GREAT old photos of Seal Beach from Founder’s Day

Wow…and Wow again!

The Seal Beach Founder’s Day website is fantastic. As is the blog of  Michael Dobkins! It includes a group of old photographs,silent movies of the Pacific & Electric Red Car Service training film.  (“Hey conductor help all the ladies…not just the pretty ones!”) and tons of old photos of  the beginning of our town.

Mike Dobkins has the most extensive collection of Seal Beach photos that Libby Applegate, one of the people who created Founder’s Day said she’d ever seen.  Dobkins is also on the publicity committee for the upcoming 95th Birthday celebration (Oct 10, 2010)

Today’s post answers the  question, “what do The Beatles, the Memphis Belle B-17 Flying Fortress, and Clancy’s Saloon have in common?”

Go to  http://sbfoundersday.wordpress.com/author/sbfoundersday/ or http://sbfoundersday.wordpress.com/

You will see tags for  1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, Clancy’s Saloon, Mamie’s, Seal Beach, Seal Beach Pharmacy and much, much more.

This blog is a link from the founder’s website (built by Alison Cotter a member of the publicity committee.)   More people are following Mike’s blog because he has up to date information for Seal Beach Founder’s Day.  They are alsoon  on Facebook and Twitter.

They are presenting a slide show at the Marina Community Center on Wednesday evening, October 27, 7:30 – 9:30 PM.  Admission is FREE

Since last Friday, the site has posted two images of the Seal Beach Pharmacy that once occupied the current storefront of Clancy’s Saloon at 111 Main Street.    While researching for a future  post, Libby Applegate stumbled across a matchbook cover for another business that once ran at the same location.  If you were in the mood for better bar-b-q, cocktails, and shuffleboard, Mamie’s was the place to go in the late forties and early fifties.

What is interesting about this matchbook cover is the illustration of the buxom babe preparing to go fishing by charmingly asking us if we’ll bait her hook.  The signature reads “PETTY,” who was George Petty, a well-known cheesecake artist working in the Albert Vargas style.  He did a series of pin-ups called “The Petty Girls” for Esquire magazine from 1933-1956.  His glamorous gals were reproduced extensively as nose art on American World War II airplanes, including the famous “Memphis Belle” that was featured in a wartime documentary and feature film.  You can find an image of a Petty Girl in the crowd on the album cover for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  And between 1948 and 1951, George Petty drew five sets of girlie matchbook covers for the Monarch Match Company in San Jose to be used on business matchbooks across the country, including Seal Beach’s very own Mamie’s.

One of the fascinating things about local history is how even minor ephemera like a matchbook cover can lead you far away from your original subject.

To learn more about George Petty, visit The Pin-Up Files or view more samples of his artwork at the American Art Archives.

Be sure to check back each week for more historical photos and stories of Seal Beach.

Add a comment to this post

Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://subscribe.wordpress.com

Lifeguard Memories…..from Anaheim Landing to Main Beach

Story by Libby Appelgate and Andy Seymour.

Earl Whittington was the only lifeguard in Seal Beach from  the 1920s until the early ’40s!

During those years, most of the swimming activity was centered At Anaheim Landing. Swimmers were protected from the currents of outgoing tides by a bouy line that enclosed the swimming area.

The Red Car line that ran down Electric Ave crossed by trestle over Anaheim Landing on its run to Newport Beach. By 1944 Whittington was relocated to a lifeguard station at 10th Street, equipped with a rescue dory when the navy moved in.

The Seymour family lived year round in a cottage at Anaheim Landing.   Andy Seymour describes the further evolution of life guarding in Seal Beach. “From 1948 to 1950 John Wright headed the department, he was followed by Lloyd Murray from 1951 to 1955.”   In l953 Andy Seymour moved up to Lifeguard Captain and held it until 1983 when Tim Dorsey assumed command.

During four of those summers – –  at the request of the City Manager – – Seymour also served as Recreation Director. During the off season Seymour was a high school teacher. Andy  concluded his teaching career as a high school principal in the Palos Verdes school district in 1992. After retiring from teaching Seymour returned for a second tour of duty with the city as Director of Parks, Beaches, and Recreation.

Seymour recounts a most unexpected life-guarding experience that occurred during his senior year in high school. Police Chief Lee Howard called his house early one winter morning. He said he would be by to pick up young Seymour in a few minutes. They drove quickly to the beach, opened the lifeguard tower and pulled the dory to the water line. The Chief said, “On the other side of the pier.” – nothing more. Dutifully, Seymour rowed to that location where he discovered a body floating in the water – a suicide victim. He tried unsuccessfully to lift the body into the dory. As a last resort, he tied a line to the body and rowed ashore feeling somewhat disrespectful as the morning pier walkers watched from the railing. Thus began a  summer experience with the Seal Beach Lifeguard Department that lasted 30 years.

