By Don McDonald
The year 2002 marks the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Los Altos. As the year 1952 progressed, the campaign for and against incorporation intensified. What follows is a description of incorporation-related and other current items that appeared in the weekly 1952 Los Altos News issues of Oct. 17, 24 and 31.
“14 of 15 council candidates unreservedly endorse incorporation” headlined a full-page story with photos, brief biographies and endorsement statements of all candidates for the five council positions that would exist if the Nov. 18 election resulted in the new city of Los Altos. The one candidate opposing incorporation was Harry Dale. He advanced the interesting argument that his election to the council would ensure fair coverage of the opposition’s viewpoint.
A boost to the incorporation cause was given by a front-page story headlined “Special services tax on unincorporated areas is sure to pass - Burgess.” Menlo Park Mayor Burgess had just returned from a convention of the League of California Cities. It had urged the state legislature to pass a new tax, to make unincorporated areas pay a fairer portion of the tax revenues that were returned to them as services.
This would provide relief for cities, which felt they were paying a disproportionate amount of taxes. If passed, this new tax would clearly undercut the anti-incorporation argument that county taxes were adequate.
Burgess was also quoted as saying to Los Altos, “You’ll have to do it eventually, why not now? The longer it is delayed, the more problems you’ll have later. The longer it is postponed, the less desirable the community will become.” Burgess added that Atherton was an outstanding example of how successfully incorporation could control development.
News Editor/Publisher Don C. Matchman, one of the most fervent incorporation proponents, published many more articles in favor of incorporation than about the opposition. He was also an activist as a speaker, talking to the local Lions Club on the subject “Why incorporate Los Altos?”
The 1952 presidential election
As a respite from reporting on local politics, the Oct. 31 issue of the News was devoted almost entirely to ads and articles relating to the Nov. 4 presidential election. This race had Gen. Dwight Eisenhower as a Republican running against Democrat Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois. In addition, 24 California state propositions and various local races were on the ballot.
One article reported, “Girl Scout Troop 8 launches a get-out-the-vote drive.” As part of their drive, the troop sponsored a school essay contest. They announced the winner to be Penny Strout, a Covington sixth-grade student. Her winning essay, “Remember, your vote counts,” was printed in full. The troop also offered to baby-sit as needed. Similar offers were made in other announcements: “Car dealers offer rides to polls,” “Republican women offer transport, sitters to voters.”
New arrivals in Los Altos
Mrs. Hinkson’s weekly columns continued to record the influx of new families. In these weeks 36 new families arrived in Los Altos - 20 from elsewhere in the Bay Area, 11 from other places in California, two from New Jersey, and one each from Massachusetts, Michigan and Singapore.
Entertainment
The third and final production of the year by the Foothill Players made good on its promise that “Lavish costumes, hilarity will mark presentation by Foothill Players of Love Rides the Rails or Will the Mail Train Run Tonight?”
The show was held at the Pink Horse Ranch’s Roarin’ Gulch Opera House and also featured eight olio acts of vaudeville. It resulted in “a good time for all, with plenty of Boos & Hisses.”
An article elsewhere in the paper reported “New Little Theatre Group to organize.” The announcement stated that it would be the “2nd community little theater and workshop group in Los Altos.” [They apparently did not know that in addition to the Foothill Players, theatrical groups existed here at least as early as 1931.]
The Altos Theatre featured the film “Lovely to Look At,” with Red Skelton and Kathryn Grayson.
The Mt. View Theater double bill was “Rashomon” and “The Outrage.” Mt. View’s Monte Vista Drive-In had “Where’s Charlie,” with Ray Bolger, and “Road Agent,” with Tim Holt.
McDonald is a member of the Los Altos History Museum Association.
