I was born on 29 Palms Marine Corps Base in the middle of the summer 1961. Dad retired in 1962 and I grew up in mom’s hometown of Madison, WI. We visited in 1978 and I briefly trained there as a Marine in the early 80’s. I did a weeklong solo mindfulness retreat in 2011 and sold my house in Madison to visit September 2020 and possibly work on the base. I changed my mind and am back in Wisconsin. Something keeps pulling me back to the desert. Thank you for your slideshow.
My family has been in 29 since the 1920’s. I grew up there but left when I was 12 to live with my dad in AZ. I am now 46. My moms still there and I visit often. This slideshow brought a tear to my eye with all of the memories. Strange to think I used to hate it there when I was little but I treasure it now and will always return there until the day I die.
I know what you mean because I was born there 1960 left in 4th grade for Orange County it's still a go out see my hometown and hang out for a bit. Because I will always love it moved back to different times to live there again but I don't know how long it took before it was time to go because it was so boring just made me sad because I still love it I'm in Reno now and I go to visit my stepmom my grandma my cousin and my nieces. And I know did bring a tear to my eye because wow just everything Benton Brothers crazy enough I have a Christmas Manger that my mom got and that was like 1963 I don't know since you were there do you remember a barber shop called Bailey's barber shop right next to The Virginian bar if you do that with my dad and my grandpa
Thanks for this. I was a there in 1980 , then back in 1982-1984. Went back in 2014 ‘ish… not the same, but still a very charming place if you like the desert. #SimperFi #USMC
I have happily been living in San Diego for five years now, but the first 32 of my life were spent playing baseball at Luckie Park, getting my Vans at Benton Bros, pumping gas for my grandpa at Texaco before he drove a half mile to Kenney's to pick up a prescription and let me pick out a cheap toy. Many of these photos were before I was born but I wasn't too far behind. Thank you for sharing!
I was going to school right next door to your school, Twenty-Nine Palms Elementary School. During your senior year, I was in the 2nd grade. My 2nd grade teacher was Mrs. March. She lived behind the school. It was a 10 minute walk to her house. Unfortunately, the 1976-77 school year was my last year in California. I moved to Virginia in the summer of '77. I missed California, it was great.
My sweet sweet home town oh how I do miss you my family moved there in 1970 my grandparents live there right behind the sandtrap restaurant and my aunt and uncle own the bowling alley there in town a lot of good memories there still visit because I still have family there
I was *today* years old when I found out the Robert Plant song 29 Palms from ‘93 was about this cute little place. Feeling So melancholy watching this slideshow even though I’m from the UK and will prob never visit 29P xxx
2:56 I remember going to Western Auto to buy a headlight for my car in the mid 80s and finding out that the company that made it was about 5 miles from my home in Missouri. It was a strange feeling being so far from home, yet not that far at all.
Crazy memories. Lived there from 76 when my dad got stationed there to about 95 on and off. Till I moved to Phoenix. Hated it there as a kid but miss those times growing up. Parents are still there. Make it out there about once a year.
Thankyou for showing/sharing these great photos of this small American town ! - From a young age I've always wanted to visit a genuine ol American town like this ! - Even though I live in U.K.
WOW. Just wow. Thank you so much, for this excursion back in time. I always wanted to return to live in my beloved town. At times I skim through real estate property ads; my dream is to return, one day.
Hey John! Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I'm lovin' those gas prices at the Douglas gas station. A load of us girls coasted to the pump and managed to scrounge up $1 in change. We put 2 gallons of gas in that big ol' honkin' Buick station wagon and made it home. Haha!
Thank you so much for making this vid. I have lived in 29 since 1989 and still live here to this day. I also remember Benton bros cause they would always sponsor teams when I played for park and rec. I forgot how small it was back then compared to now. My parents still talk about how at four corners wasn't a stop light but stop signs when they first moved here. Its wonderful seeing how 29 used to be and how it became a larger town through out the years. Thank you so much.
