ALONG EL CAMINO REAL 1950s CALIFORNIA TRAVELOGUE FILM 72952

Created by the California Mission Trails Association, "Along El Camino Real" is a 1950s travelogue showing off California and its missions. Images include San Diego and Coronado Bay, Los Angeles and Hollywood, Santa Barbara, the "Ghost Town" tourist attraction, Mission San Fernando, San Francisco, and much more.
"El Camino Real" or King's Highway was supposedly originated by Father Junipero Serra. The trail between San Diego and San Francisco was revived in the American period in connection with the boosterism associated with the Mission Revival movement of the early 20th century. In 1912, California began paving a section of the historic route in San Mateo County. Construction of a two-lane concrete highway began in front of the historic Uncle Tom's Cabin, an inn in San Bruno that was built in 1849 and demolished exactly 100 years later. There was little traffic initially and children used the pavement for roller skating until traffic increased. By the late 1920s, California began the first of numerous widening projects of what later became part of U.S. Route 101. Today the route through San Mateo and Santa Clara counties is designated as State Route 82, and some stretches of it are named El Camino Real. An unpaved portion of the original El Camino Real has been preserved just east of Mission San Juan Bautista in San Juan Bautista, California. The old road is part of the de Anza route, located a few miles east of Route 101.
El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road, also known as The King's Highway) and sometimes associated with Calle Real usually refers to the historic 600-mile (966-kilometer), connecting the former Alta California's 21 missions (along with a number of sub-missions), 4 presidios, and 3 pueblos, stretching from Mission San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego in the south to Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma north.
The route originated in Baja California Sur, Mexico, at the site of Misión San Bruno in San Bruno (the first mission established in Las Californias), though it was only maintained as far south as Loreto. Today, many streets throughout California that either follow or run parallel to this historic route still bear the "El Camino Real" name.
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[@AntonioPeralesdelHierro]

I worked in San José in the 50s and saw great orchards West of what is now Highway 17. Driving from San Jose to Mountain View took me to Santa Clara, beyond which was a relatively open space, and at a tree lined curve was Vidal's Restaurant whose food I always wanted to taste but never did. The San Jose/Los Gatos Road was a series of service stations, used car lots, and fruit stands among groves where I recall seeing a 32 Cadillac four door sedan for only $200. Raised in dismal racist company town Fresno, I discovered the Bay Area had friendlier people, better choices of employment, and I never looked back.

[@fob1xxl]

Raised in San Jose then in 1961 we moved to Santa Clara. It was all beautifull back then. Orchards were still all around. No San Thomas Expressway. We lived on Stevenson St in Santa Clara. My folks first new home. Infact we had to wait for them to finish building it. The whole neighborhood was beautiful. We had STONGATE ESTATES, FORREST PARK. Now it looks like a scene from any street from the south. Rv's, boats, motor homes , pick up trucks, all sitting in front of houses and in driveways. What a change ! All I remember when I was living there were great looking cars in the driveways. We had a new Bonneville, our neighbors on one side had a new T-Bird, the other a Corvette and new Impala convertible. Growth sometimes destroys the beauty of what once was there.

[@edmonddantes5104]

Boomer ❤ Its still a beautiful place 🌴

[@bluetickfreddy101]

Same here East side SJ 1963 Saw Capitol expy and Eastridge mall get built. My dad was airline pilot had small plane at RHV AP Tough hood had to fight a-lot but had a wonderful experience wouldnt trade😊

[@-Luka-Brazi]

“Growth” gave you a home just like mine in Saratoga. Whether in Texas or Florida, development wasn’t invented by California. What an odd post…as if written by a conservative Texan.

[@-Luka-Brazi]

@@fob1xxl - I was raised in Saratoga…and I saw the photos of the orchards that were bulldozed to make our homes. How far do we go back before we see our own contribution to what now is a real mess?

[@GrizzlyTank]

I must've moved a dozen times in my life and never lived more than a few blocks from El Camino Real. I grew up in the Bay Area and must lived or or worked in every city on the SF Peninsula. I wish I could go back in time and see it in it's heyday, it's so different now.

[@arielsarino2823]

I grew up in Coronado during the 60s when my dad was stationed at the North Island naval base. It was a magical place then, I wouldn't change that experience for anything.

[@stevesmithing1552]

I lived in San Diego from 1957 to 1959 and it was a Great Place, my Dad was in the Navy and he was Stationed at North Island naval base, I remember riding the ferry to North Island with my Dad. I agree that it would be hard to match that time period.

