On this date in 1916, this article and these ads ran on the fifthth page of a Seal Beach promotional section in the Santa Ana Register. This was on the Friday of the first opening summer weekend under the Seal Beach name, and this was the newly incorporated city at its most ambitious and confident.
The copy, ads, and images are formatted below for easier reading and a larger view of the graphics.
FORMAL OPENING BEACH RESORT AT HAND
Exhibits Long In Preparation Will Be Completed In a Week or Two
The formal opening of Seal Beach will take place in the near future, at which time you are to experience entertainment features which the amusement promoters of the “Jewel City” of the Pacific Coast assert will excel anything of like character, and the promoters ought to know — they are the same men who put across the big stunts at the San Francisco Exposition. More, they have brought with them many of the thrilling exhibits seen there.
The Scintillators
The marvelous lighting rays of the beautiful scintillators which occupied such a prominent place on the water front at the exposition and illumined the heavens for fifty miles around, have been erected on the very end of the pier at Seal Beach. Their brilliant colored rays have been seen since May 27th. Look up into the heavens tonight toward Seal Beach and see for yourself.
The Carrousel
The carroussel (society name for merry-go-round), which won the Grand Prix over all riding devices at San Francisco, has been transplanted to Seal Beach.
Then the famous Salt Water Taffy, “without which the Fair never could have become famous,” says the man who makes it; the beautiful Sunbursts; the Fountain of the Setting Sun; the Jesters’ Palace and a half dozen other exhibits will help to make Seal Beach the “Jewel Resort of Southern California,” if the promoters’ plans do not miscarry. So those of us who did not get to San Francisco need be downcast no longer. A glass boulevard, sixteen miles away, also an electric road, and fine roads for walking, lead right to the transplanted P. P. I. Exposition.
Opening Program
The grand opening program will contain features just a bit more entertaining, a bit more daring, a bit more thrilling than has been attempted hitherto.
Among the very headliners is Tiny Broadwick. Tiny sails into the air in an aeroplane until she reaches a height of 3000 feet. Then . . . then she comes down . . . but not in an aeroplane. No, Sor! Not Miss Broadwick! Lots of women have done that before. Tiny is too original for such ordinary stunts.
She leaps, lets herself fall, as it were. We went out to see her practice, but she said that stunt isn’t practiced. You just go up and then jump down —- hit or miss.
For ourselves, we hope she doesn’t miss. Tiny looked real sweet in her aviatrix outfit.
A Silk Parachute
The only details we could get about Miss Broadwick’s daring leap is that she depends solely upon a small bit of silk to check her descent to earth and save her from death via the broken bone route.
Miss Broadwick’s sister, Verio, is also here from the east to participate with Tiny in the hair-raising stunts. The father of the daring young ladies has been making preparations for some time. He acts as their manager as well as protector, though we can’t see that the latter amounts to shucks. He examines the planes, the equipment, the bit of china silk and the like. Mr. Broadwick will not permit the jump until all meets with his critical approval.
Other Features
Of course there will be music–and singing–but this information has not been given out. Watch the Register for a complete announcement later.
Largest Derby Racer
A racing coaster never fails to attract a certain kind of excitement-seekers. They say the one at Seal Beach is the swiftest and the longest ever. At any rate, it looks long enough and thrilling enough, too.
Then the dancing pavilion has been enlarged and the floor made as slippery as wax. There is also a new kind of a cafe, called the Chantant, where you catch a fish in a pool built in the center of the floor, and have it cooked to suit.
Large Picnic Grounds
A fine picnic grounds with lattice work all around it has been erected a little way from the cafe. There are lots of chairs in it, and everything has been made so as to look inviting.
For lack of information we cannot give you the details of the opening program, which, we understand, is to continue for two weeks, if the first four days’ attendance warrants
However, we can’t help advancing the comment that, since its reconstruction, Seal Beach surely looks as if it were going to merit the name of “The Jewel City of Southern California.”
At any rate, they’re expecting you at the opening with no less than an elephant and a brass band.
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PLEASURE PALACES IN BUSINESS SECTION
By far the largest building in the business section is that housing the Lodge Cafe and Dancing Cabaret, owned and managed by Dave Combs and Jimmy Blyler, who have a reputation all their own as amusement kings. The building is two stories, has a frontage of fifty feet and a depth of 100. Long before you reach Seal Beach you see the “Cafe” signs erected on the top of the Lodge. No matter whether you are coming from Santa Ana or Long Beach, you must pass the Lodge, for it stands on the very corner facing the county boulevard.
Dave and Jimmy
The lower floor contains the main cafe and dancing floor. It is open for daily matinee dancing, and continues, with added attractions, until late in the evening.
So as to dispense with every phase of formality, Messrs. Combs and Blyler have cut off the last portion of their name, and are called plain Dave and Jimmy by patrons.
“It makes ’em feel at home,” explained big Dave.
This pair treat you cordially; permit no rough house and, altogether, give you “the time of your life.”
Service the Keynote
The dancing floor, upon which new stunts are introduced continually, is 40×24. Around it are set tables and chairs sufficient to accommodate 200 guests, and the music is furnished by specialists in the Cabaret line.
The dining service at the Lodge is particularly worthy of mention. Food is served from a kitchen clean as wax. The Chef and his assistants are togged in white apparel from head to foot.
The Grill Room
Everything at the Lodge Cafe is in harmony with the lighter side of life. It can indeed be said that it is a place to laugh and be merry. It offers to pleasure seekers a grade of entertainment second to none and the nightly crowds congregating there are evidence of the amusement abilities of Dave Combs and Jimmy Blyler.
Just behind the main Cafe is the Grill room. It is open all day, and serves the city’s visitors, and those who pass by, in large numbers.
Hotel Upstairs
While the entire second floor of the Lodge is supposed to be a hotel, but few guests find room there; most of the apartments being taken by the year. The rooms are without doubt most comfortable in Seal Beach.
Other Amusements
The only other place of amusement in the downtown section is the Seal Beach Pool Hall, Bauman and Wilcox, proprietors. The place is patronized at all hours and is especially popular with business men desirous of spending an hour in recreation.
Check out the other seven June 9th This Date in Seal Beach history post. There are more ads, photos, and illustrations to enjoy.
Page One
Page Two
Page Three
Page Four
Page Five
Page Six
Page Seven
Page Eight
– Michael Dobkins
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– Michael Dobkins
