January 22
Government in 1842
The Mexican government appointed Manuel Micheltorena governor of Alta California and sent him with 300 soldiers to secure control of Monterey, the provincial capital. Before he reached Monterey, however, U.S. naval forces mistakenly thought war had broken out between the U.S. and Mexico and captured Monterey Bay.
Watercolor of the capture of Monterey by Gunner William H. Meyers of the warship Cyane. Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, U.C. Berkeley
Hangman’s Tree Bar in Placerville
Crime in 1849
Three robbers were hanged at Dry Diggins, later known as Hangtown. Today it’s called Placerville. The stump of the original hanging tree, it’s said, is in the cellar of The Hangman’s Tree bar.
Newspapers in 1850
The Alta California, previously published weekly in San Francisco, became the first daily paper in California.
Alta California masthead
Aquatic Park, San Francisco.
Parks in 1939
Aquatic Park, near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, was dedicated. It includes a beach with a Victorian Park, bocce ball courts and the Bathhouse Building with the Maritime Museum and the oldest senior center in the U.S.
Environment in 1943
Some 26 inches of snow fell at Hoegees Camp in the Angeles National Forest.
KTLA logo 1947
Television in 1947
KTLA was the first commercially licensed television station in the western U.S. Today its studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
Business in 1949
The Chinatown Telephone Exchange closed. Since 1894 it ran a Chinese language telephone service which operated independently of the central San Francisco exchange.
Chinatown Telephone Exchange.
Santa Fe Railway wreck (1956).
Accidents in 1956
A Santa Fe Railway train on its way to San Diego lurched off a curve near the Los Angeles River. Thirty people died in Los Angeles’ deadliest rail disaster.
Sports in 1984
The Los Angeles Raiders beat the Washington Red Skins, 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII, played in Tampa, Florida.
Business in 1984
Apple Computers television commercial for the new Macintosh computer was broadcast only one time; during the Super Bowl. It became one of the most successful American television commercials of all time, an advertising masterpiece.
Sports in 1989
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 20-16, in Super Bowl XXIII, played in Miami, Florida.
Sports in 1989
Bill Walsh retired after winning his third Super Bowl as head coach of the San Fransisco 49ers.
Rickey Henderson.
Sports in 1998
Rickey Henderson, outfielder, rejoined the Oakland A’s for 4th time.
Sports in 1990
Will Clark, National League’s MVP, signed a 4-year contract with the San Francisco Giants for $15 million.
January 23
Nero, a Donner Party dog.
Overland Journeys in 1847
Patrick Breen, traveling with the Donner Party, wrote in his diary: “Blew hard & snowed all night. The most severe storm we experienced this winter.”
Business in 1862
Agoston Haraszthy, the first winemaker in Sonoma Valley, imported 10,000 grape vine cuttings.
“Little Pete,” opium king of Chinatown.
Crime in 1897
Fong Ching, known as “Little Pete,” Chinatown crime boss, was killed while sitting in a barber chair with a towel over his face; shot under the chain mail he wore as body armor.
Inventions in 1900
Arlanda McCandless of Los Angeles, patented a shipping box. “This invention relates to boxes for shipping fruit and berries and other easily-perishable articles; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of the character set forth which can be supplied to a consumer in large lots in collapsed or blank form, to be assembled by him for use as occasion may require, and the construction is such that the contents of the boxes can be so ventilated as to maintain the same in a fresh condition during shipment.”
Business in 1957
Walter Morrison, inventor, sold the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O Toy Company of Woodland Hills, which later renamed it the Frisbee. His business began by selling “Flyin’ Cake Pans” on the beaches of Santa Monica.
Walter Morrison.
Sports in 1971
UCLA lost to Notre Dame, 89-82, then won its next 88 games.
Willie Mays, 1966
Sports in 1979
Willie Mays, former San Francisco Giants outfielder, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Business in 1996
Sun Microsystems, in Santa Clara, released the first version of Java programming language. Today it is one of the most popular programming languages.
Energy in 2001
California energy officials got enough power from West Coast electricity supplies to avoid rush hour blackouts. Lawmakers worked to make longer-term deals to buy power.
Blackout.
Newton in 2004
Helmut Newton, fashion photographer, died in a car accident in Los Angeles at age 83.
