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History San Jose
Date of Copyright
1966-05-30
Description
Original camera footage edited for broadcast for KNTV San Jose Channel 11 news. The accompanying script, read by the newscaster, provides details of the stories and completes the broadcast. Reel 1: Segment 1 (silent): Memorial Day parade in downtown San Jose. Shots of local politicians and veterans in the Grand Marshall's car, and other VIP cars. Parade goes past the Bank of America building, Roos-Atkins Store, and the Montgomery Hotel. Script reads, "San Jose's Memorial Day parade stepped off promptly at nine thirty, but the usual spark was dampened by the war news from Vietnam. A Marine Corps color guard led the procession, backed up by the music of San Jose's Municipal Band. They were followed by a long line of City and County officials accompanying war veterans. Grand Marshall was San Jose City Councilman Clyde Fischer, a Navy veteran of World War I; with him as Honorary Grand Marshall was National Guard Major General Paul Teilh. Flags flew as young and old marched along First Street. All our recent conflicts were represented, from Korean War vets, to those who had been a part of the Allied Expeditionary Force to Europe in 1917. Spanish American War veterans were also represented, with a snappy salute and a well-pressed uniform. For the veteran marchers, the day was for memories of times past." Segment 2 (silent + sound): Memorial Day ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery. Shots of wreaths and flags, gun salutes (sound), man laying wreath at Santa Clara County Veterans of the World War monument. Script reads, "Veterans from throughout the county marked Memorial Day at special services at San Jose's Oak Hill Memorial Park. Amidst flag bedecked raves of war veterans, people gathered for the annual commemoration. The colors, fluttering slightly in the breeze of the overcast morning, were posted for the traditional salute. Then, another tradition, with a new addition, was followed. Veterans of past wars filed to the commemorative marker established for the dead of the 'World War', and laid wreaths to their memory. Al Schulenberger, a veteran of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine insurrection at the turn of the century, proudly placed his wreath, and with a snapping salute dedicated it to the men 'who have answered that last call.' He was followed by an active duty Marine, Frank Nelson, who placed a wreath honoring the 3500 who have died in America's latest conflict, the Vietnam war. This is the first year Vietnam dead have been honored. And as a final gesture of respect to the war dead, an honor guard fired a three volley salute." Segment 3 (silent): Sign for the Oak Hill Mortuary Entrance, Oak Hill chapel, grave of Lt. Col. Selden Edner (1919-1949). Script reads, "President Johnson, in his speech at Arlington National Cemetery today, said 'There is a special role of honor I wish to call today: Lieutenant Colonel Seldon Edner of San Jose, California.' Edner's was one of the hundreds of graves decorated with a small flag at Oak Hill Cemetery in San Jose today. Those who placed it there were unaware of the single honor paid the war hero today. Edner's widow, Mrs. Helen Edner of 532 Herman Drive in Monterey, was unaware of the honor paid her husband by the President today. He is also survived by his two children, 18-year old Christine and 16-year old Selden Junior, and a brother Leon, also of Monterey. Edner gained fame as an air ace in World War II. He shot down 18 German planes before he was downed. He spent two years in a German prison camp. In 1946 he was San Jose's Young Man of the Year. In 1947 he was sent to Greece by the Air Force to help that country fight communist aggression. Edner was shot down by rifle fire in the Greek mountains. He and his Greek co-pilot were pulled from the wreckage and their bodies mutilated. In the Greek village of Karpenisi, two statues were erected 12 years ago...one of Lt. Colonel Selden Edner, the other of his Greek co-pilot. Today the President of the United States chose his name to head the list of those specially honored on this Memorial Day." Segment 4 (silent): Small crowd gathered on sidewalk outside row of stores, close-up of Joe's Clippers neon sign in window. Firemen examining a burned building, putting out smoldering areas with a hose. There does not appear to be a reference to this clip in the broadcast script. Segment 5 (sound): Interview with man in front of field, describing a body found near the road with head wounds. Related to one of two stories that day about murder victims found. (See also Reel 2, Segment 2) Script reads, "The body of an unidentified man