Live Cam Grid

Main Street

Balboa Pavilion

Balboa Fun Zone

Balboa Bay Front

Bay Arcade

Balboa Beach West

Faces Of Balboa

15th Street
Surf Shop
AgentMaryLou
Balboa Fun Zone
Balboa Island
Balboa Island Ferry
Balboa Pavilion
Balboa Saloon
Balboa Technology
Catalina Flyer
Cracktones
Davey's Locker
Dumb Angel
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Easy Notary Service
EyeLandGirl
Free Newport
Go Newport Beach
Main Street Bistro
Marina
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Menagerie Entertainment
Mifflin Taffy
Mr. Balboa
Barber Shop
Newport Beach
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NetiHotell
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Pilates by the Sea
Renee West
Rotary Club of Newport Balboa
Sally Martin Realtor ∙
Shellback
Yacht Cruises
The Spice Guy
Walk to the Beach
Wedding Boat 

This month we will be adding two new Live Balboa Cams to the TalesOfBalboa web site. The first cam will be inside the Balboa Saloon, the second will be inside the Bay Arcade. The substantial cost of installing these cameras is being covered entirely by these businesses. Be sure to watch for these new Live Balboa Cams.

By The 1920s, Balboa was a popular location for the Hollywood moviemakers. Its pristine empty beaches, calm bay waters and the ocean surf were just what was needed for exotic movie settings, and the Pacific Electric could deliver a flat car full of equipment from Los Angeles in only an hour. The first major motion picture to be filmed here was the original 1917 Cleopatra. A work crew of eighty men constructed a fleet of 29 full-scale, ancient design galleys on the Balboa Peninsula. After the ships were completed, the cast arrived by Red Car and camped in tents on the beach. Local fishermen were used for the more dangerous roles such as falling in the water, because most of the actors couldn't swim. For the grand finale, all the ships except for Cleopatra's were soaked with 5,000 gallons of crude oil and set ablaze. Cleopatra's ship was crushed to splinters upon the rocks at Rocky Point. The old three-master Fremont built in 1852 and declared un-seaworthy was used for the filming of the original Treasure Island in 1919. After returning from a day of shooting at sea, the Fremont sprang a leak and was cast upon a sandbar at the mouth of the bay by a large swell. The terrified actors, who couldn't swim, were forced to spend the entire night aboard the Fremont with only a single lantern for light before they could be rescued the next day. Each tide drove the Fremont higher up on the sandbar and finally, after several days, she was dynamited. Shots of the explosion were used in movies for years afterwards.



Hey Jim ....Bob Gardner, rest his soul, was a neat guy - left us too soon! Now, you're my 'go to' guy!
My mind's almost gone and I need a little help from someone like you who can still remember stuff! OK ....need to know where Berkshire's was located. Also, before it was Bobby McGee's, what the hell was that restaurant called. And ....how come I never read anything about Ken Niles' marina? Remember Ken? He was a radio announcer for, I believe, KNX. Anyway .....wasn't his marina located across from what is now Promontory Point? Jeez .....the forties and fifties in Balboa and surrounding areas (I grew up in Seal Beach) were truly fantastic decades! Wait .....didn't Don the Beachcomber have a place next to the Hurley Bell? Wasn't there a place called the "Castaways"? If so, where was it? What was the street address of Christian's Hut? There were a number of shipyards and chandlers located on PCH. Wasn't one of them located where the new Villa Nova is now? You can sure help this old fart if you will .....it's tough to try to remember stuff and can't. I still recall what Bette Davis said ......"Growing old ain't for sissies!" Hey Bette ....you were right!
Bob King
majskyking70@yahoo.com

Hey Jim, how is it going. It just dawned on me that there might be a few people out there in Balboa who remember the Hodge bros. Frank and Jimbo. They worked at the old "Arts Landing for a few  years, in the cafe, and on the boats". They were there around 1979-1981 They were from N.Y. originally, and they made friends easily and knew so many people out that way. Anyway the reason I am wondering is because they both (seperately) passed on well before their time. Jimbo went do to complications of diabetes about five years ago and Frank went about three years ago, from a brain tumor, and years of substance abuse. They had their problems like everybody, but as I say they were well liked and someone out there may wish to know. Also if anyone is wondering "Robert Owen" the clown artist, is living in Graham WA with his step daughter Vicky. I know lots of people know who they are they were there for so long ! People would remember "Norma and Pelone" from 401 bay st. Norma passed some time ago from Cancer and Pelone is staying as I said with Vicky. I believe he is still painting. Just some info for your readers.
Thanks Barbara Courneya  (Dever)
Bdever59@yahoo.com

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