Get into the Halloween spirit!

Once called the biggest Halloween celebration west of the Mississippi, Anaheim's Halloween Festival is a yearly celebration that started back in 1924. The Orange County Historical Society is conjuring up a spellbinding program on the Festival's history for their October meeting --and YOU are invited!

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal
Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. Bring your friends and family --Admission is free.

Presented by historian Stephanie George, an Anaheim native, and the archivist at the Center for Oral and Public History at California State University, Fullerton.  Stephanie is also the recording secretary for the Orange County Historical Society, president of the California Council for the Promotion of History, and second place costume contest winner of the 1962 Anaheim Halloween Festival Pancake Breakfast!


For more information, please visit  www.orangecountyhistory.org.

Charles Phoenix in ANAHEIMLAND!

Anaheim is still recovering after being picked up by the ankles and vigorously shaken by our favorite pop-culture historian, Charles Phoenix.  As we were putting together our ANAHEIMLAND ("The Magic Kingdom Inside & Out") show, we began to suspect that everything Mr. Phoenix has done thus far in his career was just a build up to THIS show.

On September 8 and 9, over four-hundred lucky people filled the 70-year old Loara Elementary School auditorium to embark upon a Kodachrome tour of Anaheim as only Charles can lead it.  From Pearson Park's cactus garden planted in 1921 by Rudy Boysen (creator of the Boysenberry), to the funky "dinosaur eggs on a skewer" sculpture that once was part of the Robinson's Department Store fountain, to the grumpy waitresses and delicious gravy of La Palma Chicken Pie Shop... Charles took us there!

We saw hotels and motels that have survived the passing of time and trends, as well as local attractions that continue to surprise and delight us today, such as hotel genius Al Stovall's Wonderland of Topiary Trees, Visser's Florist ...and of course, Disneyland!

The Anaheim Historical Society would like to thank everyone who came to see our show, and hope you are inspired to explore more of Anaheim's quirky history -- and a special sincere THANK YOU to the wonderfully funny Charles Phoenix, whose passion and creativity helped make this one of our best events yet!

So... If you'd like to conduct your own self-guided tour of ANAHEIMLAND, here are a few not-to-be-missed highlights:

The Original Pancake House
1418 E. Lincoln Avenue

Vissers Florist (since 1956)
701 W. Lincoln Avenue

Stovall's Wonderland of Topiary Trees
at the Best Western Inn
1110 W. Katella Avenue

Candy Cane Inn
1747 S. Harbor Boulevard

The Alpine Inn
715 W. Katella Avenue

La Palma Chicken Pie Shop
928 N. Euclid Street
(Closed on Sundays!)

Charles Pearson Park
400 N. Harbor Blvd.

The Giant Moreton Bay Fig Tree
that inspired Disneyland's Swiss Family Treehouse
at Founder's Park
400 N. West Street

The Victorian Woelke-Stoffel House
at Founder's Park

400 N. West Street

The beautiful turn-of-the-century Anaheim homes that Charles featured in his show
Vintage Lane, Anaheim

Linbrook Bowling Alley
201 S. Brookhurst Street

Like a Teatray in the Sky

Look, up in the sky!  Nope, it isn't a bird or a plane -- it's a TRAIN!  This afternoon,  two 70-year old flat-bed freight cars flew over Santa Ana Street and landed on the special tracks set up outside Anaheim's landmark Packing House.

The wheels were rolled onto the track first... followed shortly by the two enormous iron platforms, each one weighing 55 thousand pounds.  It took some fancy kite-flying techniques to guide the heavy structures over to the exact right spot.

As the thick cables were removed, the two retired freight cars settled into their new home, where they will remain for a long, long time. 

The cars are now a unique feature to the highly-anticipated Packing House District in Downtown Anaheim.  Opening to the public in 2013, the restored Packing House will become a grand artisan food hall, sporting a variety of restaurants, cafes and entertainment.   Built in 1919 at the edge of downtown Anaheim and along the Southern Pacific rail line, the huge building was once the hub of commerce for this area. Local farmers brought trucks of freshly picked citrus to be washed, crated, and loaded onto rail cars parked on the side of the building to be shipped nationwide.

