A Christmas remembered

A LOOK BACK

Before we begin our look back this week, I just received word of

the passing of three longtime Huntington Beach residents -- Dorothy

Stricklin, Elizabeth Quinney and Ted St. Clair. They will be sorely

missed.

I received a letter from Huntington Beach resident Larry Gallup,

and in it he writes that “there’s something different or special

about Huntington Beach, but not sure what it is.”

Well Larry, there is something very special about Huntington Beach

people, and this week I’ll try very hard to relate what it is.

With the holidays upon us right now, I would like to bring back

the feeling of Christmastime in Huntington Beach of many years ago.

This week we look at a Christmas of 1927 and a time when the Downtown

looked like a scene out of a Frank Capra movie.

The big thing in those days was the Christmas parties, either in

private homes or in a local hall or church, and somewhere there was

that main man. You know, the fat guy in the red suit.

To begin our adventure of the holidays, the American Legion was

planning to erect a large Christmas tree at its hall and was planning

a special program for members.

While over at the high school’s gymnasium, the students and

teachers were having a special Christmas fund-raiser. The students

put on a mini circus, complete with clowns, acrobats, dancers, wild

animals and the “freakiest of freaks.”

Several hundred of our residents watched that hour and forty-five

minute circus show that included clever gymnastics by the students of

Miss Cleland’s class, dancers from Miss Messing’s class and diving

and tumbling acts by Coach Harry “Cap” Sheue’s boys.

The music for the evening performance was provided by the high

school’s orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Gilmore.

The circus program took in $100 that went toward the school’s

Christmas charity. The Santa spirit was felt even in City Hall. City

employees found that their pay checks were given out early by that

man in the red suit so they could have more cash to spend for the

holidays.

The city put up its municipal Christmas tree in Triangle Park

(where the Main Street Library is today) and was taking donations of

clothes, food and toys to be passed out on Christmas eve.

The big tree was donated by Standard Oil Co. and lighted by the

Southern California Edison Co. for the enjoyment of everyone. This is

what Gallup meant by something special about Huntington Beach people.

There was some worry that the strong Santa Ana winds that were

blowing would keep Santa away that year, but as we all know when its

time, nothing stops Santa from making an appearance.

During the city’s program in front of the municipal tree, some

people thought that Santa bore a striking resemblance to Milton

Lansing, an employee of Richfield Oil Co. But it can now be told that

Santa was impersonated by J.W. Mitchell, a city trustee.

The city and Santa gave out 35 baskets of groceries to needy

families that Christmas. After you had your holiday feast, the family

could go over to Scott’s Theatre on 5th Street to watch Lon Chaney

star in “London After Midnight,” a movie filled with ghosts, a

haunted house and supernatural horror.

The holiday kept those card players at Sts. Simon and Jude from

having their card party until next year. The ladies of the Woman’s

Christian Temperance Union met at Adelaid Johnson’s home on 10th

Street for a holiday party. Bet they didn’t serve rum cake.

At the Hotel Evangeline, 421 8th St., guests could have their

Christmas turkey dinner with dressing and gravy, soup or salad,

cranberry jelly, candied sweet potatoes, turnips, pumpkin pie and tea

or coffee for all of 50 cents.

Our chamber of commerce ended 1927 with a smile and a surplus of

$700.

Charley Ward, who owned the HB 5ould to $1 store at 305 Main St. came

to work one morning to find that someone had stolen all the trimmings

off of the Christmas tree he had in front of his store.

Our local churches were getting into the spirit, too. The Baptist

church at 401 6th St. had an evening Christmas service that included

the appearance of the three wise men, played by Joe Perry, S.H. Price

and Robert Hoisington.

The Rev. William Nugent sang a high mass in honor of the birth of

the infant savior at a special midnight mass at Sts. Simon and Jude

church at 321 10th St.

The Christian Church presented a musical program under the

direction of L.E. Worthy, and the Methodist church presented a

cantata, “Peace on Earth,” under the direction of R.C. Turner. There

were a few who celebrated a little too much and found themselves in

Judge Pann’s court.

It was coach Sheue who summed up the holiday feeling when he said

that Christmas charity is no more gratifying than to see the

unselfish spirit of cooperation among our townspeople.

* JERRY PERSON is a local historian and longtime Huntington

Beach resident. If you have ideas for future columns, write him at

P.O. Box 7182, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.