Water and Power Associates Informing the Public about Critical Water and Energy Issues facing Los Angeles and California

Historical Notes

Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of California, just 22 miles south-southwest of Los Angeles. The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles across at its greatest width. The highest point on the island is 2,097 feet Mt. Orizaba. Part of the Channel Islands of California archipelago, Santa Catalina lies within Los Angeles County.

Historical Notes

Picture file card reads: S.S. Amelia, first steam vessel on Wilmington - Catalina run, from 1880 to 1883. Owned by Wilmington Transportation Co., whose president was Phineas Banning.

Historical Notes

The first European to set foot on Santa Catalina Island was the Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who sailed in the name of the Spanish crown. On October 7, 1542, he claimed the island for Spain and christened it San Salvador after his ship. Over half a century later, another Spanish explorer, Sebastián Vizcaíno, rediscovered the island on the eve of Saint Catherine's day (November 24) in 1602. Vizcaino renamed the island in the saint's honor.

Historical Notes

The Gabrielino Indians lived on Catalina Island for over 7,000 years. When Cabrillo discovered the island in 1542, it was claimed by the king of Spain. Mexican ownership dates from 1821, when Mexico achieved its independence from Spain.*

Historical Notes

In 1846, Governor Pio Pico of Mexican California granted Catalina Island to a private citizen, Tomas Robbins, who owned it until 1850. In that year, he sold Catalina to Jose Maria Covarrubias for $10,000. Covarrubias sold the island to Albert Packard of San Francisco in 1853. The Island then went through a complex phase of ownership changes and divisions until it was acquired by James Lick in 1864. By 1867, Lick had entire ownership of the Island.*

Historical Notes

The first owner to try to develop Avalon into a resort destination was George Shatto, a real estate speculator from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shatto purchased the island for $200,000 from the Lick estate at the height of the real estate boom in Southern California in 1887. Shatto created the settlement that would become Avalon, and can be credited with building the town's first hotel, the original Hotel Metropole, and pier. His sister-in-law Etta Whitney came up with the name Avalon, which was taken from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem "Idylls of the King," about the legend of King Arthur.

Historical Notes

After he purchased Catalina Island in 1887, developer George Shatto immediately built the Hotel Metropole on the shoreline in Avalon that same year. He intended to turn the island into a tourist resort.

Historical Notes

The Hotel Metropole was completed in 1888 and became Catalina's grande dame. It was a large 3-story wooden structure with views of the bay that boasted of numerous windows, several dormers, half a dozen chimneys, and two covered patios.

Historical Notes

This was the first photograph taken of the entire Avalon Harbor.

Historical Notes

To expand Avalon's tourist base, Shatto used steamships he leased from the Bannings to ferry tourists to and from the mainland. Some island tourists arrived to purchase lots in Avalon, which Shatto auctioned off for $150 to $2,000 depending on location and size. Those who purchased one were then free to set up tents or build summer cottages. However, Shatto racked up some hefty bills and defaulted on his mortgage payments only after a few years and the island went back to the Lick estate.

Historical Notes

The S.S. Hermosa was built in San Francisco in 1888 by the Wilmington Transportation Company, owned by the Banning family, for transportation to Catalina Island during the summer season. Off-season, the ship had been leased to other operators for use in Puget Sound and Alaska.

Historical Notes

The Hermosa carried up to 150 passengers and was elegantly decorated.  It carried passengers to the island for fourteen years until it was replaced by the larger Hermosa II (1902).

Historical Notes

Alonzo Wheeler was the purchaser of the first lot sold in Avalon, and owner of Schooner Ruby, the first boat to arrive.

Historical Notes

The sons of Phineas Banning bought the island in 1891 from the estate of James Lick and established the Santa Catalina Island Company to develop it as a resort. They had a variety of reasons for doing this. They wanted Catalina's rock to build a breakwater at Wilmington for their shipping company. They had also just built a luxurious new boat, the Hermosa, to bring tourists to the Island. If tourism failed, this investment was at risk. By owning Catalina, they would not only get their rock, but also money from tourists for their passage as well as everything on the Island.

Historical Notes

Lookout Cot (later Holly Hill House) was built in 1890 as a private residence by Peter Gano, a retired engineer from Pasadena.  It was constructed on a lot purchased from Shatto and his agent C.A. Summer for $500 in 1888.

Historical Notes

The Holly Hill House still stands today, over 120 years since it was originally built.  It is Avalon's oldest remaining structure.

Historical Notes

Some visible buildings include the dance pavilion (large, round building at center), Holly Hill House (center, up on hill, with cupola, also called Lookout Cottage) and Community Congregational Church (cropped at lower right corner).

Historical Notes

To induce tourists to visit Catalina, the Banning brothers would offer “Free Camp Grounds, with Water” as part of their steamboat fare.

Historical Notes

Avalon began to attract more and more visitors, especially during the summer months. Tents were appearing everywhere, and one part of Avalon was dubbed "Tent City".

Historical Notes

During the 1890s approximately 100 tents would be rented each summer, and this number grew steadily after the turn of the century. Renting for about $7.50 per week, life in “Tent City” included beds, bedding, basic furnishings and basic cooking facilities. Lively card games were common after dinner.

