Local History

The movie comedian W.C. Fields is famous for saying that he hated to share the screen with children or animals.

The American Film Manufacturing Company, nicknamed the “Flying A,” was in Santa Barbara from 1912 to 1921, but it was not the first to locate here.

The earliest reference Betsy found about movies being shown in Santa Barbara dates way back to 1898.

The Hollywood rating system had not been invented yet, but in July 1914, the Mission Theater on State Street was not allowing unaccompanied minors to view the four-reel movie Sapho

Do edhat readers know the history of the old abandoned car in the Ellwood Bluff ravine?

Santa Barbara has been a retreat for celebrities for over 100 years and in 1914 two movie stars appeared in a local exhibition baseball game.

At Santa Barbara's Mission Theatre in 1914 a film titled "Mexican War Pictures" was shown on the big screen with Pancho Villa.

Fairview Avenue is one of Goleta’s main thoroughfares today. But who knew it’s also one of the oldest routes in Goleta?

Neal Graffy shares the history of San Andres Street as some community members propose changing its name. 

The talk of the town in March 1914 was about Thomas Edison’s “talking pictures” to be shown for the first time in Santa Barbara at the Potter Theatre.

You may or may not have spotted the distant comet that cruised by recently, but plenty of folks saw something a lot closer to home in 1914.

Back in July 1914, the newly constructed Recreation Center on Carrillo and Anacapa streets was getting ready to open its 850-seat auditorium.

Prohibition of alcohol did not begin nationwide until January 1920, but the statewide ban on the sale of alcohol began in California on July 1, 1919.

During the “Spanish Flu” in 1919, the Santa Barbara Red Cross was calling for any volunteers who had attended “home nursing” courses. 

In 1915, Santa Barbara residents gathered at the racetrack to watch a "standing Roman race" during the July 4th holiday.

Neal Graffy is back with the third day of historical events that rocked Santa Barbara 95 years ago.

Historian Neal Graffy is back with an account of what happened on June 30, 1925, a day after the devastating Santa Barbara earthquake.

Neal shares part two on the aftermath of the 1925 earthquake, or "E-Day," that took place in Santa Barbara 95 years ago.

Betsy reports the 1925 earthquake was also felt on the Mesa where the lighthouse tower nearly collapsed.

Today marks the 95th anniversary of the June 29, 1925 earthquake, best known for bringing about the architecture and planning awareness that made Santa Barbara famous.

The latest Goleta History video series focuses on that little crack in the mountains we all pass through, the Gaviota Pass. 

During the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, Thanksgiving was celebrated quietly with an open-air service in Montecito.

Over 100 years ago, a cast of actors filmed "Sirens of the Sea" on Santa Cruz Island.

Today is the 161st anniversary of the hottest day ever recorded in Santa Barbara where temperatures reached 133 degrees. 

Over 100 years ago, families of World War I soldiers received telegrams of those who succumbed to the "Spanish Flu."

Betsy shares information on the "sexy" summer swimsuits advertised in Santa Barbara in June 1916.

An edhat reader reminds the community of Santa Barbara's history of racial injustice when three Harlem Globetrotters were mistakenly arrested in 1983.

Over 100 years ago a lead actor from the local Flying A Studio died from the "Spanish Flu."

Tom shares a historical video about the prisoner of war camp that used to be located in western Goleta.

Would you believe King Kong running down De la Vina Street in May 1917?