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EDITORS NOTE
Viewer Email & Memories are published as soon as they are received.
Keep checking back for new
messages.
Jim, Great site you have. And like many have
told you, brings back great memories. One question. Is the Balboa
Island Sculling and Punting Society still around? Can they be
contacted? Thanks for the time.
Larry Pim
lpim@rivconstruct.com
I was so happy to find this on my computer. In
the early 1960's, my sister in law and I and her two little girls
often spent a week or two in the top floor apartment of Mrs.
Jackson's house on Balboa Bay in the month of June. Those were
such great days. The Bay was so gorgeous, especially at twilight
when the water turned to silver. Thank you, thank you, thank you
for bringing it all back.
Mary Jo
Hi Jim,
I saw the same question posted, regarding Balboa Gallery. My
husband I honeymooned there last year and saw a photograph in the
gallery, we both really wanted. I planned on giving it to him as
anniversary gift, but obviously didn't plan on the gallery being
closed! Is there anyway to still order a photograph from the
gallery? Thank you and I look forward to your reply.
Audrey Duffey
audreyduffey@gmail.com
Jim, now that the Balboa Gallery is closed where
can I find your photographs? I have several and I wanted to buy a
few for family in North Carolina. Thanks for your help.
Anonymous
Went looking for the Prison of Socrates today
with my son. It was easy to find, even if it is BJ's Pizza. I saw
Big Mama Thornton there about 40 years ago. I was about 16 years
old. Man, what a show. Big Mama stood outside by the wall talking
with my friends an I for about 20 minutes after the show. I'll
never forget it.
Bill Odien
Odienienn@aol.com
Can you give me the name of a hotel or motel on
Balboa Island? I'm looking for something that is clean but not too
expensive. Also, I was curious if there was a place to stay on the
Pavilion side?
One more thing, I was hoping to stay somewhere where there is
access to "public" beach/sand
Sue Candiotti
scandiotti@cox.net
Hi, Jim!
I'm hoping you can help me with a little research for my current
book.
I recall that the homes in the section of Newport Beach called "Sin
City" were built on leased land, owned by, I believe, the Southern
Pacific Railroad. That's why the houses were never sold or
upgraded, and became mostly student rentals, because no one knew
what would happen when the lease expired.
My questions: 1) When were the homes built? 2) What's the
expiration year for the lease? 3) If the lease already expired,
what happened to the home owners?
I figured if anyone knew who to ask, it would be you!
Toni Andrews
toni@toniandrews.com
Like someone else mentioned here, the Main
Street webcam =really= needs to be cleaned...it's like looking
through smog-colored glasses. :(
Anonymous
Hi, Jim:
I moved there just in time for Mr. Lilly's 5th grade class at
Newport Heights until I graduated in '65 from NHHS. My family
stayed until the 80's but now they are all gone from the area. Now
I am in Eugene, OR, but we got together with a bunch who had spent
much time in the Balboa area and we started in on the "bests": you
know, best burger was the original Bob's Big Boy on Marine Ave on
the Island. Richards was best grocery store, the Port was the best
theater only due to the balcony. Best breakfast was at the
Lighthouse off of lower Bayside Drive. Best bodysurfing was a draw
between the Wedge and 56th Street. Best date dinner was the Five
Crowns. Best beer was at Blackies but Best dive bar was Sid's Blue
Beet, right down the pier from the old Fish & Chips place, for
which none of us could remember the name. My parents, when they
took us there, just called it "the dirty fish place", but the fish
was great, better than the Crab Shack. Remember the name? Somebody
thought it might have been "Charlies", but it will always be "the
dirty fish place" to me.
Bob Shaw
shaw_305@msn.com
"Scotty's"!!!! Of course! Thanks for filling
that in for me, Jim. We rarely got to go there, unfortunately - too
disreputable - but Scotty was a classic Newport character. Since we
lived in the Heights with five kids, it was usually off to Freddies
on 17th, across from HiTime Liquor Store and LaCave. My sister was
a waitress at the first Snack Shop in CdM, so we would go there,
too, and then he opened the Coco's where Freddies was, so that was
where we always went - for a "Nui-Nui Burger". When I was little, a
big-time night out was to Christian's Hut. They used to give kids
ice cream with real creme de menthe on it. My favorite meal as a
teenager, though, was a plate of fries and a lime rickie at the
counter of the Jolly Roger on the Island. You should run a
"best" section for us old Newporters - I'd love to hear other
people's takes on these things. Thanks for a great site.
Bob
Grew up down on the Point. NH class of '69. I
check the cams regularly. The Main St. camera is always a little
fuzzy. Any chance of a cleaning in the near future?