January 24
Exploration in 1770
Gaspar de Portolà’s expedition searched for Monterey Bay but overshot it and found San Francisco Bay. They turned south, hoping to meet the supply ship from Mexico at Monterey Bay. The ship never arrived so they marched back to San Diego, surviving by eating their mules.
Overland Journeys in 1847
Patrick Breen, traveling with the Donner Party, wrote in his diary: “Ceased snowing yesterday about 2 o’clock. Wind about S.E. All in good health. Thanks be to God for his mercies endureth for ever. Heard nothing from Murphys camp since the storm. Expect to hear they suffered some.” An infant died.
James Marshall standing in front of Sutter’s Mill.
Gold Rush in 1848
James Marshall found the gold flakes in the American River at Sutter’s saw mill that ignited the Gold Rush. He reportedly said, “I have found it.” “What is it?” inquired Scott. “Gold,” I answered. “Oh! no,” replied Scott, “That can’t be.” I said, “I know it to be nothing else.”
Flight in 1910
Louis Paulhan, pioneer French aviator, flew in an air show over Tanforan Race Track in San Bruno before a crowd of 75,000. He flew 1,300 feet high at 70 mph.
Louis Paulhan making his record flight, flying at 4,600 feet, in his Henry Farman biplane in Los Angeles (January 12, 1910).
Fremont in 1956
Fremont incorporated. It is named for John C. Frémont and combined the towns of Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs.
Fremont, California.
Earthquakes in 1980
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck north of Livermore Valley, injuring 44 people and causing some $11.5 million in property damage, primarily at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.
Sports in 1982
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21, in Super Bowl XVI.
“A Star is Born” (1976).
Cukor in 1983
George Cukor, film director, died in Los Angeles at age 84. His films included “My Fair Lady” (1964), “Love Among the Ruins” (1975) and “A Star is Born” (1976).
Business in 1984
The first Apple Macintosh went on sale. The revolutionary personal computer with a speed of 8 MHz and 128k of RAM sold for $2,495.
Apple Macintosh (1984).
Hubbard in 1986
L. Ron Hubbard, science fiction author and founder of Scientology, died in Creston at age 75. By 2007 the Los Angeles based church claimed 10 million members worldwide.
Church of Scientology, Los Angeles.
O.J. Simpson.
Crime in 1995
O.J. Simpson’s trial started in Los Angeles for the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, her friend. It became one of the most publicized criminal trials in U.S. history.
Energy in 2001
California received bids for long-term electricity contracts in an auction to help ease the energy crises.
Business in 2006
Walt Disney, in Burbank, announced it would buy Pixar Animation Studios, headquartered in Emeryville, in a stock deal valued at $7.4 billion.
Nicholas in 2006
Fayard Nicholas, the older of the Nicholas Brothers tap dancing duo, died in Los Angeles at age 92. They were stars of the Harlem Renaissance jazz circuit and stage, film, and television into the 1990s.
Accidents in 2006
Four people died when a twin-engine plane skidded off a Carlsbad airport runway then burst into flames.
Roberts in 2010
Pernell Roberts, actor, died in Malibu at age 82. He played the oldest son in the “Bonanza” (1959-1973) television series and later starred in “Trapper John M.D.” (1979-1986).
Government in 2011
California Supreme Court ruled that cities and counties do not have to consult with unions before laying off workers to save money.
January 25
Royal Chapel of Monterey postcard.
Missions in 1795
The Royal Chapel of Monterey, Alta California’s first cathedral, was dedicated with a mass of thanksgiving.
Ranchos in 1846
Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Barona was granted. It covered 13,316 acres south of Ramona in present day San Diego County.
Rancho diseno
Margaret and Patrick Breen
Overland Journeys in 1847
Patrick Breen, travelling with the Donner Party, wrote in his diary: “Began to snow yesterday evening & still continues. Wind W.”
Accidents in 1878
The King Philip, a clipper ship, sank outside of San Francisco Bay when its anchor failed and the ship drifted onto Ocean Beach, where it foundered. The ship’s remains were found more than 100 years later.
King Philip wreckage at Ocean Beach.