Historical Notes

The Banning brothers fulfilled Shatto's dream of making Avalon a resort community with the construction of numerous tourist facilities. Although the Bannings' main focus was in Avalon, they also showed great interest in the rest of the island and wanted to introduce other parts of Catalina to the general public. They did this by paving the first dirt roads into the island's interior, where they built hunting lodges and led stagecoach tours, and by making Avalon's surrounding areas (Lovers Cove, Sugarloaf Point and Descanso Beach) accessible to tourists.

Historical Notes

The point upon which the beautiful and historic Casino sits today has always been the defining landmark of Santa Catalina Island. Before the Casino was built, sailors arriving from the mainland would use Sugarloaf Point, as it was then called, to gain their bearings on approaching Avalon Bay.

Historical Notes

Sugarloaf Point was actually defined by a pair of solid granite outcroppings. Big Sugarloaf and Little Sugarloaf were connected by a narrow sawtooth ridge.

Historical Notes

Note how much "Big Sugarloaf" is now more pronounced when compared to previous photos. It was chiseled away to make room for an access road that rounds the Point.

Historical Notes

Picture file card reads: "In regard to this picture, there is a girl at the arcade post office who was born on the island and whose father at one time was postmaster over there. She says the man in this view is Joe Ardago. Joe was a waterfront character who made a living doing most anything. Here, he is cleaning abalone shells and throwing the meat to the gulls. He sold the shells. This girl knew Joe very well."

Historical Notes

The point upon which the beautiful and historic Casino sits today has always been the defining landmark of Santa Catalina Island. Before the Casino was built, sailors arriving from the mainland would use Sugarloaf Point, as it was then called, to gain their bearings on approaching Avalon Bay.

Sugarloaf Point was actually defined by a pair of solid granite outcroppings. Big Sugarloaf and Little Sugarloaf were connected by a narrow sawtooth ridge.

Historical Notes

Like its namesake in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sugarloaf Mountain was the site of numerous festivities. Fireworks were exploded from its summit on Fourth of July. Climbing Sugarloaf was no easy task. In 1896, a stairway was built to accommodate the less adventurous.

Historical Notes

Sugar Loaf Rock was a well-known landmark in Avalon Harbor, used by sailors for navigation. It was a popular site for various activities, including climbing, which was considered a challenging endeavor due to the rock's steep and rugged nature.

In 1896, to make the rock more accessible to visitors, a stairway was constructed. This development allowed even those who were less adventurous to reach the summit of the rock. The stairway facilitated climbing and made Sugar Loaf Rock a more popular tourist attraction.

Historical Notes

Between 1917 and 1929, Sugar Loaf Point was dynamited and removed to clear the site for the Catalina Casino that stands there today.

Historical Notes

According to Hancock Banning, Jr., on April 3, 1979, the "Warrior II" had its after deckhouse removed and was used as a tug in San Pedro after 1908. The ship was also used by the Los Angeles Harbor department as a fireboat. The after cabin was used as temporary office quarters for Hancock Banning, Sr.; Hancock Banning Jr. also lived in it for two summers.

Historical Notes

The wooden steamship S.S. Hermosa was built in San Francisco in 1888 by the Wilmington Transportation Company, owned by the Banning family, for transportation to the Island during the summer season. Off-season, the ship had been leased to other operators for use in Puget Sound and Alaska. By June of 1892, the Hermosa had returned to service on the Santa Catalina Island run, the Island then being owned by the Banning brothers.

Historical Notes

The S.S. Hermosa carried up to 150 passengers and was elegantly decorated. It carried passengers to the island for fourteen years until it was replaced by the larger Hermosa II.

In 1900, besides the S.S. Hermosa No. 1, the vessels operated by the Banning Company were the Falcon, Hattie, La Paloma, and Oleander.

Historical Notes

The Hotel Metropole was such a success that additions to it were made in 1893 and 1897. The 1897 addition gave the hotel 58 more rooms as well as a large reception area and a ballroom.

Historical Notes

Avalon flourished as both a tourist resort and fisherman’s paradise. By 1906, the beach was crowded with boat stands, launches, rowboats, people, racks of drying fish, and sea lions waiting for a handout! In order to relieve the congestion, a pier was built running parallel to the beach, but a storm destroyed it in 1908.

Historical Notes

In the early 1900s large numbers of Giant Black Sea Bass could be found in the waters of Southern California, but as the population of the State increased and became more aware of the waters around them, most of these monster fish were fished out for their value as photographic trophies, since their meat is less than a delicacy. When California finally passed legislation to provide full and total protection to the species from any take whatsoever by either commercial or sport fishers, they started to slowly make a comeback.

Historical Notes

The Black Sea Bass can grow to enormous size, some in excess of 600 pounds. These fish are reported from Cedros Island, Mexico and north along the California coast. The International Game Fish Association world-record giant sea bass was taken at Anacapa Island on August 20, 1968. It weighed 563 pounds 8 ounces.

