Back in the 1960s, Broadway definitely reflected the cultural vibe of the decade. Retro signage with embellished block lettering, bursts of neon advertising and lots of acrylic color. Cruising the turnaround must have offered that distinctive 60s flavor. Pictured here in the early 1960s, Broadway was host to a variety of both current and bygone restaurants and shops. Looking west towards the turnaround, this photo was snapped right at the corner of Broadway and Franklin. Nowadays, you’ll see Dooger’s on the south side of the street where William’s Café once stood, and Catherine’s Garden is in the exact spot where you’ll find Dundee’s Bar and Grill today. However, not everything has changed: about a block down on the left hand side you can spy the Pig ‘N Pancake sign peeking out among the other storefronts. In this photo, “The Pig” must have been relatively new to Broadway, as it launched its grand opening in Seaside in May of 1961.
Also, back towards the end of the street you can see the classic Times Theatre on Broadway and South Columbia. An old cinema treasure with one screen and six hundred seats, the Times Theatre opened way back in 1941 and for nearly fifty years served as the entertainment hub for downtown moviegoers. For those familiar with Seaside’s downtown scenery in the 21st century, one thing that may seem abnormal is the parade of parking meters lining the sidewalk. Luckily there is no such metered parking in Seaside today. The 60s may have been pretty groovy, but free parking is a sure sign of progress.
