Was it "Dennis Holahan" or something like that?

How 'bout the theme song. I was only six or seven at the time. The music has been stuck in my head for 40 years. (Thanks Al!) Is this correct lyrics?

It's Funtime, it's Funtime
It's Channel 30 Funtime
We're happy to see you
Hope you are feeling fine
We brushed our teeth and washed our faces
Now we're smiling in our places
It's Funtime
It's Channel 30 Funtime
We're smiling, why don't you

It was called Shop-Rite Market. I remember it well, as I was on their Little League team. And boy, did we suck!

Blakely's pool was located on East Tulare, just west of clovis avenue ...Jess & Emma
Blakely were the owners.. I remember it well..

BTW- Anyone know the name of the Grocery
Store located at 1st and Ashlan avenues? 1969
and 1970 owners..Northwest corner of Ashlan and 1st street...

Yeah but people on FF like to bitch about things to feel self important but never do anything about it.

Oops, did I say that?

"Someone really needs to restore the Belmont 7up sign." - John E.

Yes, you're absolutely right. But instead of sitting around complaining and expecting someone else to take care of things, why don't YOU do something to move your idea forward?

You could call and call and call and call your local city council member. It's even better to fax and email and fax and email them. Still better is to follow that up with writing letters to the editor of the Fresno Bee about your idea, and others you may have, especially when it comes to city revitalization. If that fails, buy some paint and offer to do it yourself. Or hire a company. Get permission first, of course. You might also consider a fund raiser, if need be. Get the local media involved, if you have to.

The important thing to remember here is, if you want something, anything, you CAN have it. But you might have to lift a finger to get it.

It was the North Maple plunge and maybe another name before that. There was also the Fresno Cardinals before they were the Giants.
Old Marc, RHS'55

AL RADKA and the STOOGES!! Loved that guy, he was just a little subversive, he didn't talk down to us kids, back when everyone else on TV seemed like a cardboard cutout, Al was cool!
Iron Butterfly at the Rainbow, I've still got some hearing loss.
Perry Boys Smorgy....all you can eat for a buck.
Bubbles the hippo. It's sad when our animal friends die, sadder still when the zoo can't afford to replace them.
The thing I miss most? My feeling of peace of mind and safety in a virtually crime free Fresno, back before the gangs took over.

to Robert Sundre...
Russ was my Grandfather (Gramp)...and not just the ice house...but the back Corner Room as well where we'd take our breaks and drink a coke - taken from the old coke machine in the lube area.

Tropical Tees Mini golf by Roeding Park...
Russ Clements Gas station on Van Ness (at Princeton?)
Cony Island (near olf Fulton Mall)
The Fulton Mall
Warners Cinerama Theater
Raisin Bowl (pop warner version where ususally a team from Hawaii came over)
Bulldog donut shop
Carnation Restraunt (in tower district)
China Peak (OK...not quite Fresno)
The Refectory
Daryl Rogers' FSU football teams (actually Fresno State College)
The old "Battlin Bulldogs" sign at Radcliff
KMAK tower
KYNO as a rock station
KFRE Channel 30

...."Radka Fan." That was some of my best work...Aside from the "Halwood Truck Rental" jingle..... Which I personally sang ("Whenever you're travelin' near or far, always haul with HTR!") Sheer brilliance, I don't mind saying....I'm still getting residuals....

I totally remember the organ player. I could pick him out in a crowd (except that he'd be like 30 years older than he was).

Funtime. Nice.
The Beatles (if I'm deciphering the bootlegs correctly....were messing with a lowry organ circa Jan 1969--apologies to the Hammond company who delivered such marvelous music to America-----strange unreleased versions of "all things must past" etc.---
Go Al Radka...
what was that organ man's name?

Ah yes, I remember the Lettuce Eat It routine (one of Al's best). I looked forward to getting home from Centennial Elementary and watching Al and the 3 Stooges. Then suddenly it was commercial time and I think it went something like this:

AL: Hey gang, we have my favorite person in the studio, Les come over here.

LES: Hello Al, I brought you something from Lesterburgers and it's still warm (Al turns to the camera with a knowing smile).

AL: My goodness, what's that green stuff? (hoping against all hope that it will be different this time).

LES: We'll get to that in a minute Al, but first I want you to take a look at this fresh golden bun with lots of delicious sesame seeds!

AL: Yes that looks good Les, but what about this green thing here? (point to the lettuce for the first of many times).

LES: And Al, take a look at that all meat paddy in the center. Doesn't that look great?

