Bellevue, Washington: Over the Bridge to Gracious Living

[tabbycaster]

Well done. Like so many here it took me back to a world that no longer exists. It would be great to add a picture or two of the Overlake Blueberry Farm to this collection. I'm going to have to watch again to see if I can catch a glimpse of Uncle Harold's or Bell, Book and Candle. I'm BHS 1983 and worked at Belle Lanes and OBF through college. Many thanks!

[Lrbookey]

Awesome photos. What's funny is to show how many of those buildings are still standing. I still think of Cost Plus as the "old Albertson's"

[nordlandcc]

I was hoping to see the old skating rink and pizza and pipes! :) Great pictures though!

[marmotpub]

Thank you for this video. I grew up in Bellevue in the 1960s and this sure brought back memories. One of my favorite places was Marvel Morgan, so I was pleased to see it included here. I remember when there was a horse pasture at N.E. 8th and 112th and 8th turned to dirt past Midlakes. Oh, and there was no 405. Another viewer mentioned Petram's -- lots of fond memories there too. And Newberry's, also in the square. Bellevue was a great place to grow up. Thanks again!

[GaderineInsomniac]

Greetings from another former Bellevue-ite! Fabulous photos. I lived on Clyde Hill from '59-'71 (BHS grad, 1970). Shakeys and John Danz (and Heads Up) were my homes away from home. Thanks for sharing!

[500737]

I'm younger that 20 but i know that place at 2:21!

[phoenixtimes2]

Gracious elegance from a time long ago but never to be forgotten.

[flubbergas]

According to Rush, "the suburbs have no charms to soothe the restless dreams of youth." but this video proves otherwise!

[mrsehj]

I remember THIS Bellevue , I went to Bellevue high school and went to John Danz Theatre and the Old Bellevue Square the last film I saw at the theatre there was "Foul Play" . I worked at the Bellevue Athletic Club for many years and moved away 23 years ago. I didn't recognise the place when I returned a couple years ago, and alas ,could not afford to live there now, but it was nice, and I hold a lot of nice memories of the place.

[SenhordoBonfim]

@pineapplepootytang I don´t, but you might check out the Eastside Heritage Center website.

[whiffmulligan]

wow - a trip down memory lane - I remember most of this (I was born in 1950)...I also remember the dog's watering station outside Frederick's...and the wonderful ten cent store southeast of Frederick's...I also had my first car accident while trying to park in front of Nordstrom Best..

[SenhordoBonfim]

@whiffmulligan Yes! There was a sign above the station that read, "DOG BAR". And the 10 cent store was Petram's..

[whiffmulligan]

wow - a trip down memory lane - I remember most of this (I was born in 1950)...I also remember the dog's watering station outside Fredericks...and the wonderful ten cent store southeast of Fredericks...I also had my first car accident while trying to park in front of Nordstrom Best...

[whiffmulligan]

wow - a trip down memory lane - I remember most of this (I was born in 1950)...I also remember the dog's watering station outside Fredericks...and the wonderful ten cent store southeast of Fredericks...

[connerjd]

Great video! Thanks a lot for uploading.

[boodoy]

I currently live in one of the new high rise apts there in downtown Bellevue. I have only lived here I love it there! I really appreciate this video and the history of the city! Im going to be more concious of the older parts of Bellevue. Thie citys has grown a lot. I am only 27 years old so I was not around those times but im very intrigued by the history! I have been reading a lot of you comments and stories about living there. very cool! Thanks!

[bamboo4pandabear]

The city ranked # 4 to top 10 best places to live in America 2010.

[BRANDY82375]

I just saw where Bellevue was ranked one of the top 10 American cities to live in. I also read that Bellevue has more jobs than residents. I live in a small southern town and there are no jobs here. I've seriously considered moving but I had no idea where to go. I've been to Washington once and thought it was beautiful. I love how Bellevue is full of trees. Is apartment living pretty afforadable? Is it true there are many jobs to be had? Thanks to anyone who responds!

[Nikes62]

Thank you, sir, for that wonderful compilation of pictures....what a trip down memory lane! Many Saturday afternoons spent watching movies at the John Danz, Bel-Vue theatre, Ferrell's Ice cream parlor, and the outdoors mall (how I miss that outdoors mall!) I was especially s impressed with the picture of the wooden tressle and the original underpass leading to Woodridge and Richard's Road, which was replaced by the new underpass around 1971.

[SenhordoBonfim]

@Nikes62 Thanks for the kind words. I miss the outdoor Bellevue Square too. The Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair is not the same in that big parking garage...

[MstrOfSinanju]

I cant believe folks are using the word "ancestry" with reference to the 80's. Man do I feel old. I was born 1965, and raised in Bellevue. So many memories of streets with no side walks.

