Long Beach, California History

My dad, Walter J. Christensen, was interested in so many things. Although he was a journeyman pipefitter by day, he was also a photographer. I am not sure what year he took this photo of Long Beach and the Queen Mary but the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium (lower left corner) was demolished in 1975 and my dad died in 1985 so sometime in between.

I know it has been a long time since I posted. Back on it! I took this photograph a couple of years ago in Long Beach. Do you know where it is?

The Shriner's Arch or Gate was built prior to 1908 at the pier.

In 1923 Long Beach leaders set about creating a social-athletic club. The cornerstone was laid during a grand ceremony on Saturday 4 September 1926. The items placed beneath it in a copper box were a "photograph showing the skyline of Long Beach, the constitution and by-laws of the club, the club roster, a souvenir program of the ceremony, a silver dollar of the coinage of 1926 encased in a metal container, a collection of clipping of "Hi-tided" giving the lights of the club and building, program the first issue of "Hi-Tide" and the August 1926 issue, special edition of the Long Beach Press-Telegram and the Long Beach Sun of September 4, 1926 and photographs of the progress of the building from the turning of the first spadeful of earth on June 8, 1925 to the present time" and a telegram of congratulations signed by W.S. Whitmer, President of the University Club of Los Angeles. The following two pages are from the beautiful hardbound embossed 1927 commemorative book which contained 284 pages. They are an illustration of the club and a photograph/text about the library lounge. My parents, who came from very modest means, met when my dad was a guest of a club member and my mother was performing water ballet there. My mother also performed at the Mission Inn in Riverside.

Two of my favorite people. Camilla M. Christensen (my mom) and Cynthia Galles, Founder of the Found Theatre. The 2nd City Council Art Gallery + Performance Space (2cc) ran for 12 years due, in large part, to my mom volunteering to drive from Yorba Linda to Long Beach to gallery sit and to do anything else required to keep us open. My mom is now 89 years old and has dementia. She is still talkative and engaged but there are changes that are painful to experience.

My friend, Cynthia Galles, was one of kind. One of the most creative, fun, and beautiful people in the world. She founded The Found Theatre in 1974. A year later, she was joined by her partner, Virginia DeMoss (whom I also love and respect). Lots and lots of laughter and fun times. The Theatre often involved audience participation. One of my favorites was when my family, as audience members, dressed up as campers complete with a million props to attend "The Dysfunctional Family Camping Trip." Which we had just endured in "real life" for my niece's 16th birthday. The performance allowed us to laugh at ourselves. I miss Cynthia.

Artist Mark Ortiz undertook a monumental project when he approached Captain Susan Russell and the 240th Forward Support Battalion to use the Armory to highlight the artists of Long Beach Arts. He produced this event to show the artists' "ability to describe the blend of cultures, styles, and ethnic background that is Long Beach." It turned out to be one of the most successful art events in Long Beach. It may be just as monumental a task for me to locate these photos from 1998 but I'll start looking so I can, hopefully, post them in the future.

Remember all the awesome possibilities that were conjured up when an artist, Tom/Tao Walker, ran for Councilperson 19 years ago? His platform was Art for Long Beach.

Driving around Long Beach in 2013, Dwight & I spotted this building. It looked like an old train station. Sure enough. This Southern Pacific Railroad Depot was built in 1907-1908.

It originally sat across from Lincoln Park between Pacific & Cedar. Then it was moved to 1475 San Francisco where it became a chemical & physical testing lab. Later it was placed on LB endangered list.

In early 2015, it was moved to California and 27th (near Sunnyside Cemetery) so it could be renovated to become a community center at Willow Springs Park. In the middle of the night, on 16 September 2016, it was completely destroyed by fire. Cause unknown but arson suspected.

Huell Howser joined forces with the preservation community and community at large to try to save the historic Roosevelt Navy Base. Renown African American architect, Paul Revere Williams, was the main architect associated with designing it. Mr. Williams was known, among other things, as being the "Architect to the Stars" as well as the designer of many beautiful commercial buildings. He was the first African American elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He served on the L.A. City Planning Commission for 8 years and was politically and socially active. Dwight and I attended the huge community meeting as well as an open house/public tour of the Base (1998) prior to it being demolished. I'll see if I can locate some of my Base photos and post them.

This is the hospital where I was born. I'm not sure why they had matches made? I always liked that it became a psychiatric facility afterward (somehow fitting for my birthplace). The hospital was eventually torn down and became the Mary Bethune Transitional Center which is one of the most academically successful homeless education programs in the country. The Center also provides a variety of other support services.