SMALL WORLD, Some things never go away

[johnl]

I was just reading the A-1 exhaust thread and something kept going through my mind.  The address was sooooooooooooooooooo familiar and so I went on line and actually looked at the building at 721 S. Main St. in Santa Ana. 

To my amazement and memory this was a former BAP store (there was also another store further south on the west side of Main at the same time).  Anyway I worked at this location with Stan Davis and Rick Rucker.  I still see Rick on a regular basis at Cars & Coffee. 

This was the last BAP store (actually AJS Foreign Car Parts) I worked prior to taking the position at Auto Haus.  One thing I'll ALWAYS remember about that store was the front was all glass and the counter was very close.  Summer day afternoons would COOK you as there was very little ventelation.  In the back was a German Car repair shop which worked primarily on VWs.

There was a very small diner across the street that a young husband and wife ran.  I use to eat breakfast there on a regular basis.  They were really nice folks and knew I was getting married soon and always mentioned how happy they were and hoped Christie and I would be as well.  Don't know what ever became of them, but I'd like to tell them that Christie and I are doing just fine almost 39 years later. 

[Nico86]

Thanks for sharing, John. (you should consider writting a book with your cal-look and automotive memories )

[johnl]

Thanks for sharing, John. (you should consider writting a book with your cal-look and automotive memories )

My pleasure.     Regarding writing a "book", I have enough problems writing my own name these days......

[deano]

Speaking of Main Street, Santa Ana..... remember Zeb's Boat House? With all the Mitch Miller music playing in the background? Free popcorn, cold beer, crap all over the walls and ceiling... Awesome place to get drunk!

[johnl]

Speaking of Main Street, Santa Ana..... remember Zeb's Boat House? With all the Mitch Miller music playing in the background? Free popcorn, cold beer, crap all over the walls and ceiling... Awesome place to get drunk!

Don't know that I ever went there as I was not much of a "drinker".  I do remember Mauries Pizza (SP) on Ball Road just south of Disneyland that had "crap all over the walls and celling".  That use to be a BIG hangout and they had great food.  It is still there under the same name, but it has changed inside.

[Gary Justus]

Oh, Boy! Marri's Pizza.....The Marri's I remember was on Katella, a bit West of West. It sure was a "hang out" back then. Used to take the ole' 63 Kombi there. They gave you a felt-tip marker when you went in....Or, you could carve something in the wooden bench seats. Good pizza, too!

[deano]

Oh, Boy! Marri's Pizza.....The Marri's I remember was on Katella, a bit West of West. It sure was a "hang out" back then. Used to take the ole' 63 Kombi there. They gave you a felt-tip marker when you went in....Or, you could carve something in the wooden bench seats. Good pizza, too!

Yep, we always went to Marri's Pizza after Disneyland. It used to be cool inside, and now it's real boring.

[johnl]

Oh, Boy! Marri's Pizza.....The Marri's I remember was on Katella, a bit West of West. It sure was a "hang out" back then. Used to take the ole' 63 Kombi there. They gave you a felt-tip marker when you went in....Or, you could carve something in the wooden bench seats. Good pizza, too!

Yep, that's the place.  I said Ball Road and you are correct, it is Katella.  The wooden bench seats are gone I think and no more felt-tip pins.   

Side note:  Did you ever know where the name for Katella came from?  A founding family of the Anaheim area had two daughters, Kate & Ella, thus the name.  This is the SOUTH boundary for the original Disneyland property which will be celebrating it's 55th anniversary this Saturday, July 17th.  There you go, more useless info to boggle your mind.

[Gary Justus]

Yes, John....I went to Katella Elimentary which used to be on the corner of West & Katella. Worked at D-Land while at Anaheim High, too!

[deano]

Oh, Boy! Marri's Pizza.....The Marri's I remember was on Katella, a bit West of West. It sure was a "hang out" back then. Used to take the ole' 63 Kombi there. They gave you a felt-tip marker when you went in....Or, you could carve something in the wooden bench seats. Good pizza, too!

