Month: February 2023

Annual Dinner for 2023: Classic California Restaurants with author/lecturer George Geary: June 8th, 2023! SOLD OUT!

Archive, Events - Annual

 

June 8, 2023 at Spring Field Banquet Center, 501 N. Harbor, Fullerton (The former Fullerton Masonic Temple — 1920, Spanish Revival)

Social Hour / Silent Auction / Cash Bar: 5:30 p.m.

Dinner: 6:30 p.m.

Presentation: 7:30 p.m. 

Join us for an evening with author, educator, TV personality, and lecturer George Geary as he presents Made in California: The California-Born Diners, Burger Joints, Restaurants & Fast Food that Changed America (1915-1966). 

California has long been at the forefront of food. Car culture and our fast pace of living resulted in fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, diners, and other casual chains. Most were born in Southern California, some were born in Orange County, and many made O.C. their headquarters. Learn about the entrepreneurs, the buildings, and foods that made these places famous. 

George was an award-winning pastry chef for the Walt Disney Co. for ten years. Since then, he’s celebrated his 29th year in morning television on L.A. stations, WGN-TV Chicago, NBC Tampa, and Fox5 San Diego. He lectured for eight years aboard Holland America ships in 118 countries. For 35 years, he’s conducted food tours of major cities in America and Europe. 

Our Americana buffet includes your choice of roasted chicken and spinach-stuffed meatloaf with gravy OR vegetarian lasagna, served with green salad, mashed potatoes, mac’n’ cheese, rolls, drink station, and assorted cookies and brownies. This event is open to members and non-members alike, so bring your friends.

SOLD OUT- no more reservations taken!

Jewish Orange County, Part II: 1940-1980

2023, Archive, Events - Monthly

Orange County Jewish Historical Society archivist Dalia Taft will present “1940-1980: The Jewish Community Comes Together,” at the March 9th, 2023 meeting of the Orange County Historical Society (OCHS), 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., Orange. This program is a follow-up to her December 2020 presentation before the Society, which spanned history from 1857 to 1940.

 

This second program follows the Orange County Jewish community from just before WWII through 1980, when the tiny population more than doubled in size and started to build up community organizations, synagogues, youth groups, and more. Ms. Taft will show how many of Orange County’s Jewish residents were, and continue to be, actively involved in local commerce, culture and politics while still maintaining their Jewish identities. The lecture includes a montage of old photos, period newspaper announcements and vintage advertisements.

 

Prior to attending this event, OCHS suggests also viewing the half-hour documentary, California Orange Jews: The Story of Jews in Orange County, by Josh Friedman and Dalia Taft of the Orange County Jewish Historical Society. It is available on Youtube. (See tinyurl.com/3rtyvkh6)

A Bar Mitzvah celebration at Temple Beth Emet, Orange County’s second synagogue, 1950s. (Courtesy OCJHS)

As archivist for the Orange County Jewish Historical Society, Taft is responsible for increasing the awareness of the role Jews have played in the development of Orange County from 1857, when the first Jew settled in Anaheim, to now. She maintains the Society’s archives and is constantly researching and digitizing the growing collection. She lectures regularly and writes a monthly column in JLife, Orange County’s monthly Jewish magazine, highlighting images from the society’s archives. She is also the author of the book Jewish Pioneers of Orange County, which she will be available to sign and sell at the end of her program at OCHS.