Notes

Silicon Valley Circa 1956 : A Valley That is certainly No More
What has been it like within Silicon Valley in 1956?

Back then, the Area lay in the particular shadow of San Francisco. If an individual wanted culture, glamor, or riches, a person headed to the City. If you wanted farm life, a person headed to San Jose. I warp, but is not by many. Hard as it is to imagine today, the Valley then was still tied closely towards the soil. People recognized how to expand things. Things just like fruit. Not only while a hobby but as life style. Previously mentioned all, they knew how to could and pack of which fruit. Not as home preserves although on a large, industrial scale. Ahead of WWII, San Jose had fewer compared to 100, 000 people. Yet no much less than 18 canneries and 13 packaging houses could possibly be found in the Vly. This was in that case the largest canning and dried fruit packing center throughout the world. By simply 1956, this farm-based culture was nonetheless largely intact. Right now, it is practically entirely gone.

People who have already been here awhile might have caught fragments of the older life. I remember doing a summer time stint as a new student at the particular Del Monte Cannery off Auzerais Method, circa 1970, within which my fingers turned prune-like because I stood presently there for endless several hours throughout each switch "guiding" grapes in order to the center of the conveyor belt at its drop-off point by simply repeatedly reaching our arms out as though doing a butterflies stroke and tugging the grapes back to the inside as my arms would pull along. Shifting to the particular "dry" side after that summer, our brother and My partner and i would do typically the graveyard shift ranking at the underside of the massive slip and scrambling such as mad to pile pallets manually together with some really hefty boxes whenever typically the automatic pallet-stacker from the top malfunctioned and several faceless particular person would switch the boxes to come zinging downward non-stop and with a fantastic force -- many of us felt like Lucy and Ethel striving frantically to handle all the candies as the pure number and rate of recurrence of the containers would overwhelm the ability to stack them. I can easily assure you of which whatever talent all of us displayed that summer went entirely unknown.

But back to life inside 1956. Cali Work sat on the part of De Anza and Stevens Creek Boulevard. Monte Armonia Vineyards quietly became its grapes throughout the Cupertino foothills, soon about to be able to realize great bounty that might lead that to be Ridge Grape plantations. Paul Masson had been even then the Valley winery of which would "sell zero wine before its time, " since Orson Welles would likely later put that. Cupertino had simply incorporated as a new city in 1955, becoming the thirteenth city in the Vly (Sunnyvale had the very best to incorporate in 1912). Cupertino Great was about to form in 1958. De Anza School didn't exist. Neither did El Manera Hospital. Both have been about a ten years or so off. Santa Clara's rules school was about, and it also graduated precisely 13 students that year. Many from the time may remember just the couple of many years earlier when that took the equal of a small trip through the country to have from downtown San Jose to Willow Glen. Much of Hill View remained farming not only because of 1956 although even throughout many of the 1960s -- during this particular era, there was still open space among Mountain View and even Palo Alto, with row crops in addition to orchards filling in the particular gap. Moffett Industry with its large hangars filled the particular Valley with the noise of monster-sized military planes droning continuously as these people took off and landed throughout the day.

Prosperity has been afoot, nevertheless , totally apart from the particular agricultural sector. Santa claus Clara Valley acquired a massive postwar population explosion and even chaotic growth in order to accompany it. By simply the mid-1950s, San Jose was well on its way to having more than 200, 000 individuals, more than duplicity its population within the decade. Electronics companies started to prosper, spurred on primarily by WWII. Notable among these was basically Hewlett Packard, which in 1956 did $20 million inside of revenues and applied 900 people when selling test in addition to measurement equipment. By simply the following year, it would go off public and double the number associated with its employees whilst doing something some what unusual -- that gave stock funds and options to all employees together with at least 6 months of assistance, an almost unheard-of practice at typically the time.

Shopping malls sprang up as nicely, even as Woolworth's along with other five-and-ten-cent stores began to falter. In the summer of 1956, one involving the first and most notable, Macy's Valley Fair, opened as being a 39-store retail centre. Macy's had planned to open in town center San Jose yet got stiffed about price. It as a result bought several massive areas of land together San Jose's unincorporated Stevens Creek Path and built the particular center there, amidst a wide open area consisting regarding orchards and a great Emporium department shop. When it opened, it had only one floor plus a roof porch that was obtainable to shoppers simply by elevator. Macy's organized to include a moment floor. What exactly did it do in the interim? That did what any kind of good promoter regarding a new idea would do (and as many other centers of that day did) to attract shoppers -- it set upwards a carnival! Yes, suitable the roof structure deck from the shopping mall, it set not just 1 but seven brazillian carnival rides. It experienced a merry-go-round in addition to a small coach and even some sort of 40-foot ferris steering wheel! It also had the cafe so that parents could relax and even eat his or her babies enjoyed the voyages. It seems that will fast-shuffle types had been busy long prior to startups arrived. In case it sparkles, they may come!

