1979: Miss Lemon Grove 1977 Turns Back Time

A look back at Lemon Grove, 32 years ago this week.

“Fallback” Position: While in town to visit family, Charlie Gunderson, Miss Lemon Grove 1977, posed for Lemon Grove Review editor Max Goodwin's camera as she reminded all that standard time would begin at 2 a.m. Oct. 28 when clocks “fall back” one hour.

Getting a Grip on Grafitti: In an effort to wipe out grafitti, Ross Bessom, a resident of the Pacific Street neighborhood heavily affected by the problem, began meeting with some young people who may—or may not—have been involved.

At one meeting, according to the report, “12-15 Mexican-American boys and girls showed up and there was a mild confrontation.”

Later, however, some of the youngsters returned armed with paintbrushes and painted out the offending graffiti, a move praised by city manager Jack Shelver as “very helpful.”

A Capitol Tee: Vice-mayor Robert Burns stood in for absent mayor James Dorman during President Jimmy Carter's San Diego visit and presented him with a Lemon Grove T-shirt, bearing the city's slogan, “Best Climate on Earth.”

Said Burns, “He can wear it while jogging down the Capitol streets.”

Neighborhood Watch: Local neighborhoods were plastered with fliers offering a $2,000 reward for anyone who turned in two tall, heavyset thugs who beat up a 140-pound victim in his front yard at 1 a.m. Oct. 4 as he was returning from work. Neighbors discovered his unconscious, bloody body in torn clothing, wallet gone, a short time later.

Both assailants wore red bandannas, white T-shirts and dark pants. Urged the flyer, “This is your town! This could happen to you! Any leads will be compensated! We don't need your name—we need your help!”

Plan Ahead: The Citizens' Advisory Committee on Lemon Grove's first General Plan announced a town meeting on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lemon Grove Junior High auditorium.

“We want everyone's input on where we go from here,” said committee co-chairs Olin Thompson and Lee Morgan. “Bring a sack lunch and lots of ideas.”

Vintage Deals: Lemon Grove antique dealers Ruby Goodwin of High Hope Antiques and Lillian Kerr of Antique Investments joined more than 50 other dealers at the annual fall Antique Show and Sale in the Scottish Rite Memorial Center. Some $300,000 worth of antiques and collectibles were displayed over three days.

Goodwin and Kerr showed silver, dolls, coins, china, art glass and furniture, noting, “It's all old, but new to you.”

Duo at the Ace: The Ace Drive-In Theatre, Broadway at Grove Street, featured a double bill: The Warriors, a tale of warring gangs, starred former college quarterback Michael Beck, who went on to fleeting fame as the Worst Actor of 1981 (flopping in Xanadu) and Worst Supporting Actor of 1983 (plummeting in Megaforce). Yet, somehow, this sad resume led to his starring as Chance Wayne opposite Lauren Bacall in Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth in London in 1985.

The second feature, Up in Smoke, starred Cheech and Chong as two stoners unwittingly smuggling a marijuana-filled van from Mexico to L.A. with the incompetent Sgt. Stedenko (Arthur Roberts) in hot pursuit. Roberts's other flicks included Sharkman, The Mummy's Kiss and 100,000 Zombie Heads—just when you thought one zombie head was enough. No word on whether Lemon Grovians stayed away in droves or packed 'em in at $3.50 per carload.

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