anaheim-bulletin 1959-04-25

RAMONA OUTDOOR PLAY — This actual scene of last year's staging of the famed play is set in the natural bowl in Hemet. The Ramona Play, this year celebrating its 32nd season, is expected to attract 35,000 people. The bowl can accommodate 5,500 with free paved parking space 3,500 cars. 1959 Pontiac Motorlog Goes To Ramona Pageant This year for the 32nd consecutive time, the familiar words of Alessandro will be heard in Hemet: "I know a wonderful place," Ramona's Indian lover told her, "where the wild flowers grow higher than a man's head. It's far away on Mount San Jacinto. Only, the Indians go there." Three decades ago the joint Chambers of Commerce of Hemet and San Jacinto were plagued by the doleful realization that neither the Indians nor the whites were going there. Situated in a fertile valley surrounded on three sides by high peaks, Hemet — which means "box" in Indian — had the dubious distinction of being the terminal point for the branch railroad. While other Southern California communities were booming, one Hemet chamber member summed ity of Casey - Beckham. We had been enthusiastically told by the dealer to note particularly the improvement in roadworthiness of the new car caused by the wider track. The wheel tread has been increased nearly five inches in the new models which provides greater stability, riding comfort and more resistance to crosswinds. Pontiac this year won the Motor Trend magazine award for "Car of the Year." Many Historical Sites A visit to the Hemet San Jacinto Valley offers much more in California lore than the play, itself. The valley has many historical points of interest. Take, for instance, the graveyard where Ramona and her Indian lover, Alexsandro are buried. It is located in Cahuilla, about 30 miles from the Ramona Bowl. There are the famous Ramona Caves at Kennetes of Casey - Beckham. We had been enthusiastically told by the dealer to note particularly the improvement in roadworthiness of the new car caused by the wider track. The wheel tread has been increased nearly five inches in the new models which provides greater stability, riding comfort and more resistance to crosswinds. Pontiac this year won the Motor Trend magazine award for "Car of the Year." Many Historical Sites A visit to the Hemet San Jacinto Valley offers much more in California lore than the play, itself. The valley has many historical points of interest. Take, for instance, the graveyard where Ramona and her Indian lover, Alexsandro are buried. It is located in Cahuilla, about 30 miles from the Ramona Bowl. There are the famous Ramona Caves at Kennetes of Casey - Beckham. We had been enthusiastically told by the dealer to note particularly the improvement in roadworthiness of the new car caused by the wider track. The wheel tread has been increased nearly five inches in the new models which provides greater stability, riding comfort and more resistance to crosswinds. Pontiac this year won the Motor Trend magazine award for "Car of the Year." Three decades ago the joint Chambers of Commerce of Hemet and San Jacinto were plagued by the doleful realization that neither the Indians nor the whites were going there. Situated in a fertile valley surrounded on three sides by high peaks, Hemet — which means "box" in Indian — had the dubious distinction of being the terminal point for the branch railroad. While other Southern California communities were booming, one Hemet chamber member summed up things with ... "our sequestered position has doomed our town to subnormal growth." Play Built Valley This problem and the solution was found for it puts the coming 32nd season of the famed Ramona Outdoor Play in a more important role than entertainment. The pageant has played a key role economically — as well as culturally — in the development of the valley. In the 31 years the play has been staged, more than 650,000 visitors have flocked into Ramona and San Jacinto during Ramona time. The community has become world famous and an historical landmark in California. Last year alone, nearly 35,000 persons witnessed the play. It is expected this season that an equal number will be in attendance. The Anaheim Bulletin Motorlog Party drove out to Hemet to preview this year's pageant in a 1969 Pontiac supplied through the courthouse. To the East and West of the Ramona Bowl are