Shakeys?... na!, Geno's Pizza was the bomb. It was one of my first jobs. I think I still have my employee shirt somewhere in a box.

Remember the pink dolphin from the John Danz Theater. Or the sound proof child crying room at the back of the theater. What a great place.

I miss old Bellevue. A lot!

[Nikes62]

@MstrOfSinanju  Do you remember the old youth center located in a two story house downtown, roughly across the street from the old BSD headquarters? The ice rink? Chicken Delight (before KFC) and Skipper's seafood where the pawn shop is now? The old tent covered swimming pool downtown?

[SenhordoBonfim]

@Nikes62 "Heads Up" was the name of that youth center. I think the building is still there. It was an old church, wasn´t it? I most certainly remember the Bellevue Ice Plaza. "Don´t Cook Tonight, Call Chicken Delight!" I think that was on Main Street. The tent covered swimming pool was called Olympic Swim Pool..or something to that effect.. : )

[angeliquecollins70]

@SenhordoBonfim  "Heads Up", YES (Youth Eastside Services). My mom did volunteer work for them.

[angeliquecollins70]

@SenhordoBonfim I remember all that stuff! I lived in Bellevue from 1965-1982 (the glory days)

[SenhordoBonfim]

@MstrOfSinanju I remember that dolphin! LOL...I remember there also used to be some kind of nautical flags on the walls of the theatre..

[hudson768]

@MstrOfSinanju: Remember the great cartoon before the movie.

I was also born in 1965 and raised in Bellevue. It was awesome.

[lhan53]

it's great to see the transformation of the wonderful city of Bellevue throughout the years!

[lhan53]

it's great to see the transformation the wonderful city of Bellevue throughout the years!

[castrewq]

I have ancestry here dating back to the 1880s, and it's cool to see how it was when my parents were growing up here :D

[amazondan]

My mom and brother worked at Marvel Morgan. With Harry and Val! And then across the street (think there was a Dick's burger there), my dad worked part-time at a trailer lot owned by John Storrs. There was no rush hour traffic heading into Bellevue and since we lived in Shoreline, but my mom always had easy sailing on the freeway and 520.

[uservemewell]

I love the old school signs

[Seattlecarnut]

I don't live in Bellevue, but I visit there countless times. I find Bellevue and Kirkland more fun to visit than Seattle.

[treeclimberfan]

I tend to reminisce on Dec. 31 so came to view this video again.

Any chance you'll do any more? Like Seattle's World Fair . . .

[greenfire243]

Shakey's was the the center of my universe when I was a kid, I miss you sooooo much Shakey's, sob, sniff sniff

[PHILIPNAVARRE]

Where was Lollipop Park?

[SenhordoBonfim]

If memory serves me correctly, it was located on NE 4th and 100th, across the street from BJHS, where the park is now.

[AbsurdBrane]

I grew up in the 50's in Bellevue. I remember when the John Danz Theater opened. I saw Journey To The Center Of The Earth (first one) there! Thanks for posting!!

[Sreewtyui]

I have lived in Bellevue since 1966.. I must say the 'old' bellevue had a lot of charm. but I guess thats progress

[Sreewtyui]

Anybody remember Shakeys Pizza?

[bluedogdem1982]

I was recently in Washington state, and Bellvue is hands down the most beautiful area. Seattle and every other city can't match it.

[TrickyPricky24]

I totally agree. I've been to Bellevue 3 times. Last time was in 2007. It's one of my favorite places to visit. I especially like staying at the Extended Stay on Main Street and hanging out at the Bellevue Square Mall.

Oh and BTW GO SEAHAWKS!!!

[nickap47]

what a trip, i have lived in bellevue for YEARS and it is weird seeing all those places and recognizing buildings and what they are now, like that texaco station, was an ihop, now i think its something else

[Seattlecarnut]

I remember there used to be a restaurant in Bellevue called Pizza and Pipes. It featured a pipe organ that would make all kinds of noise. I remember it scared the hell out of me. It had, hanging from the ceiling, a model of the USS Enterprise from the original Star Trek TV series. That was the highlight of my time there.

[Seattlecarnut]

I've never lived in Bellevue. I was born in Seattle, but I've always lived in Kirkland, just north of there.

[Seattlecarnut]

Awesome video! I'd love to see something like this for Kirkland and Redmond.

[Seattlecarnut]

I'm not familiar with the cd. I have one cd. Is it available at any local cd stores?

[Seattlecarnut]

I love looking at pics of old Bellevue. My father graduated from Bellevue High School in 1954. My mother worked at the John Danz Theatre when she was in high school. I also love the music by Deodato. What cd is it from? I'd love to get it.

