years. Before packing it up and moving to Idaho. I miss it so much I've had a chance to go back and just gone yeah this is not the California I left this is not the Bay area I left I was completely appalled when I came through during COVID and was blown away. I'm glad to live where I live now but I have those fond memories and thank you for making this film all those years ago and putting it on TH-cam even now so some of us can remember what it was like. And the funny thing is when you made this film I was born that same year.
This was meant for you to watch. It's purpose fulfilled. And I was 11 going on 12 when this treasure of a film was made. Still in California though. ❤
@ 11:05 I jumped up from my seat thinking I'd finally found some footage of William Street Park when they had the log playground. That playground was massive! I had so much fun on that high rise slide & the tire swing that spun in circles. My grandma owned the Victorian house right across the street. We used to go crawdad fishing under that bridge. I went to Olinder school for a short time. The school & park are still there but the log playground was torn down many years ago. I think too many kids got hurt falling down the fire pole. I once fell trying to slide down that thing with sticky hands and fell more than half way down knocking my wind out lol. Kids(& adults) were a lot tougher back then. Unfortunately my grandma's house was torn down & an apartment complex was built there. I hope one day to come across pictures of the old playground. It was such a wonderful place to experience! All of the original San Jose was! I can still hear the sound of the Pacific Railway trains going through that area blowing the horn & shaking the ground. There used to be a bar called Ruthie's down on 34th & Williams. I remember they had a sign on the door entering that said "Must Be 18 Year's or Older To Enter". Man...those were the days! Now San Jose is just full of overly sensitive Cyborg's 🤖🤳 & 🦄's 😂
Well done Mr Ventura!
As a 1971 Lincoln High grad I remember visiting all of these places including from the air as you did. Much seems to be the same except for losing Frontier Village, a real favorite of mine. Thanks for sharing!
how was lincoln like back then ?
I was a kid living in Sunnyvale when this was filmed. Lots of good memories of places I enjoyed being at from time to time.
stargate4698 did you move away from the area ?
I was born and raised in San Jose, I live not too far from Alum Rock park. When I was in High School, we used to run from Independence high to Alum Rock for Cross Country practice, back in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
4 years later I lived there - on E. San Salvador St. It was a helluva time!
Did you know King Rd was the back road of Henry Kings farm everything east of King Rd was his farm.
I actually did not know that.
Thank you for the historic info.
What happend to that farm ?
Stay Macn its just smaller and I wasn't there back then I didn't even know this I just turned 18 but thankyou for the info
This is quite literally a trip back in time for me. Haunting memories of summers at my grandparents....
Sorry to hear they are “haunting” memories, i hope u are well take care.
I am so homesick right now.
Eastridge mall opened 50 years ago today!
Funny how he avoided showing downtown back then, lol.
😁
I think its because of the airport. City ordinance he can't fly anywhere near downtown.
We used to ride the 66 up first street to look at the odd selection of "business establishments..."
Why what was wrong with downtown?
"The Rosecrucian Museum, It also has a fountain"...LOL
Love this! Brought me back to my younger years!
I was 9 years old, living in San Jose when the film was made, how things have changed.
I might have been riding the train that day at Oak Meadow park.
My old stomping grounds. I can still recall the fanfare when McDonalds moved into Eastridge. King Norman Toys (your videogame headquarters) and that doughnut place next to the food court that sold those chocolate feet.
My Cub Scout troop visited the Rosicrucian museum. Nothing more hectic than having a bunch of young energetic boys in a building full of dead people.
I liked being able to see parts of my childhood for just a few minutes on film, at any rate :)
We moved to East San Jose in 1969 from a small country in Southern Africa. This brings back fond memories, we went to Silver Creek high school and l remember spending weekends at Eastridge mall looking for girls, lol
Moved to Campbell in 1966 when I was 2, later grew up in Saratoga. I remember always going to Oak Meadow Park and playing on that fire engine.
The fire engine and later that big polished aluminum Jet airplane. All since long gone and replaced with "safer" play structures.
@@life_of_riley88 That's sad but at least it was still there in 2016 when I took a visit back up there and showed it to my son.
Thanks so much for the memories!
killer soundtrack. beautiful images and words.
I was 7. The year my Dad died. I’m glad I grew up in SJ when I did!
beautiful
memories
my home town early 60's
saw it all
Reid Hillview airport my dad kept his plane
thx
What about Happy Hollow ? 🐢
i lived there late 90's just north of the university on 10th street. not a great neighborhood but i like San Jose for some reason. lots of fun just walking around downtown, driving to Santa Cruz, etc. Hanging around the tech museum of innovation. GDC Y2K. My parents came to visit and got a cheap room at the university during the summer. we drove all over the bay area. fun times.
I lived in a restored Victorian on 8th Street in the early 90s, with SJSU right up the street.
Awesome video! Those were the days!
Raised just walking distance from Frontier Village, still remember all the walnut orchards that surrounded my parents house when we moved in, all gone now
Were they uprooted just to build or?
@@robertvillarreal4525 its all track homes
Sarah Winchester was 83 when she died not 96 and She kept building to appease the spirits not to live forever. Louis Ventura Jr. you should have took the tour and taken notes!.
