During the 1960s, City Manager A. P. “Dutch” Hamann led San Jose in an effective growth campaign. For suburban development, the city annexed adjoining areas, such as Alviso and Cambrian Park. A reaction against rapid development emerged in the 1970s, led by Norman Mineta and Janet Gray Hayes. Although the city established an urban growth boundary, imposed development fees, and incorporated Campbell and Cupertino, development did not slow but was instead directed into already-incorporated areas.
Uncontrolled growth resulted in a high municipal debt load, degraded public services (including double sessions at public schools and overburdened fire and police departments), and environmental degradation, resulting in a populist revolt against Hamann’s growth machine. Several anti-growth candidates were also elected to the City Council in the late 1960s.
Here are some fascinating photos that will take you back to the 1960s in San Jose, California.
#1 South First Street looking north, San Jose, 1961
#2 Old Italian Hotel and Manny’s Cellar located at 175 West Saint John, San Jose, 1967
#3 Fox California Theatre, San Jose, 1967
#4 San Jose, looking southwest, 1960
#5 Parde Theater, First National Bank, Herold’s, Zukors, National Dollar Store, 1961
#6 South First Street at Fountain Alley, 1962
#7 Highway 17, Los Gatos, 1960
#8 Town and Country Theatre, located in the Town and Country complex, now Santana Row, San Jose, 1966
#9 East San Jose Carnegie Library, 1960
#10 The Fox Bayshore Drive-In was located at First and Brokaw Streets, San Jose, California, 1966
#11 Winchester Mystery House. Santa Clara-Los Gatos Road near San Jose, 1960
#12 Murphy building, Market and Post Street, 1962
#13 Garden Theatre, Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen district of San Jose, 1966
#14 Wild Bill Kelsey, Frontier Village, San Jose, 1961
#15 The first two Century theaters, San Jose, 1966
#16 Moonlite Drive in Theater sign, 1966
#17 Downtown San Jose, 1965
The view east on Santa Clara Street toward the intersection of First and Santa Clara Streets. Two major stores sit at the northern corner of First and Santa Clara: J.C. Penney and Roos Atkins Clothing Store. Both stores would eventually abandon downtown San Jose for the suburban malls.