The two 1940s train cars will serve as a provocative building-length dining porch, as well as helping to keep some of Anaheim's citrus history alive.

THE 2012 AHS ANNUAL BANQUET

We raised a toast to our thirty-fifth year at the AHS Annual Banquet celebration on June 14.  Following a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Packing District, over one-hundred members gathered for an amazing dinner in the GOOD FOOD hall, provided by several of our downtown restaurants K&A Downtown Café, Healthy Junk, and The Gypsy Den. 

The food was superb and we thank each of these fantastic businesses for their generous support.

AHS founder Diann Marsh (center) with Judy and Keith Olesen.

Diann Marsh, AHS co-founder and one of Anaheim’s most dedicated preservationists, was our guest speaker for the evening and received the Margaret Atkins Award.  Diann recounted her memories of living in Anaheim, how the AHS was formed, and the uphill battle to get our Downtown buildings placed onto the National Register without popular support at the time.  Anaheim resident Keith Olesen was honored with the Andy Anaheim Award, a brand new accolade for special individuals in the community who go out of their way to bring neighbors together, and who creatively inspire others to make Anaheim a better place to live. 

Hi Neighbors!  It's  Maaliyah and Jason.

P.J. and Sherry

Chris and Kristi

Artist Jody Daily’s talents were auctioned off to several excited members who will receive their very own custom-designed framed poster.  Jody’s beautiful posters fetched an unexpected $4000 for the Woelke-Stoffel House restoration project, and for that we are enormously grateful.  Thank you, Jody!!  We’ll unveil Jody’s finished artwork in a future post.

AHS Historian Phyllis Mueller

Thanks to all who came and supported Anaheim history at our 2012 banquet.  

It was an unforgettable night.

"Disneyland...Friend or Foe?"

Disneyland has now reached the ripe old age of 57.  Frankly, in the great scheme of things, 57 isn't really that old, and yet as the years go by, it gets increasingly harder to imagine what the rural town of Anaheim was like before Disney.  When news first broke of a permanent "amusement park" coming to town - even one devised by the "Master Showman of the World"-- not everybody living here was enthusiastic.  Before Disneyland, amusement parks were widely regarded as dirty, rowdy places and some residents feared that the park could have a negative impact on day-to-day life.

Even as the finishing touches were being put in place and opening day drew near,
the Anaheim Bulletin published the following editorial in one final effort to smooth out any
lingering concerns by extolling the economic benefits of having Disneyland for a neighbor.

Charles Phoenix's ANAHEIMLAND!

The Anaheim Historical Society will present a live comedy retro slide show performance by pop-culture humorist Charles Phoenix, celebrating Disneyland in the 1950s and '60s, and the legends, landmarks and lore of the city that surrounds it.  Live music, special guests, and surprises.  If you love Anaheim, you will not want to miss this!

Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 3PM
Loara Elementary School Auditorium
1601 W. Broadway, Anaheim, California

Tickets are $25 and available for purchase HERE!  

Who is Charles Phoenix?
Charles is a Southern Californian performer, humorist, chef and author.  In his acclaimed live shows, he explores America's classic and kitschy pop cultural past and present, with a unique spin and genuine reverence for all things Americana.

Charles has shared his vintage images and culinary creations on TV with Conan and Martha Stewart and is often heard on National Public Radio.  Los Angeles Times calls him "the King of Retro," and LA WEEKLY anointed him "Kodachrome King."

Click Here to see Charles on The Martha Stewart Show and hear him on NPR and other Public Radio stations.

Our 35th Year in Review

A hearty thank you to our neighbor and cinematographer Jason Garner of Anaheim's own Crescent Bay Films for putting this terrific video together.  Thanks for your generous support, Jason!