AL: Yes it does Les, but right now I'm really interested in what you call this stuff here (points to the lettuce again).

LES: Well Al, before we get to that, observe these fresh sliced tomatoes that we just put on (Les lifts the bun).

AL: Those do look great Les, but help me out here - what do you call this (points to the lettuce and this time makes a silly grin).

LES: Did you notice that we also include some nice freshly sliced onions, you do like onions don't you Al?

AL: Please, please - I'm going crazy with hunger here, WHAT DO YOU CALL THE GREEN STUFF? (Al raises his voice)

LES: Al please, one last thing. I want to point out our secrete sauce that we are very proud of at Lesterburgers. I made it myself just before I came in to the studio!

AL: For the love of gawd Les! What do you call this lovely shredded green thing right here? (point to the lettuce a final time).

LES: Weeeeeeelllll Al........

AL: YES, YES? (Al is now practically drooling all over the bun).

LES: Well, it's, it's ...........

AL: (now wide eyed and completely focused on the Lesterburger)

LES: That's the lettuce.

AL: Well then! (Al looks directly at the camera, with the kookest grin ever)

AL: LETTUCE EAT IT! (devours a huge bite and then freezes as if the it were shot on film but they are still shooting live).

.... heh, heh. Miss you Al!

How about Al Radka and his Lesterburger commercials. The catch-phrase was "LETTUCE? LETTUCE EAT IT!"

What about the "Flippo Show", the show that preceeded Al Radka's morning show?

And Speaking about "Funtime", anyone remember the keyboardist who played during the show? I think he was a family member of the owners of Gospel Music on Blackstone - also home of the "Gospelaires" (?).

Does anybody know where Jim Kelly( lead guitar) or Don Whaley( piano) are?

yum! that was the best place ever! they had the best sundaes and best caramel! my mom and i would always ask for tuna/egg salad sandwiches and they would make them perfectly! i remember goin' to a field trip there too when i was younger. wish it came back. what is it now? davids bridal?

omg how funny that something as stupid as the koi pond @ cedar lanes would get us excited. i totally used to look forward to that. simple things excited us back then. now town have soooo much more to offer...

they sure did. it took my mom to remember that one! i do remember the rat running right past our table one day though. ewww! still good food though:)

My buddies and I used to go to the Rendezvous Ballroom in Newport Beach every night they were open back in summer '65. Great times! Great house band (Cindermen)! Great guest acts! I remember the lead guitarist played a Barney Kessel model Gibson electric. I also remember Bill playing more electric piano until Bob (I think) the bass player and another guitarist left the band and headed back to Fresno. Fred Perry was the main guy. My favorite song they played was Love Minus Zero No Limit. Remember the Rendezvous' Bob H's black mercury with the leopard skin paint job? Unfortunately, it all came to a crashing (or burning) halt when the Rendezvous burned down... with all the Cindermen's equipment inside.

remember the early days of Fresno Famous.

OMG, I worked at the Sugar Pine starting in '89. I loved that place and the ice cream was the best. It closed down early in the 90's and moved down Shaw Avenue towards Clovis, but it didn't last long. The owner opened a second shop, Alpine Station, in Visalia. I heard it's still open, but I haven't been there in over a decade. Thanks for the memories!

Hi Dick,

Neat thing you guys are doing! Unfortunatly
I don't have any photos to give you.I have been " out of the loop" for a long time living out in the middle of the ocean for years. You might try to get ahold of Bill Bixler ( sax/harp)I think if you look him up,it will give you his wifes web site. I think he is down in Malibu,Ca
Let me know what happens with your project.E-mail: hawaiifurniture@aol.com
Best Regards,
Bob

I worked at Cedar Lanes as a bus boy starting at 15 until I was a senior at McLane. For some odd reason, it was considered a real hip place in the 1960's. It was the spot to go for either the late night crowd (Coffee Shop) or for fine dinning in the upscale restaurant.

I saw Gov. Wallace attend a news conference there (when he was running for president) and our senior class rented out the entire bowling alley for graduation.

I never got tired of looking at the large Koi fish in the pond as you walked in the main entrance!

Bob's at Shaw and Blackstone (the "northern" part of town) had carhops up untile the mid-late 1960's!

I kinda miss how they served their milkshakes in those freezing metal containers...

