Bonnie Carroll
Event to Feature 20’s Pierce Arrow Cabriolet, Clothes & Signature Cocktails
Dana Newquist, President of the (AACA) Antique Automobile Club of America Santa Barbara for twenty years, will be the antique automobile sponsor for the April 25th EQ25 Speakeasy Soiree charity event at El Paseo Restaurant.
“It will be a joy to be involved as an antique auto sponsor,” said the long-time Montecito resident and antique auto enthusiast.
This Pierce Arrow Cabriolet is perhaps the car best suited for Speakeasy. It is the epitome of the Roaring 20’s. It was first purchased by Louis B Mayer (MGM) and for a few years the Pierce was used as a “lot car.”
Since MGM was so large, the Lot where an actor/actress was working may be quite a distance from the MGM parking lot. So, to mitigate this problem (only for the most celebrated), this and other cars were used to transport celebrities, said Newquist.
Another of his antique classic cars received special treatment from Jay Leno, and Newquist explained that his roots are deep in the Antique Automobile Community having served as Director of the Murphy Auto Museum and Co-Chair of the Montecito Motor Classic as well as several other car shows.
Newquist explained, “I had purchased a 1917 Stanley Steamer that I had no knowledge of. Calling Jay Leno, he said ‘bring it down to Big Dog Garage’ and then Jay worked on the Stanley and got it started, so we went for a joyride!”
The EQ25.org alliance steering committee has created activities and events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Santa Barbara Earthquake, an historic disaster that so intrinsically changed our city.
The infamous cataclysm occurred early in the morning on June 29, 1925, when a 6.3-intensity earthquake ripped through Santa Barbara, changing the city forever. After the 1925 earthquake, Santa Barbara people rolled up their sleeves and rebuilt the city with a unique urban and Spanish Colonial Revival character. Tragically, 11 people were confirmed to have died in the quake, and the city suffered $8 million in property damage (equivalent to approximately $139 million in 2023, according to U.S. Geological Survey).
This 1925 Santa Barbara Earthquake is the a story of our communities resilience and architecture renewal that continues to shape the town today.
Activities will include Speakeasy Soiree on April 25th, additional community events produced throughout the year by related organizations, the EQ25 Festival on State Street June 28, and expected additional commemorative events on June 29 to be announced.
Goals of the groups efforts include:
1) sharing the story of the 1925 earthquake and its aftermath by examining multiple perspectives on the City’s history since the earthquake,
2) studying the relationship between environmental and social conditions and the past, present, and future of Santa Barbara,
3) fostering a greater understanding of the history of Santa Barbara in an effective way to increase awareness of present conditions and opportunities to prepare for future changes.
Live 20s entertainment, bites, and ‘Bees Knees’ cocktails are on the menu for guests enjoyment at the Roaring 20’s Speakeasy Soiree at the historic El Paseo Restaurant, along with an auction, dancing, photos and remembrances from the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake.
The EQ25 has been created to commemorate the centennial of the 1925 Santa Barbara Earthquake and funds raised will be donated to SB Hospice. For tickets or sponsorship information please visit: http://www.EQ25.org.
Looks like fun for a good cause.
This is pretty broad. Any planning, education and preparation for the next one?
https://eq25.org/about/
Goals: The EQ25 Alliance will promote informative and entertaining programs, events, exhibitions, and community gatherings. The goals of this effort include:
To promote learning about the 1925 earthquake and its aftermath;
To examine multiple perspectives on Santa Barbara’s history since the earthquake;
To consider the relationship between environmental and social conditions and the past, present, and future of Santa Barbara.
The EQ25 Alliance believes that a greater understanding of the history of Santa Barbara is an effective way to increase awareness of present conditions and opportunities and to prepare for future challenges.