Seal Beach, California
Welcomes you for a day, a week or a lifetime.
The roaring 20’s were really roaring in Seal Beach, California. Their gambling, booze, and beaches acted as a magnet attracting tourists to this little ocean-side village. The famous Joy Zone was set along the pier with the Jewel City Cafe, Derby roller coaster, beaches, and other diversions. At the end of the pier (where Ruby’s Restaurant is now), a large synthesizer presented a blazing, flashing light show to set the mood. Sophie Tucker and other celebrities acted as judges at the Big Band dance contests. Tourists rented as many as 1,000 bathing suits a day, and 190,000 people visited Seal Beach each week. What was the reason for Seal Beaches’ popularity? It was the only place where liquor could be served. During these early years, seals or sea lions frequented the people’s yards, beaches, and ocean. Sometimes they even got in the way of bathers.
Changing throughout the years, today Seal Beach is a contrast to its past! We feel soft breezes from the ocean, walk along the quaint, historic old town Main Street, see the beautiful shoreline from the second longest pier in California, and enjoy a laid back, small town atmosphere.
by Sandy Zimmerman, Travel Writer
Stories about Seal Beach
Celebrating the Anniversary of The Founding of Seal Beach in October 1915
Tuesday May 21st, 2013 08:09:41 PM
Michael Dobkins
This morning the Seal Beach Founders blog had its 30,000th view since it went live on 1/1/10. Even if these views are all from a single obsessive guy surfing the internet while living in his mother’s basement, it’s impressive that our little burg has received so much interest. Check back soon for news about this […]
Friday December 14th, 2012 11:11:24 PM
Michael Dobkins
Some of our most popular posts have featured historical photographs of Seal Beach police officers. These have come to us through the generosity of Stan Berry, a local expert on the Seal Beach Police Department and The Seal Beach Fire Department. The photo below was too good not to share. It show Stan at the […]
Wednesday October 17th, 2012 07:01:50 AM
Michael Dobkins
Today’s post comes to us from New Zealand via an e-mail with request for information about a former Seal Beach resident: My name is Genevieve Bowers (Wenborn). I am an architectural historian living in new Zealand trying to research a forgotten but really quite significant SEAL BEACH MODERNIST ARCHITECT called LEOPOLD FISCHER who was originally […]
Thursday October 11th, 2012 07:59:20 PM
Michael Dobkins
We hope those who attended the founders concert this past week had a good time. We would like to acknowledge some of the people who made the event possible. The Seal Beach Founders Committee would like to thank the Seal Beach Lions Club for providing food and refreshments, the staff of the Seal Beach parks and […]
Wednesday August 29th, 2012 03:11:48 AM
sbfoundersday
Concert By The Pier Sunday, October 7, 2012 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Please join us by the Seal Beach Pier for a musical celebration commemorating the 97th anniversary of the founding of Seal Beach. This year’s theme is a salute to the “Hometown Heroes,” and the concert will honor the military personnel and their families who have […]
Wednesday June 20th, 2012 02:29:15 PM
Michael Dobkins
Judging by our web traffic stats, the power plant that stood at Ocean Avenue and First Street from 1925 to 1967 has been the most popular of all the Seal Beach history covered in this blog. Our first post on the steam plant took a photographic tour through the four decades of the plant’s existence, and […]
Wednesday October 12th, 2011 06:57:52 AM
sbfoundersday
96th Seal Beach Founders Concert – October 2, 2011 Mr. Wackerman was the guest of honor at this year’s founders day event. He shared a few words on his early days teaching music in Seal Beach. Carla Watson, Schelly Sustaric, Libby Appelgate, Chuck Wackerman, Mark Loopesko In 1957, after graduating from college, I was […]
Thursday September 1st, 2011 07:01:37 AM
sbfoundersday
Concert By The Pier Sunday, October 2, 2011 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Please join us by the Seal Beach Pier for a musical celebration commemorating the 96th anniversary of the founding of Seal Beach. Our Guest of Honor will be legendary music educator Chuck Wackerman, who will be saluted for over five decades of service to the community, enriching the […]
Thursday October 21st, 2010 07:38:47 AM
Michael Dobkins
This Wednesday, on the actual 95th anniversary of the founding of Seal Beach, we will host the last event in the 95th Seal Beach Founders Day Celebration in the Marina Community Center from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.. This is no charge for this event, but seating is limited. Free refreshments will also be served, […]
Monday October 11th, 2010 10:58:46 PM
Michael Dobkins
Main Street Mondays – May 1913 Main Street in Seal Beach has been a favorite subject for photographers throughout its 95 years of history. Every Monday between now and the end of the Seal Beach Founders Celebration, we’ll be posting a different image of Main Street. click on the image for a larger view Having […]
Sunday October 10th, 2010 05:08:07 PM
Michael Dobkins
Electric Avenue Greenbelt – October 10, 2010 Missed today’s parade? Here’s thirteen minutes of shaky video highlights from the event. In 2105, this footage will be re-discovered on an ancient server and given future local historians startling insights into the way we lived ninety-five years earlier. Be sure to check back every for more historical […]
Friday October 8th, 2010 07:01:30 AM
Michael Dobkins
Fridays on The Pier – 1920 The Seal Beach pier has been a favorite subject for photographers throughout its 95 years of history. Every Friday between now and the end of the Seal Beach Founders Celebration, we’ll be posting an image of the pier. Here’s a beach level view you don’t see too often of […]
