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1/12/08
I was born into the mystique of Catalina. My father was 2nd engineer on the S.S. Catalina from the 50’s to 70’s. I remember arriving at the
It took 20 minutes to clear the breakwater and the place to be was on the top deck just behind the bridge. There was a clown, Cappy, who had a white face, red nose, and kind of typical clown regalia for the time. To our right the black and white lighthouse that is Angeles Gate slipped past us. Waves from the open sea crash around its base. Seagulls & pelicans circle the ship and do tricks as they catch the pieces of hot dogs, pop corn and candy being tossed by passengers. Then the mighty white steam ship roared with a blast of its horn “We are on the open ocean, Hoorah!” Twenty six miles & two hours to go! It always made me tingle & smile knowing that the next stop was
I have many fond adult memories of Catalina, too. One time I jogged from the airport to the pleasure pier and was chased by buffalo for a good half mile, it was comedy at its best! More memories: The time my brother and I had a disagreement with a guy in the Chi-Chi Club and left him face first in the toilet; the time we almost got run over by a seaplane and as a result my friend dropped my dads $100 reel into the drink; the time I put $10 in quarters in a juke box and had it play the 26 Miles song over & over for 4 hours; or the time we almost blew up the Isthmus on the 4th of July 1983...too much Wild Turkey! I am a recovering cancer patient and this gift of sharing my memories from age 2 to 32 is a privilege and I hope enjoyed them! How I ever wound up in Dave Schwab 12/14/07 I love going to your website. Lots of memories! We lived on Catalina from 1963 thru 1966. We lived on Descanso right behind the Pavilion Lodge so I walked to the beach whenever I wanted. I remember looking up to watch the seaplanes as they came in for a landing. I spent hours watching them land on the water in Avalon Bay . It's interesting that the gentleman that wrote the book used to work for Catalina Airlines. I used to take the luggage of the tourists that had just gotten off the seaplanes in my red wagon to their hotel (if their hotel was in walking distance of the Pleasure Pier of course) for tips. What a way for a little kid to earn money! We often went back and forth (to the mainland) on the seaplanes. The Knights of Avalon (book) will be a Christmas present for my mother. Her father (my grandfather) was a pilot whose license was signed by Orville Wright. Ever since she was small she has loved airplanes of all kinds.
Phil Swan 12/25/06 When I was a young boy my mother Regina (Gerry) Hilbert was very close friends with Leo Fishman, better known as "DUKE OF CATALINA" and MR. CLEAN! I have such fond memories of him between the ages of 6 and 10 when my mother and I would visit the Island, or when he would visit us at our home in Placentia, California. This was in the early 70's, but my mother and father knew Leo since the mid 50's. He was a very close friend of our family. In 1973 my mother died suddenly and he was devastated when he heard of her passing. I was 10 at the time and I remember him visiting me quite often after her death. Then 4 years later in 1977 The Duke himself died. I was very sad because I looked up to him as an uncle. I remember one time he came to my house in Placentia driving his Orange Datsun 240 Z sportscar and took me for a ride. I thought that was so cool! Anyway he was just a great guy and I will never forget him. Thanks for giving me this forum to write down some of my memories of Leo Fishman, "THE DUKE OF CATALINA" 8/27/06 Some of my fondest memories were my family vacations at Catalina Island. We went in the late 50's when the Duke of Catalina would greet everyone coming off the Steamer. We would dive for coins the guests would throw off the ship. My dad and my brother would fish every day sometimes off the pier and sometimes they rented a little boat. I had a friend there, Harold, who drove the "salad bowl"...they would grab the debris out of the swimming area with big pitch forks. I remember a goat being at the penny arcade that ate everything you gave him. Dances and movies at the Casino...that's where I saw Jail house Rock with Elvis. On some nights they had street dances right in town. I have so many good memories I could go on forever... 