"Sacramento Municipal Airport on South Freeport Blvd.
Fritz Vibe Postcard Service, Sacramento, California"
Our 1955 Eichler Homes neighborhood is a little over one mile from what was then known as Sacramento Municipal Airport (now known as the Sacramento Executive Airport). The circa 1955/56 terminal pictured above (which still stands today) was designed by renowned Sacramento architect Leonard F. Starks (more on him in a forthcoming post). Can you imagine riding in style in a large finned, chauffeured black convertible to the airport? Air travel was more glamorous back then!
According to a Sacramento Magazine article from October, 2007 written by Reed Parsell:
"Plopped on a then-rural 680-acre patch of land a few miles south of downtown in 1930, it was taken over by the military in World War II. The city subsequently regained control and by the 1960s... was handling about 750,000 commercial passengers a year."
This modern building serves air commerce and scheduled
air transport for the Capital City and its surrounding area.
- Color photo by Mirl H. Simmons
Published by W.C. Spangler News Agency, Sacramento, Calif."
I found a great personal account of what it was like to visit the airport in 1963, per blogger Azure:
"We are going on an airplane trip and it's a big deal. Here we are at the old Sacramento Airport. We are all dressed up, my little sister and I have on dresses with our white socks and Mary janes. My brother in his jacket and tie, my mother in her smart suit. You dressed to go on an airplane then, especially to fly all the way across the country. The airport is looking pretty smart itself, everything looking shiny and well-kept, nice garden and that pervasive California light. Within 5 years, the new airport will be built way north of the city and this airport will be mostly for small aircraft. But in 1963, it was the way out of town...."
Below is a familiar view that we still see across from the airport -- hasn't changed much at all!
"Sky Riders Airport Motel 6100 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95822.
On Scenic Highway 160, with the Executive Airport restaurant facilities,
and golf course across the way. Car rentals available. 32 deluxe units,
beautifully furnished in South Land Park area.... photo by Henry K. Yee."
On October 21, 1967, commercial flights out of Sacramento were handled by the newly built Sacramento Metropolitan Airport (now known as Sacramento International Airport). Our wonderful Executive Airport is still operative and is still the way to travel for the rich and influential.
Ah, the good old days when riding on an airplane was special -- and people didn't put bombs in their underwear!
Come Fly With Me
(click on Frank for video)
(click on Frank for video)
by songwriters Sammy Cahn And Jimmy Van Heusen
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
If you can use some exotic booze
There's a bar in far Bombay
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Come fly with me, let's float down to Peru
In llama land there's a one-man band
And he'll toot his flute for you
Come fly with me, let's take off in the blue
Once I get you up there where the air is rarified
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Once I get you up there where the air is rarified
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly
Pack up, let's fly away!!
If you can use some exotic booze
There's a bar in far Bombay
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Come fly with me, let's float down to Peru
In llama land there's a one-man band
And he'll toot his flute for you
Come fly with me, let's take off in the blue
Once I get you up there where the air is rarified
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Once I get you up there where the air is rarified
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly
Pack up, let's fly away!!
"And don't tell your mamma!!"
Here's to better flying in the year ahead. Cheers!
4 comments:
There's a nice little restaurant at the Sac Exec airport - you can sit and watch the "little" planes come and go...
Thanks for mentioning this, Barbara. We took my grandmother and children there a couple of times -- it's called Aviators.
Great post Gretchen. I remember that airport well. We are not the rich and influential so we probably won't be flying out of there anytime soon. It's nice to remember how things were though. We did dress for flying back in the day. We dressed for everything, right down to the white gloves. Please, no flannel pajamas in public. What the hell happened?
Hahaha! Thanks MCMadam! While it is a quiet way for Important People to slip into Sacramento, it's still a down-to-earth, flannel PJ-free place :)
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