[@toddbates444]

i lived in monterey carmel from 86 to 90, most beautiful place, enjoyed this old video of california

[@michaelburt1663]

It’s amazing how much is gone

[@mikecesa4444]

Santa Clara and San Mateo were beautiful. I grew up there at that time. The last 40 years it has become a real dump!

[@RocketeerAndRoll]

It's amazing how many documentaries of that time used the same voice artist. I can remember hearing this guy's voice as a child. It's a voice that has been with me for over 40 years now...and i cannot find out who this guy is anywhere. Please help if you know the amazing narrator who did hundreds of these films back in the 50s and 60s.

[@otanihidetora5221]

Wow, California really used to be paradise on Earth. Incredibly depressing too see how much it’s changed…so much history that everyone has forgotten. Really is a shame, don’t know how older generations that grew up in this Eden are able to stay sane!

[@LizbethPlenty]

Yes it truly was. I was born and raised there and miss it terribly. But there are beautiful places still and sometimes when I get to visit my family there are a few places to visit. It's just life I guess. I just wanted to say that was a nice thing to say. I recommend visiting the Redwoods if you ever go. Peace to you

[@littlepig_ee8432]

California is, has always been, and always will be the greatest state in America. If California is considered bad , the rest of the United states should be atrocious

[@Azzury.]

Vote blue, get screwed.

[@darthvulpes3069]

they took everything from us

[@karlfonner7589]

It was also dark as well back then. There is a book with pictures, called, faces of death. The publisher found these pictures that was saved by an LA cop that are mostly autopsy pictures. The author states that there was no such thing as the good old days.. it was a book and I have no idea who the author is. Most of the pictures are from the 20s and 30s. If you wanna watch something on KZbin of what it was like before the European settled, look up stories by Alex. He talks about ancient life and shows you bedrock mortars that are right under your nose, and some of these places that people have never heard of or seen.

[@jeffgeer2720]

@ 17:46 the audio cuts out and returns @ 18:55 (just fyi)

[@littlepig_ee8432]

Ah yes, the green jewel of the United states. from the Ancient sun kissed mojave, to the great death valley, its scorched wonders and cool Clear nights, at the feet of the mighty Sierra Nevadas. from the fertile valleys, to Santa Cruz, Carmel-by-the-sea, Monterey, Big sur, Santa barbara, San luis Obispo. and all the wonderful little towns in between. We are the absolute best of north america. I look upon my home with pride, always.

[@Mike-pj1kv]

I used to live near El Camino Real in San Carlos Ca in the 1970s.

[@cliff8669]

I've made the drive along the El Camino Real, Hwy One and the PCH many times.

[@disgruntledpedant2755]

And............

[@pacather]

From back when California was clean and beautiful and not run by crazy people.

[@darkblade8164]

this wouldn't never happen if american anglos should stay where that at they screw it up #karma

[@pacather]

@@darkblade8164 Aprenda la ingles, por favor.

[@831BeachBum]

Liberals starting in 1965 changed the US for their greed of staying in political power. If you're over 60, and born in the US you know what I'm talking about.

[@davep7849]

I'd say it was Bolsheviks who screwed it up, not Anglos.

[@gabreallec.jacques9281]

Real Californians are,....Real Californians!!! the best people!!!!

[@tamra8485]

In many ways this is a simple and beautiful travel video, but a year ago, I commented that I was surprised that, at the 18.00 mark, the narrator said “to teach a better way of life to a Pagan Race” when talking about the brutal Mission system. It was once glorified, until history finally set the record straight. Sadly, the poster of this video chose to edit it out, so there is now a gap in the sound track. This is a shame, since I think it’s important to see how far we’ve come in our understanding.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks for the comment -- insightful!

[@kenmore01]

Ahh, beautiful California. Before it turned into the cesspool of crime it is now.

[@JWRogersPS]

No, it's not. It's still a beautiful state. You could not pay me enough money to live in a red state, which are the true cesspools.

[@rraltesarg]

My God So merciful with my extravagant wishes that always makes truth in real life time in one of the Dream that I never thought to have is an Address on Camino Real De Hispania so grateful with The Americans ppl in general that make happen to exist this places that represents An icon for the Hispanic community is California

[@nedmarc]

The narrator sounded like Peter Graves. We wonder if it was.

[@aletheiaceniceros]

I live near a park named after the train el Camino park

[@Brandespada]

26:53 The recent news about the coldhearted removal of these beautiful bells by vengeful 'native Americans' brought me here.

[@robertvillarreal4525]

Why would they have done such a terrible & hateful atrocity. They should’ve stopped that. Hand constructed bells are extremely attractive.

