Sailing to Catalina

  

Well, more than likely steaming to Catalina. Is that how it would have been said back when this picture was taken? Written on the back, "June 28 on way to Cataline Ile." I haven't been to Catalina in years, and the last time I went, there weren't any well-dressed people on the boat. 

Santa Atalina?

 

Santa Atalina?  Well, it looks like the "C" was obscured, so from the good old days when day trippers headed to Catalina for the glass bottom boat, swimming, the sun and sea.  And let's not forget, the bars.  

Deep Sea Diver

So much for the practice of typing out what's on the back of postcards.  I'm just too lazy to transcribe all of this info.  So, Oscar Griffith was born in 1895, arrived on Catalina, with his parents, at age 13 and became a coin diver.  Tourists, coming to the island would throw coins from the boats, and local boys would dive for the pennys, nickels, and dimes. .  The harbor waters were so clear that tourists could see the kids touch bottom.  Griffith served in the army in World War 1 and was an attraction at the 1934 World's Fair.  I'm sure he must have made the occasional trip to the mainland, but it seems that, other than the war and fair, he never really left the island.

Women At Sea

I purchased this one here, in southern California, so there's a good chance that this photo was taken on the run to Catalina Island.  There was a time when there was  passenger service between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Mexico.  I don't know about anyone else, but I'd love to get a coastal steamer to the Bay Area.  Driving, the train, or flying all work fine, but sitting on the deck of a ship would be a great way to get around.

Views of California, Catalina Island

I'm leaving the Views of the World Collection for awhile, but I am staying in California.  This card was published by The M. Rieder Company of Los Angeles.  M. Rieder was in business from 1901 to 1915.  Their cards printed in Germany.  There is a photo credit on this one.  C. Ironmonger.  Charles Frederick Ironmonger was born in Ohio in 1868, moved to L.A. in 1892 and went to work in the photo studio of Charles Betts Waite.  When Waite moved to Mexico, in 1895,  Ironmonger moved to Avalon on Catalina  and opened the first photo studio on the island.  His bread and butter was photos of fishermen with their catches, but he also took a number of landscapes, and photos of everyday island life.  He died in 1915. This card was post marked, "AVALON AUG 20 6:30 A.M. 1907 CALIF."  It was mailed to Mrs E. Behne, 799 Kohler St., Los Angeles, Calif."  The message on the front is faded, but we can make some of it out, "Dear Mama,  I am having a fine time in Catalina (something) and Anti and Mrs (someone and something) I went fishing today and caught (continued on the image-something, something) albacore."  More than likely Mama's son or daughter got home before this card was delivered.