On this date in 2018, the Don The Beachcomber closed restaurant at the historic Sam’s Seafood building due to rising rental costs. Although Don The Beachcomber may relocated, the future of the Sam’s Seafood property is not certain at this point. It seems likely that a wrecking ball may be part of that future to make way for more development.
– Michael Dobkins
I’m sorry I have some sad news to share. Documentary and early surf movie filmmaker Bruce Brown passed away last night nine days after his 80th birthday. Seal Beach folk will probably know him best for The Endless Summer, the 1966 surf documentary that followed Mike Hynson and Robert August as they surfed around the world, but he continued to direct and produce films well into the 21st century.
There’s a good O.C. Register write-up on Brown here, and you can check out his IMDB credits here.
– Michael Dobkins
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Here’s a few words and photos about the honoree for this year’s Seal Beach Founders concert on October 6th 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Seal Beach Pier:
It’s the quintessential American story.
A young boy discovers and pursues a passion that most people would consider a mere side hobby or summertime recreation, and creates, almost by accident, his own destiny.
Rich Harbour’s story is probably familiar to many Seal Beach locals. Back in the fifties a fifteen year old Rich was bitten by the surfing bug, so his father generously gave him his first surfboard. This surfboard was soon stolen from the side of his house (probably by some lowlife Gidget-crazed inlander.) After much pleading and begging, Rich discovered that his father’s generosity would not extend to buying a replacement board. Not one to let a minor setback to keep him from the waves, Rich built a new surfboard to replace the stolen one and resumed surfing. For most people, that would be the happy ending to the story, but not for Rich.
Stung by older surfers making fun of his crudely shaped but functional new board, Rich decided to do better. He crafted two new boards (one for himself and one for his brother) that were so well made that they inspired not ridicule from the other surfers, but offers of cash if Rich would build them similar boards.
Soon Rich had a profitable side business building surfboards for locals. As his reputation grew beyond local surfers, the business expanded from part of his parent’s garage to various garages around town. After a few years, Rich is presented with a choice. He can continue studying at the Orange Coast College of Architecture or commit completely to building surfboards as a full time career.
It’s clear what choice Rich made. Ultimately, he opens Harbour Surfboards at 329 Main Street. As his business grows, surfing grows with it, transforming itself from a hobby into a multi-million dollar industry. Over the five decades, Rich Harbour have remained at the same Main Street address, creating innovative new board designs and offering new surfing merchandise and accessories. The core business remains the same. 329 Main Street has been used for shaping surfboards since 1962.
But Rich’s story isn’t just an American story, it’s also a Seal Beach story. He may have an international reputation, but he has lived here all his life and been influenced by the Seal Beach landscape, its people, and its surf. There are many surfing legends, and maybe some of them have had streets named after them, but only Rich Harbour has actually named a street in Seal Beach (Silver Shoals Avenue. Please ask Rich for the full story).
This has just been some of the highlights of Rich Harbour’s life and career. For a fuller unabridged and uncensored version, Rich is offering a new revised version of his book, The Harbour Chronicles.
One can’t help wonder what Rich’s life would have been like if that lowlife inlander hadn’t stolen his first surfboard years ago, but with a name like Rich Harbour, his life must have been destined to be successful and probably have something to with water sports.
Some of our most popular posts have featured historical photographs of Seal Beach police officers. These have come to us through the generosity of Stan Berry, a local expert on the Seal Beach Police Department and The Seal Beach Fire Department. The photo below was too good not to share. It show Stan at the 41st anniversary celebration of The Seal Beach Historical & Cultural Society’s Red Car Museum.
The Red Car Museum is open the second and fourth saturday of every month from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.. One of Seal Beach’s landmarks, the museum is housed in Pacific Electric Car #1734, a tower car that once served as a portable machine shop that performed repairs on Pacific Electric streetcar lines for decades until it was retired in 1950. Today, the museum features exhibits of Seal Beach and Pacific Electric history and gift shop of local history merchandise. You can find the Red Car Museum on Electric Avenue between Main Street and the library on the greenbelt that was once the Pacific Electric right of way through Seal Beach.
Judging by our web traffic stats, the power plant that stood at Ocean Avenue and First Street from 1925 to 1967 has been the most popular of all the Seal Beach history covered in this blog. Our first post on the steam plant took a photographic tour through the four decades of the plant’s existence, and you can find it here. Our next two posts showcased photos and a video by Joyce Kucera of the final days of the steam plant as it was being demolished and you can see the photos here and watch the video here.