8/23/06 My family have been long time island residents, my grandparents moved to Avalon permanetly approx. 1966 and owned a gift shop for along time. My uncle (John Phelps) was the Harbor Master for 25 years, and worked for the seaplanes at Pebbly when I was young. I lived on the island for several years and get back at least twice a year. 4/07/06 Beginning in about 1954, my father took me and my brothers to Catalina for a good portion of the summer. The memories from these vacations are incredibly vivid and a source of immense pleasure. We traveled there by different means: steamship, sea planes, and eventually on a small inboard that my dad found. After working on the engine, we made it across on our own. We always stayed at the Isthmus in a tiny cabin and, for seven summers in a row, we thought we were in Heaven. There is a place at the Isthmus about half way between Isthmus Cove and Cat Harbor where there was a swing hanging from a tree amid eucalyptus trees. I would go there by myself and never have I been so at peace and happy. I want to go back but I know, of course, it won't be the same. I have since read that on that very spot there once was a sacred temple used by the native people of the Island long ago. Thanks for the memories! 1/29/06 My husband & I honeymooned on Catalina in May of 2003. This was my very first visit (I grew up in NC) but my husband, a Southern CA native, is a life long fan! He has many wonderful memories of visiting the magical island with his family. We stayed at The "Old" Turner Inn where we met an artist. He painted us a beautiful picture of the flowers blooming outside the B&B. It's the best souvenir ever! The Island is just amazing. I loved the Casino tour! I could just imagine the parties of years before while listening to the stories. It was unbelievable how many places you could go on such a small island. We saw the bison on the inland tour and watched the horse show at the Wrigley's place (Escondido Ranch). The whole trip was wonderful. I even saw a whale for the first time on the way back to San Pedro. We hope to visit many more times in the future. I've enjoyed looking at the web site because now I'm a collector of all things Catalina! It was nice to read so many memories of others who love the Island as well! Thanks! 1/15/06 In my early twenties on Catalina, I got to know Dave McKenna, the pianist for Woody Herman and his Orchestra, who played at the Casino. Woody's band at that time is pictured in the little museum at the Casino. I have often wondered what happened to Dave McKenna - if he stayed with the orchestra or what happened to him. We actually were introduced while sunning on the beach one day and became friends. Catalina is indeed the Isle of Romance! We came over on the steamer that had a band playing. We received a lei when we docked. How lovely! I lived and worked on Catalina for several months. My uncle, Roy Taylor, was Mayor there for almost 20 years. He and his brother, Pres, owned a restaurant there. Eventually, Uncle Roy owned the El Encanto Restaurant for a long time. Thank you for this web site. I am grateful. 12/01/05 Always a great site! It was bookmarked a long time ago! Saw the LA Times online issue today (12/01/05) and their article (and pictures) about the repair barge. "Docked" in front of the Casino is NOT the place to be! 11/30/05 I practically grew up in Avalon...and would stay at the Las Casitas cottages (right next to the softball field and golf course) during visits. I have many memories of the G-21 and actually was able to ride in the front seat a few times. A 12 minute flight beats a 2 hour boat ride!!! I miss the hamburger stand on the pier and the smoked albacore... 7/04/05 I remember my first trip to the island on the Great White Steamship, seeing Duke entertaining near the plaza, and not having the slightest idea of who he was (I remember my mom telling me to stay clear of that man). If I had known better, I'm sure I would have gotten a kick out of him. I have traveled there by steamer, seaplane, sailboat, and the regular catamarans and expresses. It is always a joy to visit Avalon.