Clubs in 1928
The Zamorano Club, named after Agustin Zamorano, the first printer in Alta California, was founded in Los Angeles to print handmade books.
Armchair Detective premiered on July 6, 1949
Television in 1949
The first Emmy Awards, television’s response to the movie’s Oscars, were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club. Then there were some 350 television sets in L.A. Local station KTLA swept the awards. Its most popular show was “Armchair Detective.”
Flight in 1959
American Airlines flew the first coast-to-coast commercial jet from Los Angeles to New York. A ticket which cost around $300, around $2,425 today.
American Airlines magazine in 1959
Charles Manson mugshot
Crime in 1971
Charles Manson was convicted, along with Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten, and Patricia Krenwinkle of the murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others in Los Angeles (1969).
Sports in 1974
Ray Kroc, CEO of McDonald’s, bought the San Diego Padres for $12 million. He said, “I am not buying the Padres to make money, I’m buying the Padres because I love baseball. The Padres will be my hobby.”
Gaylord Perry.
Sports in 1978
The San Diego Padres traded pitcher Dave Tomlin and $125,000 to the Texas Rangers for Gaylord Perry, who won the Cy Young Award that year.
Sports in 1981
The Oakland Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, in Super Bowl XV.
Sports in 1987
The New York Giants beat the Denver Broncos, 39-20, in Super Bowl XXI, played in Pasadena.
Government in 2005
Legislators in San Francisco voted 8-3 to ban smoking in public parks, becoming the first major U.S. city with an wide ban on tobacco use.
No smoking.
Google.
Business in 2006
Google Inc., in Mountain View, launched a search engine in China that censored material about topics sensitive to Beijing. Google claimed it was a trade-off to provide Chinese greater access to other information.
January 26
Ranchos in 1846
Rancho Cañada de Capay was deeded. It covered 40,079 acres in present day Yolo County. The name means “valley of the Capay” in Spanish. “Capay” is a Southern Wintun Indian word for “stream.”
Rancho diseno
Overland Journeys in 1847
Patrick Breen, travelling with the Donner Party, wrote in his diary: “Cleared up yesterday. To day fine & pleasant. Wind S. In hopes we are done with snow storms. Those that went to Suitor’s not yet returned. Provisions getting very scant. People getting weak living on short allowance of hides.”
Nero, a Donner Party dog.
Charles Bowles, also known as Black Bart.
Crime in 1882
Charles Bowles, English-born gentleman bandit known as Black Bart who left poems at the scenes of his crime, held up Wells Fargo stagecoaches 28 times. His 21st was near Cloverdale in Sonoma County.
Flight in 1911
Glenn Curtiss flew the first seaplane from San Diego Bay. He was also the first pilot to land an aircraft on a ship at sea.
he flew the first seaplane from the water in the United States
Frances Orlando, who lived as a man, married Elizabeth Nunes. Courtesy the San Francisco Public Library.
Civil rights in 1929
Frances Orlando, age 19, was arrested in San Francisco for dressing in men’s clothing.
Movies in 1939
Filming began on “Gone With the Wind” in Los Angeles. It won ten Academy Awards at the 12th Academy Awards in 1940 and was the highest grossing film at the time.
Palomar Observatory
Science in 1949
The 200″ Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory saw first light, becoming the largest optical telescope in the world.
Amusement Parks in 1954
Ground breaking began for the building of Disneyland in Anaheim.
Disneyland opening day in 1955
Sports in 1960
The Oakland Raiders joined the American Football League.
A truck and garage buried in mud after flooding in Highland (1969).
Environment in 1969
California was declared a disaster area after two days of flooding and mud slides killed some 100 people in Southern California.
Business in 1998
Intel, in Santa Clara, introduced a 333 Mhz chip. It was expected to reach 450Mhz speed.
Intel logo (1968-2005).
Diane Whipple.
Crime in 2001
Diane Whipple, age 33, died after being attacked by two dogs in her San Francisco Pacific Heights apartment. The dogs were owned by two prison gang members but kept by Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller, who were indicted for murder and manslaughter.
Sports in 2003
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders, 48-21, in Super Bowl XXXVII. Rioting erupted on Oakland streets after the game.
Accidents in 2005
Two trains derailed in Glendale, killing 11 and injuring 200, in the second deadliest crash by a Metrolink commuter railroad.