Didn't Grandy's have "grandmothers" who greeted people as they came in and would walk around making sure everybody was happy?
I had forgotten ( repressed) the rainbow carpet in the airport.

and Pic-N-Save, Woolworths in fashion fair, and Pizza and Pipes on Shields and First!!! remember when Manchester Mall was actually sorta decent and fashion fair was lined with carpet? how about the fresno yosemite airport and the rainbow carpet they had leading you to the security check? fig gigs when they were fun (about 15 years ago)! the "treehouse" for all you bullard alumnis:) oh and can't forget Foodland! love storyland and playland! part of childhood for sure. glad they're shaping up. wouldn't wanna see them go. totally miss all the old video stores we had around town before all the blockbusters and crap came out. i know i'll be thinkin' of more. what about zapps park? wasn't alive yet but it sounds interesting!

How could you forget those yummy biscuits and fried chicken?! On Blackstone and Barstow. Or how about the drive-in on Blackstone and Herndon. Good times! Now it's a Costco. How about Skippers? YUM! The best chicken strips ever! Fatburger was always good. Cask + Cleaver restaurant. Family Bargain Center:)~ Sprouse Ritz on First and Bullard. Videoasis on Bullard and Marks. Showbiz Pizza on Shaw and Marks. And the list could go on and on...

I'm sure you're getting Hanoian's market and Harpain's Dairy confused. Mr. and Mrs. Harpain are still around and living in Fresno.

I also remember when Fulton used to be the main drag but when the mall went in, it then moved to Belmont. Fulton was the better main drag because of all the stores. The girls would go window shopping and the boys would cruise around checking out the girls. I also remember that if you saw Mr. Hardy (owner of the theater) and gave him a cheerful hello; he seemed to always have a free movie ticket in his pocket for you!

There was also a large swimming pool at Blakeley's on Clovis Ave. between Kings Canyon and Tulare (I think) and of course it was also a small golf course. Not to mention the large swimming hole at Blackstone and ummm...Bullard? I believe that used to be a race track prior to it being filled with water for swimming.

Back to Belmont. The Mars drive in was the place to meet for most but if you wanted a really good root beer float, then you went on down to the Reed & Bell which was closer to where the canal crossed under Belmont.

I remember when Phillip's 66 bought out most of the Flying A stations and they had those commercials with the cowboy yellin' "Yahoo! Flying A is now Phillips 66!"

A few other drive in movie locations were the Moon Glo (sp?) at Hughes and Dakota and the Sunset Drive In but I cannot remember the cross streets on that one...around Whitesbridge and Hughes?

How about going just north of Herndon on Blackstone and then making that 90 degree right turn onto what was eventually highway 41? When you came back; you had to sit at a stop sign and wait for traffic to clear so you could cross over and head south on Blackstone and back into town.

There's more but I gotta stop sometime!

I lived there from 1959 to 1969. I went to Turner Elementary and we went to Memorial Baptist Church.

I was 9 years old when we left Fresno. The things I remember most are going shopping with my mom at Food Bank, Country Boy, Brown's Market and sometimes eating at The Red Freezer. Since I was 9 I don't remember the streets they were on or the names of the shopping centers. I also remember Cordoza Park, which is probably still there. Lester Burger on the way home from church and for big occasions (birthdays, etc.) eating at Big Boy Bob's.

Urban sprawl moved north of the downtown area over the years and still continues to this day.

Better and more convenient shopping infrastructures began to spring up in these new areas.

Also there was no freeway 41 and 168 during this growth period and required you to drive on surface street to get to the downtown area.

It didn't help when the local gov back in the late 60s and 70s released mental patients to wander the malls because of lack of funds which might have reduced the enjoyable customer environment and probably didn't help the patients as well.

Urban decay slowly started to set in with hardly any investments or plan to boost image. Recent investments like the new ballpark has helped. Hopefully after the game more people will hang around and eat, spend money but the jurys out on this (they play only so many home games during the year.)

After reading all those great memories. Growing up in Tower District in the 80's, I remember what Downtown Fresno was like. It was beautiful shopping there during Christmas season. But reading all those memories made Fresno more exciting place to live. So, what happened?
Im curious... what really happened?

- Going from Pinedale to 99 on Herndon non-stop.
- KBOS when is was the hard alternative to KKDJ
- Skateboarding at Woodward Park
- The S curves east of Clovis on Herndon.
- The chocolate pussing at Happy Steak
- Seeing my drawing of a lady bug on Romper Room
- Action and Answers (Ch 30 at noon)
- Savino's Ranch Market
- Driving 33 mph down Blackstone when the lights were timed and never hitting a red light.
- Eating at Hendrix in Pindale.
- Live crickets for sale at Tent City.
- Rushing out back when at my Grandma's house near Belmont & Minnewawa so I could wave to the train Engineer.
- Fresno Ag: I loved there as a kid, so much to touch and try out like the doorbell display.
- Listening to the Funnies on the radio Sunday mornings.