the sites of ancient Indian villages, with rock paintings on the hillsides and metate holes, or grinding mortars, in the flat rocks. Three Week-end Performance These are just some of the surrounding sights that heighten the interest of the Ramona Outdoor Pontiac this year won the Motor Trend magazine award for "Car of the Year." Many Historical Sites A visit to the Hemet San Jacinto Valley offers much more in California lore than the play, itself. The valley has many historical points of interest. Take, for instance, the graveyard where Ramona and her Indian lover, Alex sandro are buried. It is located in Cahulla, about 30 miles from the Ramona Bowl. There are the famous Ramona Caves at Kenny, south of Hemet, housing interesting and unique rock paintings. Also, Indian caves at San Carlos Pass, where ancient ollas have been found. The moss etchings on the Sulphur Springs Ranch in the South Hills, and the engraved quadruple swastika rock in Rinehart Canyon, ten miles west of the Ramona Bowl, are specimens indicating a rare culture and if ever deciphered, may throw light on the origin of the California Indian. The engraved rock, also called the Maze, is identical with one at a Tibetan monastery, according to the British Museum. A record 94,793,000 person recreational use in 1956 hundreds of water resources of the U.S. Army Engineers. This was a times the figure for 1950. The Bulletin Auto Tour Your Guide to Places of Interest ALESSANDRO AND RAMONA — Maurice Jara and Raquel Tejada play the leads in the annual play which opened April 18. Miss Tejada portrays Ramona for the first time while Jara is back for his eighth performance. ALESSANDRO AND RAMONA — Maurice Jara and Raquel Tejada play the leads in the annual play which opened April 18. Miss Tejada portrays Ramona for the first time while Jara is back for his eighth performance. IMPORTANT CHARACTERS — Fanchon Jennings, veteran of the Ramona Outdoor Play, appears as Senor Moreno. Herbert Moffitt takes over the important role of Father Salviedierra for his first appearance in the historical drama of early California. "MEET THE MAN KNOWS YOU R. W. MARSELLUS IMPORTS 12961 Harbor Blvd.—JE 4-1500 Garden Grove Buy Y Jara of Claremont is returning to portray the role of Alessandro for his eighth consecutive year. The 350 cast members are all residents of the San Jacinto Valley and many are descendants of families that were involved in the happenings that inspired Helen Hunt Jackson to write her famous novel. Many visitors to the Ramona Play spend vacations at the watering places in the vicinity, visiting the historic locations associated with the play and the early activities of the California Indians. Fine highways lead to the Ramona Bowl through Riverside. Highways 60 and 79 go through San Jacinto and Highways 395 and 74 lead through Hemet. Both are of equal distance. The Ramona Bowl free paved parking area can accommodate 3,000 automobiles. Tickets are available locally and the play starts promptly at 2:45 p.m. A record 94,793,000 persons made recreational use in 1958 of the hundreds of water resource projects of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. This was about six times the figure for 1950. AUTO GLASS INSTALLED WHILE YOU WAIT Insurance Replacements Solicited Nason Auto Paints ANAHEIM AUTO GLASS and Parts 542 S. Los Angeles KE. 5-4940 "Nick" J. WINGERT "Jim" WINGERT R. W. MARSELLUS IMPORTS 12961 Harbor Blvd.—JE 4-1500 Garden Grove HARDIN OLDSMOBILE Sales and Service 252 N. Los Angeles KE 5-7211 Consult the Classified Pages of The Anaheim Bulletin for Dependable Used Cars— THE VILLAIN IN THE PIECE — Jim Farrar (left) plays the "heavy" in the ill-fated romance between Alessandro and Ramona. Plaque on the right refers to the history of the Ramona Outdoor Play. MAZE STONE — About ten miles from the Ramona Bowl in Hemet Valley is the famous Maze Stone in Rhinehart Canyon. It has been set aside as a historical California landmark. The pictograph is an outstanding example of the work of prehistoric people. MAN WHO YOUR CAR BEST" y Your ROBERT H. BONEY DODGE PLYMOUTH Sales and Service 328 W. Center St. KE 5-2113 YOUR USED CAR From A REPUTABLE DEALER ROBERT H. BONEY DODGE PLYMOUTH Sales and Service 328 W. Center St. KE 5-2113 MC COY MOTOR FORD Sales and Service 320 N. Los Angeles KE 5-2288 "If you don't know the car, know the Dealer"