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Doyle Phillips (1961)

Saw Sebastian Cabot a couple times at Hong Kong Cafe and once at the Corner Drug Store. I understand he was friends with Jesse Vickery. The Spudnut had a lot of morning business during hunting seasons. Saw Bing Crosby and Bob Hope there a couple times and once Phil Harris was with them. The most frequent or avid hunter I remember was Robert Stack. I saw him and spoke to him at least 7 or 8 times at the Spudnut Shop. When I would finish my paper route in the morning I would stop in there for my spudnut then go across to Greyhound to play pinball machines. Charles would be there and was very social. I adressed him one morning as Mr. Stack or Robert and he said his name was Charles Stack. A couple times he would just visit with George Daly and get coffee to go. Charles was an avid skeet shooter and at the age of 16 a member of the All-American Skeet Team. He set 2 world records in Skeet Shooting and became world champion. 

Tom Stewart (1969)

I can also confirm the Sebastian Cabot story. One afternoon Ralph Somero and I were in the Chicago Cafe having lunch and in walked a man and sat down. Ralph said to me "that man is a famous guy, I think he is Al Hirt." I looked over at the man and I said, "no, that is that guy from "Family Affair" on TV. We went over and confirmed he was the guy from "Family Affair" and I ran out to my car to get something for him to sign. All I could find was a road map, so I took that in and he signed it. He seemed like a very gracious man, and I found out in the next few days that he was friends of the owners.......

Joel Childers (1966)

Sebastian Cabot wasn't one of those who tried to hide his identity. A whole lot of people either met him or know someone who did. My step-grandfather was an avid pheasant hunter and told us about taking Sebastian out hunting somewhere.

Now Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Really? Wow. Maybe they were filming The Road to Spud Nut or something. Was Dorothy Lamore with them?

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

David Contreras lived just up the street from me, so it was fun to be able to go into the restaurant that his family ran. I can still taste the delicious soup :-)

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

I love seeing the hat poles on each booth. Sure something you don't see any longer! Great picture and wonderful food, thanks for posting, Greg.

Kay Most (Chapman) (1962)

I love seeing the old Woodland photos that you post, Greg, and the memories they bring back.  Such a different time from now.  Thanks for sharing such items.  I remember being told that the place was called Spud Nuts because they made their donuts with potatoes.  Is that true or an urban legend?

Theresa Eve (1964)

Greg, the Contreras Cafe is lovely.  I remember all those items on each table, salt, pepper, and sugar in glass containers; and the music selection box.  I believe for a quarter.  This is a trip down memory lane, along with the Spudnut Shop.  So appreciate your old pictures of Woodland.   The jukebox on the wall were called wallbox. In  the 1950s; it was three songs for a quarter. 

Elvis Kelley (1962)

Kay, that is correct and if you called them donuts George would correct you. My mother worked there for years. She was there when Bing Crosby came in. Unfortunately for him it was high-school lunch time. He ordered a tuna sandwich and coffee. But some school girls saw him and ran next door to the Tomale Parler and they all came over and mobbed him. He only had a couple of bites of the sandwich and literally ran out to his car which was parked in front of the tire shop in the next block. My mother felt bad for him. He was going up to his ranch near Yuba City. I'll bet he didn't stop in Woodland again ???

Theresa Eve (1964)

Great Bing Crosby story!!  She should have taken his sandwich out to his car.  

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Thanks Joan, Kay, Theresa, Elvis for nice comments! This place "The Chuck Wagon" is not a place I remember, either eating at, or talking about. Looks like that address is now a Gas Station. Does anyone remember eating here?? Sounds like they had some pretty incredible Meat Dishes :-)

Norma Berrettoni (Plocher) (1966)

I remember that building being the Dana Market?????

Melanie McKinzie-Petersen (Rued) (1967)

David Hughes took me there a thousand years ago.

Melanie McKinzie-Petersen (Rued) (1967)

Sorry, wrong Chuck Wagon. David Hughes took me to the one in Sacramento. 

David Hughes (1967)

Melanie, that is a sweet memory. If I recall, we enjoyed prime rib dinners.

Frances Handley (Jones) (1964)

Greg: Does your booklet identify the years that the Chuck Wagon was open? I see by cars out front that it looks like the mid 50's and it looks like it was a nice place. I wonder what happened?

I too appreciate seeing all the old places written up. What a treasure that book is!  And I appreciate you posting all the historical stuff,that is so great!

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Hi Norma, I remember the name DANA MARKET, but I can't remember where it was? 

& Frances, the Book (Front cover shown here) dates the book to 1957, so the pix would be close to that date.

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

There are a number of things here: Back when we were kids, the "Yolo County Fair" was only 4 days, always starting on a Thursday, and I remember this "Calliope" being pulled by a truck or a tractor when they had a parade down Main Street before the Fair started. At the Fair, I remember the "Food Booth" we would stop and get delicious tacos and on the Last day of the fair was a BBQ Beef dinner? that took place in the area we had the last "All 60's reunion

Sharon Blair (Ramsey) (1968)

The restaurant that was on East Street I believe at one time was an all you can eat called Smorga Bob's and Dana's Market was next door

'

Theresa Eve (1964)

Greg:  I am trying to recall which park this is in 1957; is it the park near Walnut Street?  That park had a lovely center similar to this, but they took it out and put in a circular sandbox with a rock boarder.  Not nearly as pretty as the one shown with the lady in a l950s full skirted dress.  

Bernard Rocksvold (1965)

Theresa, I believe it is Freeman park, long before it became "wino park". (Greg, correct me if I'm wrong)

One night a bunch of guys snagged Monte Apel's Gogo mobile and put it on top of the bird bath.

Cops used to hide between the park and the laundry on the west side of the park to catch speeders on Main st. One night a couple of guy snuck up and tied a chain to a tree and the other end to the back axel of a police vehicle, then sped down main street..... you can guess the result. I don't remember them ever getting caught.

We used to hide up in the trees on the north east side of the park when Delmar Frost would chase us for being out after curfew, he could never find us.

Joel Childers (1966)

My first thought was Freeman Park. I remember all the trees and shrubbery where the hobos could easily hide. That beautiful centerpiece is a distant memory. It must have been replaced when we were still quite young.

Joann Damsen (Dahl) (1961)

I think the photo of round sitting area with lady standing was at one time in front of the old court house.

Doyle Phillips (1961)

Greg, the Yolo County Fair was discontinued in 1942 on Kentucky Avenue because of WW2. When they reopened in 1948 was it at the present location or did they return to Kentucky for a few years? Do you have any pictures of the Kentucky Avenue Fair?  

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

I'm not sure about the park, I think it is the one that is on Main Street, but, we never went to it,The park we went to was the one closer to where we lived - Beamer Park. The title of the picture on the cover just calls it "Woodland Park". I'll see if I can come up with anything more than That

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

And Doyle, you are correct, the fair was cancelled in 1942 because of WWII (I heard they used the area  it for training?)?, When it started up again, it was in 1948 and it is where the current Fairgrounds are now. This is a pic Dad tok of me, sister Sue and Grandma where they displayed Farm equipment and tractors, The last time I went to the fair, that same area was still the "Farm Equipment area"