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Jim,
My name is Brent Jacobsen, and I am the lifeguard rescue boat
supervisor that you have spoken to on the beach on a few
occasions. Anyway, I was called out last Sunday morning, for a
boat on the beach rescue. After we had the crew taken care of I
managed to take a few shots that I thought you might enjoy seeing.
I know you have featured the Pamela Rose on your site, as well as
Lee. Up will be happy to know, he was the last one to leave the
boat. Enjoy, and feel free to use them anyway you wish.
Brent Jacobsen
I somehow convinced Al [Nielson, owner of the old Bal-Boat Rental] that he needed to actually hire me. I was
12 at the time. Al had one of those check machines that would
emboss the check with a hand crank. On payday we'd all stand there
and watch Al cut the checks. I was so proud when he handed me my
first real paycheck.
Al took a real chance hiring someone so young, even then I suppose
it violated all kinds of labor laws. His greatest fears were
realized when I slipped and broke a finger on one of the motor
boats. I wasn't too concerned but it started swelling and turned
blue. Al did the right thing and took me to the emergency room at
Hoag. I could tell he was worried he'd get busted for hiring
someone so young but I sure wasn't going to give him up on that.
He took care of me and that's all that counted. My parents were
very pragmatic. You slipped, you broke your finger, Al took care
of you, end of story.
1956 to 1992 in Balboa. That is lots of time and lots of great
memories. I worked for lots of people in Balboa, but some I wish
I'd worked for;
Don, the banana guy.
The Hoagy guy.
Harold Hanniford (though that would have put me into direct
competition with my father)
Vallely (though he didn't keep his boats as nice as did McNally
and Al Nielsen)
Art Gronsky (not that I held him in high esteem, but I never
worked at the Pavilion)
I also would have liked to work at the Hill's fuel dock. Those
guys really seemed to have something pretty good going. What a
kick-back job!
Enough for now, your site rocks,
Alan Sandvoal
Dear Jim:
Do you remember the name of the little red haired lady who used to
run the dart booth at the fun zone cira 1957-1965? I remember her
when I was a kid but I never knew her name. Thanks
Sincerely,
Mark Jackson
Hi, Jim--I don't know how you do it. Your web site just keeps
getting better and better.
I'm just wondering if anyone remembers owner Al Anderson in the
summer of 1960 expelling Frank Sinatra and his party from the Fun
Zone for throwing a few lighted firecrackers at the park. The
singer's yacht was anchored nearby. (I think it was called 'All
the Way'; I'm not sure.) I was working the Over 12 game, and it
appeared that Sinatra and his gang had consumed one too many Jack
and Cokes or something similar. The following afternoon Sinatra
showed up alone with what looked like a bottle of champagne and
some roses and climbed the stairway to Al's second floor office.
Al Anderson spent the rest of the day repeating, "The guy's all
right. The guy's all right." There will never be another Al
Anderson, and, of course, there will never be another Frank
Sinatra.
--Jim Isadore, Florida
Jim,
Your Circa 1975 Picture of the Fun-Zone - The Hamburger stand in
the background was operated by my Aunt around that time. The
ferris wheel inside the Fun-Zone was ran by my Cousin Lee. My last
name is Dever, I lived at 510 E. Ocean Front for 15 years...The
sign on the house read Grandma Dever. For as long as I can
remember people would stop in front of the house and go " Grandma
Dever lives there...." By the way, the picture of the boy looks
like a friend of mine. I just heard Heidi died. Boy could she make
salsa. It would sit on the table in that jar and bubble...nobody
seemed to mind. Does anybody remember the shirts that read " I'm
not a tourist I live here" from the old Balboa hardware...my
friends the Newtons owned it.
donedealio@excite.com
Click
For More London's Times
It's scary when your body starts making the same noises as your
coffeemaker.
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2nd Wednesday of the Month
Book Club Luncheon 2 PM
Bibi
Anna's
675-8146
Saturdays at
Sundown
June 12 thru August 28
Annual Flag Lowering Ceremony
Patriotic Music, Taps, Canon Salute.
Balboa Boat Rentals
By the Balboa Island Ferry Landing
Balboa Peninsula
Thursdays 6 pm to
8pm
July 1 - August 12
Concerts on the Peninsula
Peninsula Park Gazebo
Sunday July 4
Old Glory Character Boat Parade
& Wooden Boat Festival
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Balboa Fun Zone
Circa 1948
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If you look under the umbrella in the
center rear of the photo you will see Dorothy Handy, as a young
girl, renting paddle boards for Fun Zone owner Al
Anderson. At the end of each day Dorothy would take 25
percent of the day's receipts, put them in an envelope and
slip it under Anderson's door. Today Dorothy owns the Fun
Zone Boat Co.
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Jim, I hadn't checked your site in some time and when I
looked tonight, what a nice surprise to see a message I'd
sent to you some time ago prominately displayed on the
home page. The message describes my time working in the
Fun Zone at the goldfish game. I have extremely fond
memories of that time, thanks for thinking my message is
worthy to share with those who view your site.
Alan Sandoval
jim,
what camera system do you use for your web cams? would
you recommend them as far as ease of setup and
reliability? i want to put one by 15th st. i will give
you the link once it is up. i would also like to find
out what cameras walker is using for his cameras, but
his site is down so i cant get the vendor link for the
cameras. (if anyone know this please let me know)
thanks
swmusk@aol.com
Does anyone have any good photos of the the Fun Zone,
early 70's. If so, I would love to see them.
fred duckett
please call 650 326 7040
hi Jim, thank you for putting me on the site. i didnt
realize it till i saw it that i had the cap locks on. does
it appear that i am yelling? also, you forgot to post my
e-mail address under my name, is that fixable? the only
people i keep in touch with are Carl & Julie, occationally
Jim. thank you so much though, i check the site every
other day. dont let those negative people in "your two
cents" get you down. they have nothing better to do.
personally, they just appear ignorant. talk to you soon,
Kathleen p.s. I got married, thats why my maiden is in
brackets. take care pal...
KATHLEEN (HANCOCK) ROBERTS
Hello Jim,
The message below was posted on your bulletin board after
reading the story of another missing 'Steven' in your
location. I am even more concerened about the well being
of my long-time friend - Steven M. Bolduc. As recently as
4 weeks ago he was assisting me on a small personal matter
and has now, apparently, disappeared. I am in France at
the moment, and a mutual friend in Newport Beach has also
tried to contact Steven, neither of us has been
successful. Having no explanation for his disappearance, I
wonder if you or some of your associates might know of his
whereabouts or condition.
Original posting:
April 26, 2004
An old chum is trying to contact Steven M. Bolduc - does
anyone know his whereabouts... photograph on page 10 of
"Faces of Balboa" ? I have a phone number and email
address for him, however am receiving no replies. I am
concerned of his well- being. URGENT! If you have any
information as to the whereabouts of Mr Bolduc, please
contact his friend, Bill Murphy. artist@billmurphy.com
Thank you.
Contact Bill Murphy
0033 2 99 43 15 13
email: artist@billmurphy.com
Hello, I heard of you from Tina.
I am a OC resident in Tustin. My wife, daughter and I hang
out in Balboa all the time...
Actually, I've been taking some pictures and movies down
there. you can see some of it here.
http://homepage.mac.com/mjmshadow
/PhotoAlbum19.html
Thanks
Michael Misiuk
Hi Jim - we are the 2 english guys who came to see you 2
weeks ago. Great site! every one loved the pics we bought
from you. How can we get more? Do you have a mail order
set up?
Mike & Kev
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