The Padres and Lane Field

Before the San Diego Padres built their “state of the art” ballpark downtown in 2004 (sponsored by Petco), they were located in Mission Valley at Qualcomm Stadium (1969-2003). 1969 was when the team went from the Minors to the Majors. Previously, they got their start in 1936 playing in the Pacific Coast League at Lane Field, located downtown near the water.

Here’s a vintage aerial view showing the field: 

What’s there now? A parking lot. What is it about amazing buildings and structures getting replaced by boring asphalt?!?

During her recent visit here, my Mom remembered going to games at Lane Field with the family. Here is what the well-dressed family of 1939 wore for such an occasion:

She also had fond memories of eating dinner at Chadwick’s Restaurant afterwards, run by the family of swimmer Florence Chadwick (the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions):

A vintage menu:

In driving around town with her, I was shocked to see that the building still stands. Appropriately, it is now called the House of Metamorphosis. It surely has changed!

Sometimes, dinner would be at the U.S. Grant Hotel, just a few blocks up Broadway from Lane Field. This Hotel is still in business today:

While driving up Broadway, Mom also pointed out the former YMCA Building:

…which is now the Guild Hotel. She recalled playing the piano there for sailors at the U.S.O. back in World War II.

A few more blocks up Broadway Street was Thearle Music Company, where my Mom took her piano lessons, riding a rickety elevator up to the second floor:

I was shocked to discover that the building still stands. I have walked by it numerous times, unaware of its significance to my Mom.

See more San Diego photos at my main website.

James Dean in San Diego

This series of images from 1956 was taken in downtown San Diego, and showcases the 1910 Broadway fountain designed by Irving Gill. In this first shot, you can juuuuuuuust see the theater marquee on the right side heralding James Dean in E. I’m assuming the movie is “East of Eden.” At the Cabrillo Theater the movie “Navy Wife” with Joan Bennett is playing as well as “Screaming Eagles” with Tom Tryon. And of course the Birdman of Alcatraz. Or San Diego. Or someplace. He just has a way with the birds.



Want to read the news? Durn litterbug.



This next image from the batch shows a wider view of the downtown plaza.



…and the Birdman.



A view of an information kiosk. Note the billboard at the top of the slide advertising singer Jane Froman and comic Jack Durant.



A closeup of the info kiosk:



Final shot from this trio pans to the left of where the Broadway Fountain is:



BRIEFLY returning to present day...the Hotel St. James sign barely visible in this previous image is still there today!



Back to the past...I wonder if the B/L Buffet has any vegan options?



See more vintage and contemporary San Diego photos at my main website.

Vintage San Diego

I hope you all had a safe and happy 4th of July celebration yesterday! While I head back to work (no rest for the weary), YOU can relax and enjoy a few vintage San Diego shots, beginning with this 1952 image of Spreckels Theatre downtown. The Hollywood Production Code Office initially refused to approve the title of “Retreat, Hell!” because of its ban on the word "hell", but changed their mind after requests from the Marine Corps. This was probably the turning point in this country’s morality. All because of one word.



In case you had a case of the munchies after watching all those battle sequences, you could get a hot dog at Pronto Pup.



Here’s a 1950’s shot of the City and County Administration Building; this building still exists!





How it looks today:



A view up 7th Street from October 1959 featuring the El Cortez Hotel, which is now an apartment building:



Last one today shows the defunct Cabrillo Theatre, circa 1956:



Open all nite? Sounds shady. No wonder this place didn’t last. But, oh that terrazzo entryway!



See more San Diego photos at my main website.

Vintage San Diego

Today's post takes us to San Diego in the 1950's. The first shot shows the historic fountain that is located across from the U.S. Grant Hotel in the downtown area.

This contemporary shot from a few years back shows the same view from an upstairs window of the U.S. Grant, taken by me when I stayed at the hotel one evening. The area behind the fountain was converted into Horton Plaza during the 1980's. Mercifully, these funky storefronts have since been removed. The fountain is now behind construction walls while the city is working to turn this area into a public park. I am not sure how this will be successfully accomplished, as the last few years have seen this patch of land taken over by drugged-out vagrants and the homeless. How do you keep out the less-than-desirable element while enticing the general public? Unless there's a velvet rope with bouncers, I can't see how you would pull this off.



Moving on, here are two vintage 1950's consecutive shots showing the U.S. Grant Hotel:



When you think of cool and sexy, buses rarely come to mind. Still, seeing the retro vehicles in the background of this photo in the flesh would probably encourage me to ride public transportation more than I do!



The last two shots show the fountain again, being enjoyed by visitors to the downtown area:





One of these days when the park construction is finished, I'll head back downtown and shoot some contemporary corresponding comparison photos. So much to do, so little time.

See more vintage & current San Diego, California photos on my San Diego web pages.