The Gold Shows

The Gold Shows that I remember occurred in the summers of 1948, 1949, and 1950.  These years straddled the centennial of the Gold Rush.  There was at least one more Gold Show, earlier, in 1935, and perhaps more. (See picture, below.)

My memory is hazy, but I think the celebrations lasted about a week.  There was a carnival which set up shop in what was a vacant lot next door to the Catholic Church, and across the street from the old Lincoln Way School (now, Auburn’s city hall).  The site was later converted into the part of Highway 49 leading to Grass Valley.

There was a parade, and a lot of people came to town from all over.  The theme was 49er days or Western, so you had a lot of folks carrying six shooters, wearing cowboy boots and hats, and hooting and hollering.  A few old coots ran around in coonskin hats and leather clothes smelling almost as gamey as they looked.

All of the saloons from old Auburn up Lincoln Way to the Pool Room were doing a land office business.  I’ve mentioned, earlier, about the bar at the Pool Room that reached out into the front sidewalk area.

There were a number of outdoor shows going from time to time in the town “square” where Lincoln Avenue and High Street intersected.  They included Ken the Magician, father of my school chum, Ray Arnold.

My favorite memory, however, is my father watching a hillbilly band playing instruments including a washboard and a set of spoons.  My father stood mesmerized as my mother tried to pull him away so we could go home.  We, including my father, laughed over that memory for years afterward.  It was one of those silly moments that joined us together as a family.

This picture was taken behind the PG&E office on High Street during the 1935 Gold Show. My father is the third from the left in the rear row wearing the white shirt and tie. My Uncle Jack Evans is the seventh from the left in the middle row. Fred Knutson is the first on the left in the front row.