Initially it was the local young men who applied for the summer lifeguard positions: Rich Chew, Tim and Dan Dorsey, Bob Polis, Paul Chafe, Chi Kredell, Harry Schurch, Tim McElrath, Jack and Mike Haley, (Jack was the first World Surfing Champion and the first to “shoot” the HB Pier!) Lisa Gonzales (Seal Beach’s first female lifeguard) et al. Over the years the turn-out for the lifeguard test grew to 40-50 applicants and included headline swimmers from CSULB and local high schools.

From the single tower at 10th Street, the department gradually grew to include seven towers on the main beach, two towers in Surfside, a tower and PA on the pier, and a headquarters station in the 8th Street parking lot. Three jeeps were in service each day as well as a 28 foot, twin screw rescue boat.

Their week-end crowds topped 15,000 and they recorded some 400 rescues each summer in the late 1970s. During that thirty year period only two drownings occurred – one, a heart attack victim, and a second, a swimmer in the unpatrolled San Gabriel River channel.

Don’t forget Seal Beach’s 95th Birthday Dinner/Dance on Saturday, October 2 at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3001 Lampson Ave., Seal Beach at 6 p.m.and bring all your friends. Meet Andy and his wife, Mary Privett Seymour.  Casual dress or in the style of your favorite Seal Beach era and prepare for the time of your life dancing to the music of The Emperors, a classic rock band.  A live auction will be held and all proceeds will go to “Save Our Pool”.  $75 Advance ticket sales – Call Gwen Forsythe at 562 598-9044

We are also planning a “Kids-whose-parents-are-going-to the-dance” party at Marina park if enough are interested.   It will probably cost about $20- $25 ? Games,  food, movies and fun activities from 5:30 p.m. to 10. With qualified supervision.

Parents, if you think you would be interested please contact Tim Kelsey, tkelsey@ci.seal-beach.ca.us or Carla Watson, carlawatson@verizon.net

What A Finale For Our Summer Concerts

by George Banker

Thanks to our Concert Series Sponsors – Alan Brawer at Verizon FIOS and Jim & Shana Klisanin at Baytown Realty.  Special thanks to O’Malley’s Brian Kyle for sponsoring The Elm Street Band last night.

As usual the blankets and chairs had filled Eisenhower Park by 7 a.m.  Needless to say the chairs weren’t filled until 5 p.m.  Some Seal Beacher’s brought their dinners and sandwiches and many others took care of their appetites at our local bistros.

As usual the event was packed happy people.  The 50/50 Opportunity Drawing sent one lucky attendee out to shop local with $700 cash.  The Chamber appreciates your support and those of us at What’s Up In Seal Beach thank the Chamber for all they do to keep our city the town that it is.

Lots of “downtown” areas  across our great country have unfortunately  turned into deserts since the rise of suburbs and the “big-box” stores; but because of our very active Chamber of Commerce and our very loyal citizens we’ve managed to not only save our downtown area but it has prospered. The summer band series, the Car Show, Christmas Parade and similar venues have allowed Seal Beach to maintain that way of life that some of us remember from our childhood and now our children and grandchildren can experience it themselves.  That doesn’t exist in many places in the U. S.

The Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce sponsors and promotes a ton of great events in the Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Long Beach and Rossmoor areas.  Check them out at sealbeachchamber.org. If you or any of  your business contacts want to get involved in our great community, please let me know.

Hope you enjoy the attached photos!  Please forward to others who may enjoy the pictures.  If you want to see yourself or your friends in future pictures contact George Banker at the address at the bottom of this page.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=720937599803%3A1807470427&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

George Banker
Seal Beach Chamber – Director of Membership
562-842-6690
Pearce Consulting, Inc.

Huntington Beach Report

Huntington Beach CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S WEEKLY REPORT-Aug 31, 2010

CITY TREASURER-

Quick Tip of the Week – Can Do! –Begin your interactions with customers positively! Make it a habit to always tell your customer what you CAN do for them first. Don’t start with what you can’t do.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT – Last Chance to View Rock Paper Salt-The solo art exhibit features the work of Christine Nguyen. Titled Rock Paper Salt it closes September 4. Step into a visually stunning world of color and light that the artist has created before it closes. Large scale photographs, cyanotypes, specially commissioned installation pieces and drawings from the different elements of this exhibit are certain to intrigue and delight you. Admission is free. For opening hours call 714. 374-1650 or visit www.huntingtonbeachartcenter.org

