Sourisseau News: Women Cannery Workers

The San Jose Fruit Packing company was once the largest cannery in the world and by the 1930s, Santa Clara Valley's 38 canneries were the largest employers of women in California.To learn more about the important role of women keeping these these canneries afloat, watch the latest episode of Sourisseau News below.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News August 2017 Women Cannery Workers from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Hotel Vendome

On First Street, just north of Downtown, there once stood the Hotel Vendome. The 150-room hotel was only around between 1889 and 1930, but featured several interesting amenities like a bowling alley. Eventually increased competition and damage from fires led it to shut down and the land was subdivided and sold off. It would have been nice to preserve this gem near Japantown, much like we were able to do for Hayes Mansion, the Hotel Montgomery, and the Hotel DeAnza.

Watch the two-minute video more to learn about this hotel and see some amazing historic photos.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News: Hotel Vendome - April 2017 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Ice Cream

In this fascinating two-minute video, learn about the history of ice cream in San Jose. I wish I could travel back in time to experience some of the locations in the video like O'Brien's Candy Store!

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News Ice Cream January 2017 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Wetting your Whistle

It looks like I missed quite a few Sourisseau News videos from earlier this year so I will be playing catch-up for the next few weeks. The two minute video below highlights many of San Jose's famous watering holes from the past century. 50 years from now, I wonder if San Joseans will be watching similar videos about the top bars of the 2010s.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News Wetting your Whistle November 2016 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Let’s Shop!

If you want to learn more about the history of shopping in San Jose, look no further than the latest two-minute Sourisseau News video below. It begins with HART's department store in Downtown San Jose and then provides a glimpse into the history of what we now know as Valley Fair mall. Can you guess which department store is in the photo below? (Hint: I had never heard of it before watching the video).

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News June 2017 Let's Shop! from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: From Willows to Glen

Did you ever wonder how Willow Glen got its name? How long was Willow Glen an independent city before being annexed into San Jose? Watch the latest two-minute Sourisseau News video below to find out, along with all sorts of other interesting tidbits.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News Willow Glen December from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: The German Community in San Jose

Did you know the oldest social organization in San Jose was created for German immigrants? The site still exists today and partially houses one of the hottest new restaurants Downtown, Ludwigs German Table. The two-minute video below provides a great overview of German contributions to early San Jose.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.


Sourisseau News: The German Community in San Jose October 2016 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

PAC*SJ Throw Back Thursday Movie Night

The big PAC*SJ fall event this year is going to be a movie night with a vintage bar featuring "fruit cocktails," rock tunes, and a mid-century-themed potluck. There will also be prizes for best costumes and recipes.

Steven Yvaska, Mercury News columnist and antiques expert, will be the Master of Ceremonies. Joe Melehan and Jim Zetterquist, members of the Fruit Cocktail Club, will narrate the movies. The theme will be "Lost and Found", focusing on places, practices, industries, and technology that were once a part of everyday life and now exist only on film. Throughout the evening there will be classic items for sale and auction.

The event takes place on Thursday, November 17th from 6:30 PM to 10 PM at the San Jose Woman's Club (75 South 11th Street, San Jose, CA). Parking is free on nearby city streets or $5 in the SJSU North Garage.

Tickets are only $5 per person and you can reserve your spot right over here. You can also get more details at the PAC*SJ Facebook Page.

New "Visit San Jose" video

Team San Jose did an exceptional job of producing their latest promotional video for San Jose. The 1:37 long video highlights San Jose's diversity and culture and is one of the best promo videos I have seen yet for San Jose. Check it out below.

You can follow the "Visit San Jose" Facebook Page over here.

Chamber announces Silicon Valley IDEA (Initiative to Drive Economic Advancement)

The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce announced a new initiative a couple weeks
ago to strengthen the Chamber’s regional economic development efforts. This includes a regional branding initiative and creating a shared voice for local businesses to identify and address issues related to regional business operations and quality of life.

The goal is to help maintain Silicon Valley's role as the world's top innovation powerhouse and market our area as such to the rest of the globe. Below are five short videos that introduce 'silicon valley IDEA.'

For more information on 'silicon valley IDEA' or to become directly involved in the program, please visit: https://siliconvalleyidea.org

Anne & Mark's Art Party

Check out this two-minute tour of Anne & Mark's Art Party, one of the coolest art festivals in the Bay Area. The video comes from our friends at WMS media Inc.

Anne & Mark's Art Party 2016 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

The Light Between Two Towers

Our good friend Thomas Wohlmut from WMS Media embarked on a mission to discover if there is any connection between the San Jose Light Tower and the Eiffel Tower. I think his findings will surprise a lot of people. The documentary film will be available in 2017, and the very first trailer is below!


The Light Between Two Towers - Trailer from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Local Residential Architecture

The latest edition of Sourisseau News discusses a polarizing topic--residential architecture. San Jose has had a wide variety of residential styles over the decades, most of which you can still find in or near Downtown San Jose. Check out the two minute video below for several examples of local architectural styles, most of which we would now consider "historic homes."

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.


Sourisseau News April 2016 Local Residential Architecture from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

British Airways: London vs. San Jose

As a clever promo for the new direct flight between San Jose and London, British Airways has made a video where San Jose and London face off. It is definitely worth watching and is only a few minutes long. The flight launched on May 4th and will utilize a cutting edge Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane.

Source: SJ Economy News

Sourisseau News: Smokestacks

The latest edition of Sourisseau News is all about the smokestacks found in San Jose's early factories. Just be glad we have moved away from coal and we no longer have soot raining from the sky! Check out the two minute video below.

Oh, and a huge congratulations to WMS Media for winning a CreaTV award for their outstanding documentary on one of San Jose's most famous photographers, DelCarlo.


Sourisseau News March 2016 Smokestacks from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: February 2016

The latest edition of Sourisseau News discusses San Jose fires. In addition to some pretty spectacular photos, learn about early San Jose fire protection, firefighters, and fire houses. There is even a plug at the end for the San Jose Fire Museum that is coming soon to Downtown San Jose. It is only a two minute video and is well worth your time!


Sourisseau News February2016 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

SJSU Drone Footage

In yet another Downtown San Jose drone video, you can explore the San Jose State University campus while listening to catchy music.

Downtown San Jose Drone Footage

A few people have been bringing drones to Downtown San Jose and capturing some impressive aerial footage. You can two of the best videos below. It would be interesting to see this same footage during December when all of the holiday decorations are up.

Source: Dirt Patch and Cardinal2007 from the San Jose Development Forum

Visit San Jose Promo Video

I just ran across this 90 second video below that highlights a lot of local (mostly San Jose) attractions in a very short period of time. Check it out for yourself!

Sourisseau News: Andrew Hill

In the latest edition of Sourisseau News, we learn about the man Andrew Hill High School was named after. He was a painter and photographer known for several iconic photos of places like Mission Santa Clara, Stanford, and San Jose's Chinatown. He even climbed the San Jose Electric Light Tower to get an 8-photo panorama which you can see in the video below.

Andrew Hill had a studio in the Dougherty Building on South Second Street, which burnt down in the 1906 Earthquake. He ended up moving his studio to his home, which is currently on display at History San Jose. Check out the two minute video below for your monthly dose of San Jose history!


Sourisseau News December 2015 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

San Jose Chinatown as photographed by Andrew Hill