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What San Jose, California looked like in the 1960s

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 Moonlite Drive in Theater sign, 1966

Moonlite Drive in Theater sign, 1966

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#2 San Jose Hospital, 1964

San Jose Hospital, 1964

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#3 Town and Country Theatre, located in the Town and Country complex, now Santana Row, San Jose, 1966

Town and Country Theatre, located in the Town and Country complex, now Santana Row, San Jose, 1966

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#4 East San Jose Carnegie Library, 1960

East San Jose Carnegie Library, 1960

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#5 Fox California Theatre, San Jose, 1967

Fox California Theatre, San Jose, 1967

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#6 The intersection of Hobson Street and Coleman Avenue, 1967

The intersection of Hobson Street and Coleman Avenue, 1967

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#7 San Jose Civic Center, City Hall, 1960

San Jose Civic Center, City Hall, 1960

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#8 Winchester Mystery House. Santa Clara-Los Gatos Road near San Jose, 1960

Winchester Mystery House. Santa Clara-Los Gatos Road near San Jose, 1960

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    • Before 1940 Santa Clara, Sunnyvale & San Jose cities that connected to Saratoga or Los Gatos the roads were designated as such. Sunnyvale/Saratoga rd turned to DeAnza Blvd; Santa Clara/Saratoga rd turned to Saratoga Ave; Santa Clara/Los Gatos rd turned to Winchester Blvd and San Jose/Los Gatos turned to Bascom Ave and Los Gatos Blvd! This mostly happened in the 1960’s.

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#9 South First Street looking north, San Jose, 1961

South First Street looking north, San Jose, 1961

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#10 Murphy building, Market and Post Street, 1962

Murphy building, Market and Post Street, 1962

The Murphy building on the corner of Market and Post Streets in San Jose. For a time it housed the 1862 Santa Clara Courthouse upstairs.

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#11 Beech-Nut Lifesavers Plant, San Jose, 1962

Beech-Nut Lifesavers Plant, San Jose, 1962

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#12 Garden Theatre, Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen district of San Jose, 1966

Garden Theatre, Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen district of San Jose, 1966

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#13 Parde Theater, First National Bank, Herold’s, Zukors, National Dollar Store, 1961

Parde Theater, First National Bank, Herold's, Zukors, National Dollar Store, 1961

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#14 Bicyclists at opening of Guadalupe Freeway, 1960s

Bicyclists at opening of Guadalupe Freeway, 1960s

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        • No, Your father might tried a different HWY. If you look at the bridges for 85 and 87, for example the one at Capitol Express Way and CA 87, columns, they are stamped 1993.
          The first section was opened back in April 1991 CA 85 between Cottle Road and Santa Teresa. By 1996, all parts of CA 85 Between HWY 101 and Steven Creek by I280 and CA 87 opened up. Before 1995, CA 85 section was between HWY 101 (Mountain View) and ended at Steven Creek. If you drive CA 85 south bound and pass I280, you see it would take Steven Creek exit if you do not turn to the left. Before 1995, CA 85 continued from Steven Creek to DeAnza Blvd and CA 85 was ended at cross DeAnza and HWY 9. For years you still could see the CA 85 signs at DeAnza Blvd. The reason for this was the Saratoga residents did not want to have access to HWY and they voted no for many years. They assumed at value of their homes would drop.

          • The area you’re talking about is the extension in the 90’s . 85 runs through Mountain View by El Camino where my Dad test drove his car in the 70’s 85 back then ran from 101 to 280 by Stevenscreek, they connected 85 from 280/ Stevencreek to South 101. You can look it up online it shows they both came to be in 1964

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#15 Downtown San Jose, 1965

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.

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#16 Old Italian Hotel, 1967

Old Italian Hotel, 1967

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#17 San Jose Municipal Airport, 1968

San Jose Municipal Airport, 1968

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#18 Flying A Service station at corner of 7th and Taylor, 1964

Flying A Service station at corner of 7th and Taylor, 1964

Frank's Service station at the corner of East Taylor Street and North Seventh Street, San Jose.