[SenhordoBonfim]

It's from a cd entitled, "Lounge '64".

[montysadieneesy]

Thank you for such a great video. Boy does it bring back some great memories.

[japaneseisrael]

What Orchestra is that? Is that the song Whisper Not?

[SenhordoBonfim]

That's Brazilian composer/arranger Deodato performing his arrangements of:

"Mr. Lucky" (Henry Mancini)

"Speak Low" (Kurt Weill)

"Dansero" (Daniels/Hayman/Parker)

"The Misfits" (Alex North)

From the cd, "Lounge '64".

[mikenvick]

I have been in the area since 1970 and remember many of these places. Does anybody remember the ice rink by 405? I bowled a 231 at Belle Lanes and saw Jurassic Park at John Danz before it closed.

[SenhordoBonfim]

oh yeah. I used to work at the Bellevue Ice Plaza shoveling the ice shavings out of the zamboni. : )

[mikenvick]

What about pizza and pipes?

[SenhordoBonfim]

I remember it, but I don't recall ever eating there...do you remember the Pizza Haven on Main?

[mikenvick]

I don't remember Pizza Haven on Main, I will ask my Brother in Law. He was born and raised in the Beaux Arts area. He worked at Pizza Haven in the Mall for years. I am from Kirkland, so I remember alot about Bellevue, but more about Kirkland. I have shared this video with alot of people who are now sharing it with their parents who are in their 70's and 80's. Great Job

[SenhordoBonfim]

My sister used to live in a waterfront apartment in downtown Kirkland back in the 70's. I wonder how much it rents for now (or if it's condos.) Thanks for the kudos. the video has brought alot of attention to the Eastside Heritage Center who supplied the images.

[ericrising]

@mikenvick

The Pizza Haven in Bellevue was their second location.

[barbcarb]

I remember ice skating there, and also at the ice rink at Crossroads. I still live in Bellevue, and it has completely changed and lost all its charm.

[wrsawy]

Nice!! Brings back great memories. Makes me forget the crap of today.

[SenhordoBonfim]

thanks! mission accomplished! : )

[crapyb]

im only 11 and i was born here in bellevue i never knew it looked like this years ago if u look at bellevue now u would never know has any of u now if the apt buliding comodore was there back then on bellevue way se??????????????

[crapyb]

no only bellevue park by main street

[DrDupe]

Bellevue used to have a certain innocence and it came out in that video. I had totally forgotten about "Kentucky Beef" which was an off-shoot of KFC. I think Arby's kicked its ass. I do wish there was a picture of the old Milk Barn. People who lived in Bellevue in the 60s should remember that place. But I'm glad Marvel Morgan made it.

[kubruk]

all houses you see on this video tops $30k hehe

[Gizathecat2]

Great! I'm a Sammamish 1972 grad. Wish it had shots of the old Crossroads, Sunset Village and HWY 10, and the original Sammamish High, and the older landmarks EAST of the 405.

[alicechaos]

Thanks! I haven't been back to Bellevue in over 25 years. Its amazing how a bunch of random pictures, in any other context - boring, could be so fascinating!

[gemsbarb]

thank you thank you thank you!! As someone who grew up in Bellevue (and my family is still there) but has lived away for 25 years, this is such a lovely walk down memory lane! I can now show my family Farrells and the John Danz!! Both of which were places we went all the time and hold lots of memories! And the Square! Including the Crab Apple - one of my grandparent's favorite places to eat dinner. Thank you so much!!

[AuntBee09]

great video! thanx for putting it together.

just fyi: i think the link in the description should be "org" not "com"

[Brixy1]

Many good memories, The John Danz theater, what a screen. My big brother let me tag along to see "A Hard Day's Night", and "Catch us if you Can". They stopped the movie till people calmed down because there was too much screaming. LOL

The cars are the highlight of this clip/slideshow for me. The giant fins on the Chevy's, the volkswagen coupe, the Fairlane 500 wagon, jeeze, remember the power those cars had.

Let's not forget the very first McDonalds in Washington....Good clip. Brixy1

[jrladd]

Wow -- This brings back memories. I saw it all except Bellevue High School in 1949. I came to Bellevue as a 10 year old in 1953 and graduated BHS in 1960. After moving around the country and the world I've been back again for a long time. Jim Ladd

[neilnfw]

Is this Jim Ladd who used to be on KLSX in Los Angeles?

[EastsideBusiness]

I think my brother got his first bike there ...

[EastsideBusiness]

What a great video!! It brought back a lot of memories of growing up here in Bellevue.

What a trip seeing the old theatre, bike shop and more.

Congratulations to SenhordoBonfim and the Eastside Heritage Center.

[Bl4zz3r]

Only been to Bellevue a couple times. Cool slide show.