was found in East San Jose this morning...an apparent murder victim. Sheriff's detectives searched the area for clues. The body was discovered on Lucretia Avenue, east of Story Road. The grim discovery was made by a farmer about 8:30. Deputy Detective Don Way said the man, in his forties, and with a deep head wound, was sprawled three feet from the roadway. A pool of blood marked the spot. Lt. Cecil Pertle added these details. At this hour, the body has been fingerprinted, but no identification has yet been made." Reel 2: Segment 1 (silent): SeaLand shipping containers, anti-napalm pickets and protesters. Script reads, "A token demonstration for Memorial Day was held here in San Jose today protesting the manufacture, transportation and use of napalm. A group of about 70 gathered in front of the SeaLand Service Incorporated trucking terminal at 1675 Rogers Avenue. The vigil lasted only two hours; however, and there were no incidents. The SeaLand lot is being used to store a large quantity of napalm bombs contracted for transport by Doudell Trucking Company. Doudell's own storage lot is already filled to capacity with another large quantity of napalm. The pickets, quite varied in appearance, spent the first hour of the demonstration listening to tales of penal confinement as depicted by four women recently arrested for civil disobedience at an Alviso napalm storage yard. Housewives Joyce McLean, Aileen Hutchinson, Beverly Farquharson and Lisa Kalvelage related their story to a very interested audience of their picketing colleagues. Also present at the vigil was Barbara Almer of the San Jose Peace Center, who will present a petition to the City Council tomorrow calling for a ban on napalm storage areas within the city limits." Segment 2 (silent): Police detectives examining an area along a road in front of an orchard, shot of blood on the ground. (See also Reel 1, Segment 5). A follow-up story in the late news script reads, "San Jose police have arrested two teenage boys for the murder of a Santa Clara man and a Millbrae Catholic priest. In custody tonight are 17-year old Tony Esposito of 229 McDonnel Street, San Jose, and 16-year old Jack Brito of 217 South 21st Street, San Jose. Police say Brito was involved in the murders of both a Santa Clara man -- 40-year old Eugene Silva of 1775 Monroe Street -- and a 31-year old priest -- the Reverend John D. Cox. Esposito is accused of taking part in one of the murders that of Silva whose body was found early today badly beaten on Lucretia Avenue east of Story Road. Reverend Cox died of head injuries after he was beaten savagely in Sunnyvale. Chief o Detectives Bart Collins said Cox had given a ride to one of the youths...and was attacked for his kindness." Reel 3 (sound): Witness to Southern Pacific derailment Wallace McKee, describes the accident while wearing a cardigan sweater, in front of his house. "Too bad I couldn't find a highway patrolman, probably could have saved a million dollars on this." Script reads, "Emergency crews have worked into the night clearing away wreckage from today's million dollar train derailment in Coyote just south of San Jose. Southern Pacific officials tonight blamed the massive pile-up on an overheated axle which broke and snagged on a switch post, ripping up track. 41 of the 90 cars bounced off the track. Huge boxcars were crushed and tilted on their sides. Wheels were torn off and steel track was twisted into fantastic curves. The half mile long train telescoped into an area 750 feet long. Several passenger trains were canceled but late tonight workmen completed temporary tracks and service is reported back to normal. Damage is estimated at one million dollars. A motorist -- Wallace McKee of Campbell -- and his family spotted the fire in the axle of the ninth car of the train. He raced on U.S. 101 parallel to the tracks and tried to attract the engineer's attention. Here's how he tells it..." 5/30/66 A-E 486 COYLE SIL 75/BASKBALL SF 100'; 5/30/66 F-H 486 NAPALM; 5/30/66 I 486
Television stations Television broadcasting of news Nineteen sixties Vietnam War, 1961-1975 San Jose (Calif.)--Politics and government Memorial Day Parades & processions Veterans Cemeteries War memorials Heroism Fires Firefighters Murder Homicide investigation Street scene Anti-war demonstrations Protests, demonstrations, vigils, etc Pickets Military weapons Trains Transportation accidents Oak Hill Memorial Park (San José, Calif.)
Time Period
1966-05-30
Place
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.) San Jose (Calif.) Santa Clara County (Calif.)
Provenance
History San Jose California Revealed is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
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