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Author dives into city's ebb, flowKENDRAABLAZAsurrWRITERI «irry Stravvther’s new hook details the development of Seal Beach.seal beach • Rossmoor resident and self-described history buff Larry Strawth-er, fil, said his latest book,0*‘SealBeach: ABrief History, is not \ meant to be the be-all and end-all of books on Seal Beach history.It instead focuses on how Seal Beach became the city it is today because of the way it was developed.His 192-page book takes a look at the evolution of Seal 1 teach from its early days as a gambling destination and amusement park to its charming streets of Old lown and iconic pier. Strnwther said developments such as the military bases and I^os Cerritos Wetlands have kept Seal Beach relatively isolated but also brought the city and neighboring Los Alami-tos and Rossmoor closer.The three communities that share a school district, fire authority, library system and sewer district also have residents that attend the same churches and participate in the same recreation programs.“If you're in other parts of Orange County, even Long Beach, it's not the same thing, Strnwther said.The former writer, script consultant and executive producer for several television shows such as “Happy Days, “Laverne Shirley” and “Jeopardy! has lived in Rossmoor since 1997.Strawther started his research more than decade ago, when he ran a newspaper called Local Sports, now localsports.bizMore recently, he started the online Los Alamitos-Rossmoor-Seal Beach History Project, losalhistory .com, began Taste of Los /VI, an annual fundraiser to benefit activities at the high school, and started the first Sugar Beet Festival in Los Alamitos dedicated to local history last year.CONTACT THE WRITER:k a bl az a# lbregister.com* r»LC PHOTO: R00 VEAL. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERAuthor Larry Strawther hams It up with a couple of the beets for last year's Los Alamitos Sugar Beet Festival.FIVE QUESTIONS WITH AUTHOR LARRY STRAWTHERA GAMBLER'S BEACHSIDE PARADISE0. Did you learn anything new about Seal Beach while you were putting this book together?A. The Anaheim Landing was a much bigger deal than 1 thought. It rivaled the San Pedro port, but it got there a little late. It was also the very first tourist spot in Sout hern California. There w as a roller coaster, like all other beach resorts.Gamblers also ow ned the town. There were a minimum of at least five open gambling parlors and casinos that later went to Las Vegas.L34b0. Was there anything different about putting together this book compared to your book about los Alamitos and Rossmoor that published in 2012?A. There is more information available online. Universities are digitizing old California newspapers, and i thought I’ve gone through those sources pretty thoroughly. Google books has had a lot of stuff, too. (Online sources) are expanding weekly.0. The book may interest newer residents who want to know more about the city’s past, but what can longtime Seal Beach residents take away from your book?A. Both tow tiN have a much deepor history. You’re talking ajorpower players in California history. The history of Bay City, Phil Stan’s development, he was tightly connected to l.W. Heilman, president of the Wells Fargo bank. He was the largest landowner in Los Angeles at one point.There’s a definite connection between Seal Beach and Las Vegas and the gambling ships. Seal Beach also has a strong aviation background going back to almost the beginning of the industry . People w ere flying off the bench. 1st 1917, the guy who climbed the highest-ever altitude took off from the Anaheim Landing, now the corner of Seal Beach Boulevard and Pacific* Coast Highway.Q. In this digital age, how does your perspective as a Rossmoor resident separate your books from online sources that also contain pieces of Seat Beach history?A* The online answers are based on faulty earlier printed histories Fhei * w is a history book written in 197b, which was based on a lot of information that .Jean Dorr provided, and let’s just say facts didn’t really make a difference.The access to stuff now makes it easier to track down the truth. 1 think (Jean Dorr's “A Story of Seal Beach”) was rushed into print because it was the bicentennial year for the country and every town was doing something for it.Q. Does Seal Beach: A Brief History’’ complete this series? What's next on your plate?A. What 1 find fascinating is tin* history ot all these beach resorts 1 Seal Beach was once part of a battle. It involved the railroads (and) all the big players in Southern California. Henry Huntington invested not only in Huntington Beach, he invested in Naples, Balboa, Seal Beach and Redondo. That was all part of his plan to take on the Southern Pacific. The growth of the “Pleasure Piers, they’re all in competition ... Venice starts building an amusement area, then Long Beach ups the ante by putting in a roller coaster. I’ve already started doing a book on that. My goal is to publish it sometime in 2015.Where do I find the book?Seal Beach: A Brief History can be purchased directly from Strawther at hlstorysb.com. It can also be bought through Amazon,Barnes Noble, Bay Hardware in Seal Beach and other retailers.Meet the authorStrawther will be at the Long Beach Community Studies Conference on Saturday to do a presentation on Long Beach's Forgotten Neighborhoods - Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Seal Beach.” His presentation is in Session II, which is from 10:40 a.m. to 12:12 p.m. at Long Beach City College's Liberal Arts Campus, 4901 E. Carson St. Register at hslb.orq.Strawther also will do a presentation and book signing at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Mary Wilson Library. 707 Electric Ave., Seal Beach. The event is hosted by the Seal Beach Historical Cultural Society and Red Car Museum in Seal Beach.SEAL BEACE
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Long Beach Register
Long Beach, California, US
Tue, Apr 22, 2014
Page 3
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Larry S.
USA 30 Jul 2023
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