John
jkstaaf@gmail.com
Hi Jim:
I really enjoy your site, especially the humorous tales of locals
and their pagers. I'm writing an article about Sharon Sheeley, a
songwriter who lived in Newport Beach. I'm having a few problems
finding resource material to create a timeline of her life. The
time periods are:
The first sixteen years of her life, 1940 - 1956 (I have a little
info for the year 1956) The years 1957 & 1958. The first
substantial information I have begins in 1958 when she wrote the
song "Poor Little Fool" for Ricky Nelson. I also have a small
amount of info re: her sister, Mary Jo, who dated Derry Weaver (The
Hollywood Argyles)
I have bits and pieces of her life through her marriage and divorce
to Jimmy O'Neill (Shindig). After the divorce, there is very little
info except one very intriguing story about her relationship with
Vince Flaherty.
If you have any info, or if you can point me to resources about her
life, I would deeply appreciate the help. (Also, any info about her
family, especially Mary Jo).
Sincerely,
Gary Lee
gary@jorji.com
In response to Gordon Wagner...
I know of the painting you're talking about (or at least one
sounding just like it going by your description). We rented the
back house twice a year for years from Rolf & Ruth Laib (Laib's
Sand Castle) up until the end of 2007 when they sadly stopped
renting due to health issues. In the rental unit, they had this
picture on one of the walls of the living room. Maybe Jim can go
and pay a visit to Rolf & borrow the picture and scan it in for
you...but seriously, there has to be another copy of it
somewhere...
Sergey Zakharov
szakharov@roadrunner.com
I love your site, though it really nostalgic to
remember how things were so long ago -- it seems like yesterday my
Dad and I would row across the Grand Canal from the little island
to buy doughnuts on Saturday mornings.
Is there any chance you might be familiar with a print made from a
painting showing the view from the top of the OLD ferris wheel in
the Fun Zone? I think it was by a female painter from the 70s. It
showed the view towards the Pavilion. I'd love to find a copy.
Thanks again for a great web site.
Gordon Wagner
office@spaceways.net
Hi Jim!
What a happy surprise to see my 1948 photo of "Fireman Dave" as
your Old Photo this month.
We lived on the Island from 1946-1950 and I am trying to find old
playmates, born around 1939, who attended grades 1-3 at Corona Del
Mar Elementary. People I'm looking for include Paul Mantz Jr.,
"Skippy" Hudson, "Chuckie" Cramer, Edmund Mason, Lance Green (or
Greenleaf), Laura Beth Burke, Sharon Anderson, Arthur (S?) whose
father had the upstairs photography shop on Marine Ave, and "Buddy"
Budworth. Also I'm trying to find people who knew the firechief,
Ed Zuby or his two daughters. I have a photo of Ed Zuby and myself
from 1948.Keep up the good work, Jim...we appreciate it.
Dave Howell
Upland, CA
909-986-0410
David Howell
david@alumalloy.com
I will be renting on the Island from July 5th until
July 19th, 2008. We are desperately in need of a one person kayak
for that time period. All of the rental companies charge $55/day.
For 2 weeks I could rent a nice mid-sized car for that price. Give
me a break!
If you live on the Island and have a spare kayak, let's talk. I
would certainly be willing to pay a fair price (not $55/day).
Tom Dial Concord, CA
dialfamily@astound.net
Hello, I love your website!! Just wondering if you
can make your archives more accessible?? Thanks so much!!
Michelle
shellyb92663@yahoo.com
Do you have a record of previous weathereye pages
going back to 11/01/07?
Scott Felder
feldersc@yahoo.com
Hi Jim,
Will there be free concerts in the Gazebo this summer?
Used to be on Thursdays. Do you have a schedule?
Best, Jeff
jeff@lightningtechnology.com
Hi there,
I have 3 Beercan races posted on my website.
http://www.joysailing.com I'd love to be able to
feature them on your website, because so many families love to see
the pictures of their sailing friends - my site gets a lot of
coverage.
Bronny Joy Daniels
Bronnyjoy@yahoo.com
was wondering if they had skuba diving and/or 4 th
of july fireworks there?
JONATHAN
sr71black@yahoo.com
Your work has been an inspiration for Balboa, love
your work.
Case Van Mechelen
case@adaptautomation.com
gr8 site brutha! can we in the future get a cam
of the boardwalk action/scene around "Mutt Lynchs" or "Blackies"?
that would be killer! I miss my NB/OC. My wife took a job promo &
we had to move to Dallas. We've been away since april of '06. Some
day we will get back & retire on the Balboa Pen.............Where
I've spent nearly 1/2 of my life. Ill be 45 next month, ouch!
Peace,
Brian
texas.moose@yahoo.com
Dear Jim,
Having spent delicious summers on the little island during the
early-to-mid 1950's (and submitting a piece of nostalgia on those
days to TOB which you were kind enough to publish) and, knowing
from a number of return visits over the years that the islands have
not changed all THAT much, I'm bringing my "bride" out from West
Virginia for a short visit to family in Pasadena in early June. I
thought it might be a real nice thing to get a rental house that
faced either the canal or one of the bays and just kick back for a
few days (looking at 6,7, 8 of June). So I thought of you and
whether you might know of any such waterfront rentals and just whom
I might contact to check on price and availability. Thanks so much
for any assistance you might per chance provide.
Cheers,
Curt Mason, Summit Point, WV
PHS Class of '57.
cmasonwhf@aol.com
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