In the fall of 1957 both 10th and 11th streets became one way running in opposite directions in downtown Modesto; brought about by merchants who wanted more convenient on-street parking for their patrons. With each street having three lanes, cars could sit side by side and do a loop through downtown which helped start the Modesto teenage social activity known as cruising (earlier called dragging). The two pictures below show 10th street as a one way street from different views at about the same time. The first shows 10th street at J street looking northwest. The photographer seems to be positioned in the middle of the street with Longs on the left and Kress on the right (both out of view). The second photo is looking southeast at K street with part of the Sears department store in view on the left. These photos were taken in the early 1960s which is about when George Lucas' 1973 semi-autobiographical movie American Grafitti takes place. By the mid-1960s, however, two of the ma...