Book excerpt: " The San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950's and 1960's was a magical place. The war had ended and the country was in the midst of an economic boom. There was widespread optimisim about the future and the Bay Are shared this enthusiasm. Explosions in industry and population, two trends that further enriched a thriving local economy, characterized the region. ... is a celebration of some of the places that made the San Francisco Bay Area a special region in which to live, work, and play in the years following World War II. From the Bay Area's post-war suburbs, with their modern ranch homes, schools and shopping centers, to its futuristic commerical architecture and once numerous roadside attractions..... -- from Inside Cover flap.