Today’s post will probably be our last on the steam plant for awhile, so it is fitting that we are going back to the very beginning of the Seal Beach power plant. The bulk of this post is an article published in the May-June-July, 1924 issue of The L. A. Gas Monthly. This article came to us courtesy of Eric Lawson who runs a web site dedicated to the historical aspects of The Southern California Gas Co. called Gastorical.com.
The article is written from a technical perspective and may be a little more than the average layman needs to know, but it is still fascinating. Not only does it listed some of the dimensions and physical features of the still being constructed steam plant, but the article includes some amazing photographs from the early stages of construction. Our local landmark was an example of cutting edge technology when it was built. The steam plant went online in July 1925, and it is amazing that the technology so glowingly described in the article was obsolete a mere twenty-six years later when the plant was closed for good in 1951.
The author is a gentleman named J. Grady Rollow. In late 1920, he left his position as a chemical engineer with E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (known to most of us today as DuPont) to become a consulting engineer with the Los Angeles Gas and Electric Corporation. In 1919 and 1920, Mr. Rollow had written articles given slide presentations about designing boiler plants, and his new position gave him an opportunity to design and build a modern steam boiler plant based on his ideas and expertise. As mentioned before, this following article is a piece of dry, technical writing, but it is hard not to detect Mr. Rollow’s pride and excited anticipation of the project coming to completion. Mr. Rollow remained a lead engineer for the Los Angeles Gas and Electric Corporation well into the thirties and probably was also involved in the repairs and installation of the shorter smoke stack after the Long Beach earthquake.
During the summer of 1923 it became apparent that the electrical business of the Corporation would require a new generating station by the winter of 1925, as the old electric station would reach its maximum development with the installation of the 23,000 h.p. turbo-generator during 1924.
The raw materials necessary for the generation of electrical energy with steam plants are water and fuel–about 330 times as much water as fuel being required. The third important item is the transportation (or transmission) of the finished product from the point of manufacture to the areas where it is to be used. The large amount of water required is not used up, as we say, but merely used as a cooling medium for condensing the steam after it has passed through the turbines; hence it is necessary to dispose of this water, or extract the heat from it and use it over again. Therefore, there must be double transportation on this very large item, or expensive apparatus such as cooling towers must be installed. Such apparatus requires large areas, the cost of which in the city (where the energy is used) is prohibitive. After giving due consideration to the cost transporting the three main requisites, it was decided to build the plant at the ocean. Having reached this decision, it was next necessary to choose the location. Every inch of the coast from Topanga Canyon to the inlet of Newport Bay was studied, with the result that Seal Beach was chosen, because: (1) the water is free from sewage and sea-weed, (2) the ground is better for foundations, (3) it is close to fuel supply, and, (4) transmission lines will not be excessive in length.
The Schedule
The site was purchased about the first of this year and ground was broken April 1. Plans for a station of 288,000 h.p. capacity have been drawn. During this year buildings sufficient to house two turbo-generator units will be built, and the first one of 48,000 h.p. capacity will be in operation by July 1, 1925.
This plant will be designed and equipped to give the maximum fuel economy that the best engineers of the country know how to obtain with steam plants. The first unit will have three boilers, each capable of generating 175,000 lbs. of steam per hour continuously, at 385 lbs. gauge pressure. Each boiler will be equipped with a forced draft fan which will draw air from out-of-doors through a pre-heater, where it will be heated to 200 degrees F., and discharge it into the furnaces to supply combustion. The pre-heaters will use heat from the stack gases, which is ordinarily wasted. From the boilers the steam will pass through superheaters which will raise its temperature to 700 F. in order to get the highest efficiency from it in the turbines.
The large amount of condensing water required is made necessary by the fact that when a pound of water is converted into steam, 970 British Thermal Units of heat are “used up.” That is, this quantity of heat enters into the process without raising the temperature of the medium. It is called “latent heat.” When the steam is condensed, in order to relieve the turbine from exhausting against atmospheric pressure, this latent heat appears again. It is picked up by the condensing water and entirely wasted ordinarily. During recent years engineers have found that by extracting some of the steam at various stages of its passage through the turbine, a considerable portion of the latent heat can be recovered and utilized for heating the boiler feed-water. This process is called “stage bleeding.” The first unit at Seal Beach will be equipped for four-stage bleeding which is as far as the process can be carried economically at this date.
