A LOOK BACK:

Editor’s note: This is part two of Jerry Person’s look back at Christmas in Huntington Beach in 1966.

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For teenagers of 1966 it was a time when surfing was just becoming popular with the masses, thanks to the Frankie and Annette movies.

It was a time when kids slathered on Johnson’s baby oil mixed with iodine for that “tan look” in the winter while lying out in front of Vic’s and eating “strips.”

It was a time to watch Lloyd Thaxton and Dick Clark on television, and listen to music played by Wolfman Jack, Wink Martindale, Bill Balance and Gary Owens on the radio.

When Christmas came it was a time to pause and reflect on the past year and head over to the White Front store for gifts for the family.

It was also a time to walk along Main Street for presents, and to see how the store windows were transformed into a winter wonderland.

In 1966 a group of 88 students from Western High School in Anaheim entertained shoppers in the Huntington Center mall with their “Singing Christmas Tree,” in which the students formed a Christmas tree with the last young lady standing under a star.

The H.B. American Legion Post 133 sponsored a holiday breakfast in Memorial Hall commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing.

Donald Shipley and Paul Jones represented Huntington Beach at this breakfast while Lowell Spangler gave the invocation and benediction, and coming all the way from his home in Apple Valley for breakfast was former post commander Lewis Mitchell.

A Christmas Eve candlelight service was held at the First Christian Church with the singing of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Gloria in Excelsis” by the church choir, followed by a special message by Rev. Thomas Overton.

“Distress on Earth Accompanies Birth of Kingdom” was the Bible sermon given at the Kingdom Hall on Talbert Avenue, followed by a program “Judges after God’s Own Heart.”

Christmas service at the First Baptist Church included Christmas music Dec. 22 at the Broadway store inside the Huntington Center. This choir was under the personal direction of Harold Bouley. Their main program on Christmas included two morning services, one at Peek’s Chapel in Westminster and a second inside their church at Sixth Street and Orange Avenue in Huntington Beach that featured a message delivered by the Rev. Willis Loar.

The Warner Avenue Baptist church showed two Christmas films, and Edwin Greene delivered a holiday message at the morning service. Five days earlier the church was the scene of a Christmas program “Keeping Christ in Christmas.”

The Rev. G. Russell Shaw preached on the theme “Something to Sing About” at the First Methodist Church at 11th Street and Orange Avenue.

The Rev. Luther A. Arthur gave his Christmas message “Great Prophecies Soon to be Fulfilled or What is Meant by the Second Coming of Christ” at the Golden Rule Assembly at 226 Main St. Christmas morning.

Last week I mentioned the Chamber of Commerce would be searching the city for the best decorated home, business and commercial building.

Earl Harden of Edgewater Lane received a trophy for the best indoor tree, Doyle Miller of Park Street for the best indoor nativity scene and Joe Long of Park Street got his for the best outdoor nativity scene.

Leon Curry of Tiber Lane got first place for his children’s fantasy scene and the Huntington Center mall received the Judges Award and for the best decorated public building went to Southern California Edison’s steam plant.

The best neighborhood group was a tie and went to 12th and Park streets and Richard Martin of Edgewater Lane won the best-animated Christmas scene with the best mobile home park trophy going to Sea Aira Mobile Estates on Warner Avenue.

Crocker Bank received first prize in the commercial division with Huntington Shores Motel on PCH receiving second.

If Santa Claus had a bigger lap he would have heard the Christmas wishes of some of our prominent citizens.

City Finance Director Ben Arguello asked Santa for a way to raise city revenue without raising a fuss.

Ted Bartlett wanted to return to the American free enterprise of developing Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street.

City Attorney Dale Bush wanted just one easy municipal legal question to solve.

Councilman Al Coen wanted time to visit his folks in New York City.

Municipal Oil Inspector Frank Ciarelli asked Santa for another year as successful as 1966 in coaching kids to Southern California championships.

Meadowlark Country Club bar manager Sam Catrabone wanted to have a golf tournament every weekend and a club dance every night.

General Manager George Dell of Groth Chevrolet asked for a dozen tapes for his new car stereo. Jim DeGuelle of DeGuelle Glass wanted a couple thousand new paid up members in the Huntington High Alumni Association.

Postmaster Pete Di Fabio wished for the post office on Warner Avenue would be completed ahead of schedule.

City Treasurer Betty Diekoff wanted an easy way to keep everybody in City Hall happy, even when she won’t let them spend the city’s money.

Florist Leo Farwell wanted more happy holidays for flowers and less funerals of his friends.

Council Jack Green wanted strength to bite his tongue the next time he dreams up something like “Little Tijuana.”

Plumbing business owner Chuck Geer wanted Santa to spread the workload evenly throughout the year.

Fire Chief Delbert “Bud” Higgins wanted to return to his carefree surfing days in Huntington Beach.

Rambler car dealer Bob Jurkovich asked Santa to buy him out so he could retire on his ranch.

Bill Kettler from Coast College wanted more time to run his motorboat on the river and time to water ski, snow ski and lounge around in his mountain cabin.

City Administrator Doyle Miller just wanted a chance to balance the budget without having to trim every department expense down to the austere level.

Councilman Henry Kaufman wanted to get a ticket to Switzerland to visit his daughter Debbie, who is a foreign exchange student.

Bob Mandic wanted always to be fortunate enough to hire a good a man as former mayor Bob Lambert.

Liberty Park druggist Noble J. Waite’s wish was for some of his old time buddies from downtown to drop in occasionally and say hello, even argue and insult him as he misses them.

These are just a few Christmas wishes and events that our residents of 1966 hoped for and attended and I hope that these wishes did come true, except maybe Ben Arguello’s wish to increase city revenue.

May this holiday time of 2007 be memorable, happy and safe as we start a new year.

JERRY PERSON is the city’s historian and a longtime Huntington Beach resident. If you have ideas for future columns, write him at P.O. Box 7182, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.