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Main Street
Some weddings are just too melodramatic!!!
By Mary Ann Cook
WEDDING MELODRAMA: Some folks really get a kick out of old-time melodrama. These two even included it in their wedding celebration. They are Chris Dykema and Ken Pauley, who were married last weekend on the grounds of Club Almaden, which is adjacent to the Opry House.
As an extension of their wedding and reception celebration, they and their guests headed for a performance of The Shooting of General Anesthesia. They filled up about half the Opry House, with the other half taken up by the Horseman's Club.
That was the last audiences will see of General Anesthesia for a while. Next title coming up at the Opry House is Stupid Is as Stupid Does. Opry House proprietors are Los Gatans Harry and June Fromm. They attended the Dykema-Pauley wedding with Harry resplendent in Green Weinie outfit and June authentic in 19th-century garb.
BLOSSOM FESTIVAL: There will probably never be an Asphalt and Stucco Festival, but years ago--off and on until WWII--there was a Blossom Festival, one of the highlights of the West Valley year. High school girls danced in it; San Franciscans and other foreigners came down on special trains to witness it.
And the valley did its part, being awash in blossoms. Its day may be over, but the memories linger on. Such as in the memory of Lawrence Coates, who has just written a book called The Blossom Festival. His grandfather was the last blacksmith in Saratoga, one Bert Bertelsen. (Such a handy handle.)
Coates grew up in El Cerrito and fondly recalls his visits to these parts. In the book's credits, Coates names Los Gatan Betty McClendon and several Saratogans whose reminiscences were of invaluable help to him in the writing. Some of those credited may even be in the book, thinly disguised, such as Betty McClendon as Tatania and Saratoga's Willys Peck as the whistling boy.
Sheila Stanfield Heid and Peggy Stanfield Stuart were the other locals credited. "We spent one whole afternoon with him, recalling stories about the festival," McClendon says. The three women danced in the festival as high school girls. Years later, McClendon played choreographer for the festival.
The March weather didn't always cooperate. "One time we were coming down the hill in our papier-mâché costumes singing, "'Heigh! Ho! Come to the Fair!' when it started to rain. You can imagine what that did to the costumes! Another time one of the prune trees had to be carried off the stage, evidently with sunstroke." The chorus was usually decked out as either prune trees or peach blossoms.
Coates teaches at Southern Utah University and the book was published by the University of Nevada Press.
CELEBRATION: It was an 89th birthday party for Jim Kilkenny recently, celebrated at La Hacienda Restaurant. Kilkenny is a long-time Los Gatan, his family having owned a summer home here since 1913. The street it is on is named for the family.
In Jim Kilkenny's working days he commuted to San Francisco, where he worked for the Department of Education, teaching juveniles who had been detained by the court. The birthday party was charted by the Kilkenny offspring--sons Michael and John; daughters Rita, Catherine, Maggie Kilkenny-O'Laughlin and Maureen O'Connor.
John's wife, Lorraine, was also part of the celebration. According to Mike, his chauvinistic father has a library of books pertaining to Ireland that rivals the San Francisco Library.
FULL SERVICE: Senior Deputy Town Clerk Marlyn Rasmussen can now call herself a bona fide, full-service town employee, those in her office having recently completed the requirements for issuing passports. In her private life, Rasmussen can also officiate at marriages, a task she performs for her nearest and dearest.
Her granddaughter's will be the next one up. Sounds like a captain's job. Well, maybe that's Marlyn's next step.
FORE: Jerry Houston made history once again at the recent Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce golf tourney. This time he hit a spectator. Fortunately it was a glancing blow on the bounce, so the injury was slight. The chief injury seems to be to Houston's dignity.
Last year he sent an errant ball through the window of the car that was to be the prize if there was any hole-in-one committed. To commemorate that unscheduled landing, tourney official Bart Raynard gifted him with a bagful of broken auto glass and a swing analysis certificate from Swing Solutions.
Houston is a Realtor in the Saratoga Alain Pinel office in Saratoga. Winning foursome at the tournament was the team from GTE--Steve McCabe, Emerson Dauncey, Joe Poyer and Mike Raydo with a net 61.
GENTLY USED: Van Meter Home and School Club is seeking gently used articles for their rummage sale Oct. 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the school. Clothing, household items and sporting goods are sought and should be in good working order. Call the school at 356.5131 to donate.
CORRECTION: The cemetery opposite Los Gatos Villages is Los Gatos Memorial Park. Sorry about misnaming it in the article about the missing flag at L.G. Village.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
