Historic Newport

Christmas on Balboa Island, 1950 It doesn’t look much different than it does today, does it? Do you remember any of these shops?

This photo of Blackies says it is from 1939, but friends have said that judging by the cars I think it was more like 1929. Do you know your cars? What do you think?

I don’t have a date for this photo in the archive, but this appears to be Fashion Island back before everything got built up. Do you have any idea what date this may have been? Click to enlarge photo below

Did you know that Newport has always been filled with mavericks who do what they want?  Even during prohibition, Balboa Peninsula’s geography made it perfectly suited to run speakeasys.  The Ritz Theatre (now Balboa Theater) was a speakeasy, as was the Balboa Pavilion, and many other famous but short-lived “pop-up” shops in the area.  The mainstay speakeasys were no small …

“Your very own piece of Balboa for only THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS- and its all just a Ferry ride away” Taken from Pavilion area towards Bay Island (that’s Bay Island in the upper-right) Any guesses on the timeframe of this photo?  From the looks of it, this was way before the Fun Zone we came to know and love!

Did you know that the Red Line used to run from Los Angeles all the way down to Balboa Pavillion? Wouldn’t that have been nice for last weeks Thanksgiving traffic? Here is the old Balboa Red Car at Orange Empire Railroad Museum in Perris:   And, of course, the Red Line back in its heyday:

Think the gas prices are low now?  These prices are in cents– not dollars. Photo taken on 17th and Irvine, 1973 Do you remember the gas lines, and the odd and even numbered plate days?

Balboa, Newport Beach, May 1975.  Do you remember Orange Julius, across from Dillmans? What was your favorite treat?  

An old photo of a day at the beach. Full sets of clothes (because anything else would be too revealing)! Can you guess the date of this photo?

Rendezvous Ballroom, once on the corner of Palm and Ocean (where the condos are today). Twice destroyed by fire (January 27, 1935 and August 7th, 1966), both times because someone left a cigarette smoldering inside a couch after everyone closed up shop for the night. Are you seasoned enough to remember the Rendezvous Ballroom?