We have taken our children perhaps a half-dozen times for stays and it pleases us greatly that they are enchanted with Catalina as well. One of my fondest memories is teaching my son how to fish from the Green Pleasure Pier. When he caught his first fish, a group of Japanese tourists standing close by gave him a huge ovation. The look on his face was beyond price. He has caught many fish there over the years, returning each one from the hook back to the sea. Good for you on the web site...I realize it is a vehicle to do some business through, but it is also a service to those other individuals who share your love of the island. Your description of the imaginary voyage on the steamer was a virtual depiction of my first trip with my mom and sister! 7/02/05 My grandfather had a duplex in Avalon and my family spent a couple weeks every summer in Avalon. I traveled on the S.S. Avalon a couple of times, but almost always on the S.S. Catalina. I used to either hang off the bow or spend my time down with the lifeboats just above the rushing sea. What a trip. I clearly remember the band on the end of the pier playing "Avalon". Later, when I was in High School in the late 50's, I went over with a couple friends and we spent a full week in Avalon. During those days I went out and dove for coins when the Catalina came in. What a rush to even think about it! The photo (bottom of your home page) is from a trip on a 23 foot sloop out of Long Beach. We headed out on a day with no wind and wound up motoring the whole way on a five horsepower outboard - took the whole day! The air was so still and hot that day, and the Sikorsky (flying boat) kept flying back and forth just off the water. On one of those flybys, I took the photo. Even though I have been in Newport, Rhode Island these past years, Catalina still holds a favorite place in my heart. Nothing but good memories associated with Catalina and Avalon. 6/13/05 Thank you so much for this wonderful trip down memory lane. Who knew when I was a little girl of 10 years old, growing up on the S.S. Catalina (my father was VP of the steamship line from 1960-1967), that I would have the seeds of passion for the ship that I do today. We had our own boat, the Moana Kai, and dad was also Commodore of the Yacht Club in Avalon, so not only did we live on our boat, we were very active with the Steamer and Channel Concessions. I love that place, my heart softens every time someone speaks of Avalon or the Steamer or of the Casino....or any part of Catalina. I guess that is why I have devoted my time for the last 6 months to the restoration and preservation of the S.S. Catalina. Thank you so much for your interest and kind support. I will visit this website often and tell my friends and family. 2/22/05 2/14/05 I spent almost every summer on the Island with my mom. I also finished high school in Avalon in 1969. I remember riding on the Gooses but never got a chance to ride on Mother Goose. My step father started the taxi business there with Volkswagen buses. I used to deliver for Catalina Dry Cleaners which was owned by a friend who has since retired to Ramona, Calif. My younger brother and sister who lived on the island full time (were born there), they are Kit and Kent Terry. We lived in a few places there, with the last being on Marilla Avenue.
John Wayne would come over in his converted mine sweeper, I think it was called the Wild Goose II. He used to get plastered and sit out in front of the Wai Ki Ki club and talk with the tourists. He was very good with the tourists. Well anyway, I went diving with a friend and was coming back in our little boat with lobsters and abalone and John Wayne was just leaving with another guy from the pleasure pier in a Boston Whaler. He asked how we did diving and we showed him the lobsters and abalone and he said that's great. I then hand him my bag of lobsters, which he tried to refuse, but I insisted and explained I did not like lobster (I was a stupid kid who thought it tasted like fat, but I love it now). He said thank you very much and took off to his yacht. My wife jokes with me and says I gave John Wayne the crabs!! 2/02/05 I grew up in Villa Park, CA. We took just a few vacations over the years to Catalina, for the day or for a weekend. We would just rent a hotel. One time after I graduated high school, my dad and his girlfriend rented a sailboat and went over there and stayed in the harbor at Avalon. A friend I had had since childhood and I hopped on a ferry and went over for the day, went out to my dad's rented boat, shopped and sunned. It was great! We also have been backpacking there many, many times in the interior. The wild buffalo are amazing, and the camping is so peaceful, awesome, and perfect! I met my husband (Dean) just before graduation high school, Villa Park High School. He told me he had spent 10 years on Catalina as a kid. Larry Lechner is his father and Ernest Lechner is his grandfather,(who) had lived there for a short time! Larry worked for Al Solomon and built many places over there. He built Solomon's Landing, I think it's called, and El Cantino restaurant. Larry's initials are on the wall in the lower level of El Cantino "L.L.". They loved it there, and my husband has always wanted to move back. We just took a cruise off the coast out there to Ensenada, San Diego and Catalina. After the day on the beach at Catalina watching our kids, I was dying to move there also. Maybe for retirement? It's gorgeous and perfect. Very often Dean will tell me about all of his experiences growing up there. It sounded like a slice of heaven. 