Betsy J. Green

WAY BACK WHEN - March 31, 1918 -- 100 years ago today, daylight-saving time began in Santa Barbara for the very first time. Although there were some complaints — “When it is noon, it is noon, no matter what the clock says” — there were no major problems.

Way Back When - March 26, 1918 -- 100 years ago today, a thief at the prestigious Potter Hotel, made off with “an emerald ring, two clocks, gold neck chain, silver souvenir spoon, and one sapphire, and an emerald ring,” according to the SB Daily News & Independent.

Way Back When -- March 18, 1918 -- 100 years ago today, the boat “The Sea Wolf,” captained by Captain Ira Eaton, took a group of movie people from the Vitagraph Company to Santa Cruz Island to film “The Woman in the Web.” Santa Barbara’s Daily News & Independent wrote, “It is said that the picture being filmed will be one of the finest pictured romances yet produced.” Read More 

Way Back When in Santa Barbara -- March 24, 1918 -- 100 years ago today, the Santa Barbara Morning Press wrote about the main meeting place for folks in Carpinteria that was called the Auditorium. “Every man, woman and child in the Carpinteria valley is proud of our hall. It is the place for all public meetings, Red Cross work and civic bodies.”.
It was also the place where people watched silent movies. This 1914 building is still here at 888-892 Linden Avenue.

Watch for more up-to-the-minute century-old news in my Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1918 book available in November 2018.

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Way Back When - March 8, 1918 -- 100 years ago today, a rainstorm caused a landslide on Ortega Hill that buried the train tracks there. “The track in this section was covered for over 100 feet under an immense pile of dirt,” according to the Santa Barbara Morning Press.