[@disgruntledpedant2755]

The lady who was instrumental in setting up those bells was married to the man who owned the ONLY foundry that made them. Purely self-serving.

[@giosource08]

You guys don’t have a clue of what this symbolizes for native Americans right? Slavery, rapping, overall abuse...don’t be blindfolded by these videos.

[@frumaatholoid]

@@giosource08 Don't be blindfolded by propaganda spewed by activists.

[@wAk3_Th3_P3opLe]

I'm from Santa Barbara and although I am not Chumash I am of indigenous roots. People do not know the truth except of our elders passing down truth so we know it's OUR story and not HIS-story. Remember RE-legion is nothing compared to our true creators LEGION. Know thy difference from our God and the outsiders who "created" this stolen lands version of god (Gold Oil Drugs). You say your book speaks heavily of sacrilege yet made our ancestors kill or be killed for not wanting to change our way of life within spirituality and convert to their way??....double standards? I stand with my tribe, never for a bribe

[@MrGPMcMahon]

THANKS PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS FOR SPOILING OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE OF CALIFORNIA ...

[@Coinbro]

I wish the footage had more to do with the real and the missions and not modern life of the 1950s. But its too late to see what was is not subdvisons amd openboarders

[@VictorChan-fe7ch]

The padres were executed by U.S. army...in 1848 (treaty of Hildalgo). Article 10, Mission Delores has two graves of murdered padres buried behind church by the "chosen ones".......

[@HuangXingQing]

So many lies for so many decades. So many crimes against so many peoples. Still, silence from those who still support the structures and still no vengeance from their God on the guilty.

[@sauvageaux]

🌞 🌈🗽

[@sauvageaux]

Our Lady, Queen of Angels, pray for us.

[@tamra8485]

18:00 Did he actually say “to teach a better way of life to a Pagan Race”? I think we’ve learned a bit since then.

[@Nonamearisto]

Well, they were a more advanced culture than the natives. Whether or not they should be called "pagan race" is another issue. Today, we'd call that sort of thing missionary work. It still happens all the time, we just use different terms.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@Nonamearisto I don't hear anything? It's frozen stiff in vocal quality, unless your all telepathic.

[@booklover6753]

@@Nonamearisto Pagan race was a term used to justify the destruction of a native belief system.

[@Nonamearisto]

@@booklover6753 And just what was that belief system? Nothing which the natives should have been forced to lose, but nothing they should have been forced to keep either.

[@MSMTV]

I think they’ve edited it out now.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

Gay caballeros indeed

[@Sennmut]

California. Back before Bunny Huggers and Snowflakes ruined the place.

[@benjaminp8770]

Then gtfo and stop whining, ya friggin snowflake 😭

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@benjaminp8770 why are you here? Here to laugh at the funny elegant accent, laugh at the smoothly thinking and prospering society that respected the past and recieved fortune, the beautiful automobiles, happy people for once, what next. Gonna go tell your friends about this video so they can come and harrass it.

[@benjaminp8770]

@@WitchKing-Of-Angmar maybe I will. All my friends love these videos. I do love the old cars and the narration. I also love seeing what it looked like back then. But laugh? It's not a funny video so no laughs.

[@gabreallec.jacques9281]

They say: "Utopia is an impossibility!!" HA!!!!

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@benjaminp8770 laugh can also be projected to being a term for insult. Mock

[@gabreallec.jacques9281]

The West's murals of Diego Rivera, and others, in the 1940's and 50's represented our state beautifully. And the working man. Economically, we were ,....beyond socialism. Socially, people were lacking. But WE NEVER had the kind of segregation that they had in the south. The old way of thinking sucks. But the stuff in these movies was alright. Too bad, some people tried to sell us all, down the river. Outsiders,...go figure. Who gave them the opportunity!!!!!

[@M377ow]

Kinda suprised this video mentions padre serra un such a positive light, he was a self flagilating tyrant and sent away from the church in spain to san diego.

[@bodhisattva7188]

Look at what we lost.

[@wAk3_Th3_P3opLe]

Im from and still reside in Santa Barbara, I do not approve this message. Peiple liked the old days when things weren't like they are today....is just like what the natives have been saying before being kind and welcoming to outsiders. I am not Chumash but of indigenous roots. I am also of roots stemming from other good and bad parts of history. O strongly feel the people deserve the truh that is hidden in plain sight and then let the people deside for themselves. What im getting at here is what was then and what is now is because WE arent speaking up about it. Its not about race color or creed but flat out good vs evil. Few are brave enough to stand up and many are quick to "go with the flow" or "adapt to change".....well cant wez stand together and make the system adapt to us, we the people??? Just saying