BajaNomad

1953 Baja California Book details

David K - 4-22-2010 at 09:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by irenemm
David
could you tell me where I can get a book on Baja wrote I believe in 1948 by Mr. Frank Alvarado.
I would so love to have that book.
Thanks
Irene
Posada Don Diego
Vicente Guerrero


Hi Irene,

The book 'Baja California' was published in 1953 and was written by Ralph Hanc-ck, but he includes the three other members of the big Baja hunting and fishing trip: Ray Haller, Mike McMahan (who later produced the big Baja wall maps and authored his own book, 'There It Is: Baja!', and Frank Alvarado.



Here's a list of about 50 copies of the book for sale (scroll down to see a new source for the book):

Baja California 1953

There is a You Tube video taken during their trip that has been posted here of their trip... quite interesting! See the 1953 video:

The book is full of photos and is a great look at Baja in the early 1950's!

EDIT: Great news... M & E BOOKS has a limited supply of NEW (never circulated) copies of the 1953 book. Go to http://oldmissions.com to order (scroll down past the two mission books to see)

[Edited on 5-1-2016 by David K]

irenemm - 4-23-2010 at 03:15 PM

David
Thank you so much
Frank lived in our park for maybe 25 years.
His son was Secretary to President Ronald Reagan. His name is Ronald Alvarado.
Frank new all the good places to fish here and he really new Mexico. He dealt with the Farming community and most old time farmer will remember him.
A very Heart felt thank you for this. I will get myself a book. I did so enjoy the video too.
Again thank you.

tiotomasbcs - 4-23-2010 at 03:50 PM

Awesome video of the early days of Baja Travel! Did you see the size of those fish caught from the beach?! I have always wished I was older to have had the open opportunities of the 50s. Another reason why! Tio

David K - 4-23-2010 at 04:21 PM

The good 'ol days of Baja... BEFORE PAVED ROADS! :coolup:

durrelllrobert - 4-24-2010 at 07:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
Awesome video of the early days of Baja Travel! Did you see the size of those fish caught from the beach?! I have always wished I was older to have had the open opportunities of the 50s. Another reason why! Tio

I was there a few times back then and (as shown in video) there was to problema bringing guns into Mexico:biggrin:

Cardon Man - 7-27-2010 at 01:48 PM

That's a great video. I recently purchased a copy of the book signed by all of the authors.

David K - 7-27-2010 at 05:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cardon Man
That's a great video. I recently purchased a copy of the book signed by all of the authors.


That would be PRICELESS! Good for you!!!

I met Mike McMahan back in 1973 at his desk company in L.A. and in 1985, I met his brother (Walter) when I worked next door to his furniture business in Escondido... We talked about the early trips to Baja.

Bajatripper - 10-16-2010 at 07:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
I have always wished I was older to have had the open opportunities of the 50s.


You say that now, but wait until you are older. Would good fishing in the past be worth suddenly being in your 70s-80s now? Enjoy your youth while you can, for soon you will be older and wonder where it went.:lol:

[Edited on 10-17-2010 by Bajatripper]

Barry A. - 10-16-2010 at 08:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajatripper
Quote:
Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
I have always wished I was older to have had the open opportunities of the 50s.


You say that now, but wait until you are older. Would good fishing in the past be worth suddenly being in your 70s-80s now? Enjoy your youth while you can, for soon you will be older and wonder where it went.:lol:

[Edited on 10-17-2010 by Bajatripper]


Absolutely-----------I would not have missed Baja in the 40's thru the '90's for anything!!!! Memories are just great!!! :yes:

Barry (age 72)

mcfez - 12-19-2010 at 06:19 PM

What a outstanding film. This truly brings the spirit of Baja onto the screen! best old time flick I ever seen

David K - 5-1-2016 at 08:44 AM

Edited the post to include that new copies of the 1953 book are available from M & E BOOKS : scroll down past the two mission books to see the book by Ralph H. http://oldmissions.com

Vince - 5-1-2016 at 04:27 PM

I met one of the owners (or manager) of Hotel Punta Chivato named Frank Alvarado. Probably the same man. He was very nice and hospitable. This was in the late '70's.

David K - 5-1-2016 at 06:12 PM

Watch the video and see if it looks like the same Frank... or get the book and see their photos.

KurtG - 5-1-2016 at 08:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Vince  
I met one of the owners (or manager) of Hotel Punta Chivato named Frank Alvarado. Probably the same man. He was very nice and hospitable. This was in the late '70's.


I think you probably met Bill Alvarado at the hotel. Different fellow, I had the same good impression of him.

David K - 12-11-2016 at 10:16 AM



M&E books still has a few new, uncirculated copies of the 1953 book!
Order at www.oldmissions.com and scroll down the page to see it.

freediverbrian - 12-11-2016 at 08:47 PM

That was a "bump"y road past new books on a five year old thread;)

David K - 12-12-2016 at 09:36 AM

The 1953 books only became available a year or so ago. They may be the last uncirculated copies available? The video at the top of the thread was filmed by those guys and one of them (Mike McMahan) went on to produce the famous Baja wall maps of the 60s to the 90s... as well as his own book, There It Is: Baja!, one of my all time favorites. We have a few brand new copies of it, too.

David K - 12-12-2016 at 06:15 PM

UPDATE:
Well, thanks to orders today, we are down to just one copy each of the 1953 book 'Baja California' and Mike McMahan's 1974 book 'There It Is: Baja!'

That means I am taking those two off the website so we don't get two orders. Contact me to see if either one is still in stock and I will give you instructions if it is.

David K - 12-12-2016 at 09:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by soulpatch  
Must be gone because I just tried to buy it and no love.
Oh, well!


There is one left, so I took it off the PayPal in case two try to get sold. I will u2u you on how to get the last one.

David K - 12-13-2016 at 08:01 AM

Great, they really should.
When Mike McMahan's book (There It Is: Baja!) came out in 1973, I was in high school and it was one of my favorites. The 1953 book that you just got the last copy of is a classic and inspired many of us or our parents or grandparents to explore Baja for the adventure, fishing, camping, Jeeping, etc.