Betsy J. Green

Treasure Hunt in West Beach

Dateline: September 1924

After the majestic Potter Hotel burned in 1921, homes and hotels began to be constructed in that area. "Whispers of lost jewels and gold in the ashes of the once stately Ambassador [Potter] Hotel started after [it] burned to the ground in 1921 . . . Since that time, workmen occasionally have discovered jewelry of varying value among the ruins, and for years, many people carefully scrutinized the ashes at every opportunity in hopes of recovering some of the lost treasure.

"Recently . . . a workman on the hotel grounds was reported to have discovered a diamond brooch valued at approximately $15,000. The following day, he failed to reappear at the grounds for his daily work. Furthermore, inquiries revealed that he had left the city, and his whereabouts were unknown.

"Since that date, workmen excavating for new residences on the hotel grounds, have shown renewed activity in their work. The site of the old hotel is a continuous attraction, and explorations through the debris in search of sparkling solitaires and necklaces has become a favorite pastime." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, September 21, 1924

Hard at work; biting my nails!

I am excited to be featured in the Channel Islands newsletter this week. I am hard at work (and biting my nails) prepping for my museum exhibit at Carpinteria's new CCIC.

(Click on the image above to read more about it.)

An Authentic Stagecoach on the Screen

Dateline: August 1912

Shortly after the "Flying A" silent movie folks moved to Santa Barbara in 1912, they were able to use the old Lompoc stagecoach in their films. One of the first films that the studio created here was The Jack of Diamonds.

Some of the scenes were filmed on the stagecoach. "The exteriors were taken in the vicinity of the Hollister Road [upper State Street], about a mile from the studio. The old stagecoach which was used in early days out of Lompoc was called into play for the first time. It will add considerable color to the story." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, August 16, 1912

Top Secret Submarine Stuff

Dateline: August 1916
The release of the "Flying A" silent-movie serial, The Secret of the Submarine, was held back for a while because there was some concern that too many secrets were revealed in the filming. (This was during World War I.)

"The first chapter shows plainly the technical workings of a submarine never before displayed upon the screen. Although [the "Flying A"] had the cooperation of U.S. naval officers in the making of the picture, there apparently are some secrets not supposed to become public." – Motography, May 20, 1916

Eventually, the concerns were addressed, and the serial was released.

Who Needs Horses?

Dateline: August 1924
Not these guys who were called "auto poloists." They played polo using stripped-down automobiles, instead of horses. Here they are practicing in Pershing Park.

This is believed to be the first year that auto polo was played in Santa Barbara, although the sport had been around almost as long as cars have been around.

The Star of the First Fiesta

Dateline: August 1924

One of the stars of the first Fiesta was the visit of an amazing movie ship. The replica of a historic Spanish caravel that had recently been used for the filming of the silent movie version of The Sea Hawk, sailed to Stearns Wharf where thousands of Santa Barbarans were able to go onboard and step into the past.

This majestic ship is pictured on the very first Fiesta poster. You can visit the Santa Barbara Historical Museum (free!) to see this poster, and other colorful posters of years gone by.

Courthouse Mural Artist

Dateline: July 1924
This 9-by-12-foot mural was the largest in Santa Barbara in 1924, and it took three weeks and hundreds of working hours to paint it. Artist Dan Sayre Groesbeck painted the mural depicting Cabrillo landing on one of the Channel Islands for a bank on State Street.

The colorful mural would be on display in the bank, assuming that it was possible to get the mural inside the bank. "The ingenuity of the bank officials will be taxed to get it through the door, Mr. Groesbeck prophesied."

[Spoiler alert – In 1929, Groesbeck painted the even more spectacular murals in the mural room at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. His 1924 mural is now in the courthouse in a hallway near the mural room.]

Ancient Romans in Montecito

Dateline: July 1911

The New Faith was a religious drama that was the first commercial movie filmed in Montecito, CA. Scenes were filmed at James Waldron Gillespie's El Fureidîs estate. This was the most popular spot for filming silent movies in Montecito.

"James Waldron Gillespie's Italian villa in Montecito was used as the background for a Roman play, The New Faith." – Morning Press, July 8, 1911.

The location got rave reviews. "The settings of many of the scenes are extremely beautiful; white summer palaces, sunken gardens, with fountains and mirror pools, making backgrounds very suggestive of Roman days." – Moving Picture World, July 15, 1911

Shake, Rattle, and Roll!

Dateline: June 29, 1925

The earth moved, and Santa Barbara was never the same.

Ninety-nine years ago today, a powerful earthquake hit our city in the early morning hours.

Buildings tumbled to the ground, a dam burst, and the ocean shuddered.

A year from now, there will be ceremonies, activities, and – of course! – books to mark the quake's centennial.

I'll keep you posted in the months to come.

SBHS Looks Ahead to the Future

Dateline: June 1924

"Officials, Parents, Students Gather in Spacious Building to Observe Ceremonies Marking Opening . . . The thousand persons who attended the dedication of the new high school, the hundreds who worked on the bonds and the building of it are ephemeral; but, according to the speakers, the great school structure will still be fulfilling its purpose 100 years from now, when they have passed away." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, June 20, 1924

Happily, the school building is still here a century later.