THE SEVEN SEAS LOCKER CLUB

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

If you were a West Coast Sailor in the '60's or before, you would remember the Seven Seas Locker Club in downtown San Diego.

For the rest of you, let me explain. Before ADM Elmo Zumwalt became CNO, enlisted Navy men were not allowed to have civilian clothes aboard ship and in some cases in their barracks. Uniforms were encouraged to be worn at all times. Which uniform was dictated by the Plan of the Day and the activity.

In San Diego, as an enlisted sailor, you left the Quarter Deck in dress uniform and went downtown to the Seven Seas where you had a rented locker. You changed into civies and went on liberty. You still looked like a sailor and acted like a sailor but you pretended to be a civilian.

The Seven Seas not only rented lockers, they would clean and press uniforms, sew on those new crows(rank), tailor those bell-bottom trousers that you were so proud of, sew on liberty cuffs ( embroidered dragons), pencil roll your neckerchief and sell you Seafarer uniforms.

They were a huge place, took up a full block, off Broadway, that was open 24 hours a day. It had been a landmark since WWII. Bet you old sailors remember.

 

[Trooperdan]

Sounds like a proud tradition!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I recall seeing a similiar place in Memphis.
Not nearly as large-
But Millington NAS not even close to number of Sailors in San Diego!

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Sadly it's long gone. We took the RV to San Diego about a month ago and stayed for a week. We drove up and down Broadway and didn't see one Sailor, or Marine, in uniform. The YMCA and Greyhound bus station are still there, along with the train station. I used to take the train from San Diego to Santa Ana whenever I got the chance to go home on weekends. A round trip ticket was 10 Bucks!

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

I recall seeing a similiar place in Memphis.
Not nearly as large-
But Millington NAS not even close to number of Sailors in San Diego!

I can't recall a locker club there but there was a EM club called the Four Winds between the NAS and the NATTC. Photo is me at NATTC in 1964.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Sadly it's long gone. We took the RV to San Diego about a month ago and stayed for a week. We drove up and down Broadway and didn't see one Sailor, or Marine, in uniform. The YMCA and Greyhound bus station are still there, along with the train station. I used to take the train from San Diego to Santa Ana whenever I got the chance to go home on weekends. A round trip ticket was 10 Bucks!

For three months after graduating from bootcamp, I had to run the barracks for sailors that were being discharged under less than honorable conditions ( the whole spectrum). This also entailed making them dress in '50's civilian paisley colored clothes with Eisenhower jackets and pleated pants, loading them on a bus and escorting them to the train station in San Diego. I was so embarrassed to be seen with them. Everyone just stared at us because all the civilians in Diego knew what they represented.

 

[M E Morrison]

If you were a West Coast Sailor in the '60's or before, you would remember the Seven Seas Locker Club in downtown San Diego.

For the rest of you, let me explain. Before ADM Elmo Zumwalt became CNO, enlisted Navy men were not allowed to have civilian clothes aboard ship and in some cases in their barracks. Uniforms were encouraged to be worn at all times. Which uniform was dictated by the Plan of the Day and the activity.

In San Diego, as an enlisted sailor, you left the Quarter Deck in dress uniform and went downtown to the Seven Seas where you had a rented locker. You changed into civies and went on liberty. You still looked like a sailor and acted like a sailor but you pretended to be a civilian.

The Seven Seas not only rented lockers, they would clean and press uniforms, sew on those new crows(rank), tailor those bell-bottom trousers that you were so proud of, sew on liberty cuffs ( embroidered dragons), pencil roll your neckerchief and sell you Seafarer uniforms.

They were a huge place, took up a full block, off Broadway, that was open 24 hours a day. It had been a landmark since WWII. Bet you old sailors remember.

Ah yes, this brings back memories!

 

[STCM(SW)]

The locker place in NewPort RI was the YMCA. A good size Navy town back then.

 

[swsig]

I grew up in San Diego, and I remember sailors in civies because they looked like, well, sailors in civies. The Navy was so much a part of San Diego in those days that the first time I saw some nuns in white habits, I asked Mom if they were wearing their summer uniforms.

 

[ditrina]

I can't recall a locker club there but there was a EM club called the Four Winds between the NAS and the NATTC. Photo is me at NATTC in 1964.

Many a BUSH BEER was consumed, at the Four Winds

1967, ADJ "A" School and Helicopter "C" School.. Thanks for the memories. ( Oh yeah there was that Southern blonde who has access to her brother's '55 Chevy hot rod. )

 

[the ringo kid]

The locker place in NewPort RI was the YMCA. A good size Navy town back then.

A friend of mine was stationed there back in the 80s. Dang-he's been retired from the Navy about 10 years now. Im old.

 

[DWalt]

Last time I was in SD was maybe 15 years ago, possibly a little longer. I think I remember seeing that place. Maybe not the same place, but someone told me it was where sailors changed into civvies and stored their uniforms and personal items while they were out and about on shore leave. There was also a large YMCA in the same area (around Basset Center). It had a great little restaurant/coffee shop in it, not very fancy but good food and very reasonably priced, and I remember I ate breakfast there several times. One thing I remember clearly about downtown SD - lots and lots of homeless guys/winos sleeping in doorways and border patrol driving around picking up illegals. Was in Seattle back in February - saw a large number of homeless on the streets and in squatter camps under highways there also. It happens here in San Antonio, but nothing close to what I saw in Seattle.

 

[les.b]

I'm an east coast sailor, but I sure remember "Liberty Cuffs", and tailored uniforms. Chief, you have sure been bringing back the memories here lately!! Keep it up.

Best Regards, Les

 

[jlrhiner]

Just in case anyone is wondering what the Master Chief is talking about;

 

[les.b]

Ha!!! "Deck Apes" and "Snipes"!!!

What a walk down memory lane!! I haven't heard either of those "job titles" for many a year!!

Nice collection, Jim!!

 

[Frank46]

Our ship was home ported at Mayport Florida and we'd go to Jacksonville change into civvies. If you had weekend liberty one guy would rent a hotel room and next thing you'd have about 10 or so guys crashing on the floor. Buying White Castle belly bombers by the sack full. Couldn't buy any beer as in Florida I was underage. Overseas not a problem. Keep it up Master Chief you are on a roll. SNIPES RULE. Frank

 

[caduceus]

You sure brought back memories like a whiff of naval aviation fuel. One whiff and I'm transported back in time via those memories. Broadway was several first for this young sailor. All of 17 yrs old what a sight 1969. It was alive, city bus, movies, u know the type, bars, store owners escorting u off the street to buy jewelry on credit for ur girlfriends, all kinds of Hustler's. Not to mention shore patrol, MP's, LEOs . Reported in for Hospital Corpsman A school, gave me my liberty card. Having a beer which got me into the holding tank to be transferred back to base. Met my first MasterChief, next morning. He was a native American crow Indian, in dress blues, gold on the sleeves read 27 yrs, silver Star along with bronze star. I was impressed More ways than one when he got through with all of us. I minded my business after that encounter ��