All of the auxiliaries are electrically driven and are supplied from a house generator which is on the end of the shaft of the main unit. This arrangement gives as high economy on the small apparatus as on the main unit, which could not be done with individual steam drive.
One of the unusual features of the plant will be the smokestack, which will be 375 feet high and large enough to take the gases from six of the big boilers running at their maximum ratings. This tremendous chimney will be of reinforced concrete and will be supported on the steel structure of the building above the center of the boiler room.
The current will be generated at 13,200 volts and stepped up to 110,000. It will be transmitted on a steel tower line to a step-down substation licated in the city limits as near to the load center as is economical to build.
– Michael Dobkins
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Mr. Wackerman was the guest of honor at this year’s founders day event. He shared a few words on his early days teaching music in Seal Beach.
In 1957, after graduating from college, I was looking for a teaching position, and most of the openings were at least a hundred to two hundred miles away. I really did not want to leave Southern California, so I decided to start working on my Master’s program. A couple of weeks before school was to start, I received a call from Mr. Dressler, the Superintendent of Seal Beach schools.
He said they had a temporary music position open for about three months because their music teacher, Irene McCandless, was having surgery. She had general music classes all day, which mainly consisted of singing.
I told Mr. Dressler I knew only basic piano, and he said that was okay because Mrs. McCandless just played simple piano parts. So I took the job thinking, “I can get by for three months.” I plucked out the piano parts with one hand, brought in recordings, and, when I knew they were getting bored, I brought in a drum set and was able to regain their attention.
When Irene came back, I walked into her classes, and she was all over the piano. She was an amazing player. No wonder the kids got bored with my one hand piano playing!
I also found out I had to do a Christmas musical, which had piano accompaniment. Luckily, I had an amazing sixth grader who played piano. His name was Kurt Perron. He saved the day.
The district decided they wanted to expand the instrumental program, and I was given a permanent position. Irene McCandless had been a music teacher in Seal Beach for many years, and her students loved her. She was a wonderful person and was a tremendous help to me when I started teaching.
I was at McGaugh School for 24 years until Seal Beach district was annexed to the Los Alamitos School District in 1984. Many of my friends changed districts quite often, but I had no desire to change because the Seal Beach and Los Alamitos School District always supported music and felt it was an important part of the student’s education. They still do. There was no reason to look for something better because there wasn’t anything better — Great administrators, great colleagues, great parents, and especially great students, as well as a very supportive community.
I want to thank Mr. Rush for bringing the Los Alamitos High School Jazz Band #1 today, and Richie Sebastian for bringing the Los Alamitos High School Marching Band, as well as my former students who are members of Seal Beach Jazz Trio. They were all certainly great.
I am so happy that my wife, sons, daughter-in-laws, and grandchildren are able to be here today. Chad is unable to be here because he is touring in Europe, but his wife Naomi, my daughter-in law, and my grandchildren, James and Sophia, are here. Bob and Melissa, and my granddaughters, Madison and Mallory, are here also. John and Linda, who drove all the way down from Las Vegas, are also here. Brooks and Kelly, and the twins, who you’ve seen walking around, Cash and Miles, are here as well. My wife of 52 years, Barbara, who has helped me in a million ways over the years, is also present.
I feel so flattered to be honored today, and want to express a very heartfelt thank you to the Founder’s committee. Thank you very much. I would also like thank Libby Appelgate for the nice article that was in the Sun newspaper, and Roxanne Kopetman and Ana Venegas who did the Register article and pictures. Thank you. I really appreciate everyone coming today. It is great to see students, parents and friends, some of whom I haven’t seen in years.
I would also like to thank our Superintendent, Sherry Croft, for attending. Our esteemed principal at McAuliffe Middle School, Mr. Dennis Sackett, has a plaque in his office that says, “Another Day in Paradise.” Because of everyone here today, my teaching career is another day in paradise every day of the year. Thank you.
Be sure to check back during the week for more photos and videos from the concert. There will also be some new historical photos and articles posted during October.
Have you enjoyed this and other This Date in Seal Beach History posts?
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Main Street in Seal Beach has been a favorite subject for photographers throughout its 95 years of history. Every Monday between now and the end of the Seal Beach Founders Celebration, we’ll be posting a different image of Main Street.
Having set the poles for the electric wires, workers now grade the dirt road known as Main Street in preparation for the new Pacific Electric red car line that will run along Ocean Avenue from Long Beach to Bay City before curving on to Main Street to join the Long Beach Newport line at Electric Avenue. Landing Hill can be seen in the background, and the old pavilion stands on the right where it had been temporarily located while the new pavilions were being built.