Yep, that's the place.  I said Ball Road and you are correct, it is Katella.  The wooden bench seats are gone I think and no more felt-tip pins.   

Side note:  Did you ever know where the name for Katella came from?  A founding family of the Anaheim area had two daughters, Kate & Ella, thus the name.  This is the SOUTH boundary for the original Disneyland property which will be celebrating it's 55th anniversary this Saturday, July 17th.  There you go, more useless info to boggle your mind.

Phew, I thought you were going to tell us about how the street name Ball came about with those girls....

[kingsburgphil]

Speaking of Main Street, Santa Ana..... remember Zeb's Boat House? With all the Mitch Miller music playing in the background? Free popcorn, cold beer, crap all over the walls and ceiling... Awesome place to get drunk!

As a forty year resident of Santa Ana, I recall Zeb's very well. Cheap beer, foosball, stale popcorn and an eclectic decor that was way before it's time. Most
memorable item....Full size paper mache' statue of Pres. Richard Nixon hitch hiking with a gas can 

[javabug]

I love the wayback machine.  Thanks gang. 

[Dave Rosique]

Parts of Santa Ana is on the mend too.. I work at 10th & Main (about a mile or so north of A1)
Been there over ten years, the neighborhood looks better now than when I started.
 

[deano]

Speaking of Main Street, Santa Ana..... remember Zeb's Boat House? With all the Mitch Miller music playing in the background? Free popcorn, cold beer, crap all over the walls and ceiling... Awesome place to get drunk!

As a forty year resident of Santa Ana, I recall Zeb's very well. Cheap beer, foosball, stale popcorn and an eclectic decor that was way before it's time. Most
memorable item....Full size paper mache' statue of Pres. Richard Nixon hitch hiking with a gas can 

Zeb's used to store their popcorn in an old washing machine....

[johnl]

Yep, that's the place.  I said Ball Road and you are correct, it is Katella.  The wooden bench seats are gone I think and no more felt-tip pins.   

Side note:  Did you ever know where the name for Katella came from?  A founding family of the Anaheim area had two daughters, Kate & Ella, thus the name.  This is the SOUTH boundary for the original Disneyland property which will be celebrating it's 55th anniversary this Saturday, July 17th.  There you go, more useless info to boggle your mind.



Phew, I thought you were going to tell us about how the street name Ball came about with those girls....

No Deano, you are safe.  I do think the Ball Road name came from another early settler from the area.  Someone mentioned "West St." and that was the original western boundary for the city along with North, South and East Streets which all still exist.

I found this photo and Anaheim Plaze taken shortly after it's completion in 1956.  The Santa Ana Freeway ended at Euclid prior to this and the reason my folks moved from Santa Ana to Anaheim was due to the Freeway access.  If I'm boaring some of you just tell me and I'll SHUT UP.

[kingsburgphil]

Yep, that's the place.  I said Ball Road and you are correct, it is Katella.  The wooden bench seats are gone I think and no more felt-tip pins.   

Side note:  Did you ever know where the name for Katella came from?  A founding family of the Anaheim area had two daughters, Kate & Ella, thus the name.  This is the SOUTH boundary for the original Disneyland property which will be celebrating it's 55th anniversary this Saturday, July 17th.  There you go, more useless info to boggle your mind.



Phew, I thought you were going to tell us about how the street name Ball came about with those girls....

No Deano, you are safe.  I do think the Ball Road name came from another early settler from the area.  Someone mentioned "West St." and that was the original western boundary for the city along with North, South and East Streets which all still exist.

I found this photo and Anaheim Plaze taken shortly after it's completion in 1956.  The Santa Ana Freeway ended at Euclid prior to this and the reason my folks moved from Santa Ana to Anaheim was due to the Freeway access.  If I'm boaring some of you just tell me and I'll SHUT UP.

I've moved away, but isn't that section of the Santa Ana freeway 12 lanes wide now 

[johnl]

Phil, it is certainly wider than this early photo, but I don't think it is 12 lanes.  North a mile or two that could be the case as there is MAJOR work going on around the old Cotton Golf VW dealership location.