Historical Notes

The Metropole continued to thrive during the early years of the 20th century, right up until the disastrous early morning hours of Nov. 29, 1915.  Between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m., a fire started mysteriously near the rear of the hotel. Avalon’s small fire department quickly was overwhelmed by the blaze, which spread until it had destroyed fully half of the town’s hotels and buildings. Many residents were left homeless.

A few years later, the hotel was rebuilt on the same site but was significantly downsized, this time consisting of only 48 rooms and a luxurious 2-bedroom Beach house.

A 52-room Hotel Metropole now stands on the site of the original structure in Avalon at the center of the Metropole Market Place development.

Historical Notes

The Metropole continued to thrive during the early years of the 20th century, right up until the disastrous early morning hours of Nov. 29, 1915.  Between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m., a fire started mysteriously near the rear of the hotel. Avalon’s small fire department quickly was overwhelmed by the blaze, which spread until it had destroyed fully half of the town’s hotels and buildings. Many residents were left homeless.

A few years later, the hotel was rebuilt on the same site but was significantly downsized, this time consisting of only 48 rooms and a luxurious 2-bedroom Beach house.

A 52-room Hotel Metropole now stands on the site of the original structure in Avalon at the center of the Metropole Market Place development.

Historical Notes

After the Banning brothers bought Catalina in 1891, they had better luck in developing the island to accomodate tourism.  They developed Avalon into a proper resort community, made roads into the island’s interior for stagecoach tours and access to hunting lodges. The new roads also enabled tourists to get to Descanso Beach, Lover’s Cove, and other locations, from the town of Avalon.

Historical Notes

Stagecoach tours became a popular attraction on Santa Catalina Island, largely due to the efforts of the Banning brothers, who acquired the island in 1891. In 1894, they established the Santa Catalina Island Company and began constructing roads and infrastructure to develop the island as a tourist destination. In 1895, the company introduced the first stagecoach tours, allowing visitors to explore the island's rugged interior, which was previously difficult to access. The Banning brothers built the island's first major roads, including the essential "Stage Road," which provided access to scenic spots and hunting lodges. These stagecoach tours offered tourists panoramic views of Avalon and the island's mountainous terrain, as depicted in historical photographs from around 1900 that show stagecoaches navigating narrow mountain roads and descending towards Avalon, creating a thrilling experience for passengers.

Historical Notes

The Banning brothers built Catalina's first major roads such as the "Stage Road" as seen above. Stagecoaches would take tourist on island tours and to hunting lodges.

Historical Notes

Stagecoaches navigating narrow mountain roads and hairpin turns while descending towards Avalon created a thrilling experience for passengers.

Historical Notes

Stagecoach Road on Catalina Island around 1900 was a crucial part of the early tourism infrastructure developed by the Banning brothers. It facilitated popular stagecoach tours that allowed visitors to explore the island's beautiful and rugged interior, contributing significantly to Catalina's early appeal as a resort destination.

Historical Notes

The Bannings built the island's first substantial infrastructure, providing water, electricity, waste disposal, and communications services, building good roads, and installing law enforcement and fire protection services. During the period they owned the island, from 1892 to 1919, visitor attractions on the Island also expanded exponentially to include a dance pavilion, golf course, tennis courts, an incline railway, Greek amphitheater, and aquarium. Tourists could enjoy the music of the Porters Catalina Island Marine Band, hunt and fish, watch fireworks, take stagecoach rides, and view the wonders of the sea through the floors of glass-bottomed boats.

Historical Notes

Arch Rock was once a prominent natural landmark on Santa Catalina Island, located at Long Point, the widest part of the island. It was a popular attraction for tourists in the early 20th century, known for its unique formation and scenic beauty. Unfortunately, the arch collapsed sometime in the first quarter of the 20th century when the keystone fell out, leading to its eventual disappearance.

Historical Notes

Arch Rock was broken up by vandals prior to 1910.*

Another source states that the arch collapsed sometime in the first quarter of the 20th century.*

Historical Notes

The "Ning-Po" was a historic Chinese junk ship that gained notoriety in the early 20th century. Originally built around 1753, the ship had a long and colorful history, including being used for piracy, slave trading, and smuggling. By the early 1900s, the "Ning-Po" had become a floating museum and tourist attraction in the United States, particularly in Southern California.

In 1913, the "Ning-Po" was brought to the United States and eventually found a home in Catalina Island. The ship was moored in Catalina Harbor at the Isthmus on Catalina Island, where it served as a unique attraction for visitors to the island. Tourists could explore the ship and learn about its storied past, which included tales of piracy and adventure on the high seas.

Historical Notes

The "Ning-Po" remained a fixture on Catalina Island for several years, drawing the curiosity of many who visited. However, over time, the ship fell into disrepair.

Historical Notes

There are two versions of how the vessel met its demise:

Deterioration and Dismantling: By the 1930s, the Ning-Po had deteriorated significantly due to age and condition, leading to its eventual dismantling.

Intentional Destruction for Film: According to this version, the Ning-Po was deliberately burned as part of a movie shoot. The vessel was used as a prop or set piece, and its destruction was planned for cinematic purposes.

