Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 112

Aug. 15, 1971 22-CM The Knave Continued from Tag? 19 It is impossible to know tny father," says Pearl King Tanner, without knowing this background. The retired 92 -year-old actress doesnt -know today what prompted her father to come west. He came to California in 1859. taught for a' time at Healdsburg and in Butte County, then started for the bay regiotj, only to be felled by diphtheria enroute.

Victor Castro took him in at his El Cerrito hacienda. The Castro family nursed him back to health. The recuperated youth stayed on and worked for Cast rt two or three years. It was here that the good earth gained the upper harid of Charles II. King.

With his earnings he went to Humboldt County and joined with Joseph Russ of Ran Francisco in buying up large stands of redwood. The time came when young King owned a major portion of the redwood forests in that region and was forced to hold off the millman William Carson in his bids for' King's Valley of the Giants." During King's redwood ventures he met Kate Brown teaching in Vreka. After their wedding, and Kings bowing to William Carson's bids for timber, the Kings decided to come to Oakland and seek out some ranch land. Tearl King was born in Kureka. Pfco Mi Kinf City ftuttf Looking up King City's Broadway from the S.P.

depot in the yfepr 1912 or it was the ranch at King City that was Pearl King's first love. Funny she chuckles, my two brothers wanted no part of the ranch. Pa was really heartbroken. No doubt, it brought about the sale of his San Lorenzo acres. One afternoon he told the family he wanted everybody in the library at 8 p.m.

prompt. He appeared haggard, and disturbed. All of us were scared. i At the family gathering in the library he announced he was selling the ranch to the Spreckels Sugar Company. I tried to interest you in the ranch but with no success.

None of you seem to care. I'm selling next week. KING CITY is the last name Charles King wanted the town that sprouted, when the Southern Pacific aimed their rails across the King land. It was July 20, IKSfi. that the tracks were, laid past the King ranch building.

reports the King City Rustler, the town newspaper since 1901. J. E. Steinbeck, father of John the famous novelist, was the railroad's fust station agent at King City. King suggested several names for the town, one being Vanderhurst, the name of a partner in the town's fmst general merchandise store.

He also tossed in the names Soberanes, San Lorenzo and La Posa. But lie was out-voted. Once the ranch was sold Charles King began buying and selling Oakland properties. It was in 1903 that he purchased a portion of the old College of California campus along Harrison Street from 12th to 13th Streets. Its chief building wljs the old Dietz Opera House, later called the Dewey Theater.

Included was the College Hall with its arched signboard that spelled out College Hall" in gilded letters. At the corner of 12th and Harrison King built the King Building and leased it to the pioneer Hcald's Business College. The big arched sign from College Hall was turned over to the University of California. They sent King a thank you letter. One story is told of manager Stillwell who bossed the Opera House for Dietz.

Stillwell secured Sarah Bernhardt to play the theater but had to make elaborate promises. The great Sarah's appearance was a grand success, but when Dielz asked Stillwell the next day how much money they had realized. Stillwell replied: We don't make any. We come out in debt." How so?" asked the surprised Dielz. Well," said Stillwell, we had to give 90 per cent of the gross to Madame Bernhardt in order to get her to come here.

Why didn't you give her the other 10 per cent." laughed Dielz. 4 Along search has ended for the someone who could remember a 1 a Badger Park-(1873-1891) that skirted the estuary, slough leading up to Lake Merritt from about East 10th Street down to the estuary on the Brooklyn side. -Pearl King Tanner remembers! Our home was only a block or so away from Badger Park, she points out. It was Oakland's fun spot through the elegant '80s into the gay 90s. I was only about 10 or 12 years old when ('apt: Thomas W.

Badger, who operated. the park, advertised a chariot race. My sister and I and my brothers coaxed our mother and father to let us go. We stood beside the fence that circled the track where the race was run. But it was our bad luck to luue the wheels of two chariots lock as they came rumbling down toward us.

This threw one of the chariots up against the fence and a pole on the chariot pierced the chest of one of the horses. It was a horrible sight. Blood was gushing out like a fountain. We turned and ran aw ay." That's all I can remember of Badger Park, except it was an attractive green setting ith a forest of trees. -THE KNAVE BUSINESS conferences among Oafiand civic leaders were frequently dovetailed between social gatherings at the King home.

It was in the massive dining room of that mansion where plans for the Hotel Oakland were first formulated. There were 32 of Oakland's leading business men at table that evening, the family memoirs note. Pa was a party man," Pearl King Tanner recalls smilingly. More than once he scolded me, saying Tear, you havent had a party in a long time. Hadnt you better get busy and send out some invitations.

Dance! How' I lived to dance. The Palace Hotel orchestra almost liad a path worn to the King abode. Gumps would have photographs taken of the dining table with its fine goblets and china. Purveyors of food and delicacies were lavish in praise of the fastidiousness. But, under all the glitter and glam- CftsctGate A with stronger, aquare members and welded comers that never sag is only ona feature of Anchors ohaln fink fence.

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