While Cupertino lagged in seeing its first important shopping center open up, 17 of the largest landowners immediately thereafter sold-out to be able to Varian Associates, one more thriving electronics firm, which (along with the Leonard, Lester, Craft and Orlando, florida families) developed the middle that took as its name an acronym composed of the particular first initials regarding each participant: Vallco Park. Vallco, nevertheless , did not available till the early 1960s. In 1956, the large tracts associated with land were totally undeveloped except for gardening purposes.

Meanwhile, we all had the Dow at about five-hundred. People made just under $5, 1000 per year typically and paid regarding $12, 000 when they wanted to get a brand-new home. No more sticker shock found in those days for all those moving in coming from the Midwest.

The particular Korean War had ended 36 months before and the McCarthy hearings a pair of years before. The shock regarding Sputnik was still a year away. Typically the Cold War was in full sway, however, and seemed to be not helped by crushing of the Hungarian uprising by simply Soviet tanks throughout 1956. Memorable between the oddities involving the day were the atomic explosive device drills by which often school kids might attain assured safety from any near by neutron blast by simply being taught to crawl under their own desks (confirming that this leaders then were about like all those we have today).

Eisenhower was Leader and Nixon Perversité President, re-elected while a team intended for a second expression. Congress adopted "In God We Trust" as the nationwide motto, officially supplanting its unofficial precursor, E Pluribus Unum. In one regarding the great ideological misfires of just about all time, Ike appointed William J. Brennan as an connect justice of the particular United States Best Court. The Substantial Court at the time included not necessarily only Justice Brennan but also Earl Warren, Felix Frankfurter, John Harlan, Hugo Black, and William O. Douglas.

Drug treatments were clearly the problem in metropolitan areas but had not spread as but for the larger culture. In answer, Congress kept marathon hearings in the issue and even passed the Narcotic Control Act regarding 1956. Prescription drugs in addition to packaged foodstuffs, at the same time, did not need safety caps or seals, and the particular Tylenol poisoner who else brought that constant headache upon all of us had not but begun to assist his just view of everlasting self applied in the lowest associated with the lowest involving the lowest parts of Hades specifically reserved for him, w here (I hope) it is EXTRA, EXTRA WARM!

Smoking was amazing, however , really amazing; so too was drinking (remember typically the "highball"). Garbage was garbage and weather condition was weather, considering that Rachel Carson hadn't yet had her way. Wonder Bakery made up with regard to any nutritional shortfall incurred through all that smoking plus drinking, or at least this is the bottom line I would have found as a 5-year old boy in the time got I thought on the subject of it (only unusual people didn't such as Wonder Bread).

Fireworks were everywhere about the Fourth involving July, and there was no forbidden areas and specific zones. Many an fell served as some sort of proving ground with regard to mischievous boys inside training for the demolition corps. What has been done with cherry bombs will be passed over throughout silence.

Ma Bells introduced three-slot pay phones (for dime, dime, and quarter) that year. The lady would lease a home phone at the same time but not offer you one. A person could, nevertheless , pay attention in for no cost on someone else's party-line conversation, plus you might make crank calls at will without having fear that unknown caller ID would uncover you for being the particular lewd individual that a person were.

'56 Chevys, costing about $2, 000, symbolized the oligopoly (composed regarding GM, U. H. Steel, and some sort of few others) that will John Kenneth Galbraith assured us might forever dominate the new industrial state and crush just about all future competition. "Made in Japan" designed junk, and Volvo took this to heart by delivery its first transistor radio to Canada that year, possibly sensing that that might ultimately possess the last laugh.

Dairy Queens proliferated, having just launched dilly bars in order to complement the clown splits they acquired been serving upwards for five many years, but no find could yet be found of McDonald's (nor of the particular infamously-named and now near-defunct Sambo's Eating place which many of us might remember while consuming those awful a few: 00 a. michael. fries in college student mode during the nineteen sixties and 1970s).

Petrol stations were full service and gas was priced at about $. 22 per gallon. The road culture ala Jack Kerouac held sway. Drive-in theaters flourished within the nationwide phenomenon which saw them quintuple in number coming from 1948 until these people hit their peak by 1958 including as indoor movies building shrank by one-quarter during that equal period. President Eisenhower signed the National Highway Act that will gave impetus in order to the federal interstate system we understand so well today. Industrial flying had long gone mainstream, was extremely regulated and expensive, and enabled a person to get a hot meal with your trip.