Historical Notes

In 1902, the S.S. Hermosa No. II, then considered the most palatial vessel in Southern California, was launched. To celebrate the occasion of the launching of Hermosa II, Hermosa I was brought to Avalon, anchored in Avalon Harbor, and on July 4, 1902, was made the center of a huge bonfire and fireworks display.

Historical Notes

The S.S. Cabrillo, built at the Banning Company's shipyards at Port Los Angeles, was launched in 1904. Other vessels operated by the Banning Company were the gasoline screw Cricket, the gasoline screw Catalina, and the steam yacht Companero.

Historical Notes

Fishermen had to get creative to find large fish or large schools of fish under the sea.  They would do this by placing a plate of glass in the bottom of their small row boats – as they were fishing, they could look directly beneath them to search out their catch.

One fisherman found he could make more money showing people what the underwater world looked like than hauling up fish to sell.  And so, the first glass bottom boat tour was unofficially started.  These early tours date back to the late 1800s.  By the early 1900s, boats were being constructed to carry as many as a couple dozen visitors at a time.

Historical Notes

The residence, El Descanso, was for a few years the residence of the J. B. Banning family. From about 1898 it was the residence of Hancock Banning until the St. Catherine Hotel was built about 1917 after the Avalon fire of November 1915.

Historical Notes

In 1917, the beautiful Hotel St. Chaterine would be built at the above location, exactly where the Hancock Banning residence stood.

Historical Notes

Note how much "Big Sugarloaf" is now more pronounced when compared to previous photos. It was chiseled away to make room for an access road that rounds the Point.

Historical Notes

Catalina’s growth in tourism called for new entertainment venues.  In 1904, a large outdoor amphitheater, often referred to as the Avalon Bowl, was constructed on the south end of Avalon that could seat several hundred people. #^*

Historical Notes

To induce tourists to visit Catalina on their steamboats, the Banning brothers would offer “Free Camp Grounds, with Water” as well as showcase the performance of Porter’s Catalina Island Band at the Avalon Bowl.**

Historical Notes

Charles Porter was the manager, who often read a poem or told a joke during summer concert nights (don't know that he was actually part of the band). The band's conductor for many years was George Mulford.^#*

Historical Notes

In 1905, funicular travel arrived in Catalina with the opening of the Santa Catalina Island Incline Railway. The incline railway was the latest tourist attraction along the shores of Avalon Bay.

Historical Notes

The Santa Catalina Incline Railway consisted of two separate funiculars. One began at the base of the now-abandoned Avalon Amphitheater and ascended the hill on the southwestern side of Avalon Bay to a point known as Buena Vista Point. The other descended the opposite side of the hill to Pebbly Beach on Lovers Cove. Passengers could disembark at the summit for refreshments in a small tea house or continue on to Lovers Cove for a ride in a glass-bottomed boat.**#

Historical Notes

Variably known as the Santa Catalina Incline Railway, the Island Mountain Railway, and--confusingly--Angel's Flight, the railway closed in 1918, several years after a fire devastated Avalon and depressed the tourist business. The railway briefly reopened in the 1920s but closed finally in 1923. Its ruins are still visible along the old right-of-way to this day.**#

Historical Notes

A sign at the coastal landing reads "Island Mountain Railway, fare Avalon to Summit and return 25¢, fare Avalon to Lover's Cove and return 25¢, fare Lover's Cove to Summit and return 25¢, fare Lover's Cove to Avalon and return 25¢, fare Summit to Avalon and return 25¢, fare Summit to Lover's Cove and return 25¢, fare for above trips children 15¢, apply land dep't commutation tickets 100 rides $5.00", "Persons wishing to ride on this incline please push button". 

Historical Notes

William Wrigley, Jr. (1861-1932), chewing gum industrialist and founder of the William Wrigley Jr. Company, played an instrumental role in the history of Catalina Island. He bought the island from Joseph and Hancock Banning in 1919, and improved it with public utilities, new steamships, a hotel, the Casino building, and extensive planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Wrigley was also the owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, which held its annual spring training on the island.*

Before his purchase, Wrigley traveled to Catalina with his wife, Ada, and son, Philip, and immediately fell in love with the island.  He would go on and devote himself to preserving and promoting Catalina, investing millions in needed infrastructure and attractions. In 1919, Wrigley built a vacation home overlooking Avalon on Mount Ada, named after his wife, so he could enjoy the beautiful scenery as well as oversee his work.*^

Historical Notes

First built as the vacation home of William Wrigley Jr., Mt. Ada was constructed in 1919 and finished in 1922.  Wrigley reportedly chose this particular location for its unsurpassed views of Avalon Bay with magnificent surroundings and because it received the first sunlight of the morning and the last sunlight of the late evening.***

Historical Notes

The Wrigley home was designed and built by David M. Renton, general manager of the Santa Catalina Island Company at the time. Renton, who was influential in the early development of Catalina Island, also managed construction of the Catalina Casino Ballroom and was known for the development of Craftsman-style homes in Pasadena, among many other local projects.***

