Vallejo CA April 23, 1955 Firefighters Parade

dvd conversion of a 16mm film I own of the East Vallejo CA Fire Department's April 23, 1955 Firefighters Parade and Demonstration.. Silent. Film is 18 fps.

[@FolsomDann]

Thank you for posting that. I grew up in Vallejo and the images bring back a lot of memories. I was a nine-year-old in that parade riding with Chief Jim Greg, of the Mare Island Fire Department. My mother was his secretary. The parade started west on Tennessee St. and turned south on Sonoma Blvd. The Texaco and Flying A gas stations were on the corner of Sonoma and Tennessee. Just up the street was the Packard dealership. All are shown in the video among other businesses. On the reviewing stand, the announcer was Al St. John in the gray suit.

[@iheartvallejo8702]

thanks, Dann for that info! And so cool to know you are in that footage!

[@FolsomDann]

Well, I was in the parade but I don't think the chief's car made it into the film. Oh well. Still great memories of Vallejo in the '50's. We lived on Kentucky Street so the scenes in the film are very familiar. Thanks again for the great piece of history.

[@michelgouverneur885]

as everything seemed sweet , calm, in this wonderful town

[@maureenmoore5874]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful memories. It was a great time, in a wonderful town.

[@Dproud2700]

Between the apparatus and city itself, there is a ton of history on the film. I was not born until 1956, but wow!!!! I even saw one of the original Vallejo City Transit buses in the film.

[@georgegong6813]

Very nice historic film thanks for posting this. I've been a resident of Vallejo since 1993 & honestly maybe just growing up & raised in San Francisco prior, Vallejo reminds me a lot of what San Francisco used to be growing up. Yes it has it's bad however definitely gentrifying for the better. I believe too many focus on the negatives none of the positives. Residents here too less snobby & very approachable too unlike American Canyon which wants nothing to even do with Vallejo.

[@pdgalneb]

Brings back great memories of Vallejo when we grew up and was a class place to live, Betty and I thank you for this great film...

[@iheartvallejo8702]

Thank you! Happy to share this. If you know of others who would enjoy this, feel free to share the link.

[@iheartvallejo8702]

Thanks, Brendan Coyne!

[@coynebrendan]

Wow. Quite a gem you have there. Thank you for making it available to the masses.

[@MrRjbowtie]

Great piece of history. Awesome.

[@miltonespino40]

Amo la ciudad de vallejo

[@coynebrendan]

2:54 cracks me up. To me it was always ironic to see photos of firefighters who smoke on the job. Here is a guy on the back of the Naval AMMUNITION Depot fire truck taking a huge drag on his cigarette. Classic!

[@iheartvallejo8702]

hahahahah yes! Things sure were different back then!

[@ddallen733]

Look at first Baptist covered in vines! wow!

[@MannyMallo]

I recall some of these parades in Benicia too!

[@iheartvallejo8702]

1955 Vallejo Firefighters' Parade

[@jaywilliam8367]

I wonder if Florin C. Holme was in this Parade. He used to run West Bikes and Hubcaps on the corner of Sonoma Blvd and Florida St. Before that he was a Vallejo firefighter for many years.

[@XXtheJUMPoffXX]

Wow, Vallejo is so different now

[@matthewvandeventer6567]

Hi, I'm working on a documentary and I need some footage featuring Vallejo in the 1950s. Can I get in touch with you to discuss licensing this material?

[@tjwalkup7155]

Hello I am working on a documentary about the Filipinos of Vallejo can I borrow some clips off this?

[@hardfought1842]

1:23 what high rise building is that?!?!

[@iheartvallejo8702]

If you want to join in memories of Vallejo and positive exchanges, please join us at facebook.com/groups/ILOVEVALLEJO/

[@rosaliechildress8959]

Before my time...

[@albertorobles5459]

Wow

[@iheartvallejo8702]

If anyone recognizes where the firehouse was shown near the end of this film, please post the info here. Also, if you recognize anyone in it, please post that and the minute/second mark they appear. I am curious to know who the people in the cars and in the grandstand were, if anyone knows.

[@williamsdalt]

The firehouse near the end of this was on Wallace Avenue. I believe it is now a PAL building. There's lots more I could identify when I have more time as I was born & raised in Vallejo.

[@iheartvallejo8702]

Thank you!

[@fabricetheblueanimator4479]

1950s Elmore

[@vel1hunnid348]

I cant Belive it NOBODY'S holding a cellphone taking pictures & recording this😂

[@rosaliechildress8959]

Silent film ?!

[@jordanb3590]

Thisbefore bank rupture let the fires roar

[@izzywashington5461]

I can’t even tell what street this is on

[@izzywashington5461]

Maybe Sonoma Blvd?

[@vel1hunnid348]

Tennessee then sonoma

[@eddieblackford7518]

Wow Vallejo is such a turd of a town today. What the hell happened? Wish there was some audio to this footage. I lived in Vallejo 30 plus years ago and it wasn't too bad. Came back to the bay area after growing up over seas and WHOA! This town needs an enema

[@philmccracken179]

What happened? Cmon it’s pretty obvious. Demographics is the answer to every question

[@bobsingh5521]

@@philmccracken179 Navy (Government) left and all the whites and blacks are off the gravy train. Whites left and poor black descendants of ship builders left.

[@bobsingh5521]

When Vallejo was white, lol

[@philmccracken179]

The entire country was white... and that’s why it was “great”🤷🏻‍♂️

[@bobsingh5521]

Navy (Government) left and all the whites and blacks are off the gravy train. Whites left and poor black descendants of ship builders left

[@philmccracken179]

@@bobsingh5521 yeah not a fan of government workers

[@jaywilliam8367]

I wonder if Florin C. Holm was in this Parade. He used to run West Bikes and Hubcaps on the corner of Sonoma Blvd and Florida St. Before that he was a Vallejo firefighter for many years.