New Creative Art for Toddlers class at the HB Art Center – In this class little artists will explore and make art while learning and experiencing shapes, colors, lines, textures and anything their imaginations can envision. This is a parent- participation class to be held on Saturday, 10:15-11:00 am and 11:15 am-12 noon. The first class is September 25. Registration has already begun. You can register at the Huntington Beach Art Center or online at www.hbsands.org For more information call 714.374.1650

Sixth Annual Plein Air Festival – The Huntington Beach Art Center is proud to present the Sixth Annual Plein Air Painting Festival. Artists began painting scenic Huntington Beach on August 22 and will continue throughout the month of September. This year the festival will include two free painting workshops at Pier Plaza on Sunday, September 12 with artists Diana LoSchiavo and Pamela Panattoni. A special Painting in the Streets event will feature festival artists painting in downtown Huntington Beach on Main Street and The Strand on September 11 from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. The Huntington Beach Art Center Foundation invites you to enjoy a fine dining experience, Dining En Plein Air, in the Art Center galleries on September 23, from 6:30-9:30 pm. The festival culminates with an exhibition of work created during the festival that will be on display from September 25-October 2. An opening reception will be held on September 24, 6:00-9:00 pm. For full festival details call 714.374.1650

Huntington Beach Senior Services – Cardiofit for Seniors – Come join the new exercise class for seniors! Marianne Grossman will lead this exercise class geared towards older adults every Tuesday and Friday morning, 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. from September 14 to November 19. The class fee is $45.00. Walk-in registration for this great new class is being accepted now at the Michael E. Rodgers Seniors Center, 1706 Orange Avenue, Huntington Beach. For more information call 714-536-9387. Class Number 4816.401

Sunset Vista – Reservations for Sunset Vista began August 1 and the campground is selling out fast. Opening day is Friday, October 1. Weekends through November are sold out, as well as the week of Thanksgiving. New Year’s, and Martin Luther King Day in January 2011 are full.

Reservations for the spring of 2011 will begin December 1. The weekdays usually run about 50% capacity and can be a great time to relax and camp at the beach. Sunset Vista Campground is located within the Huntington City Beach parking lot, south of the pier. The facility is extremely popular with the RV community, due to its priceless views and close proximity to the downtown area. It is recommended that patrons check the city’s website at www.huntingtonbeachca.gov (under “Most Requested Pages”) as staff is constantly making and updating reservations.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – SCVNGR Promotion in Surf City USA®-To celebrate the launch of SCVNGR (www.SurfCityUSA.com/SCVNGR) in Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach Marketing & Visitors Bureau is awarding Surf City USA® gift bags to the first 50 adventurous players who qualify for this game! It is the new interactive way to experience Surf City USA via your mobile phone. Playing is simple: Go places. Do challenges. Earn points! SCVNGR is played via a free iPhone/Android app. Two themed treks, the “Best of Huntington Beach Trek” and the “Surfin’ Surf City USA® Trek,” allow visitors to complete challenges throughout the City to earn points and the Surf City USA badge. For a limited time, the first 50 players to complete all 14 challenges in one of the two treks will win a Surf City USA nylon beach tote stuffed with a limited-edition Rip Curl t-shirt and information about Huntington Beach. SCVNGR is funded by Google Ventures and Highland Capital Partners. Visit www.scvngr.com to learn more or call 800-729-6232.

LIBRARY SERVICES DEPARTMENT- 2010 Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up

The Huntington Beach Library held three very successful Summer Reading Programs this year. The general theme was “water” and the children’s library really made a splash this summer with their fun program, “Make a Splash: Read!” An amazing 4,964 children signed up this year. More than 840 people attended the final two concerts on August 13 featuring Dave Kinnoin. Once again, the show was held in Central Park on the bandstand stage, which provided more space and shade to the excited crowd.            Huntington Beach teen patrons, aged 12-18, made some real waves with their program: “Make Waves at Your Library.” A record 445 teens signed up for the program and completed 1,268 hours of reading! Components of the program included a “Bingo Card”, a “Pirate Pizza Party”, and prizes like an annual beach pass. The Adult program “Water your Mind: Read”, registered 711 participants who completed 3,100 entries for the prize basket drawings – which means they read that many books! An impressive 35 book reviews were submitted. No doubt, as the summer winds down, the library’s readers will continue to excel into the fall!

PLANNING & BUILDING DEPARTMENT-Poseidon Update-The final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (FSEIR) for the Poseidon Desalination facility has been posted to the Planning and Building Department website at http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/Government/Departments/Planning/major/poseidon.cfm. The FSEIR contains changes to the Draft SEIR as well as responses to comments. The City Council is slated to consider certifying the FSEIR as adequate and complete at the September 7, 2010, meeting. For additional information, contact Ricky Ramos, Senior Planner, at (714) 536-5271.