Historical Notes

The home stood 350 feet above the ocean and provided expansive views of Avalon Bay, the town of Avalon itself, and the mainland off in the distance. The Wrigleys reportedly made two annual visits to Catalina Island in the summer and winter, with each visit lasting between four and ten weeks. Many distinguished guests of that time period enjoying visiting with the Wrigley family, including Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, and the Prince of Wales.***

Historical Notes

After Mr. Wrigley’s death in 1932, Mrs. Wrigley continued to visit their treasured home regularly until 1947 when she suffered a stroke. She died in 1958 and the property was then managed by the Santa Catalina Island Company and occasionally used for meetings and events by local organizations. In 1978, the property was donated to the University of Southern California and was used by the University as a conference center for the next several years.***

Historical Notes

In 1985, the home was leased to its present operators and became The Inn on Mt. Ada. The residence was carefully restored in an effort to bring the property up to current building standards and to provide the amenities of a luxurious inn.

Many celebrities have stayed at the Inn including Barbara Streisand, Molly Ringwald, and Billy Zane. The most requested suite is the two-room Grand Suite which includes a private terrace.

Mt. Ada is open to the public every December for the Catalina Island Museum’s Annual Open House.

The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.***

Historical Notes

In 1919, William Wrigley, Jr. gained a controlling interest in the Chicago Cubs and in 1921 he made the decision to have the Cubs train on Catalinia.  In doing so, he became the first baseball owner to bring a major league club out West for spring training, building a facility for the Cubs on Catalina that he humbly called “Wrigley Field.” (Regular-season major league baseball wouldn’t arrive on the West Coast until the Dodgers and the Giants made their moves west in the 1950s.)

Historical Notes

When the Chicago Cubs began spring training on Catalina Island in 1921, they practiced at Avalon Ball Park. This field served as their training site until Wrigley Field on Catalina Island was established in the late 1920s. The field on Catalina Island was colloquially called Wrigley Field by the Chicago Cubs players and fans before it was officially named Wrigley Field. The Catalina Island Wrigley Field was named after the Los Angeles Wrigley Field, which had been named in 1925. This naming occurred before the Chicago Wrigley Field received its current name in 1927. The field's association with the Wrigley family, who owned both the Cubs and significant property on Catalina Island, led to the informal use of the name prior to its official designation in the late 1920s.

The Cubs were treated like royalty on the island, greeted with a parade each spring, fed at the ornate Hotel St. Catherine, and able to cavort with actresses like Betty Grable, Grace Bradley and Rochelle Hudson. They stayed at the Hotel St. Catherine in Descanso Bay and played on a ballfield built in Avalon Canyon that was named Wrigley Field.

Historical Notes

The Cubs continued to use the island for spring training until 1951, except during the war years of 1942–45.

Historical Notes

Today, only a plaque noting the location of "Wrigley Field" remains on the grounds of what is currently the Catalina Island Country Club, though its clubhouse is the same structure that Wrigley built for the Cubs.*

Coincidentally, the first Wrigley Field, built by Wrigley in 1925 for the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, was located on Avalon Boulevard in South Los Angeles.

Click HERE to see more in Baseball in Early L.A.

Historical Notes

Bird Park was built by William Wrigley, Jr. in the late 1920s, and it covered about eight acres in Avalon Canyon. The large aviary iron superstructure once had been a dance pavilion at Casino Point. It was moved in about 1927 to make way for the construction of the new Casino, and readapted as an aviary for the Bird Park. Eventually, more than 500 cages housed up to 8000 birds, many of them rare and exotic species. Admission was free to what was thought to be the world’s largest bird park at the time. The Bird Park was scaled back during World War II when visitation to the island was limited. In 1966 the park closed, and its remaining birds were purchased by the Los Angeles Zoo Association and transferred to the newly created Los Angeles Zoo. Today the Bird Park site is home to an Avalon preschool.*^

Historical Notes

Wrigley would use his baseball team for the promotion of Catalina Island.  When the Cubs trained on Catalina, the players were photographed taking part in the same activities a vacationer might — fishing, golfing, horseback riding, visiting the bird park or pottery factory — except that they were in uniform.  The photos promoted what was a new concept at the time, the all-inclusive vacation. ##

Historical Notes

A herd of American Bison was supposedly first imported to California's Catalina Island in 1924 for the silent film version of Zane Grey's Western tale, The Vanishing American. However, the 1925 version of "The Vanishing American" does not contain any bison whatsoever and shows no terrain that even remotely resembles Catalina, according to Jim Watson, columnist for the Catalina Islander newspaper.