Yes the four corners it was just a flashing red light and I was born there surprised with everything they showed the Virginians right next to what was my dad and my grandpa's Barber Shop Bailey's Barbershop
Thank you so much for posting these photos! I was born in Twenty-nine Palms on August 5, 1962. My Dad was a Marine and was stationed there. We moved on to San Jose in 1964. Then back home to Louisville KY in 1966. I've always wished I could see what it looked like back then. I'm sure it looks nothing like it did back then, but this is much closer than it would be now! If you have any other pictures of Twenty-nine Palms in the early 60's I would love to see them! Thank you again! My Dad & Mom are both deceased now, so this is as close as I can get to what they would remember if they were still here.
I know it's crazy going down Memory Lane also because I was there for all that I went to Oasis Elementary it's funny I used to work at that Arts Diner it was weird seeing it again I work there in like 77
Came across this video while searching for info on 29Palms, to try and see why folks seem to hate it so much. Having watched this retrospective, as well as other material, I really wanna live there now. Too bad I'm an ocean and a continent away. P.S. being a photographer myself I loved the photo-store shots you included, those brought a smile to my face, which, considering where I live, hasn't happened in a long time.
Thank you, John. I was there in 1960,61,62,63 in T P High School and we lived on Sun Valley Drive. We left June 1963 at the end of my Junior year, so I missed my senior year at the "New School". Haven't been back since, but would like to someday. What I recognized in this wonderful video were the Western Auto, 4 corners, the big white water tank on the hill outside of town, the community swim place, the LDS church which was about 100 yards from the back of our house, and the mountains rising to the south (they always attracted me to hike up there every time I looked at them. I did go on hikes up there occasionally). A lot of the other places are good to see so I have an idea of how it looked after we left. I suspect it looks a lot different now. Is the roller rink still there? New and improved, I hope. How about the drive in theater? How about the Underhill family home that stood on the hill overlooking the whole town in all directions?--John Lee Thomas
I know it was great seeing all these great businesses I was born in 29 Palms 1960 any kind of made me sad because they showed the bar The Virginian and out of a tiny part of my eye I could see my grandpa and my fathers barbershop right next door and they showed everything else and I don't know why they would show that because they were won in a few barbers and pretty well-known I really wanted to see it good memories
I lived there Summers of 76 and 77. Magical. I was invited for the wedding of David Griffith and Susan ? She worked at retail store in town. As the couple were going up the steps of temple, Susan's father had a fatal heart attack. Wedding was canceled. Wonder what ever happened?
![Robert Plant - '29 Palms' - Official Video [HD REMASTERED]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wD5qPWHIDPo/mqdefault.jpg)
I was born on 29 Palms Marine Corps Base in the middle of the summer 1961. Dad retired in 1962 and I grew up in mom’s hometown of Madison, WI. We visited in 1978 and I briefly trained there as a Marine in the early 80’s. I did a weeklong solo mindfulness retreat in 2011 and sold my house in Madison to visit September 2020 and possibly work on the base. I changed my mind and am back in Wisconsin. Something keeps pulling me back to the desert. Thank you for your slideshow.
My family has been in 29 since the 1920’s. I grew up there but left when I was 12 to live with my dad in AZ. I am now 46. My moms still there and I visit often. This slideshow brought a tear to my eye with all of the memories. Strange to think I used to hate it there when I was little but I treasure it now and will always return there until the day I die.
I know what you mean because I was born there 1960 left in 4th grade for Orange County it's still a go out see my hometown and hang out for a bit. Because I will always love it moved back to different times to live there again but I don't know how long it took before it was time to go because it was so boring just made me sad because I still love it I'm in Reno now and I go to visit my stepmom my grandma my cousin and my nieces. And I know did bring a tear to my eye because wow just everything Benton Brothers crazy enough I have a Christmas Manger that my mom got and that was like 1963 I don't know since you were there do you remember a barber shop called Bailey's barber shop right next to The Virginian bar if you do that with my dad and my grandpa
I was there from 80-84 & that was some very fun times
Thanks for this. I was a there in 1980 , then back in 1982-1984.
