1970-1974
Narrative
Learning about student life of the "Dazed and Confused" era was a trip. Life around campus seemed very groovy and nifty. This was around the time when it finally started using color in photos. The Quad was always filled with young cool teens wearing bright colors and different styled clothing. This was the start of the trend for hairstyles like the mullet, the shag, and the men's perm. Things that were happening in the world included women's rights, gay rights, Watergate, and the most famous being Vietnam.
Kevin Costner attended Buena in 1971 and was co-captain of the C basketball team.
1972 Artasia Festival at Buena High School
This event brought various professional arists from across the state (from musicians, to painers, to welders) to come perform, share, and discuss their arts with BHS students.
Quad in 1972
1972 Artasia Festival at Buena High School.mp4"Artasia" film directed, filmed, written, and edited by Roy Hathorn, class of 1972.
In the 1970s, The Walt Disney Company filmed the short film "Dad...Can I Borrow the Car?" In the short film, there is a scene where people are taking driving simulations and it was filmed right at Buena!! The Driver's Ed scenes were shot at Buena High School, including Buena teacher Mr. Wiggins. The scene at Buena starts around 9:40.
Student Life
Jackie Hampton "blows" her chemistry experiment.
Sports
This is a poster from the 1971 CIF football playoffs for Pasadena High School vs Buena High School.
1974 - Official Guide
This was a guide for audience members at football games that showed the meanings of the offical's hand signals.
Buena Bulldogs Seat Cushion Design - 1972
Queens of the 70s
Here are all the beautiful women who were our Bulldogs Prom Queens 1970-74.
Graduation
1970
1970
1970
1971
New Beginnings
Marking the decade anniversary of Buena High School, high school students during the early 1970s experienced exciting yet challenging years. This was an era of discovering and expressing. The fight for women's, African American, and gay rights gave students a new sense of freedom. BHS's school spirit was loud and strong in its athletic and spiritual events.
Leaders of Spirit
...means new obstacles
In a time of distress, students used their voices to express their anti-war sentiments against the Vietnam War. They would participate in peaceful protests, or the Peace Vigil, in Main Street every Saturday. However, they were met with a "pro-America" group who were "louder in their shouts at the Peace demonstrators, even resorting to obscenity" (Marble). 10-12 people of this group followed 2 Buena High School girls to a restaurant where they harassed them multiple times, calling them prostitutes and threatening to kill the two. In fear, the girls called 2 of their male friends to help them escape. The two males were insulted and even side-swept(to hit a vehicle on the side) by the pursuers.
BHS also struggled with budget cuts. With a lack of money, increasing student population, and demands for better counseling, students were becoming dissatisfied with the state of the school. The counseling department increased its services but it wasn't enough. One student argued that, "counselors discouraged them from applying to colleges with high admission standards... [to] encourage students to make realistic decisions" (Marble).
Even after a decade, BHS continued to make big changes to its school system. For example, English education was enhanced and became broader, now involving the arts and cultural heritage. Math allowed more flexibility for students. They improved their counseling system by establishing the advanced placement program at Ventura College and summer programs for juniors. New clubs and activities were always being created. New programs encouraged students to participate. BHS made sure that every student had a chance to be successful.
Buena High School's Campus in the 1970s
An animated and lively atmosphere. Buena's campus remains full of life since this time.
Students
Sports
The sports teams of the 1970s experienced many achievements. These included numerous top 5's in C.I.F, constant victories over opposing schools, participating in tournaments, and winning titles such as League Champion and Channel League. They also faced difficulties like inconsistencies and weak playstyles. Of course, this is only natural. BHS athletes always stayed determined and continued to train hard to reach the top!
Top: Boys Varsity Basketball TeamBottom: Sophomore Football Team
Important Events
1969-1970: Dress Code
Through Buena student's powerful voices, the Ventura Unified School District approved of a new dress code. Blackwood expressed, "We don't want to force anyone to do anything... but we do want the right to wear the styles we want" (Marble).
1971-1972: Career Horizons
BHS students were offered various opportunities for work. "Nearly one-fourth of all public high school students in Ventura hold jobs" ("Hundreds of City Youths Have Jobs"). Jobs included retail, graphics technology, and data processing.
1972-1973: High School Without Walls
BHS senior students were offered an opportunity to participate in High School Without Walls; a program that involved helping mentally disabled adolescents and adults. In two years, students totaled over 16,000 hours of service at the hospitals. This act was recognized locally and nationally.
1973-1974: Fatal Accident
A BHS student named Nicky Garcia was only 16 years old when he died in a car accident on November 11, 1974, one day before his birthday. He deeply cared for the MECHA Club. His club members and schools within VUSD came together and raised over hundreds for Garcia's funeral.
Artasia
(Right) Artasia was an event in BHS that invited famous and successful artists to talk about and showcase their passions. Artists included Joseph Campanella(actor), Beatrice Wood(potter and sculptor), Toby Lurie(poet), Sumi Haru(director and actress), and Darrell Ross(TV producer).
Dad... Can I Borrow the Car?
(Left) A 1970 Disney short film on Driver's Ed. It encouraged teenagers to take and pass this intimidating test. The scene filmed in Buena begins at 9:40.
1972 Artasia Festival at Buena High School.mp4"The whole year was a great experience for me, that might be the most important one my whole life. It helped me to draw conclusions about myself and the people. In spite of all the distance, people are basically the same, and that what makes the world a little bit smaller.
I want to thank you very much for the good time I had here--I will never forget it in my life."
Works Cited
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 9. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1970. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 10. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1971. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 11. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1972. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 12. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1973. Print Archives, Buena High School Library
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 13. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1974. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
"Hundreds of City Youths Have Jobs." Career Horizons [Ventura, CA], 14 April 1972, A1.
Keith. "Dad... Can I Borrow the Car?" YouTube, 21 September 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=qsAv5akyi5A
Marble, Melinda. "Peace demonstrators harrassed." Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol.9, no.4, 3 April 1970.
Marble, Melinda. "Lack of money causes many counseling inadequacies." Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol.9, no.4, 3 April 1970.
"Revised dress code 'finally' becomes a reality." Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol.9, no.4, 3 April 1970.
"Student Dies In Accident." Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], 19 December 1974.
Works Cited
Artasia. Directed by Roy Hathorn, Buena High School, 1972.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 9. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1970. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 10. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1971. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 11. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1972. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 12. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1973. Print Archives, Buena High School Library
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 13. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1974. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Keith M. "Dad ... Can I Borrow the Car?" YouTube. 22 March 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsAv5akyi5A&t=580s.
This part of the project was completed by:
Narrators: Raven Padgett & Shuelena Chea
Web Designers: Henry Boldt & Shuelena Chea
Archivists: Ebony Delgado & Kaitlyn Bezares
Researchers: Jennifer Perez & Shuelena Chea
Editor: Mr. Downey
