The History of Catalina Island

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In this segment from our episode on Catalina Island, I learn about the unique history of this special location.



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TRANSCRIPT:

IT WAS IN THE YEAR 1919 THAT WILLIAM WRIGLEY, JR. FELL IN LOVE WITH AND PURCHASED SANTA CATALINA ISLAND. HIS VISION FOR THIS RUGGED MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPE BECAME HIS LIFE LEGACY.

HE WAS A PASSIONATE AND DEVOTED MAN WHO WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND SANTA CATALINA ISLAND WAS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR HIM TO CREATE A DESTINATION FOR ALL.

LOCAL HISTORIAN MICHELLE BESTUDIK CHARED MEMORABLE INSIGHTS ABOUT WRIGLEY AND HIS VISION FOR THE ISLAND.

WELL WRIGLEY MADE HIS FORTUNE IN CHEWING GUM AND HE ALWAYS FELT AN OBLIGATION TO PAY BACK THE PEOPLE THAT MADE HIM WEALTHY WITH SOMETHING WONDERFUL.

WRIGLEY'S SHREWDNESS FOR BUSINESS HELPED HIM AND HIS PLANS FOR THE ISLAND AND THE BEAUTY IN WHICH HE ENVISIONED IS SELF EVIDENT.

THE CASINO IS JUST OUR ICONIC CROWNING GLORY. IT REALLY IS BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS BUILT IN 1929 AND HE HAD THE CASINO BUILT FOR ENTERTAINMENT FOR HIS GUEST. THERE WAS A THEATRE DOWNSTAIRS, IT STILL IS OUR MOVIE THEATRE TODAY. THEATRE DESIGN FOR SOUND MOVIES AND THEN UPSTAIRS IS A GLORIOUS BALLROOM WHERE ALL THE BIG BANDS CAME AND PLAYED. SO PEOPLE CAME ACROSS ON THE STEAMERS AND THEN DANCED ALL NIGHT IN THE BALLROOM AND FREQUENTLY HOME THAT NITE DANCING ALL THE WAY BACK TO SAN PEDRO. IT WAS REALLY THE LAST THING THAT HE BUILT BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY AS FAR AS HIS TEN YEAR PROGRAM OF HAVING PURCHASED THE ISLAND AND THEN REDOING IT THE WAY THAT HE SAW IT TO BE AND IT IS JUST THE MOST WONDERFUL TRIBUTE THAT HE COULD HAVE EVER GIVEN TO THE ISLAND.

CATALINA ISLAND IS RICH IN HISTORY AND CAN BE SEEN IN THE MANY BUILDINGS AND LANDMARKS AROUND AVALON. WHILE THE TOWN OF AVALON HAS GROWN IT STILL MAINTAINS IT'S HISTORICAL CHARM AND TODAY THE QUAINT ISLAND TOWN OFFERS MUCH FOR LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE.

JUST LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE GULF OF SANTA CATALINA, THE ISLAND IS 22 MILES LONG AND 8 MILES WIDE AT IT'S WIDEST POINT. AND WHILE THERE ARE AROUND FOUR THOUSAND YEAR ROUND RESIDENTS, THOUSANDS OF TOURIST FLOCK YEARLY TO THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE.

AND THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE IS ABOARD THE CATALINA EXPRESS! THE HIGH-SPEED BOAT RIDE IS AN ENJOYABLE HOUR JOURNEY FROM LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA AND OFFERS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SEATING. AND AS THE LOCALS SAY "WELCOME TO CATALINA ISLAND"!