Over the decades, the bison herd grew to as many as 600 individuals. The population currently numbers approximately 150. Biologists found that the American Bison of Santa Catalina Island are not pure bred; 45 percent have a domesticated cow as an ancestor.*^

Historical Notes

In 1917, “Big” Sugarloaf was leveled for a new hotel to replace the Metropole.  However, plans changed and a new site for the hotel (Hotel St. Catherine) was chosen: Descanso Canyon. When chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. bought the controlling stake in Catalina Island, he used the cleared spot (originally meant for Hotel St. Catherine) to build a dance hall.  He named the new dance hall Sugarloaf Casino. It served as a ballroom and Avalon's first high school.*

Historical Notes

In a short period of time Sugarloaf Casino proved to be too small to accommodate the growing number of guests. In February 1928, the building was moved to Avolon Canyon and used for the Avalon Bird Park to make room for a much larger building. The Catalina Casino Ballroom, also known as Avalon Ballroom, was built on the same spot - adjacent to Little Sugarloaf Rock by architects Sumner A. Spaulding and William Webber.*

Historical Notes

In 1928, when the new, markedly taller casino building was completed, authorities changed their way of looking at Little Sugarloaf. What once had been a popular landmark was suddenly thought of as a view killer. Concern began to grow that climbers would injure themselves on Little Sugarloaf. The stairs were condemned and removed.

In March, 1929, Little Sugarloaf was blasted away to give what is now called Casino Point, the look that it offers today.

Wrigley's budget for the design and construction of the Catalina Casino was $600,000, but when all was said and done, he ended up spending $2 million.

Historical Notes

Wrigley's most prized accomplishment was the construction of the famed Casino in 1929, which Wrigley figured would improve his revenues by attracting more tourists. Though the Casino was never used for gambling, it was a place for people to gather and enjoy some camaraderie and entertainment. It held a variety of functions following its grand opening, but the Casino's earmark during this era was ballroom dancing to the live music of a big band.

Historical Notes

When Wrigley bought the island, the Hermosa II and the S.S. Cabrillo were the only steamships that provided access to the island. In order to encourage growth, Wrigley purchased an additional steamship, the S.S. Virginia. With some adjustments, it was renamed the S.S. Avalon. He also foresaw the design of another steamship, the S.S. Catalina which was launched on the morning of May 3, 1924. These steamships would deliver passengers to Catalina for many years. Wrigley also brought attention to the town of Avalon by having his Chicago Cubs use the island for the team's spring training from 1921 to 1951, absent the war years of 1942–45.

Historical Notes

Launched as the S.S. Virginia, the passenger ship carried passengers between Chicago and Milwaukee.  In 1918, she was requisition by the Navy for use in the first world war and renamed the U.S.S. Blueridge.  However, to get her through the St. Lawrence River locks, her bow and 6 feet of her stern had to be cut off and later reassembled.

While waiting for orders in Boston harbor, the Navy finally decided she was no longer needed and she was sold as surplus to William Wrigley, owner of the famous chewing gum company and Catalina Island.

The ship was renamed Avalon and was sent from New York via the Panama Canal, arriving April 5, 1920 and moored at the Catalina Terminal.  However, her debut would not take place until the arrival of William Wrigley Jr.  On April 15, 1920, the Avalon left on her first trip to Catalina, taking her full capacity of 3,000 people.*^#

Historical Notes

Commonly referred to as the Great White Steamer, the ship was specially built by William Wrigley to serve his Catalina Island as a passenger ferry. She was christened on May 23, 1924. During World War II, she was requisitioned for use as a troop carrier, but in 1946 she resumed her voyages to Avalon.*^^

Historical Notes

In the late 1920's tourist traffic to the Catalina Island was increasing at the rate of 20% annually. In July, August and September of 1929, the S.S. CABRILLO, S. S. AVALON and S. S. CATALINA carried a combined total of 500,000 passengers. The 3 ships offered a total of 5 sailings daily each way.^^*

Historical Notes

Among the passengers were movie stars and famous athletes who laughed, danced and drank their way to the island "26 miles across the sea." The S.S. Catalina even hosted 2 United States Presidents at different times. In those days, passengers dressed for the crossing. Gentlemen wore jackets and ties and the ladies dresses and coats, with some carrying umbrellas to protect them from the sun.^^*

Historical Notes

The S.S. Catalina has been recognized as a Historic-Cultural Monument, No. 213 (Click HERE to see the LA Historic-Cultural Monuments List).

It is also listed as California State Historic Landmark No. 894 (Click HERE to see more California Historic Landmarks in LA). She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Historical Notes

Seaplanes were another popular option of tansportation to Catalina Island. Charlie Chaplin’s half-brother Syd began the first seaplane service to Catalina in 1919. It operated only for a couple of summers, but other firms moved in to operate the service until 1931.^*^

Historical Notes

In 1931 the island’s owner, Phillip K. Wrigley, began the Wilmington-Catalina Airline, Ltd. through his Santa Catalina Island Company. The airline provided air transportation between the Mainland and Catalina.^*^

Historical Notes

Philip Wrigley (son of William Wrigley, Jr.) helped design a unique airport at Hamilton Cove, the second cove north of Avalon. This airport was designed to accommodate the Douglas Dolphin amphibian planes of the Wilmington-Catalina Air Line, Ltd., a Wrigley-operated firm. The twin engine Dolphins landed just offshore and would taxi up a ramp to a large turntable mechanism. The airplane would then be rotated until it was facing the water and ready for a trip back to the mainland. A small Spanish-style terminal building welcomed residents, business people and tourists to Catalina.*^*

Catalina Airport was soon described as “the smallest airport with the longest landing field (the Pacific) in the world.”^*^

Historical Notes

In 1921 Wrigley moved the Spring Training site of his professional ball club, the Chicago Cubs, to Catalina.  That same year, he also purchased the Los Angeles Angels who he would build another Wrigley Field for in South Los Angeles (1925).*^

Click HERE to see more in Baseball in Early L.A.