Went back in 2014 ‘ish… not the same, but still a very charming place if you like the desert. #SimperFi #USMC
I have happily been living in San Diego for five years now, but the first 32 of my life were spent playing baseball at Luckie Park, getting my Vans at Benton Bros, pumping gas for my grandpa at Texaco before he drove a half mile to Kenney's to pick up a prescription and let me pick out a cheap toy. Many of these photos were before I was born but I wasn't too far behind. Thank you for sharing!
I've always loved lucky part I played on a softball team there in 1967
Okay it was supposed to be the lucky Park
Graduated from TPHS 1977. Loved the place and the people. It was a special time.
I live in 29 rn currently in tpjhs
I was going to school right next door to your school, Twenty-Nine Palms Elementary School. During your senior year, I was in the 2nd grade. My 2nd grade teacher was Mrs. March. She lived behind the school. It was a 10 minute walk to her house. Unfortunately, the 1976-77 school year was my last year in California. I moved to Virginia in the summer of '77. I missed California, it was great.
Totally awesome to see how our little 29 has grown I'm very pleased to be from here
My sweet sweet home town oh how I do miss you my family moved there in 1970 my grandparents live there right behind the sandtrap restaurant and my aunt and uncle own the bowling alley there in town a lot of good memories there still visit because I still have family there
Grew up in 29 from 1978 to 1993. Lord how I miss home
That coffee shop looks awesome! Miss those old type coffee shops.
I was *today* years old when I found out the Robert Plant song 29 Palms from ‘93 was about this cute little place. Feeling So melancholy watching this slideshow even though I’m from the UK and will prob never visit 29P xxx
2:56 I remember going to Western Auto to buy a headlight for my car in the mid 80s and finding out that the company that made it was about 5 miles from my home in Missouri. It was a strange feeling being so far from home, yet not that far at all.
Crazy memories. Lived there from 76 when my dad got stationed there to about 95 on and off. Till I moved to Phoenix. Hated it there as a kid but miss those times growing up. Parents are still there. Make it out there about once a year.
I miss Kenny’s Drugstore, Benton Brothers, Gemcrafts, and the Bookworm... I miss the Golden Days of Twentynine Palms.
Thats my GreatGrampa on the motorcyle with his dog Pokey! (08:41)
What wonderful memories, thank you so much for bringing back my wonderful childhood. Oh how I miss the 29 I grew up in! Thank you so much for sharing
Thank you for including the wonderful pictures of Albert Beller. One of the best men I have ever known...
Thankyou for showing/sharing these great photos of this small American town ! - From a young age I've always wanted to visit a genuine ol American town like this ! - Even though I live in U.K.
It has decayed somewhat since these pictures but still is a reasonably nice place to live.
Grew up here and still visit friends there several times a year. Love it and it will always be home
I live in the U.K. too I find the U.K. so boring tbh & would love to live in 29 palms!
WOW.
Just wow.
Thank you so much, for this excursion back in time.
I always wanted to return to live in my beloved town. At times I skim through real estate property ads; my dream is to return, one day.
Hey John! Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I'm lovin' those gas prices at the Douglas gas station. A load of us girls coasted to the pump and managed to scrounge up $1 in change. We put 2 gallons of gas in that big ol' honkin' Buick station wagon and made it home. Haha!
Thanks. Loved Benton Brothers. Had everything from flashlight bulbs to paint to cloth by the yard. And the old Plaza when they still had a butcher.
@Michael Grant I remember Jim "Jimmy the Greek" Kedis cutting meat there
Thank you so much for making this vid. I have lived in 29 since 1989 and still live here to this day. I also remember Benton bros cause they would always sponsor teams when I played for park and rec. I forgot how small it was back then compared to now. My parents still talk about how at four corners wasn't a stop light but stop signs when they first moved here. Its wonderful seeing how 29 used to be and how it became a larger town through out the years. Thank you so much.
