50 Years Ago
Long hair is more than a case of overactive follicles. It is a symbol, just as much to a packed gym at Redwood High as it is to SRO crowds at the Gary Theater in San Francisco.
Frank Gabel of Corte Madera laid it on the line for everybody Monday night when he said angrily, “The issue here isn’t hair, it’s discipline!” Without discipline, said Gabel, “You’re going into the jungle!” and he made it plain that he believed that Redwood was in the undergrowth already. . . . . Some have been able to hold to the old world of discipline and order in their own families; some haven’t. In either case they feel surrounded by a horde of young people with long hair, short dresses and strange ideas. That the academic teachers have not shored up their defenses is bad enough. But to have the athletic department—that last bastion of conformity—fall to “permissiveness” is a knife stuck straight to the heart. —Steve McNamura, 10/8/69
40 Years Ago
The San Rafael City Council unanimously approved a compromise measure dealing with non-smoking sections in restaurants. A measure approved last month required that 20% of a restaurant had to be provided for non-smokers; restaurant owners said that the 20% requirement was an undue hardship on their business. Under the new ordinance, the size of the section will be determined by the owner, with the provision that the effectiveness of the plan will be reviewed after six months. —Newsgram, 10/5/79
30 Years Ago
The Big Man is still chasing those rock ’n’ roll dreams. These days [Clarence] Clemons—best known as the longtime foil of rocker Bruce Springsteen and tenor sax player with the E Street Band—is on the road with Ringo Starr and his All-Stars of Rock tour (they travel later this month to Japan and Australia)… . He recently took a few minutes during a break in his busy schedule to talk about his move last year to Marin County and discuss the challenge of adjusting to life without the Boss, following the dissolution of the E Street Band. —Greg Cahill, 10/6/89
20 Years Ago
Tell it good-bye. Last Thursday afternoon time ran out on 40 years of National League baseball at the stadium known for most of that stretch as Candlestick Park. Some fans say good riddance to the often-chilly, wind-whipped yard. Others pause to reflect on the Giants—and giants—who strode its base paths and roamed its manicured outfield for four decades. Yours truly has a foot in both camps, but I’ll hoist my last cold one with the nostalgia crowd. —Mike Thomas, 10/6/99
