Huntington Beach Happenings
by: Chris MacDonald
Published: July 7, 2025
HUNTINGTON BEACH...Hope you all had a Happy 4th of July.
Happy Birthday to Seven Gables Real Estate Office Manager Diane Van Der Goes.
Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Casey McKeon said: To report illegal fireworks, please use the My HB application and dial 714-536-LOUD (5683).
Huntington Beach Assistant City Clerk Juan Esquivel provided a link to the previous Huntington Beach City Council Meeting on Tuesday July 1st, 2025. Click here
The Huntington Beach Public Works Crew provided this news alert to Local Residents: The Public Works Department is doing essential repairs to replace a broken 12-inch water valve at the northwest corner of McFadden Avenue and Edwards Street in Huntington Beach. Work occurs weekdays from July 7 through July 15, 2025, between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Activities will include grinding, excavation, saw cutting, and paving. Lane #2 will be closed westbound on McFadden Avenue before Edwards Street and southbound on Edwards Street before McFadden Avenue. Electronic message boards will be in place to notify motorists in advance. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes and exercise caution in the work zone. For questions, please contact the Public Works Department’s Utilities Division at (714) 536-5921.
Huntington Beach City Historian Jerry Person Remembers When -
Remembering Newsman George Putnam
In just a few days thousands of people will visit surf city and will be lining both Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway by the pier to watch this year's Fourth of July parade.
This week we are going back to the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s to remember one who had rode sitting on his silver-saddled palomino horse Diamond during those years. When our remember when subject first appeared in our parade, television sets were all small screen black and white and appearing nightly was George Putnam who reported the news of the day.
In the late 1950s visitors to our parade were able to see their newsman in person as he rode his horse and waved to the cheers along the route. During this time Putnam delivered the on KTTV Channel 11 before moving over to KTLA Channel 5 to inform Angelenos what happened that day.
Putnam was born in Breckenridge, Minn. when he received his formal education. After graduation his first broadcasting job was with WDGY, a thousand-watt radio station playing records and answering calls,
I the late 1930s Putnam moved to New York where the major radio broadcasters were located. Starting first at $190 he advanced up the ladder of success.
When America entered World War II Putnam, like young men at the tine was drafted into the Army and later in the Marine Corps where be became involved with the Armed Forces Radio Service.
After the war he was hired by the DuMont television network where he wrote and delivered six commentaries a week.
By late 1951 he was hired by KTTV to deliver the news of the day with the help of about 15 staff members. In the mid-1960s Putnam moved over to KTLA before moving back to KTTV. By the early 1970s returned to KTLA. He even had stints on KHJ Channel 9 and KCOP on Channel 13.
When he could find time he loved riding horses and for 45 years he rode in the Tournament of Roses as well in our Fourth of July parade although not that many years.
Today when many watch either live or on color television, there are still many here in Huntington Beach who remember seeing him atop his horse right here in our hometown.
Putnam would conclude his television news programs with the following: "And that's the up-to-the-minute news, up to the minute, that's all the news, and would also add, "back at 10, see you then."
Well George we may not see you again in our world-famous Fourth of July parade, we will always remember that you were a part in the greatest Fourth of July parade west of the Mississippi River.