A bit quirky, but a cool time capsule from our San Jose past vintage 1972.
Great footage of the mine ride...AWESOME
I did not hear any voiceover or music, just faint sounds like trickling water. I just figured it was silent like any home movie from then. It was kind of cool to watch, though, like when we watched our home movies in the dining room in Los Gatos.
I remember that spiral sculpture in Eastridge. My father help build it. Look at all those empty fields. How I miss my little city,
Wasn't the sculpture moved to another location in SJ?
@@PlasmaCoolantLeakDowntown
The year and city I was born in... You can't even recognize it anymore.
yep. they really changed it and i am not liking it whatsoever
Yes you can, it looks exactly the same
Historically significant. Nice job, SJ Pioneers!
8:08 This was just after the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad opened its mile-and-a-half extension.
this was outstanding.....i grew up there.went to ida price then to camden until its closing then moved to bakersfield
East ridge Mall 💯👏🏾
👨🏾🏫 80s Teenager ✊🏾
Obviously, if you don't know how to spell Eastridge
How was it like back then ?
@@spiritualdanny5565 it was good man cannot be described
Great footage
WOW I remember all of those places.
Mister narrator sounds like he just got his tooth extracted but had to finish this docu film. 🤣
Loooooooooolll
My home town moved here 85
Who remembers the old neighborhood where 87 is now..?i clearly remember those old houses that once stood there
Eric Villasenor i heard that the neighborhood I live in was just fields of orchards
Eric V | My family lived at 346 Fuller Ave., at the corner of Prevost St., from 1959 - 1975/76, I was born in 1963. We lived at the end of Fuller, where it dead-ended into an empty lot that led to Guadalupe River (we called it a creek), where I would catch polliwogs and pick almonds from the trees that grew there. Across the street from our house was the railroad tracks, where we would play, sliding down the big gravel rocks on cardboard.
This area was part of the Gardner Neighborhood. Present day Highway 87 now runs thru that empty lot, and the street now ends with a big, tall, ugly wall.
Wow, what great memories at Frontier
I remember the first plane flight I took was PSA to LA 1967 to the recently opened Universal Studios.Time oh time where have you gone.
alonzo calvillo I think the first time I flew PSA to LA was in 66 or 67. I remember a round trip ticket was $24.
Mr. Calvillo I forgot to mention I left from San Jose to LA.
Born 1971 and raised its sad to watch knowing what it has turned into
This is freaking amazing!!!
What happened to the background music and running commentary?
I was a Frontier Village Kid. ❤
This is where I grew up. I was a little kid when this was made but of course I remember all of these places. When I became an adult I had to move away because of the outrageous high prices to rent or own anything here. It was a place for baby boomers and not the generation that came after. As a Gen X I was living in my car for a few years while working full time in San Jose.
0:21 what is now Hidden Glen at Tully Road.
Tony B | Lol. We moved from Willow Glen area to Evergreen in 1975 - the year I started 7th grade at Quimby Oak.
Now sitting on top of 8-10 ft of the best topsoil in the world. All cemented over.
I Grew up in SJ. I was a doing my Last year at Lincoln HS IN 72.It was all about AG back then. Super flim..
My cousin Ismael Hernandez went there class of 73 may he rest in peace.
Nice to see High School kids have never changed.
GREAT footage, but where is Shaft? :-)
I liked it. 🙂
Do It Corky!!
the san jose I love not over crowded & expensive
What are the names of the songs playing?
Everyone in comments is old, including me. I sold massive amounts of cocaine to my rich friends in SARATOGA AND LOS GATOS IN 1985-1988.
How many of them have left California?
I’m not but everything look so much better back then
Lol😂
ha ha forgot all about PSA Airlines!
+CameronShaft All four of the airlines he mentioned are no longer around
Do you know the way to San Jose?Left 1976 to Texas alway a Bulldog Go San Jose High 74.
LIONS RULE! BULLDOGS DROOL!....lol
SAY IT DON'T SPRAY IT!
loughran03 your cold
He has a dual lateral lisp. Don't be rude!
The same as Sid from the Ice Age movies.
Dion Warrick put SJ on the map
th-cam.com/video/jqWt49o7R-k/w-d-xo.html
She knew the way even though she had been away so long
Those were the days
WOW I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS REMEMBER WATCHING THE PLANES GO BY ON TOP OF CAR DID U EVER DO THAT WAS FUN
Yes I do
san jose looks so small i could not believe i was on king rd and I could not find capitol rd crazy i did find my friend Rosie mendoza she told me a long time ago she went to school with u
What was the temp?
Eastridge is that old?
What's the deal with the sound?
That's hot. I was there then.
Is Santa Clara County Hospital still there?
The sceans appear they were shot back in the early 1970s.
Damn Backesto doesn’t look like that anymore :(
lol this feels like something out of Parks and Rec if Parks and Rec were made in 1972
of all those airlines shown, only United still remains.
And Delta!
9:46 STILL THERE
N533PS, if that is what it says, is the one that crashed in San Diego.
Looks like N537PS to me