No smoking.
Government in 2006
California legislators became the first in the U.S. to label secondhand tobacco smoke as a toxic air contaminant.
Business in 2007
Intel, in Santa Clara, announced it would use a new material on its next generation of chips to make them more energy efficient.
Intel logo (1968-2005).
Nadya Suleman.
Multiple Births in 2009
Nadya Suleman, age 33, gave birth to eight babies in Bellflower, the second time in history octuplets survived more than a few hours.
January 27
Business in 1827
Le Héros anchored in San Francisco Bay to trade for furs to sell in China. But because its goods did not interest the Indians or Mexicans, the ship spent nearly two years trying to trade its cargo.
Engraving of San Francisco Bay from Duhaut-Cilly’s Voyage Autour du Monde published in Paris in 1834-1835.
Nero, a Donner Party dog.
Overland Journeys in 1847
Patrick Breen, travelling with the Donner Paty, wrote in diary: “Began to Snow yesterday & still continues to sleet. Thawing a little. Wind W. Mrs. Keyber here this morning… Keysburg sick & Lanthrom lying in bed the whole of his time. Don’t have fire enough to Cook their hides. Bill & Sim. Murphy sick.”
Fairs in 1894
The Midwinter International Exposition opened in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. It featured an Electric Tower, a Fine Arts Building and a Royal Pavilion.
Midwinter International Exposition in San Francisco (1894).
Music in 1962
The Chubby Checker Twist Party at the Cow Palace, attended by 17,000 fans became the first big rock concert in Bay Area history.
Transamerica Pyramid.
Architecture in 1969
Transamerica Corp. announced plans to build a tower in San Francisco. Work on the 853-foot Pyramid was completed in 1972.
Crime in 1969
Byron Booth and Clinton Smith, convicts, escaped from the California Institution for Men at Chino. The next day they bought tickets to fly from Los Angeles to Miami. They hijacked the plane and it landed in Cuba. Officials removed the hijackers then the plane continued to Miami.
Transportation in 1971
BART’s tunnel to the Montgomery Street Station was”holed thru,” completing the tunneling for the two-level Market Street subway after six years.
BART map.
Sports in 1973
UCLA’s basketball team won its 61st game in a row, setting a NCAA record.
Accidents in 1984
Michael Jackson burned his head when a special effects accident caught his hair on fire while recording “Billie Jean” for a Pepsi Cola commercial in Los Angeles.
Crime in 2009
Kraft Foods and Frito-Lay managers admitted to taking $318,000 in bribes from Randall Rahal, a former sales broker for SK Foods of Lemoore, a major Central California tomato processor.
Crime in 2009
Police found seven people dead at a home in Wilmington near Los Angeles. Ervin Lupoe killed his children and wife before killing himself. Both parents had been recently fired from their jobs.
Business in 2010
Steve Jobs introduced Apple’s iPad to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops at MacWorld in San Francisco.
https://youtu.be/jj6q_z2Ni9M
Zinn in 2010
Howard Zinn, historian, teacher and political activist, died of a heart attack in Santa Monica at age 88. His work included A People’s History of the United States (1980).
Great Seal of California.
Government in 2012
The California Air Resources Board approved strict vehicle emissions called the Advanced Clean Car program. It would reduce greenhouse gas emission by 50% by 2025.
January 28
Business in 1880
Henry Casebolt, San Francisco inventor of the cable car grip, sold his interest in the Sutter Street Railway.
Sutter Street Railway’s last horse-drawn car (1913).
Los Banos, Merced County.
Post Offices in 1890
A U.S. post office opened at Ingomar, near Los Banos in Merced County. The post office closed in 1921.
Crime in 1911
San Francisco police arrested 145 people for gambling in a raid on a San Francisco poolroom.
Beverly Hills in 1914
Beverly Hills incorporated.
Beverly Hills.
Accidents in 1948
A plane chartered by U.S. Immigration Services carrying 32 people crashed west of Coalinga. There were no survivors.
Accidents in 1969
An oil well off the Santa Barbara coast became the largest oil spill in the U.S. at the time. Today it ranks third after Deepwater Horizon (2010) and Exxon Valdez (1989) spills. In response to this blowout, modern environmental protection laws were passed and the environmental movement was born.
