This is the same photo that was sent along to RRTrs and HAMBrs in the Pinky book. I added it to show how the Ventura High School campus was split by Poli Street. And as you noticed, failed to identify anything. Photo is looking just east of north. Catalina Street runs directly north/south. This photo is circa 1944 and a few changes were made by 1956. They will be noted. 1. Administration building - library on second story middle. 2. Auditorium - front view, classrooms are second story back. The grassy berm mentioned is just to the right of the number 13 and in front of the auditorium. 3. Auto shops - top to bottom, three classrooms/shops. First two are the auto shops, last one to the back is the metal shop. Building to the left of the auto shops is driver training and FFA classroom. (FFA is Future Farmers of America. They have a small plot out back with veggies and other plants.) 4. Girls gym. Offices to the left, lockers and showers to the right. Dont ask how I know. 5. Liberal Arts building. Nurses station is at the north end, 1st story. The open area between the girls gym and boys gym became an Olympic size pool and was ready for use in 53 - 54. 6. Basketball court where sock hops, proms and the like were held. Basketball now and then. It was the place to be on many a Friday night as well as a few Saturdays. 7. Boys gym, lockers and showers. Outdoor basketball courts just above the number 7. 8. The parking lot shown became the tennis courts in late 1955. The tennis courts shown at the bottom of the page just above Main St. were turned into about four classrooms and a parking lot. 9. The barn. Not sure what it used to be, but 55-57 it was used by the girls gym classes for modern dance, trampolines etc. 10. Student parking lot. 11. Football stadium with track facilities etc. 12. Poli Street. 13. Catalina Street. 14. Quad - Union Building. Electric and radio shops were on the left, cafeteria and some lockers were on the right, the open area was picnic benches etc. for lunch. The two story building to the rear was the Union Building proper. They started building a new cafeteria in late 55 and this building came down. New one story classrooms were put in its place. In 55 the Senior Lawn was just below the quad. In 56 it was changed to the triangular patch of lawn just at the top of the number 1. 15. Main Street. Just above and to the right of the number 15 is the girls play field. Archery, field hockey and the like. Going from the girls gym to the play field you had to cross over a bridge across the barranca. More than a few couples were caught hanging out on the bridge and underneath when they should have been in gym class. Between the auto shops and the football stadium were the baseball diamonds. One at upper left and a nicer one lower right. Just to the left of the student parking lot and to the right of the right side ball diamond were some handball courts as well as a paved road leading up to the El Jardin parking lot. The parking lot was to the left of the football stadium and just below the left to right street - named El Jardin appropriately enough. This one used by students and teachers alike. One of the teachers lived in Santa Barbara and drove his flatty powered, white top, black Deuce highboy roadster to school pretty often and the El Jardin parking lot is where he parked. I always took the time to look at it when it was there. The narrow road between ball diamond and handball courts on the way up to the El Jardin parking lot was the best testing grounds around for checking out the tone and rumble of your new duals. Nowhere else in town did it as well. Directly across Main Street from the right (east) wing of the Administration Building was the Frosty Shop. The actual name was Fosters Freeze, but most of us called it the Frosty Shop. Today, the same building is there, but its a battery shop. Pretty appropriate considering all the car oriented stuff that went on there. This pic perhaps not needed for the book, but I thought it would help to show how the school was laid out. Interesting place and interesting times. Sometimes more than interesting, but just part of what you learned at school. Whether on the curriculum or not....
[ QUOTE ] The book is out and available, but the best deal right now is through me. [/ QUOTE ] NOW ya tell me! I just sent my order to the publishers!!
This book is a HELLUVA read! I just finished it and recommend it to everyone. When I first heard of it, I thought maybe a HAMBer was trying to get a few bucks for a booklet. $18 seemed kinda expensive but we need to help a struggling author, right? WRONG! Jay Carnine is a WORDSMITH of the finest kind! This book is over an inch thick with more than 500 pages. It is a cant-put-it-down-til-it's-finished book.
The book is just fantastic. I can not begin to say enough about how great of a story it was and how well it was written. Jay Carnine truly is one of the great authors of our time. I could not put the book down either, and read the entire thing on a Saturday. Suffice to say that I didn't get much else done that day, but it was time very well spent. I hope people are not put off by the book's size. It reads well all the way to the end, and will call you back to pick it up. It is books like Pinky that make me feel sorry for people who do not take time in life to read....they truly miss out.
I'd like a copy also. Please send PM or email, it is in my profile. Thanks, I read some good reviews on the RRT.
Nice words guys and thanks. Dunno if this is spam or not, but I don't think Ryan will mind. I'm selling the book at my price. $18. First class shipping. $5. Media shipping. $3. The shipping makes no difference to me, but a couple of things happen to Media Mail. It gets into the system and sits at a warehouse for a while. 2-3 weeks later, sometimes 4 weeks you get your book. Since it's experienced quite a bit of extra handling it's usually a bit beat up even though I pack them in a sturdy box with padding. The other thing that happens is, if it doesn't get delivered, it gets tossed into the trash. With 1st Class - or Priority as it's called - shipping times are 2-4 days in most parts of the country. Plus, if there's no delivery it comes back to me and I can find out what's up and get it to you some other way. Not to mention the book arrives in good condition. At least it has on the books I've followed up on and asked about condition as received. A check or money order is fine. Jay Carnine 31173 Tower Rd. Visalia, CA 93292
Shipping to Australia Air Mail was $14.95 US I believe. I can check prior to if you like. The box I use will take three books, but is better for two. Not much padding room with three. Although, I do have bigger boxes if necessary and shipping multiples may be the way to go.
The book sounds great. I'll be ordering soon. Can't imagine cruisin' without stopping off at Fosters Freeze for a burger and a shake. By '73 VPD had clamped down on any car related fun on Main St. My daughter, '02 VHS grad, told me that Poli St. is closed during school hours to " cut down on drive-bys" as in shootings! Ventura, sadly, has become a big city. You were lucky to have grown up there in a much calmer era.
The Jalopy Journal
