07-06 TalesOfBalboa - Your Portal To Balboa California

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Your Portal To Balboa California

July 2006 / Vol 8 No 7

BALBOA
WEATHER EYE

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Balboa Weather
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Live Balboa Cams

Balboa Bay Front

Bay Arcade

Balboa Beach West

Faces Of Balboa

Link Exchange

15th Street
Surf Shop
AgentMaryLou
Balboa Beacon
Balboa Fun Zone
Balboa Island
Balboa Island Ferry
Balboa Pavilion
Balboa Saloon
Balboa Technology
Catalina Flyer
Cracktones
Davey's Locker
Dumb Angel
Magazine
Easy Notary Service
EyeLandGirl
Free Newport
Go Newport Beach
Main Street
Surf Shop
Marina
Water Sports
Menagerie Entertainment
Mifflin Taffy
Mr. Balboa
Barber Shop
Newport Beach
Lifeguards
NetiHotell
Newport Jet Sports
Newport Surf Shots
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

Photo of the Month

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Phoenix Sinks

Click To Hear The M.V. Phoenix

The M.V. Phoenix was sold to Rick Parker who was taking her up the coast to Martinez, near San Francisco, to be used as a restaurant. About 8 AM, June 11, the Phoenix was just off the coast of Malibu when she started taking on water and sank in 550 feet of water. No one was hurt.

Time Capsule

THE M.V. PHOENIX

From TalesOfBalboa the Book

In 1930 the 22-year-old glass bottom boat M.V. Emperor was destroyed in a massive windstorm while at its bow moorings in outer Avalon Bay. The M.V. Phoenix was resurrected from the salvaged wreckage of the Emperor and built from almost identical plans in only six months. This beautiful and historic 105 foot 112 ton side-wheel glass bottom boat was built with four-inch thick Alaska cedar planking at the Wilmington Boat Works in Long Beach and launched in 1931. The Phoenix is the largest paddle-wheel glass bottom boat in the world. In her over 60 years of service in Catalina, three Presidents of the United States have been passengers on her. In 1995, Ray Handy, president of the Fun Zone Boat Company purchased the Phoenix for excursions in Newport Bay. As Ray said, "It almost caused a riot in Catalina when it was taken out of service. They wanted to keep it as an historic monument." The Phoenix was taken to the Larson Ship Yard in Long Beach for refurbishing. Ray said that four of the old one inch thick glass underwater viewing windows were preserved in the refitting for harbor charters and cruises.

Balboa Memories

Click To Share Your Memories

One of the best websites I've seen. Makes me very home-sick. I grew up in Balboa in the 50s and worked for the Fun Zone Boat Company for several years, so the down-town pictures mean a lot. Also went to the Rendezvous to see Lawrence welk and other big name bands. Anyone out there remember when the "Goodwill got stuck at low tide and was in front of the Fun Zone for a couple of days?
zanetta@juno.com

In the 1950's my grandmother would take my 2 brothers and myself to Balboa for a month each summer. There are so many memories. There was the Bay Queen (what happened to her?), Christiansen's Hut, the Yellow Houses, the 2 ladies that owned the cotton candy stand that gave me a free cotton candy every year when I had to leave to go home to Burbank, the frozen banana stand, going through the back bays and seeing the "Desilu", my brother jumping off the ferry boat and being banned for life from it. I could go on and on--what good memories!
Anonymous

hi! just thinking about the old days in balboa. I lived there in the 60's-70-80's worked at the old fun zone. my brother had the apartment over the bumper cars. we lived at the s.s. wheeler apartments
chris yarbrough
yralph@magalia.com

Feature Cartoon

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Events Calendar

2nd Wednesday of the Month
Book Club Luncheon 1PM
675-2373
Newport Landing Restaurant

Saturdays 3:30 PM -7:00 PM
Kyng Arthur: Authentic Reggae
"Cabo Cantina" 100 Main St
949-675-7760

Thursdays May 18 - August 31, 6 PM
Beer Can Regatta

Thursdays June 8 - August 24
Cinema Orange Films
Orange County Museum of Art

June 9th - October 15th,
Dredges to Dreamboats
Newport Harbor Nautical Museum

Saturdays at Sundown
June 17 thru September 2
Annual Flag Lowering Ceremony
Patriotic Music, Taps, Canon Salute.
Balboa Boat Rentals
By the Balboa Island Ferry Landing
Balboa Peninsula

July 4, Noon
Old Glory Character Boat Parade

July 4, 8:15 PM
Dunes Fireworks
Great View From The Fun Zone

July 4
Independence Day Parade
at Mariners Park

Thursdays, July 6, August 17, 6 PM
Concert on the Peninsula
Balboa Pier Gazebo

July 10 - 21
Children's Summer Art Camp
Boller Studio/Gallery

Thursday, July 20, 6:30 PM
Movie Night - "Riding Giants"
Peninsula Park

Sunday July 30, 1PM
Flight of the Lasers

Saturday August 5 7PM
Sunday August 6 7PM
Shakespeare by the Sea

Thursday, August 24, 6;30 PM
Movie Night - "Dane Reynolds"
Peninsula Park

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Click To Share Your Thoughts

Thank you so much for the photo of my Dad's boat with the seals. He bought it from Laura Scutter Potato Chip company who was the original owner. My Dad (retired Colonel Fred Sparrevohn) Owned the boat for over twenty years. We have many fond memories of fishing and trips to Catilina. When he bought it the hull was all wood and pink in color. The sister ship to it belonged to Dan Blocker (Hoss on Bananza series).
Dad will be so suprised to recieve the photo on Father's Day. Thanks, Michelle
mikkiday@aol.com

Jim,
I saw on the Tales of Balboa site that the power lines are coming down on Bay Avenue. I have a house on Fernando, just around the corner from you, I am curious how far up Bay Ave they are going. I live in Australia otherwise I wouldn't bother you with this question. I love your site Jim, it keeps Balboa close to my heart. Regards, Chip
Chip McKibben
chip@hibiscus.com.au

Words Of Wisdom

If World War One was the war to end all wars, how come they gave it a number?