It's going to be a very busy weekend. I'll be the guest on San Francisco's KGO Radio this Saturday Morning from 1:00 a.m. until 2:00 PDT. You can listen in at AM 810 or via the web at http://www.kgoam810.com/ The topic is historic San Francisco, the upcoming exhibit and discussion on Chutes & Playland at the Beach, and our upcoming book on ransom kidnappings, California Snatch Racket written with co-author W. Lane Rogers, due out early next spring. The show will be available on Archives for 24 hours afterward.

I'll also be presenting a narrated slide show Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at noon in El Cerrito, CA at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach - http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org/index.htm A new book is in the works, San Francisco's Chutes at the Beach: Playland in the 1920s and 30s and I'll be previewing it. Playland was San Francisco's famous ocean-side amusement park, demolished in 1972. The book will offer nearly 200 images of that great park including construction.

Cheers,
Jim

Jim,

Your speaking of the amusement park in San Francisco reminds me of Riverview in Chicago, where I spent a few dates in high school.

Another demolished park is Oceanview in Norfolk, an area where my daughter now lives and works.

I have been rereading an email discussion Lane and I had about writing history. He provided some fantastic information. These emails occurred between January and June of 2008, ending when he had problems with his computer. I had kept them and have used some of his suggestions and will use more in the future.

It is great that as writers our words outlive us.

Carol

Hi Carol,

I love amusement parks & we had our share out here in CA. Those parks were a treasure and should be remembered.

I miss Lane. We would have talked before & after the show. He was a fantastic mentor as well as my friend.

Thanks!
Jim

Jim,

Hi! A friend of Lane's is a friend of mine. He was fun. I'm so glad you are here.

Alice