Someone had asked who sung the producers song. I believe that was Ron Pearson Trio. He owned the bar at Princton & Maroa in later years called "The Circle" then "Downtown Nashville" before selling it in 1977.

Was a kid in Fresno 1953-58. As I remember
the AM Radio Dial:

KMJ 580 NBC "Prestige"
KBIF 900 Variety
KFRE 940 CBS Variety
KEAP 980 C & W
KYNO 1300 MBS Top 40
KMAK 1340 "Oldies"
KARM 1430 ABC Top 40
KGST 1600 Spanish Language, R&B

Only 3 FM: KMJ, KARM, and KRFM (Run by KFRE)

Later (I was student at then Fresno State College) - added:

KIRV 1510 Variety
KXEX 1550 Spanish Language

Had FCC Radiotelephone license, so got neat job at KYNO as "Babysitter" (Logged transmitter readings & kept station on air while DJ did his thing!)

-Jim
W6LFB
Denton TX

Remember Al giving the station break as:

"KFRE, FRESNO - FIFTY MILLION MILLIWATTS!!"

OR "FIFTY THOUSAND POTTS OF WOWER!"

That was Al...

-Jim in Denton TX
Fresnan 1953-59, 1964-65

Who remembers the old "White Front" and the "A & W Root Beer in Clovis?
How bout Sunnyside Drive in or The Starlight Drive In.....

Yes.....you can still get Ohlbergs Sausage....my fathers grandson, Michael Ohlberg, has been carrying on the Ohlberg tradition such my father retired. So do not despair, just run right out and get some!!!

I grew up in Fresno and I remember: 1) the loud roar of the Kearney Bowl Race track on weekends at my grandparent's house; 2) the colorful and vivid Farmer John's mural painted on the company's property wall, Wagner’s Lumber Yard, and the Flying A gas station, all located on Elm Avenue (Highway 41), just south of Church Avenue; 3) rushing home from grammar school everyday to watch "Dark Shadows" on TV; 4) riding my bike and playing outside with my friends until 9pm, well after sunset; 5) Earth, Wind, and Fire Concert at Radcliff Stadium; 6) Honoian's Dairy at Ashlan and Cedar Aves.; 7) Weinstock’s and Dotty Dean’s at Fashion Fair Mall; 8) Munchies 10-cent burgers; 9) Airways and Calwa Pools; 10) White Front and Gemco; the "blue-light" at K-Mart; 11) the old barn in the field at the corner of Gettysburg & First Aves.; 12) 10-cent ice-cream scoops at Thrifty's drug store on Cedar & Shields Aves.; 13) the Crest and Hardy Theaters located downtown; 14) partying at the Casino nightclub on Blackstone and Shields until 4:00 a.m., back in the day when it was truly fun and absolutely no drama!

Bob:

My name is Dick Lee and I was a member of The Brymers (aka - The de-Fenders) from Lemoore. If possible, I would love to chat with you about some of the great groups from Fresno during the 60's. I am acquiring some photos of many of the central valley rock bands on our wewb site and would love to include The Cindermen Band.

Regards,

Dick Lee
rleekgb@comcast.net
www.thebrymers.com

Ah...the forums are back now. Thank you.

What happened to the forums?

Al Radka hosted Stan's Private Line in the 1950's. A few of the words to the opening theme song are, Let's eat. I'm hungry. Now please don't think I'm rude. You're sweet and lovely but I'm in the mood for food. Anyone know the name of that song or maybe the rest of the words?

I sure do remember them!!! They were great!! I was the drummer. Great times

I sure do remember them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were great!!
I was the drummer--great times

Here's some more: who can forget that fateful Memorial Day in 1955 when Bill Vuckovich was killed while leading the Indy 500; or Blackie Gegian's hot rod shows? I remember how exciting it was when the first McDonald's opened on Blackstone Ave with 15 cent burgers. Those Fresno and Roosevelt High rivalries. Then there was the colorful interior of the Tower theater and the Saturday morning kiddie shows at the Mayfair theater. There was a large oriental, black, and Hispanic populations who literally lived across the tracks. Bumber to bumber traffic for Christmas Tree lane.

