Mac Meda Destruction Company

Jack in the Box Head On Top of La Jolla High’s Flagpole

Jack in the Box head perched on top of La Jolla High School in 1970 as a prank by graduating 1970 students - photo by Bruce Thorson

Senior pranks tend to be an unofficial tradition at most high schools, similar to the unofficial senior skip day. It is crucial to find the perfect prank; one must realized the fine line between harmless and mischievous and vandalism or criminal. Some of the typical ones are TPing the school grounds or passing a beach ball (no not Steve Roel) during graduation ceremonies. Or what Mac Meda’s,  Donnie Tomlison, Willie Ronaldson and a few others did by cutting down a tree and got caught, and had to replant and maintain that tree as their punishment. But that is another post.  Read more... (947 words, 2 images, estimated 3:47 mins reading time)

End of an Era in La Jolla – The Way We Were, by Tommy Carroll

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I was sent this the other day, and even if it is a bit before Mac Media, it is a classic of what La Jolla was in the late 1940s and set the foundation for the craziness and bizarre times of the 1960s and 70s.

Many will recognize the dads and moms of their friends and people they past forgotten about. No doubt this will spark some fond memories of the way La Jolla was back then.

Classic photos of La Jolla High School being built,  La Jolla Cove, a few shots of Gunnery Training at Bird Rock (rare photo) Ocean Beach pier, Pacific Beach’s dirt streets, WindanSea and some of the luaus that later become Mac Meda Conventions, summer at the beach, lifeguards, the Plunge, La Jolla High football team and cheerleaders, football team and the few buildings  La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club had, with no homes in the background.  Read more... (249 words, 0 images, estimated 60 secs reading time)

Date Night in Tijuana, Mexico – Long Bar, Peeing and Coffee Cans

Joining in date night and standing (L-R) Richard Krug, Kip Ives, unknown, Frank Eblen (RIP), can't remember the next two, Debbie Balsomic (sp?) Sitting (L-R) Truck Cryster, Stevie Decker, Sara "Preston" Burton, Dave Burton (RIP), Marlille Bircht, Jim Bottomly (in jail), Jim and Dafney Jaminson, Mark Stapoae (sp?), Ray Townsend, Debbie Ketting. Phot0 by Stevie Decker, taken in 1970

Coffee cans played a major role in a road trip to Tijuana, Mexico. When Folgers came out with their one gallon cans, it set a new trend in date night to the Long Bar.  Read more... (798 words, 3 images, estimated 3:12 mins reading time)

Police Raid WindanSea, La Jolla – Mac Meda July, 1968, Convention

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Brian Munoz probably summarized it best; after getting a few “to-go orders”  for a beer run, he went to the Liquor Box, filled his truck with cases, and when he started pulling out of the parking lot  heading down Nautilus St -  that’s when he slammed on his brakes. He suddenly had become the caboose of a freight train of police cars heading to WindanSea Beach.

It was known fact in La Jolla, any whisper or rumor of a Mac Meda party the cops, press, and school authorities took it seriously, or in this day of age, “A Terrorist Attack,” and  became anal about the carnage of  drinking, destruction, and sex that a Mac  Meda Convention would generate.  In this particular case, WindanSea Beach was going to be the targeted area and this time, the departments heads of police were determine to break up the outlaw group once and for all.  Read more... (566 words, 0 images, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

La Jolla Girard Street House – Meda Clubhouse

According to sources, and please correct us if we are wrong, the people are, Dave Osborn w Mug just out of photo on left, The ‘Lad,” Joe Ortega, Jim Rathburn, Diane Molar, Darnez (Spelling? and RIP)and Grog (Nickname) - photo provided by David Osborn

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The stories of the La Jolla Girard Street house are infamous, the true life “Animal House,” that put together true life outrageous parties.

David Olson, formal owner of the the Red Mountain Inn, probably said it best, “I recall the first time I was invited to Macpherson’s Girard Street house, and it sort of like the Yankee’s calling you up from the minors, now you’re playing with the big boys & girls! His house was a place that could do anything and not worry about it as Rakestraw always did something that would be so outrageous that no one would remember what you did.”  Read more... (402 words, 1 image, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Silverback Ale – Mac Meda Postcards With Albert

Twenty-five percent of profits are given to the Save A Gorilla fund.

Back when Jack MacPherson was tending bar at the West End, some dorky beer salesperson stopped in promoting a new type of Ale.

Normally these people would get their asses reamed and  run out.  As far as Jack was concern, there were only a handful of beers worth drinking. However, this one sparked his attention for the obvious.

“Silverback Ale,” the salesperson pitched, plopping a six-pack on the bar.

Hummm … Albert,  Silverback Gorilla, or Ale – sounds like an appropriated beverage that would fit perfect for Mac Meda. And of all things, brewed by the Wynkoop Brewing Company …  in Colorado, United States since 1858 …  another humm … is that not the same state that Coors is brewed, another Mac Meda beach favorite?  Read more... (382 words, 2 images, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)