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#19 Aerial view of San Jose downtown, 1967

Aerial view of San Jose downtown, 1967

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#20 Trucks parked in the yard of the San Jose Water Company, 1962

Trucks parked in the yard of the San Jose Water Company, 1962

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#21 House at 112 Alma Avenue, San Jose Residence of Mrs. Emma Rios 1955 Found in 1955 San Jose City, 1960

House at 112 Alma Avenue, San Jose Residence of Mrs. Emma Rios 1955 Found in 1955 San Jose City, 1960

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#22 Front of postcard shows San Jose City Hall on a beautiful day in 1963.

Front of postcard shows San Jose City Hall on a beautiful day in 1963.

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#23 San Jose Hospital neighbourhood, 15th and Santa Clara Street, 1965

San Jose Hospital neighbourhood, 15th and Santa Clara Street, 1965

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#24 Frontier Auto Movie, San Jose, 1966

Frontier Auto Movie, San Jose, 1966

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#25 The Fox Bayshore Drive-In was located at First and Brokaw Streets, San Jose, California, 1966

The Fox Bayshore Drive-In was located at First and Brokaw Streets, San Jose, California, 1966

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#26 Speech & Drama Building, San Jose State College, 1962

Speech & Drama Building, San Jose State College, 1962

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#27 Redevelopment Agency Photos San Jose Chamber of Commerce Convention / Visitors Bureau on Market St, 1960s

Redevelopment Agency Photos San Jose Chamber of Commerce Convention / Visitors Bureau on Market St, 1960s

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#28 Looking north on South First Street near the Fox Theatre, San Jose, 1960

Looking north on South First Street near the Fox Theatre, San Jose, 1960

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#29 Town & Country Theatre, San Jose, located in the Town & Country shopping center on Stevens Creek Boulevard, 1960

Town & Country Theatre, San Jose, located in the Town & Country shopping center on Stevens Creek Boulevard, 1960

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#30 Beech-Nut Lifesavers factory, 1962

Beech-Nut Lifesavers factory, 1962

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#31 Newhall railroad yard, San Jose, 1960

Newhall railroad yard, San Jose, 1960

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    • At one point, it may as well have been. Newhall Yard was essentially from Santa Clara to College Park stations. The roundhouse was South at Lenzen and deconstructed and stored, not demo’d when the current PCJPB/Caltrain maintenance facilities were installed at the wye.

  1. Looking north.

    I actually got to walk into the yard to where that photo was taken. Found one remaining vertical steel beam protruding from the soil where the control tower used to be. Fence went up a few years after.

    Like the Lenzen roundhouse, it’s memories like these that I’m blessed to have experienced before the world went to pot.

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#32 The Alameda Building at 1625 The Alameda, San Jose, 1968

The Alameda Building at 1625 The Alameda, San Jose, 1968

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#33 YMCA building corner of 3rd and Santa Clara Streets, San Jose, 1965

YMCA building corner of 3rd and Santa Clara Streets, San Jose, 1965

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#34 Park Center Redevelopment, 1967

Park Center Redevelopment, 1967

Taken from opposite side of street. There is a billboard with two lines of black text and an image of a bottle.

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#35 Park Center Redevelopment, 1967

Park Center Redevelopment, 1967

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#36 Corner of East San Carlos Street, 1960

Corner of East San Carlos Street, 1960

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#37 Dicks 150 Club Tavern, 1960

Dicks 150 Club Tavern, 1960

Dicks 150 Club Tavern, San Pedro, Jefferson Hotel Above, Jose Bowling Alley on Right West Santa Clara and San Pedro Streets

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#38 Imperial Hotel, 1965

Imperial Hotel, 1965

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#39 San Jose Museum of Art building, 1965

San Jose Museum of Art building, 1965

The 19th century former library building currently housing the San Jose Museum of Art. The art museum opened in 1969.

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#40 Reconstruction of First National Bank Building, 1963

Reconstruction of First National Bank Building, 1963

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#41 Stagecoach ride, Frontier Village, 1961

Stagecoach ride, Frontier Village, 1961

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#42 Canoe ride at Frontier Village, 1961

Canoe ride at Frontier Village, 1961

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#43 T & M Club, Last Bus Trip from Franklin Street, 1967

T & M Club, Last Bus Trip from Franklin Street, 1967

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