Historical Notes

Aircraft desinger Donald Douglas designed the main seaplane used by Wilmington-Catalina Airline, the Douglas Dolphin.  The twin-engined seaplane was the first of his planes to be used as a commercial passenger airliner.  Its interior was well-appointed and could comfortably seat 10 passengers for the princely fee of $5.00 for a one-way trip to Catalina in 1938.^*^

(ca. 1938)^*^^ - Passenger receipt for a one way seaplane trip from Avalon to Wilmington on Wilmington Calalina Airline, Ltd. "The Fairweather Line". Fare - $5.00

Historical Notes

In August 1940, plans that had been made to expand aviation operations on the island to include land-based airplanes started to become a reality when construction began for an airport located on the island’s interior. The Airport in the Sky was completed in 1941, the airline operation was renamed Catalina Air Transport and the future looked bright.

Until December 7, 1941, when everything changed. Within a couple of weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack, the steamships were stopped from transporting passengers, and by September 1942, no civilian planes were allowed to land, effectively shutting down the entire island. It had become a closely patrolled federal military zone.

Eventually, several military outposts were established there to conduct training for the duration of the war. The Airport in the Sky was shuttered, though it would reopen as a full-service general aviation facility in 1946.
Unfortunately, the Catalina Airport at Hamilton Cove never reopened. Seaplanes continued to serve the island for decades, but they would land near a large platform in Avalon Bay, or at the inland airport when the weather turned rough.^*^^

Historical Notes

The Tuna Club of Avalon marks the birthplace of modern big game sportfishing in 1898. Led by Dr. Charles Frederick Holder, the club's founding members adopted the rules of conduct stressing conservationist ethics and sporting behavior. Today, their work remains the basis for the sport's internationally accepted principles.*^^

Historical Notes

The Tuna Club was founded by Charles Frederick Holder in 1898. Early members of the Avalon Tuna Club included Zane Grey, Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Hal Roach, Cecil B. De Mille, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, George S. Patton and Winston Churchill.*^

Historical Notes

The clubhouse is located at 100 St. Catherine Way in Avalon. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles County, since April 2, 1991. It is also listed as California Historical Landmark No. 997 (Click HERE to see more California Historical Landmarks in Los Angeles County).*^

Historical Notes

Pearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that were a basis for the Western genre in literature and the arts; he idealized the American frontier. Riders of the Purple Sage (1912) was his best-selling book. In addition to the commercial success of his printed works, they had second lives and continuing influence when adapted as films and television productions. As of 2012, 112 films, two television episodes, and a television series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater, had been made that were based loosely on Grey's novels and short stories.

Grey had built a getaway home in Santa Catalina Island, which now serves as the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel. He served as president of Catalina's exclusive fishing club, the Tuna Club of Avalon.*^

Historical Notes

Built in 1925, the Chime Tower was presented as a gift to the town of Avalon by Mrs. Ada Wrigley. Located up and across from the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel, the chimes have been tolling on the quarter of the hour between 8:00am and 8:00pm since 1925.

Historical Notes

In 1906, Horace Boos and three siblings opened one of Los Angeles' first cafeterias. Their idea of a fast food, self-service restaurant consisted of unheard-of impositions for that time: patrons would wait on themselves and return their trays and dishes to the kitchen. The brothers' downtown cafeteria was the first link, in a chain of seven that ultimately stretched from Los Angeles to San Francisco. They opened four more in the downtown area one in Santa Catalina Island, and two in San Francisco.

By the 1920s, the chain of cafeterias had become widely known. When Horace Boos died in 1926, the surviving brothers sold the seven cafeterias for a record $7 million to the Childs Corp. In turn, Childs sold two of the cafeterias to Clifford E. Clinton, who launched the Clifton's Cafeteria Chain. Eventually, Henry Boos bought back two, one on Hill Street and the other in Avalon on Catalina Island (seen above).

Historical Notes

The Boos Brothers offered inexpensive fare of a "40-cent dinner", but would call it quits in the late 1940s, before cafeterias began losing popularity due to the arrival of luncheonettes, soda fountains, and fast-food restaurants.

Historical Notes

El Encanto Building was the showpiece of Philip K. Wrigley's early California flare in Avalon. Opened in 1933, the El Encanto was the Santa Catalina Island Company's effort to preserve the traditions and culture of old California. The building radiated the spirit of early California and with the assistance of the island's growing Mexican-American community, El Encanto brought Old California to life for thousands of visitors each season.

