KLX Orchestra for Tonight -- January 11, 2023

Oakland Tribune, 01-January-1923

"Jack Levine's Melody Makers of the Maple Dancing Academy of Oakland who will broadcast jazz from Radio KLX, the TRIBUNE'S broadcasting station..."

Oakland Tribune, 08-January-1923

Radio -- Bedtime Stories by Miss Ethel Rose Taylor -- November 10, 2022

Oakland Tribune, 29-November-1922

KLX, the Oakland Tribune station, featured bedtime stories read by Ethel Rose Taylor. 

Firehouse #57 -- July 5, 2012

A design for a new firehouse on Oakland's Sixth Street.  From the 17-September-1896 San Francisco Call. 

THE FIRST NEW FIRE HOUSE

OAKLAND, Cal. Sept 16.— Plans were completed to-day for the construction of the new brick flrebouse on Sixth street. For several years the old engine-honse has been unfit for men to live in, but nothing has been done in the way of permanent improvements. Mayor Davis proposed in his last annual message that instead of fritteriing away money on repairs that permanent brick structures be erected one at a time.  His advice has been followed and the new building will be a model firehouse. Its cost will be about $8000 and the construction will commence at once.

Heald #2 -- June 12, 2011

I used to teach at Heald Business College in San Francisco (http://www.heald.edu/). They provide a good education in a short time to those who are willing to work at it. The ad is from the 25-December-1910 San Francisco Call. I visited the Oakland branch of the school a few times.

Train Station #35 -- June 5, 2011

The Western Pacific Railroad's depot at Third and Washington in Oakland. This is from the May, 1914 Pacific Service Magazine, published by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Train Station #34 -- May 10, 2011

The Santa Fe Railroad's Oakland depot, at Fortieth and San Pablo. This is from the May, 1914 Pacific Service Magazine, published by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Train Station #33 -- April 4, 2011

The Southern Pacific opened its Sixteenth Street Station in Oakland in 1912. It is currently in very poor condition. This is from the May, 1914 Pacific Service Magazine, published by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Train Station #32 -- March 7, 2011

Central Pacific's 1869 depot at Seventh and Broadway in Oakland. This is from the May, 1914 Pacific Service Magazine, published by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour -- June 27, 2009

Disney's "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour, ballyhooing a new version of the story, has been travelling around the country. Today it was in Oakland. It was supposed to be at the Port of Redwood City, but they had construction going on. We had never been to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. It was hard to find, but nice. Even though we were early, the parking lot was full. The port had covered the no parking signs on the surrounding streets, so we were able to park along the road, right across the lawn from the observation car. The weather was warm and sunny, so we got the full odor of the mud flats. Everything was free.

We waited about 30 minutes in line, and were enterained by two guys, on one stilts, working with a diabolo. The train was pulled by two GE Genesis locomotives. We climbed aboard at the front of the first car behind the locomotives. The first four or five cars had exhibits. The last two or three, including an observation car, were for the cast and crew members. The first one or two cars had images of the characters and the scenes, and some Dickens memorabilia in cases, like two pages of the manuscript for Nicholas Nicholby, and some early editions of "A Christmas Carol."

The next car had touch screens that allowed us to see some of the locations.

The next car had kiosks where people could get photographed and then morph their faces into some of the characters. We all wound up as Tiny Tim.

The last exhibit car was decorated for a Christmas party and smelled of gingerbread.

After the train, we went to a temporary theater to see a preview of the movie. The lenses of the 3-D glasses were red/green, but also appeared to be polarized. The 3-D effects were good.

We drove to Emeryville and had lunch at the Chevys by the bay. It was nice.

Oakland Cable Car Tragedy -- March 31, 2009

I don't usually use this blog to plug my cable car website, but this month I rolled out a set of newspaper stories that I found very interesting. On 04-December-1894, this Oakland Cable Railway car was on Broadway headed towards the Creek Route ferry landing. As it crossed the Southern Pacific tracks on Seventh Street, a local train headed towards the Oakland Pier hit the cable car. There were only two passengers aboard. A 22-year-old school teacher was killed. Her fiancee was seriously injured. The stories tell a lot about how the cable car line was operated and how people looked at Southern Pacific.

Half Mast -- March 27, 2009

Today was the funeral for the four police officers who were murdered by a parole violator last Saturday. I don't understand the people who are supporting the murderer, even denying that he could have been a rapist. Police from all over the East Bay filled in so the whole Oakland Police Department could attend the funeral at the Coliseum Arena. Officers came from as far as Boston. Poor Oakland.