1/21/05 Riding on a (Grumman G-21) Goose or the (Sikorsky VS-44A) Mother Goose is one of the things I miss most in life. I flew on the Mother Goose in 1967, and the Gooses in the 1960'S, 1970'S, and as late as the summer of 1984, the last summer I believe that there was passenger Goose service to Catalina. I have not been to Catalina since 1985, (when I) went on business to appraise a piece of real estate - no Goose service - a real bummer - had to take a boring helicopter. I would probably have gone at least once a year since 1985 if they had Goose service. Getting there on a Goose and coming back on a Goose is more than half the fun!!!! I always felt that the Mother Goose and Gooses were part of what the Catalina scene / experience was all about. Without them it's just not the same for me. 10/22/04 I first started going to Avalon in 1957, I was six months old. Our family had owned the house at 319 Catalina Avenue since the 1940's. I have two older sister's and grew up in Pasadena, and we would use the Catalina house during the summer's. We would fly over, usually on the Grumman's but occasionally on the Sikorsky "Mother Goose". We would also go on the Steamer (S.S. Catalina), but I always tried to fly over as a kid and would try to convince my parents that flying was "necessary". I was obsessed to say the least. I would spend 2 to 3 hours at a time watching those planes land. I loved watching the planes dock. My favorite approach was when there were Easterly (Santa Ana) winds. The Gooses would fly up into the canyon, and come down over Catalina Ave. and the Pleasure Pier, and swoop into the harbor. It made my hair stand up! The beautiful noise those engines made was incredible. We would alway go to the beach at Lover's cove. Since we had a house, we had bicycles too. I would often be found down at Pebbly Beach watching the planes go up and down the ramp. If you can, buy the book by David Johnston called "The Knights of Avalon". It is filled with great information about this wonderful place and how incredible it was there in the sixties! 8/12/04 I first went to Catalina when I was 6 (in 1966). We went over on the S.S. Catalina which seemed to take all day. My sister and I still remember seeing a killer whale on the way over and throwing quarters to the kids who met the boat. We moved away from CA in 1969, but when I moved back to LA in 1997, I remembered Catalina as a nice place, so I went over on vacation. I now spend my vacation there every year staying at the Hotel Metropole (a great hotel). My twin sister and I re-enacted our photo on the pier with the Casino in the background last year, so I have a version at 6 years old and one at 43 years old. We now go over on a much faster boat, but Catalina has maintained all of its charm from years ago. It is a great place; as soon as I leave I want to come back! I now live in Seattle and can't wait to come back down for a vacation in November. Thank you very much! 8/08/04 8/07/04 8/04/04 I would venture to say that your grandfather most likely knew my friend's family. I think her maiden name was Layton. Her dad was a commercial fisherman in the 1940's, and her mother worked as a waitress in several of the coffee shops. My friend used to work at the taffy place when she was a teenager. What I like best about Catalina is the fishing on the other side of the island. I used to take the 3/4 day "cattle boat" out of Redondo and once in a while we'd fish Catalina. Another thing I really liked on Catalina was Pebble Beach. When I took my granddaughter there we gathered up some nice flat ones, and when we got home I showed her how you could paint them. On one side of a pebble I painted a lovely sunflower and the words "Please turn Me over"......And on the other side I painted a ladybug and the words: "THANK YOU"!! She painted one and gave it to her mother. Anyway, thanks for sharing your website and Catalina stories. It's nice to know people still love that place. Once I sang Karaoke in that place where dollar bills are plastered all over the walls. I sang Chuck Berry's song: "Johnnie B. Goode". (Did a fine job if I do say so myself). Best regards. 6/23/04 I love your web site, brought back lots of memories of the old Catalina! My parents moved me to Catalina Island when I was six months old in 1945. In 1959 my parents, Larry and Dorothy Langin, purchased the Catalina Dept. Store and owned it until the early 70's when my Dad retired and my Mom had passed away. I graduated from Avalon High School with the class of '63. I left years ago to marry, raise a family, etc. I fondly remember the dock guys who always helped me move a lot of "stuff" when I was going to and returning from college each year. I had so much junk they would put a box or two on each flight for a couple of days and stockpile it on the mainland before my arrival. Those guys were the best! It was so much fun riding those seaplanes! Take care, and keep doing what you are doing, it's great! 5/21/04 5/20/04 Thanks for the great site! I, too, am a Catalina freak, and have many memories from the beginning of my existence. My kids love it now, and it's truly where I am happiest. I try to get there at least twice a year, but it's never enough!! I'll be visiting your website again-
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