PUBLIC WORKS – Slater Avenue Rehabilitation Project-The Slater Avenue Street Rehabilitation Project which began on August 3, 2010, is nearing completion. The project is located on Slater Avenue between Beach Boulevard and Newland Street. Improvements include replacement of existing pavement; limited concrete work to replace curb and gutter, sidewalk, curb access ramps, and cross gutters, installation of tree wells, and landscaping. Staff has been coordinating this work with Lake View Elementary School staff in order to minimize impacts on the school during construction. In addition, the contractor has been working six days a week to complete the project before the first day of school. Although the project will be substantially completed by September 8, the final paving of the street surface will remain and is scheduled for Saturday, September 11 to minimize major construction during school hours. Student safety is top priority and staff will continue working with the contractor to assure that the construction zone is safe and free of any obstructions.

Walk For the Beach and Yourself !

September 18, 2010 a day for all of us. Starting location: 15 1st Street, Seal Beach. $25 Entry Fee-tax deductible.

Entry fee Includes Pink or Black “Keep It Clean” T-shirt, Water, Free Parking

EASY Route-  Jetty to Jetty 2.25 miles

For really ambitious participants, we will be conducting a beach cleanup on
this day and you are welcome to take a bag and pick up trash along the route.

Register online at www.saveourbeach.org

Your participation helps support Save Our Beach in our efforts to keep our beach beautiful and educate others how they can help.

(If you’re not registered by 9/4, cost is only $20 but will not include t-shirt
and children 12 & under are only $15)

Here’s what is up for grabs…in addition to how good you’ll feel after helping our town and our beach!

====================

8 a.m. FREE Yoga for first 50 entries
(Yoga provided by Karen Kazanci)

9 a.m. start of walk

10 a.m. FREE Boot Camp for first 25 entries
(Boot Camp provided by www.fitnessworkx.com <http://www.fitnessworkx.com> )

FREE Kids Zone
(bounce house – temporary tattoos – face painting – buried treasures game – coloring contest)

FREE Mini Massage & Back Alignment 9 to 11
(Massage & Back Alignment provided by Champion Chiropractic)

Save Our Beach is a 501c3 non profit organization ID #35-2176382

Seal Beach’s own “Ole” Receives Surfing Hall of Fame Award

Last Saturday was the 17th annual “Ole Long-board Classic”  in Maui. The guy it was named after is Bob ‘Ole’ Olson who started shaping boards in Seal Beach in 1956 and he was inducted into the Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame this month.

Ole was a wood shop teacher at Rancho Los Alamitos High School and he’d shape boards at night and on weekends.  He likes to reminisce …. in a low key way…”Aw you know…surfing was just becoming popular and you could sell a two by four as a surfboard.”

Ole is the 5th Hawaii builder to be inducted into the Surfboard Builder’s Hall of Fame…joining such as Duke Kahanamoku and Rabbit Kekai. He’s the oldest living board builder that’s still making boards.

Ole was one of  Hobie’s first shapers (if  not the first?) He still surfs the Maui reef almost everyday.  Not for too many waves ….. but every day. This writer is proud to say the Ole is his friend!

For the complete story see the August 13 issue of the Maui News

Grand Marshals Chosen for Seal Beach’s 95th Birthday

A parade that will march down Electric Ave. on Sunday, October 10

It will be celebrating the 95th Anniversary of Seal Beach and  Kim and Steve Masoner and Lynne Pranter Phipps will be co-Grand Marshalls.

They will represent two different times in our town’s history. Kim and Steve, the present and the Lynne Pranter Phipps family …the historic times of our town.

Kim Masoner and her husband, Steve founded ‘Save Our Beach’ and the effort has grown from a handful of local volunteers to a nonprofit organization with a mailing list of more than 12,000 people across Southern California. Kim explains, “We started “Save Our Beach” because we live along the ocean. It’s literally our backyard and we took  long walks and picked up trash along the way. We were often asked if we had any extra bags. People just wanted to help. So we started carrying extra trash bags on our walks. And then we decided if there is that much interest …we’ll just make it easier for them by conducting a beach cleanup on a monthly basis.

Kim said, “Then we added ‘California Coastal Day,’ where we have 3 locations AND we also added a monthly “Riverbed/Wetlands Cleanup.”  Masoner schedules beach cleanups normally on the third Saturday of every month, and also organizes impromptu cleanups after major storms.