Yes the four corners it was just a flashing red light and I was born there surprised with everything they showed the Virginians right next to what was my dad and my grandpa's Barber Shop Bailey's Barbershop
Great slide show. Alot of great memories and people. Thanks
My wife grew up in 29 and I've wondered what the little city looked like back in the 70's. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you so much for posting these photos! I was born in Twenty-nine Palms on August 5, 1962. My Dad was a Marine and was stationed there. We moved on to San Jose in 1964. Then back home to Louisville KY in 1966. I've always wished I could see what it looked like back then. I'm sure it looks nothing like it did back then, but this is much closer than it would be now! If you have any other pictures of Twenty-nine Palms in the early 60's I would love to see them! Thank you again! My Dad & Mom are both deceased now, so this is as close as I can get to what they would remember if they were still here.
Good show John. Lots of memories. This is definitely the way it was.
I just bought some land out there!,I really like it .! good job on the slide Show,,!! thanks!
I would love to live here. It’s beautiful- then and now!
The prices are cheaper too i live there
REMEMBER THIS WELL , MOVED THERE IN 1977
Very interesting, I lived here for awhile now and always wondered what this town looked like during these times 👍🏽
I know it's crazy going down Memory Lane also because I was there for all that I went to Oasis Elementary it's funny I used to work at that Arts Diner it was weird seeing it again I work there in like 77
Came across this video while searching for info on 29Palms, to try and see why folks seem to hate it so much. Having watched this retrospective, as well as other material, I really wanna live there now. Too bad I'm an ocean and a continent away. P.S. being a photographer myself I loved the photo-store shots you included, those brought a smile to my face, which, considering where I live, hasn't happened in a long time.
Thank you, John. I was there in 1960,61,62,63 in T P High School and we lived on Sun Valley Drive. We left June 1963 at the end of my Junior year, so I missed my senior year at the "New School". Haven't been back since,
but would like to someday. What I recognized in this wonderful video were the Western Auto, 4 corners, the big white water tank on the hill outside of town, the community swim place, the LDS church which was about 100 yards from the back of our house, and the mountains rising to the south (they always attracted me to hike up there every time I looked at them. I did go on hikes up there occasionally). A lot of the other places are good to see so I have an idea of how it looked after we left. I suspect it looks a lot different now. Is the roller rink still there? New and improved, I hope. How about the drive in theater? How about the Underhill family home that stood on the hill overlooking the whole town in all directions?--John Lee Thomas
I was stationed at mcb 29 palms in 69..I remember the Bongo Burger from A & W Root Beer
I was stationed there in 82-83, can't believe that you didn't get a shot of the Adobe Deli or the Lost World arcade!
I know it was great seeing all these great businesses I was born in 29 Palms 1960 any kind of made me sad because they showed the bar The Virginian and out of a tiny part of my eye I could see my grandpa and my fathers barbershop right next door and they showed everything else and I don't know why they would show that because they were won in a few barbers and pretty well-known I really wanted to see it good memories
I lived there Summers of 76 and 77. Magical. I was invited for the wedding of David Griffith and Susan ? She worked at retail store in town. As the couple were going up the steps of temple, Susan's father had a fatal heart attack. Wedding was canceled. Wonder what ever happened?
i loooooove palm springs
Wow how awesome these times looked👈🏼 I could see why there's a lot of disappointed people now.💯
RIP George Mintz, owner of the Bowladium, an absolute real man
The marines sent me there in the 70s, I hated it until I loved it
Was that Colleen Smith at 9:16.. left screen?
Yes it is.
Dale Evans at 9:39!
What is the source of the photographs?
Do you know joanne hanson. Used to work at circle k years ago
Class of 81 go wildcats
OMG fugi film
Kodak