The Lake Tahoe Historical Society hosted LOCAL LEGENDS (at Lakeview Commons) and it was absolutely awesome. For over an hour, Dave Wakeman, Russ Dahler, Carolyn Meiers, and Bob Harms regaled us with entertaining memories of all their decades living in the 'happiest place in the universe'.

Carolyn's family arrived in 1953 when there were ample jobs for her electrician dad. She shared her gratitude for living in such a magical place for so many years. It was revealed that she was the first ASB president for South Tahoe High School (opened in 1953).

Both Dave and Carolyn fondly reminisced about the Quonset hut Lakeside Theatre (located on Lake Tahoe Blvd midway between today’s Applebee’s Restaurant and the Park Avenue stoplight). They even remember the gal who ran it- Jeannie- from over 60 years ago. Demolished in 1963, a new bigger Lakeside Theatre was built near the Y. It too is just history.

Russ had his first Heavenly Ski pass in the winter of 1965/66. He shared slope stories and even the history of how skiing really needed promoting back then and how it was his job to reach out to college ski clubs around the nation.

All four of these historians had the entire audience spellbound and longing for more. The hour scheduled went to quickly. Many of the attendees lingered afterward, asking more questions and sharing their Tahoe tales.

The following evening, I posted this on Facebook. At this writing, 284 people have 'liked' it with 42 comments. Some of the commenters lamented the fact that they hadn't heard of the event and would have loved to have been there. Many shared their own Tahoe stories. One man wrote, "Would love to come to this. We moved there in 1960 and I left in '81. But the memories of the old days are the best ones. I might even hear some that I had forgotten." How very, very cool.