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 Beech-Nut Lifesavers Plant, San Jose, 1962
#2 Trucks parked in the yard of the San Jose Water Company, 1962
#3 San Jose Hospital, 1964
#4 House at 112 Alma Avenue, San Jose Residence of Mrs. Emma Rios 1955 Found in 1955 San Jose City, 1960
#5 Front of postcard shows San Jose City Hall on a beautiful day in 1963.
#6 Town and Country Theatre, located in the Town and Country complex, now Santana Row, San Jose, 1966
#7 East San Jose Carnegie Library, 1960
#8 San Jose Hospital neighbourhood, 15th and Santa Clara Street, 1965
#9 Frontier Auto Movie, San Jose, 1966
#10 The Fox Bayshore Drive-In was located at First and Brokaw Streets, San Jose, California, 1966
#11 Fox California Theatre, San Jose, 1967
#12 Speech & Drama Building, San Jose State College, 1962
#13 Redevelopment Agency Photos San Jose Chamber of Commerce Convention / Visitors Bureau on Market St, 1960s
#14 The intersection of Hobson Street and Coleman Avenue, 1967
#15 San Jose Civic Center, City Hall, 1960
#16 Winchester Mystery House. Santa Clara-Los Gatos Road near San Jose, 1960
#17 South First Street looking north, San Jose, 1961
#18 Looking north on South First Street near the Fox Theatre, San Jose, 1960
#19 Murphy building, Market and Post Street, 1962
#20 Town & Country Theatre, San Jose, located in the Town & Country shopping center on Stevens Creek Boulevard, 1960
#21 Beech-Nut Lifesavers factory, 1962
#22 Newhall railroad yard, San Jose, 1960
#23 The Alameda Building at 1625 The Alameda, San Jose, 1968
#24 YMCA building corner of 3rd and Santa Clara Streets, San Jose, 1965
#25 Garden Theatre, Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen district of San Jose, 1966
#26 Park Center Redevelopment, 1967
#27 Park Center Redevelopment, 1967
#28 Corner of East San Carlos Street, 1960
#29 Dicks 150 Club Tavern, 1960
#30 Imperial Hotel, 1965
#31 San Jose Museum of Art building, 1965
#32 Reconstruction of First National Bank Building, 1963
#33 Stagecoach ride, Frontier Village, 1961
#34 Canoe ride at Frontier Village, 1961
#35 T & M Club, Last Bus Trip from Franklin Street, 1967
#36 Parking lot on South Market Street, 1960
#37 Children playing in Ryland Pool at Ryland Park. 421 North First Street, San Jose, 1960s
#38 Mountain swimming pool activities, 1965
#39 Cambrian Branch Library interior, 1960s
#40 Old Italian Hotel and Manny’s Cellar located at 175 West Saint John, San Jose, 1967
#41 Wild Bill Kelsey, Frontier Village, San Jose, 1961
#42 The first two Century theaters, San Jose, 1966
#43 San Jose, looking southwest, 1960
#44 Lobitos 256 Acres – West, 1966
#45 Al Alquist Family Group, 1960
#46 Embassy Room Opening Day Bus Eureka Group May, 1962
#47 Parde Theater, First National Bank, Herold’s, Zukors, National Dollar Store, 1961
#48 Frequency Standard, 1965
#49 Moonlite Drive in Theater sign, 1966
#50 Embassy Room, July 1964
#51 Bicyclists at opening of Guadalupe Freeway, 1960
#52 Bicyclists at opening of Guadalupe Freeway, 1960s
#53 Fireman’s Rodeo Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 1961
#54 Orchard Supply Hardware store exterior, 1969
#55 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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#56 Old Italian Hotel, 1967
#57 San Jose Municipal Airport, 1968
#58 South First Street at Fountain Alley, 1962
#59 Flying A Service station at corner of 7th and Taylor, 1964
#60 First Street, 1960
#61 Aerial view of San Jose downtown, 1967
#62 Heald Business College, 1968
#63 Campbell Bros. Sunland service station, 1961
#64 Mesa Drive and Galllup Drive. Kooser Road and Gallup Drive, 1967
#65 Aircraft and Fleet Vehicles for Radio Station KXRX, 1967
#66 Wendt’s Meat Market, 1960
#67 South First Street, 1961
#68 North First Street, 1960, Victory Building, Hoefflers Coffee Shop, 1960
#69 Ground-breaking of Community Bank Building at San Pedro and San Augustine Streets, 1963
#70 Federal Building S.F. Mar., 1963
#71 Second Street at Santa Clara at night, 1962
#72 Highway 17, Los Gatos, 1960
#73 Hall of justice demolition, 1962
#74 Richard Nixon campaigning in San Jose, 1960
#75 Three men on top of the Mercury and News tower looking down on First Street, San Jose, 1965
#76 Aircraft and Fleet Vehicles for Radio Station KXRX, 1967
KXRX was the first local news-talk radio stations, and one of the first to utilize aircraft for reporting highway conditions. The plane is a Mooney, and is shown with five of the station's staff cars. The aircraft is now displayed at the San Jose Airport, Terminal C.
