Happening this weekend…
A lightning storm raged over Catalina Island on Sunday night. No rain in Newport, but what a light show, that lasted a few hours starting just after sunset.
Vintage Mount Waterman
Tags: Mount Waterman, Mt. Waterman
With the Labor Day holiday in our rear view mirror we now start looking forward to the fall and winter seasons. I heard someone ask for colder weather this weekend…including snowflakes and Hot Toddys. Check out this picture I acquired of Mount Waterman from the early 1950’s. Lots of snow this season….hopefully we see the same this upcoming season. Fingers crossed.
After nearly 70 years at the “Fun Zone” Bay Arcade will close it’s doors this Sunday the 20th for the last time. Bay Arcade has been a fixture in the area treating many to fun times playing video games and ski ball. I went there last night to turn in my tickets….nearly 4k worth and play a few last games of ski ball. Most of the games have sold signs on them but there is a hand written note at the front counter that says the Bay Arcade signs are not for sale. I have heard that the signs were sold with the building and the new owner may convert them to display their business name. I sure hope that this does not happen. These signs (one on both sides of the building) are relics of the past and deserve to be preserved, housed in a museum or maintained in their original condition. I took a post card from my collection to the arcade last night to snap the below picture. If you look closely at the postcard, you can see the same exact sign, in the same exact spot, in the early 1950’s. Sad to see you go Bay Arcade…the “Fun Zone” just got a little less fun.
@ArcadeFire – Don’t mess with Veruca Salt, she wants Everything Now.
1939 Newport Bay
Tags: #old newport beach, #Vintage Newport Beach Postcards
This appears to be the fun zone area just north of the Pavilion on Newport Bay. This vintage postcard is from 1939. Take a look at the high and low diving boards made of large pieces of lumber.
The Hottest 100 Yards circa 1980
Tags: #old newport beach, The Hottest 100 Yards
The below article was published in 1980 by Surfer Magazine. The article describes the beach between 54st and 56st lifeguard towers in Newport Beach as The Hottest 100 Yards in the surfing. It holds true to that name today. Enjoy
Old Balboa
Tags: #old newport beach, #Vintage Newport Beach Postcards
Two antique postcards of the Balboa area. One depicts the bridge to get onto Balboa Island circa 1930’s and the other shows a gondola and dates back to the the early 1900’s. The Gondola was a popular way to travel the back bay in the early years of Newport due to the shallow and marshy conditions. Also, interesting to note that the card only shows 7 homes that are on bay front lots compared to the 1000’s that line the bay’s edge today.
New postcard to my collection, postmarked on the back from 1908. It shows a gathering at the Balboa Pavilion under flags that are raised at half staff. This could be a funeral procession or other day of morning.
I’m enjoying this new song by Arcade Fire and anticipating their new album! The music video has a very Newberry Springs look to it.
A new addition at HQ. The quote by Jack Kerouac says….Happy. Just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the red fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running, that’s the way to live.
We are having our annual opening day of summer party this coming Sunday at HQ 1pm. See ya there!
Newport Beach continues to level the sand in west Newport. There are several sand hills like this one slated for removal from the beach for use in another part of the city. It’s been a good place to watch the sunset. Also, the sand pipe was removed from the 56st jetty last week.
Lemoore City Service Sign
Tags: #Kelly Slater Wave Co., #kswaveco, #Lemoore
The central valley city of Lemoore has updated their city services sign. The sign now gives a nod to their most famous resident…the Kelly Slater Wave Pool.
A week ago, before sunset, waves pumped at 56st. The day had been fairly windy with big wind swell in the water. Just as the sun set for the horizon, the wind died and the waves went nuts for about 30 minutes. All the sand from the dredge pipe had helped to create A-Frame barrels from 54st to the River Jetties.