Be sure to check back each week for more historical photos and stories of Seal Beach.
– Michael Dobkins
Have you enjoyed this and other This Date in Seal Beach History posts?
If so, please consider making a small donation of a dollar or more to help defray the online subscriptions and other research costs that make this blog possible.
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmhRYu7wQaE&fs=1&hl=en_US]
Missed today’s parade? Here’s thirteen minutes of shaky video highlights from the event. In 2105, this footage will be re-discovered on an ancient server and given future local historians startling insights into the way we lived ninety-five years earlier.
Be sure to check back every for more historical images and stories of Seal Beach.
The Seal Beach pier has been a favorite subject for photographers throughout its 95 years of history. Every Friday between now and the end of the Seal Beach Founders Celebration, we’ll be posting an image of the pier.
Here’s a beach level view you don’t see too often of the Jewel City Cafe from the east side on the pier in the early afternoon, judging by the shadows. Something just off-camera seems to be catching the attention of most of the crowd in the lower left corner, but we’ll never know what it was.
There’s a couple interesting details to note in this photograph. First is that there’s a sign inside the entry structure to the pier with an illustrated hand pointing to the “BALL ROOM.”
Some sort of a concession has been set up under the stairs for “EXPRESS MOVING.” I’ve tried to make out the rest of the words on the sign, but I just can’t. Whatever it was, it was busy enough to justify having two guys working the counter.
But for me, the most intriguing aspect of this image is the people. When we blow up the photos to get a closer look at the individuals, you can discern little touches of personality in each person — even when the image is a little blurry. Like this couple sitting on a bench up on the pier. Is he saluting the photographer or pulling his hat down to avoid being recognized? She seems calm and unflappable. Also, that’s one great mustache.
Next to the couple is a young woman and child. If you walk down the pier today, you’ll see at least one kid like this leaning over the rail that’s too tall for them.
Bored with each other? Bored with the beach? Who knows? One thing is obvious. They are not having a good time.
On the ground below the pier, the crowd faces away from us, but I like this gentleman’s cap and those big hands behind his back. And look at the detail on her dress and collar.
This fellow is eying the photographer with a hard to read expression. Note the watch chain hooked to his lapel. None of those sissy wristwatches for this guy.
Behind him is this spitfire with her hands on her hips. I get the impression you would not want to get into an argument with her. What is she thinking? Women finally got the vote in 1920, and I’d like to believe that she was the type of woman who once she got to vote never missed an election for the rest of her life.
Maybe I’m projecting.
And finally, this little girl peers out from an oblivious crowd directly at the photographer and at us from ninety years ago. All this from one snapshot moment in 1920.
Have you enjoyed this and other This Date in Seal Beach History posts?
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This Date in Seal Beach History also has an online store hosted at Cafepress where you can order shirts, tote bags, stationery, and other gift items imprinted with vintage Seal Beach images. Visit the online store by clicking here.
This image comes to us care of a past Seal Beach resident, Bob Robertson. The photo was taken by Bob’s father, Bill Robertson, owner of the Seal Beach Post and Wave newspaper.
The Bay Theatre was built in 1947 and survives today as a rare single screen survivor in the age of multiplex theaters and high definition home theaters.
Movie posters for “Jupiter’s Darling” and To Catch a Thief are hanging in the “next attraction” frames next to the box office. There’s a possibility that this is early 1956 since movies weren’t released as wide and stayed in circulation much longer than today. “Jupiter’s Darling,” released in February 1955, starred Esther Williams and Howard Keel and was a notorious box office flop for MGM. “To Catch a Thief,” released in September 1955, is considered a classic Alfred Hitchcock film by many and starred Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.
Does anyone out there recognize any of the people in this photo or remember what the occasion was? And while we’re at it, why don’t you share your favorite memories of the Bay Theatre in the comments?
ADDENDUM: Does anyone remember a Hollywood film being shot on the hill before the homes were built, and then the film being shown at the Bay after it was released?
Be sure to check back every for more historical photos and stories of Seal Beach.
– Michael Dobkins
Have you enjoyed this and other This Date in Seal Beach History posts?
If so, please consider making a small donation of a dollar or more to help defray the online subscriptions and other research costs that make this blog possible.
Donations can be made securely with most major credit cards directly through PayPal. Just click on paypal.me/MichaelDobkins to go to PayPal. Thank you.