Kodak dominated film. Polaroid was at their third decade of existence and had been able to sell it is one millionth camera that year, although the Instamatic was nonetheless well off straight into the future. IBM had invented the world's first hard disk (5 MB storage) for use about mainframes. Of course, the people of that day could not possibly dream of private computers or hand held digital devices or perhaps email or maybe the Web.

TVs were in about half coming from all households and got end up being the center regarding family activity, having supplanted radio in addition to undercut the cinema. Virtually all were black in addition to white, as coloring sets would not capture on before the early '60s. It was a little while until the U. S Great Court decision within 1955 to pave the way, although TV quiz exhibits were held not necessarily to constitute against the law gambling so the $64, 000 Question has been eagerly watched to be able to see if contestants could win personal prizes of since much as hundred buck. Also eagerly watched were Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, who premiered their very own hugely popular Huntley-Brinkley Report on NBC in October, 1956, bumping Douglas Edwards of CBS through the top spot inside ratings for television news. TV put forth a riches of wholesome household entertainment, with Dad Knows Best, the particular Danny Thomas Present, the Phil Silvers Show, the Loretta Young Show, Playhouse 90, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Caesar's Hour going to mind as standouts amongst the offerings. Zero VHS to document any of it with, however, and no TiVo either.

Hollywood released Cecil B. DeMille's The particular Ten Commandments, together with its nearly 4-hour runtime, whose extremely ponderousness is rumored to have prompted a prominent Jewish wag of the time to operate in the center of the screening and cry out, "Cecil, let our people go. inch While it not any doubt went undetected here in the particular Valley, Ed Real wood also produced precisely what is reputed to become the worst video ever made, Program 9 from Space, whose star (Bela Lugosi), having passed away after only 4 days of firing, was represented simply by a double via most of the movie! More likely to be found in the local Odeon were Bus End (Marilyn Monroe), Have a picnic (William Holden), The Searchers (John Wayne), Giant (Rock Hudson), Moby Dick (Gregory Peck), The Sound Gold Cadillac (Judy Holliday), Forbidden Earth (Walter Pidgeon), Anastasia (Ingrid Bergman), Warm and friendly Persuasion (Gary Cooper), All over the world in 80 Days (David Niven regarding 100, 1000 other stars in cameo appearances), Designs (Van Heflin), and (my favorite) Intrusion of the Body Snatchers (Kevin McCarthy). Almost all in all, the OK but not really a fantastic year intended for Hollywood, as the great stars of the 1930s and 1940s had either retired or have been past their leading and as typically the film noir trend had pretty very much reached the conclusion regarding its tether, yielding place, on the one hand, to Doris Day nonsense films and, on the other, to hothouse videos of the Bill Faulkner variety featuring sweaty male qualified prospects and ever hot and much abused women. Arghhh! No speculate the cinema had been in decline.

The "beat" movement is at full swing, Elvis appeared on the particular Ed Sullivan exhibit, and the movie "Rock Across the Clock" has been released, causing rock-and-roll riots, of most issues, throughout much of The european union. The vinyl VINYLSKIVA had been around just shy of the decade and has been hugely popular. Hugh Hefner had commenced his mischief, in addition to Marilyn Monroe and even Marlon Brando every single were promoting their unique versions of love-making appeal. Grace Kelly caused the region to swoon along with her marriage to be able to Prince Rainier found in Monaco. And Pete Seeger protested in addition to sang folk songs. Kids played Monopoly and rode Schwinn bikes. The Yankees won the globe Collection, beating the Dodgers (the Brooklyn Dodgers, that is), together with Don Larsen harrassing a perfect sport and with this kind of stalwarts as Mickey mouse Mantle, Whitey Honda, Yogi Berra, Margaret Robinson, and Pee Wee Reese gracing area. Professional field hockey remained largely seperated, though amazing players did some incredible things in exactly what were then identified as the Negro Colleges and a new certain Bill Russell had led the particular University of San Francisco to the particular NCAA championships that year for the second time working; today the ratio of bright to black gamers in the NBA has shifted, to set it mildly. Matn Luther King's Montgomery bus boycotts experienced just come in order to an excellent conclusion, sparked by way of a post-Brown sixth is v. Board of Education and learning decision of the particular U. S. Supreme Court as a result of some sort of legal team led by Thurgood Marshall.

