6AM City In-house

Something about the seventies...

San Jose decades: The 1970s
An ad urging residents to vote for Mayor Norman Mineta.
Former Mayor Norman Mineta made a legacy in San Jose. | Photo via History San José
We’re traveling back in time again, San Jose.

Since our founding in 1777, San Jose has changed quite a bit. And with each year in our city’s history, comes the entry of cool inventions, major pop culture moments, or large developments.

So far in our ongoing series we’ve explored the roaring 1920s and the sweet 1960s, and now we’re taking a glimpse into the great 408 during the groovy 1970s. 🕺

📈 Population: 445,779
🗳️ Mayors: Ron James (1967-1971), Norman Mineta (1971-1975), Janet Gray Hayes (1975-1983)

1970 — The San Jose Public Library moves from the corner of Market and San Fernando Streets to West San Carlos Street. The natatorium at Alum Rock Park closes.

An old picture of Eastridge Mall during the 1970s.

At the time, the Eastridge Mall was the largest mall to the west of the Mississippi.

Photo via History San José


1971 — The Eastridge and Oakridge Malls open. Santa Clara Valley gets coined “Silicon Valley” by journalist Don Hoefler. Norman Mineta makes history as the first Asian American to become mayor of a major US city.

1972 — The Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is created. Downtown’s Center for the Performing Arts opens as “San Jose Community Theater.” 🎭

1973 — The California Theater closes. San Jose Taiko is established.

1974 — Former Mayor Norman Mineta is elected to Congress to represent San Jose, and secures funding for then-San José Airport and the Santa Clara County public transit system. ✈️

1975 — The Tropicaire Twin-Vue Drive-In on Alum Rock Avenue closes. Janet Gray Hayes makes history as the first woman to be elected mayor of a large city.

An aerial view of Great America in black and white.

Can you spot the iconic carousel in the background?

Photo via History San José


1976 — California’s Great America opens as Marriott’s Great America, the first-ever Happi House opens in Japantown, and Vallco Fashion Park opens in Cupertino. 🛍️

1977 — The first Chuck E. Cheese opens and the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is established.

1978 — Joseph D. Grant County Park opens to the public. Pink Elephant Bakery in East San Jose is established. 🍰

1979 — Hicklebee’s Bookstore is established in April. The last resident of the Bay Area’s only ghost town, Drawbridge, is said to have left.

What other time periods would you like us to explore in San Jose’s history? Let us know. 🕰️
6AM City In-house

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, Dec. 21
  • Let’s Get Lit Christmas Bingo Party | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 7-9 p.m. | Britannia Arms Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expy., San Jose | Free | Enjoy holiday food and drink specials while playing bingo for cool prizes.
  • Joey Avery | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $20+ | Laugh with the rising Bay Area comic who frequently tours with Andrew Schulz and Mark Normand.
Thursday, Dec. 22
  • SJZ Collective Holiday Concert | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 6 p.m. | Mama Kin, 374 S. First St., San Jose | Free | Enjoy a powerhouse sextet that represents the sound of the South Bay.
  • San Jose Sharks vs. Minnesota Wild | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | SAP Center, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose | $29+ | Cheer on your favorite team at the Tank.
  • Dave Koz and Friends – 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Civic, 135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose | $59.50+ | Catch the chart-topping, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, along with trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Peter White.
Friday, Dec. 23
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
DECEMBER IS NOT OVER YET

Weather
  • 59º | Partly cloudy | 6% chance of rain
Watch
  • Tune in to the Travel Channel’s “Destination Fear” this Friday, Dec. 23, at 6 p.m. as its team will visit the great 408 to investigate the Winchester Mystery House. The group of paranormal explorers frequent haunted locations around the US — catch it on Discovery+. 👻
Number
  • $4.37. That is the average cost for a gallon at San Jose gas stations as of last week according to GasBuddy’s most recent analysis. A month ago, average gas prices were 92.5 cents higher. This news definitely fuels our holly jolly mood. ⛽ (Silicon Valley Business Journal)
  • 550,000+. The number of women who love The GIST, the sports newsletter with a much needed female perspective and equal coverage of women’s and men’s sports. Buh-bye, male-dominated sports media.*
Eat
  • Calling all plant-based eaters... The Tank has cooked something up for you. Its newest vendor, Vegan Mob, has come to its Launch Test Kitchen near section 209 — offering brisket, spicy fried chicken, and its popular “smackaroni.” Don’t worry though, the SAP Center isn’t the only place boasting great vegetarian and vegan options. 🌱
Travel
  • 1 hour and 48 minutes. That’s how early you should arrive to Mineta Airport before a domestic flight. A recent study from Upgraded Points analyzed criteria including the number of gates and terminals, average TSA wait time, and airport size to determine this metric. ✈️ (Upgraded Points)
Outdoors
  • Happy Hollow Park & Zoo recently welcomed 9-year-old fennec fox Milo, after its 10-year-old fennec fox, Safar, died in early October. Milo will stay in quarantine for ~3 months before moving into his habitat in the Zoo in the Hollow. 🐾
Shop
  • Don’t stress over finding last-minute gifts. Make gifting easy by selecting a gift card to our SJtoday shop, Six & Main. From candles to clothes, there’s something for everyone. Purchase a gift card today. 🎁
Job
  • We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships across all 25 of our cities. This exec would lead prospecting initiatives, maintain a full and active client pipeline, and prepare and deliver sales presentations — all while earning a competitive salary with unlimited PTO. Learn more + apply.
Arts
  • Get inspired this holiday season at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which includes seven floors of gallery space packed with paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture, design + media arts. Bonus: Discover local artists at the 2022 SECA Art Award Exhibition, on view now. 🖼️ *
Trending
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Upcoming winter holidays ❄️

Upcoming winter holidays
A paper calendar for December
Prepare for a packed December. | Photo by Olivia Gaines via Pexels
You’ve probably heard a lot of “happy holidays” this season — with good reason. Plenty of cultures celebrate the start of astronomical winter, the end of the year, or just the coming of cold weather by gathering with loved ones and giving thanks.

Look forward to:
  • Yule (begins Dec. 21, today), an ancient Germanic solstice festival. Celebrants mark the shortest day of the year and balance between light and dark.
  • Hanukkah (ongoing), the Jewish Festival of Lights which began the evening of Sunday, Dec. 18 and ends on Monday, Dec. 26.
  • Christmas (Dec. 25), a cultural and religious festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ – which, if you’ve put off gift shopping until now, there’s still time.
  • Kwanzaa (Dec. 26), a week of African American and pan-African celebration culminating in Karamu on Saturday, Dec. 31.
  • Lunar Bodhi Day (Dec. 30), celebrating the Buddha’s enlightenment through acts of kindness. “Secular” Bodhi Day was celebrated on Dec. 8.
You don’t need to celebrate them all — but let’s all celebrate together.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Alyson.

Editor’s pick: I’m traveling to Portland with my partner next week, and I’m really fearful of the weather out there. I’ll admit that as a born-and-raised California girl, I’m weak when it comes to weather under 60 degrees. If you have any tips for Portland hot spots though, let me know.

Missed the last newsletter? We gave you ideas on how to pocket some extra moola.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Alyson Chuyang, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?
SUBSCRIBE

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY