1968: Water Rates on the Rise; Price of Cocktails Remains Steady

A look at the way we were, 43 years ago this week:

Go Figure:  Harry Griffen, Alton Drive, president of the Helix Water District, announced new water rates for some 40,000 ratepayers.

Effective Dec. 1, 1968, bills would rise 4 cents per 100 cubic feet in the last two steps of the rates, and 1 cent to 2 cents over the next five years. The average bill in 1969 was projected at $12.28 and $15.30 by 1972.

Rock On:  The Bird Cage Cabaret, 6323 Imperial Avenue, presented the Bobby Wayne Combo performing such rockabilly hits as “Sally Ann” and “Swing Train Twist.” 

“Large dance floor, cocktails $1.50, no cover,” promised the ad.

Clear Vision:  Famed optometrists, Dr. Lloyd Adams and Dr. Amorita Treganza, 7898 Broadway, added a new, young partner to their team of eight eye doctors.

Dr. Jerome Legerton, 21, a magna cum laude graduate of the Los Angeles College of Optometry at USC, had met Treganza at the San Diego Convention Center where she was lecturing on children's eye problems. She promptly hired the former Eagle Scout and wunderkind who had graduated from high school at 16.

He and wife, Linda, bought a two-bedroom home in Lemon Grove.

Paprika, Please: Ringling Brothers' Barnum & Bailey Circus at the San Diego Sports Arena presented the “teeter-board terrors,” including the Eight Faludis (Hungary), the Nine Kovachevis (Czechoslovakia), and the Two Silagis (Bulgaria) in a three-ring medley called “Hungarian Goulash.”

Tickets cost $2 to $5.

Peerless Pigskins:  Don Coryell, SDSU's legendary football coach, interviewed 55 candidates for coveted spots on the Aztec team slated to play a full season.

Up-and-comers Harry Benjamin broke all of O.J. Simpson's records and made the move from junior college to SDSU varsity, while the sensational Nate Wright (5-11, 190) mowed down all in his path.

Chow Down:  Topper's Steakhouse, 8035 Broadway, offered its Summer Sell-A-Bration (“Eatin' out fun at eatin' home prices”): 99 cents for fried chicken, cream gravy, mashed potatoes and roll with honey on Sundays, while Monday's bargain featured rib-eye steak, French fries and roll with butter.

Compiled by Helen Ofield, president of the Lemon Grove Historical Society, from newspapers archived at the H. Lee House Cultural Center.