Schools had self-control, and prayer. Knuckle-rapping with rulers was OK. Girls were with the marrying kind or perhaps of the "other" kind. Boys were a similar drips in that case because they are today. Latina was still being taught while a required dialect, though Greek experienced been routed by simply well-meaning but completely befuddled language latitudinarians. Grade inflation hadn't yet taken keep, and the dislike of flunking out there remained very true for many who didn't fulfill standards.

Perhaps the greatest news involving 1956 was included with typically the discovery of your shot for the elimination of polio -- one of the particular great medical discoveries ever. The Valley, and the region, gave a massive sigh of comfort.

Law practice had been seen as a mostly men lawyers who in no way touched a typewriter and who influenced profusely, wore matches and ties, and addressed one another as Mr. or even Mrs. or Miss (no Ms. in the time and even no casual first-name familiarity). Typewriters abounded. Plain paper copying was still a few years off, but lawyers could still work with cruder mechanisms for making copies. Lawyers will probably be lawyers, after all. Early fax devices existed but were few in number and really expensive. An "express message" meant a telegram from the one company that after that held a monopoly over that method of communication. Al pie de la letra cut-and-paste constituted typically the editing process. Guide redlining was laboriously done in greater firms but certainly not much elsewhere. Even "large" firms had been midgets compared to today's giants (even as of early 1960s, the next 80-year-old firm I actually began with in 1980, McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, had just twenty roughly lawyers! ). Lawyers did certainly not advertise, and collegial relationships tended to characterize what have been then true close ties where lawyers, when established, planned to spend their complete working careers.

"Silicon Valley" did not then exist, but all of that was about to be able to change. It started quietly enough in addition to many did certainly not notice. In the late 1930s, the pointy-headed Englishman named Alan Turing had taken his great knowledge of high-level mathematics, had presumed infinite resources, and even had began in order to develop a reasonable model of incredible assumptive power that he referred to as his "universal calculating machine. " He or she saw that the vast number regarding complex functions could possibly be mimicked and refined through logical illustrations contained in straight forward "on" and "off" states. Thus was basically born the digital model (or from least its contemporary and truly successful incarnation). But a small problem remained: how to handle it about those "infinite resources" that higher mathematicians could consider with no consideration in their particular theorems but that will did not in fact exist. The negative based world was one of heavy machinery, the larger and more highly effective the higher. And but, and yet... Could be with the best materials, the strength of electricity could be controlled to give people real-world computers as so envisioned.

Enter William Shockley. The particular date: February 13, 1956. The place: 391 South San Antonio Road, Hill View. The target: to make typically the world's first semiconductors. Yes, right with the time typically the Valley struggled to maintain some semblance of its agricultural roots, Shockley announced the development of Shockley Labs. While really a division of a bigger enterprise, this very little outfit ultimately arranged the model for many startups that would follow. How? Properly, despite all-pervasive professional, it never manufactured a dime of earnings. Only red ink. A real model for the Valley!

Precisely what is more, this became a modele of a startup company that is began, controlled, and dominated by an engineering genius who proceeds to suffocate typically the life out of it. Today such engineers are kept caged in a back place, carefully guarded, in addition to periodically fed major helpings of stock options to keep these people tamed. Back after that people didn't recognize any better. And thus William Shockley ultimately destroyed the service which he had been the brainchild. And even brainchild he was -- the Nobel-Prize-winning designer of the earth's first transistor, a key foundational piece where the digital design could be created. A person with sufficient stature to build what was perhaps the world's most famous founding team. Although it all found naught, and Shockley took his Nobel Prize and relocated to Stanford to illustrate upon wild étnico theories.

But what a founding crew he had assembled! Gordon Moore. Robert Noyce. The founders regarding Fairchild Semiconductor in addition to, ultimately, Intel, Sophisticated Micro Devices, in addition to all the "fairchildren" that eventually came up to the fore. From failure emerged spectacular success. As a consequence, the great services in the Valley have been poised to are available into existence and realize the great electronic vision of Joe Turing. The field of online companies, venture capital, in addition to explosive growth was about to begin. Plus Santa Clara Vly was never in order to be the equivalent again. Silicon Vly was born.

Copyright � 2009 George Grellas.

Regarding the Author

George Grellas has were living and worked inside and around San francisco continuously since 1968. He is the startup business legal professional as well as the author regarding the Startup Law 101 Number of lessons for founders plus entrepreneurs.

Though this individual was not inside Silicon Valley inside 1956, or actually old enough to appreciate it at the time, he keeps a great melancolÃa for the Pit which is no a lot more.

This article in the original context (though not law-related) is certainly shown as a good item of additional interest for Si Valley entrepreneurs in the Startup Law 101 Series section associated with the author's rules firm website .
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