SAN JOSE HISTORY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
St. James Park: A Book Talk That Unspools a 1933 San Jose Noir
An author presentation and photographic slideshow that uses a novel‑based retelling of the Brooke Hart kidnapping to illuminate San Jose’s labor unrest, corruption, and mob violence.
St. James Park: A Book Talk That Unspools a 1933 San Jose Noir.
Explore San Jose’s turbulent past through a fast‑paced, cinematic novel set in the Great Depression. The presentation pairs John Doll’s account of the 1933 Brooke Hart kidnapping with a photographic slideshow to unpack themes of labor unrest, government corruption, anti‑immigrant racism and mob violence in Santa Clara Valley nearly a century ago.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A Noir of Santa Clara Valley
The novel is rooted in the actual events surrounding the 1933 Brooke Hart kidnapping and paints a noir portrait of labor conflict, corruption and community tensions in Depression‑era San Jose.
A Real Case Recast as Fiction
Set during the Great Depression, the book recounts the kidnapping and its aftermath to explore media manipulation, social justice, and mob violence—issues the presentation explicitly ties to the city’s history.
Author Presentation and Photographic Slideshow
John Doll pairs readings with a photographic slideshow reflecting the historic context; copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the event.
What the day feels like
What the evening feels like
The presentation delivers a concentrated, two‑hour immersion into a fraught episode of San Jose history: readings from a novel based on the Brooke Hart case, illustrated by period photographs and anchored by an author who grew up on family memories of that night.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who should attend—and who should consider skipping it.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The presentation runs approximately two hours; consult the operator for exact start and end times.
Event meets at History Park (635 Phelan Ave, San Jose); verify location details with History San José before attending.
Bring payment if you plan to buy a copy of the novel; other gear is not specified in the provided details.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the event?
The presentation lasts two hours.
Where does the event meet?
The meeting location is History Park, 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA 95112.
Who is John Doll?
John Doll is a third‑generation San Josean who drew on family memories and local history in writing the novel.
Will there be photos or visual materials?
Yes. The book presentation includes a photographic slideshow reflecting the historic context of the kidnapping and its aftermath.
Can I buy the book at the event?
Copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the presentation.
Who operates the event?
The event is presented by History San José.