CRYSTAL COVE – HOLLYWOOD TO THE SOUTH (A Forgotten Hollywood Essay) by MANNY PACHECO
CRYSTAL COVE – HOLLYWOOD TO THE SOUTH (A Forgotten Hollywood Essay)
by MANNY PACHECO
Crystal Cove State Park photo d ramey logan.jpg from Wikimedia Commons by D Ramey Logan, CC-BY-SA 3.0
Even during a global pandemic, there are places to visit to escape the fears of a virus and the humdrum of a lockdown. I know a vista not far from Palos Verdes and South Bay; a beautiful drive along the coast through Orange County. Crystal Cove is a beach community that has quite a Hollywood legacy. The locale is a stretch of coastal cliffs and a beachfront cove situated between Pacific Coast Highway, just north of Laguna Beach.
The Crystal Cove Alliance, working in tandem with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, remains committed to this picturesque South County beach community, and preserving its historic past. Crystal Cove has an amazing natural history with indigenous flora and fauna, a stunning coastal bluff, and a relaxed beachy atmosphere. Talented local artists and surfers have been revered by neighboring communities. And this portion of heaven-on-earth has been a secret hideaway to Hollywood’s movie community.
Crystal Cove State Park photo d ramey logan.jpg from Wikimedia Commons by D Ramey Logan, CC-BY-SA 3.0
Crystal Cove first attracted Hollywood filmmakers in the 1920s because of the perfect backdrop of island paradise. From silent pictures to the first talkies, there have been many subtle nods to the cove’s beautiful landscape over the years. Desired for its unspoiled beaches, Crystal Cove became the unofficial choice for shooting stories about shipwrecks and tropical splendor. Film crews built small thatched huts and trucked palm trees down from Los Angeles nurseries. The trees thrived in the coastal climate and became part of the ambiance. When production was complete, some of the huts were left behind, and eventually became early vacation rentals.
Some of the motion pictures filmed there: Treasure Island (with the remarkable Lionel Barrymore), The Sea Wolf, Sadie Thompson, and later, To Have and Have Not. The latter production is where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall met and fell in love. More recent entries include Herbie Rides Again, A Few Good Men, and Beaches (with Bette Midler).
Cottages in the area housed such noted actors as Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Walter Brennan, and Joan Crawford, while they were on location performing their craft. Plus, John Wayne was a resident and spent his leisure time in neighboring Newport Beach. His gravesite overlooks his beloved Newport Coast.
Crystal Cove was originally part of the Irvine Ranch and was owned by the Irvine family and their parenting company for almost a century. The cottages evolved during the 1930s from the huts created by movie studios. A commitment to preservation is core to the Crystal Cove Alliance and its Conservancy’s mission. To date, twenty-nine of the original forty-six cottages in the Crystal Cove Historic District has been restored to the period of historic significance, the 1935 – 1955 era in every detail. Some of the cottages boast original furnishings and fixtures donated by former Covites. I personally donated dozens of original radio drama of the period to be played in the cottages for patrons to enjoy.
Crystal Cove is a family-friendly gem of a tourist spot (with local dining and a gift shop) you should consider visiting. You will enjoy the experience. Just make sure you bring your mask. Here is a link to this aesthetically ideal locale:
http://crystalcovebeachcottages.com
Author Manny Pacheco has enjoyed a growing acclaim through his Forgotten Hollywood Book Series, now included in the library collections of the Hollywood Heritage Museum, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, American Film Institute, among others. He's currently in production to turn his literary work into a Forgotten Hollywood Documentary. A Southern California television and radio personality for over three decades, Manny appeared on NBC's Santa Barbara, co-hosted the Daytime Emmy-nominated In Studio on KCOP, and currently hosts Forgotten Hollywood, a web-based podcast on the TherapyCable Channel. He is also a weekend traffic anchor on KNX 10-70 News Radio.
Website: www.forgottenhollywood.com
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