Sports in 1984
The Los Angeles Kings shut down Wayne Gretzky, ending his historic 51-game scoring streak.
Music in 1985
“We are the World” was recorded in Hollywood by the group USA for Africa to provide funds for famine relief. It featured many famous singers and sold 20 million copies.
Accidents in 1986
An oil spill began when the tank barge Apex Houston lost a hatch cover while being towed from the Shell Oil refinery in Martinez to Long Beach. It spilled some 25,800 gallons of crude oil, killing some 6,500 seabirds along Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties.
Apex Houston oil spill (1986).
Sports in 1990
The San Francisco 49ers the beat Denver Broncos, 55-10, in Super Bowl XXIV.
Accidents in 1994
A helicopter crashed into a San Jose office building, killing the pilot.
Gunner Lindberg murdered Thien Minh Ly (1996).
Crime in 1996
Gunner Lindberg, of the Insane Criminal Posse, murdered Thien Minh Ly at a Tustin high school in a racially motivated attack. Lindberg was convicted and sentenced to death.
Business in 2002
Palm Inc., in Sunnyvale, introduced a handheld computer with wireless e-mail and message service.
Palm Inc.
Jim Gray.
Gray in 2007
Jim Gray, age 63, acclaimed computer scientist, disappeared while sailing from San Francisco to the Farallon Islands, some 25 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge.
Business in 2008
Security costs for Governor Schwarzenegger and other top state officials reportedly approached $38 million a year.
Crime in 2008
Wireless, a Fremont technology company, filed for bankruptcy. Stephen Durland, its financial officer, was later convicted of fraudulent stock sales and Jasper Knabb, its CEO, was sent to federal prison for stock fraud.
Pegasus Wireless.
Accidents in 2008
One worker was killed and two others badly injured when a 5-story power plant tower collapsed during demolition in San Francisco’s Hunters Point neighborhood.
Marijuana leaf.
Business in 2010
Dhar Mann, age 25, opened iGrow, a shop for medical marijuana in a 15,000-square-foot warehouse near the Oakland Airport.
Protests in 2012
Oakland riot police fought with anti-Wall Street protesters, fired tear gas and bean bag projectiles and arrested some 200 people in clashes that injured three officers and at least one demonstrator.
Crime in 2012
A California police officer under investigation for sex with a minor was shot and killed by fellow officers as they tried to arrest him in Santa Maria.
January 29
Inventions in 1878
Clara L. Bradley, of San Francisco, patented a ladies underwear; “as by this improvement only one skirt is necessary, and this one possesses all the advantages of the several skirts now generally worn, and also to furnish a skirt which is peculiarly adapted to the present style of close-fitting garments.”
Clara Bradley underwear patent , 1878
Hollywood in 1958
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, movie stars, married. Newman, the legendary actor and political activist, created a food company, Newman’s Own, and a foundation that “uses the power of giving to help transform lives and nourish the common good.”
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
Movies in 1959
Walt Disney, in Burbank, released the animated musical film “Sleeping Beauty,” the last Disney animated fairy tale until “The Little Mermaid” in 1989.
Music in 1967
Mantra-Rock Dance, a benefit for the San Francisco Hare Krishna temple, was one of the great events in hippie history and probably the first rave.
Freddie Prinze, Sr.
Prinze in 1977
Freddie Prinze, Sr., comedian and actor, shot himself and died in Los Angeles at age 23. His starred in “Chico and the Man” (1974-1977) and fathered Freddie Prinze, Jr., also an actor.
Sports in 1980
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 154-153, in quadruple overtime. The Lakers won the NBA championship that season.
Architecture in 1985
Goldie Shack, one of 5,610 shacks built to house people following the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, was moved to the San Francisco Presidio for preservation.
Earthquake shacks (1906).
Joe Montana. Topps Trading Card.
Sports in 1994
The San Francisco 49ers became the first team to win five Super Bowl titles; 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989 and 1994.
Sports in 2002
The San Diego Chargers hired Marty Schottenheimer as their 13th head coach
Great Seal of California.
Business in 2009
A California judge ruled that Governor Schwarzenegger could force state workers to take furloughs to close the budget gap.