Historical Notes

Originally known as El Paseo de El Encanto, “Promenade of Enchantment,” El Encanto International Marketplace was dedicated in Aug. 1933.  Strolling troubadours, magicians, puppeteers, and artists creating their wares were once a part of El Encanto.  Today there are gift & curio shops, and restaurants featuring Mexican and American food in the colorful marketplace, making it a favorite place to shop and dine in Avalon.*

Historical Notes

In November of 1915, a devastating fire burned out of control for three days, destroying about a third of the town of Avalon, including the Hotel Metropole. The Banning brothers built the elegant Hotel Saint Catherine to replace it in Descanso Canyon, just around the Point from Avalon.  The hotel was put up where the residence of Hancock Banning once stood.

Historical Notes

During the 1930s, the Casino became a hotspot for Hollywood celebrities and socialites. Movie stars like Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, and Ronald Colman were frequent visitors, often arriving by yacht.

Historical Notes

Movie studio tycoons such as Cecil B. DeMille, Louis B. Mayer, and Samuel Goldwyn frequently came by yacht to the Casino to preview their newest cinema productions. It also serves as the island's civil defense shelter, large enough to accommodate Catalina's entire year-round population. Within its walls is stored enough food and water for all Avalon's residents for two weeks.

Historical Notes

The Catalina Casino was built by William Wrigley in 1928, replacing a much smaller version from 1917. Wrigley's original budget for the design and construction was $600,000, but he ultimately spent $2 million—a significant sum at the time.

Historical Notes

The Catalina Casino was designed by architects Sumner A. Spaulding and Walter Webber in the Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival styles. It was notable for being the first circular building of its time, with a height equivalent to 12 stories

Historical Notes

The "Romance Promenade" is an open balcony encircling the upper level of the Catalina Casino, offering a 360-degree view of Avalon Harbor and the surrounding ocean. Integral to the circular design of the Casino, it is accessed through French doors from the ballroom, allowing dancers to step out for fresh air and breathtaking vistas. Renowned for its romantic ambiance, it was a fashionable spot for couples in the 1930s, contributing to the Casino's glamorous reputation. Today, it remains a highlight of Casino tours, providing spectacular views and continuing to be celebrated as one of Avalon's most romantic spots.

Historical Notes

The upper level of the Casino building houses the 20,000 square foot Catalina Casino Ballroom. It is the world's largest circular ballroom with a 180-foot diameter dance floor, that can accommodate 3,000 dancers. French doors encircle the room connecting the dance floor with the "Romance Promenade," an open balcony that runs around the building. To reach the ballroom on the top level the Casino building has two ramped walkways, both in enclosed towers that extend out from the circular building. Wrigley took the idea to use ramps instead of stairs from Wrigley Field, his Chicago Cubs stadium. The ramps allowed the large numbers of people using the ballroom to quickly move to and from their destinations. They each have a small lobby areas just below the dance floor level.

Historical Notes

Sumner Spaulding and Walter Weber designed the building in Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival styles. It received the Honor Award from the California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, as "one of the outstanding architectural accomplishments.” 

Historical Notes

Avalon's oldest remaining structure, the distinctive Holly Hill House, was built on a lot purchased from Shatto and his agent C.A. Summer for $500 in 1888.*^

Historical Notes

The twelve-story Catalina Casino, a focal point of Santa Catalina Island entertainment since it opened in 1929, is surrounded by the sea on three sides. Although The Casino is an icon of Catalina and Avalon, there isn't any actual gambling allowed. The stunning Art Deco building stands at 140 feet tall and contains the world's largest circular ballroom with a 180-foot diameter dance floor as well as a beautiful movie theater. The Casino hosts most of Catalina's major indoor events, including the annual New Year's Eve Celebration, and the Catalina Island Jazz Festival..*

Historical Notes

The S.S. Catalina, known as "The Great White Steamer", took its maiden voyage on June 30, 1924. The 301-foot ship, originally built at a cost of $1 million dollars, was in service from 1924 until 1975.*

Historical Notes

The S.S. Catalina carried 25 million passengers between Los Angeles and Avalon Harbor during its 51 years of service (1924 - 1975).*

Historical Notes

Herbert Dewey Mac Rae moved to Catalina Island in 1906 and was the accountant for the Banning Brothers. He bought the two lots that were destroyed by the 1919 Avalon fire and built the Hotel Mac Rae in 1920. By using clay tile instead of wood, the Hotel Mac Rae became the first fire-proof hotel in Avalon.

Historical Notes

The Tuna Club of Avalon is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles County, since April 2, 1991. It is also listed as California Historical Landmark No. 997 (Click HERE to see more).

Historical Notes

Avalon, or Avalon Bay, the only "official" city on Santa Catalina Island, is a rural waterfront town with the usual tourist-oriented businesses and services lining the coastline. Beside Avalon, the only other center of population is the small, unincorporated town of Two Harbors on the island.

As of the 2000 census, there were approximately 3,127 people residing in the city.*

Please Support Our Cause

Water and Power Associates, Inc. is a non-profit, public service organization dedicated to preserving historical records and photos.

Your generosity allows us to continue to disseminate knowledge of the rich and diverse multicultural history of the greater Los Angeles area; to serve as a resource of historical information; and to assist in the preservation of the city's historic records.