What a joy to look through the many memories of my hometown. I remember going for frosties on warm summer nights, movies at the Starlight Drive-in, and the downtown area before the mall. One big memory was the Veterans Day parade on Fulton st. in the downtown area. This was immediately after the end of WWII and quiet the event.

I to remember the best DJ ever, Al Radka I'll never forget his introducing rock n' roll to the area. Who could ever forget the aromas emenating from Lauck's Bakery, the Chinese food at the Leilani, spanish food at Estrada's, looking at the pictures that lined the walls at Fred Boyd's HiLife, or DiCicos pizza?

How about dragin' the main on the weekend or the drag races in the country? The hippie hangout The Catacombs. Oh so many memories. Where does the time go?

and I believe long long time ago sambos was called black sambos or little black sambos but that was in the late 50's early 60's and they changed it to just sambos.

and I remember the lolly pop drive threw dairy on fresno street just down from white front where all the kids got a free looly pop.

and hanging out in the fig orchard behind starlite drive in to watch the moves for free we would duck under the fence and turn up about 8 of the speakers on full so we could here it in the fig trees.

and I remember the giant orange burger stand on hwy 99 with the greasest fries.and hanging out at under the runway for the airport to watch the jets fly over you on approch.

and of coarse who could forget lester burgers .

My husband Rod Castello who used to live in that area as a boy hung out there in the mid sixty's.
He gave me this info.
He remember's the bank speedway that went around the inside of the building w/ a sloped bank for 6 cars approximately.

Thanks, Debbie Castello

I grew up watching the Uncle Bill Show. I remember him reading each day the list of kids who had Birthdays on that day. I wish I could get a dvd with all the shows on it. I also remember watching Al Radka's Channel 30 Fun Time every day before school.

Someone really needs to restore the Belmont 7up sign.

....that I could drink Uncle Jimmy under the table!

Once I stole Webster Webfoot, dressed him in drag, and wouldn't give him back until just seconds before airtime! Uncle Jimmy was pissed!

Paula Lloyd has some answers to the above questions in todays Fresno Bee (4/21/2008).

http://www.fresnobee.com/859/story/539711.html

Question: What is the history of the Seven-Up sign on Olive Avenue in the Tower District?

Answer: The painted neon-lit sign at the northwest corner of Olive and Lucerne avenues was among six signs made by the Hamlin Neon Sign Co. in the 1940s for Gerald P. Nettleton Sr.

Nettleton opened a Seven-Up bottling plant in 1937 at 2012 Pearl St. with $1,800, a used bottling machine and five employees.

The sign above Teazer World Tea Market on Olive Avenue reads "Fresh up with 7up. Take home a carton."

Another sign on the northwest corner of Fulton Street and Belmont Avenue sits above Golden Sports. The background paint has peeled off, but the sign used to say "Freshup with 7up. It likes you."

Four signs no longer standing included a neon billboard across from Ratcliffe Stadium on Blackstone Avenue, a 30-foot tall panel with moving neon bubbles at Ventura Avenue and R Street, and round and rotating signs elsewhere.

In the 1960s, I watched Al Radka and Uncle Jimmy Weldon on television on Saturday mornings. Where are they now?

Answer: Fresno radio and television personality Al Radka died in March 2005 at 89. Born Albert Thoborn Radka in Wisconsin, he came to Fresno in 1937 to play football for then Fresno State College. Radka was later a founder of the Bulldog Foundation.

Radka's first job in local radio was as a morning disc jockey for KARM in 1947. The next year he went to work for KFRE radio and made the transition to television on Channel 12 -- later Channel 30 -- when the new medium came to Fresno in the 1950s.

In the 1960s, Radka hosted "Funtime" on Channel 30, a live children's show with guests, cartoons and schoolchildren in the audience at 7:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

He retired from Channel 30 in 1981 and opened an advertising agency.

In 2006, the city named a park near Belmont and Fowler avenues in Radka's honor.

Uncle Jimmy Weldon, 84, hosted a local children's show featuring his ventriloquist's dummy Webster Webfoot, a white duck who wore a Webelo Cub Scout hat, scarf and emblem, on Channel 47 from 1961 to 1969.

Weldon did voices for cartoon characters, including the Flintstones and as Yakky Doodle Duck on the Yogi Bear show.

He appeared on other television shows, including Dragnet, Dallas, the Waltons and Knight Rider, and in movies, including Stairway to Heaven in 1946 and Giant in 1956.

In 2004, he was inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame. Weldon, who lives in Burbank, said he still works as an inspirational speaker.