Berkeley, a Look Back: December 1925 had city in full swing of Christmas

"The broadcasting schedule for Berkeley-based radio station KRE, located in the Claremont Hotel, was laid out in detail in the Berkeley Daily Gazette a century ago. Much of the hyperlocal programming involved community organizations, including churches that broadcast their services and choir concerts on Sundays. Berkeley's junior high schools also provided programming. On Dec. 8, 1925, it was the turn of Willard Junior High, which had a varied program involving short papers read by students chosen for the resonant quality in their voices."

"The Willard Senior Orchestra and the Willard Junior Glee Club also performed. A featured performer, who got his photo in the Gazette, was student and singing soloist Chester Caldecott, who was also the son of city Councilman Thomas Caldecott (and yes, the Caldecott Tunnel is named for the father, who would later advocate for its construction when he served on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.)"

"Berkeley had mainly local stores in that era, but a few chains were present, prominent among them Piggly Wiggly, which advertised its presence all over the world. Berkeley had no less than six Piggly Wiggly grocery markets, on Shattuck, Solano, Telegraph, Alcatraz, University and College avenues. On Dec. 11, 1925, they were advertising specials on cranberry sauce (15 cents), prime roast beef (25 cents a pound), grapefruit (5 cents each), coconuts (10 cents each) and rather disturbingly named African layer cakes (chocolate butter cream and chopped citron icing) for 59 cents each."

Berkeley-based radio station KRE, housed in the Claremont Hotel, broadcast hyperlocal programming including church services, choir concerts, and school shows a century ago. On Dec. 8, 1925, Willard Junior High presented short papers read by students chosen for resonant voices, plus performances by the Willard Senior Orchestra and Junior Glee Club. Student soloist Chester Caldecott performed; his father, Thomas Caldecott, later advocated for construction of the Caldecott Tunnel while serving on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. On Dec. 31, 1925, the sound of the Liberty Bell was broadcast by radio for the first time. December retail advertising promoted local shops and chains such as Piggly Wiggly, which operated six Berkeley grocery markets and advertised holiday specials and children's coaster wagons. Berkeley maintained a robust holiday charitable program centered on an annual Municipal Christmas Tree Fund.

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