Once a week, she hosts field trips for elementary school children from San Diego to Santa Monica. Students help clean up a local beach and also learn how to prevent trash from ending up on the sand. Save Our Beach’s work doesn’t stop at the shore. After each event, Masoner donates old tennis balls to the local animal shelter and washes clothing found on the beach to donate to the homeless.The Masoners have received more awards than we can print here for their efforts in cleaning up the coast for over 10 years.

Regarding our other Grand Marshall, well her family has played an important part in “old” Seal Beach and “new” Seal Beach. Pretty much been on the scene for most of its 95 years.

Lynne Pranter Phipps’ great grandmother, Clara E. Boling Watts, lived in Tent City; grandmother; Jessie Reed was first woman mayor in Orange County when she became our Mayor.  She fought the legal gambling ordinance all her life. Founder of the Woman’s Club of Seal Beach in 1923 and proprietor of Tent City. Lynne’s mother, Norma Pranter, also lived in Tent City.  Tent City also had some wooden cottages and it was a resort for “summer people.” It was  between 12th and 14th streets and was popular between 1918 and 1938 .  Norma was president of the Woman’s Club of Seal Beach 1951 -52.

Lynne has a son and granddaughter living in the same building she lived in and it was , remodeled by her Great Grandmother and Grandfather.  It was a hone that  that was brought over from the Seal Beach Airport in 1944 when the navy moved in and now still sits on the property at 316 & 316 1/2 10th St. Her son, Lee, wife and Granddaughter, Haley, live there. 11 year old Haley is the sixth generation Seal Beacher.

How lucky we are to have a “ForeMother” and two outstanding young whippersnappers bringing all these kudos to our town’s 95th birthday.

Congratulations, Kim, Steve and Lynne!

HELP POLICE FIND THIS HIT AND RUN DRIVER!

On Saturday, August 14, 2010 between approximately 2:50 am and 3:01 a.m., Seal Beach Police Officers responded to the area of Seal Beach Blvd and Bradbury on the report of an injury traffic collision in which a bicyclist had been struck and severely injured by a Hit & Run driver.

The victim, described as a male in his mid-twenties, was found at the scene by people walking home.  At the time of this press release the victim was in surgery at Long Beach Memorial Hospital with severe head trauma.

The ensuing traffic collision investigation uncovered information indicating that the suspect vehicle may have been a mid-80’s Toyota.  The severity of the collision  indicates that the vehicle undoubtedly sustained considerable front-end damage as a result of the collision.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Seal Beach Police Department and ask for:

• Officer Craig Jones, Traffic Investigator:                        (562) 799-4100 x-1632
• Officer Joseph Garcia, Traffic Investigator:            (562) 799-4100 x-1649
• On-Duty Watch Commander:                                     (562) 799-4100 x-1115

Our police need your help in solving this accident!

Charles Antos says “Goodbye” to District One in November

With the upcoming election, when  popular Council Member Charles Antos is not  able to run since he’s just completed his second four year term, his supporters will be looking for his guidance in picking a successor.

Its fitting that there are four candidates vying for his District One seat.  District One encompasses Old Town and Surfside and rest assured that there are private interests at play that would like to have a friend in that  District One seat.

There are four people scheduled to challenge for Antos vacated seat: Elley Deaton,  Scott Levitt (son of Mike Levitt  – District Five Councilman) Robert Aguilar and Joe Kalmick.  Most likely there will be a run-off for the Old Town seat since its unlikely that any candidate will get more than 50% of the vote and if that happens there will another election in January.

The other two Council seats to be voted on are: District Three and District Five.  District Three encompasses Bridgeport, the Coves, the Hill and Herron Pointe.  Gordon Shanks is the present Councilman and Amalia Almasy is the challenger.  District Five has portions of Leisure World and Councilman Michael Levitt is being challenged by Anne Seifert.

Hold on to your hats folks…there may some fireworks near election time!

BP has to clean up Seal Beach gas station NOW. . . says Orange County Health agency

BP, nee British Petroleum, has been given the ultimatum we all hoped for.  “Clean up the dirt that’s been affected by underground leaking of gas tanks at the ARCO station at 490 Pacific Coast Highway.”

This has been a long battle against BP…but on  Thursday August 10 the Orange County Health Care Agency directed BP to get the process started….and its great news for the residents in the area who have been suffering from the leakage.

For the full story go to: http://www.oc180news.com/article/West_Orange_County_Features/Current_Interest/County_Issues_Seal_Beach_Gas_Station_Clean_Up_Directive_To_BPARCO_City_Manager_Calls_letter_Perfect/19003

« Previous Page — Next Page »