Local History

Betsy shares historical feelings about the movie "War Brides" that was made over 100 years ago.

Betsy details what $1.25 would buy for Thanksgiving at the Splendid Cafe in Santa Barbara 100 years ago in 1920.

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute marks the 100th anniversary of Dr. William Sansum’s arrival in Santa Barbara where he would make American medical history and improve the lives of people living with diabetes.  

In 1915, the Palace Theatre in Santa Barbara became the proud owner of a $5,000 photoplayer.

Back in 1914, a couple of kids in Santa Barbara gave a collie to Vivian Rich, one of the leading ladies of the “Flying A” Film Company here.

The streets in Santa Barbara were devoid of little demons and witches on Halloween in 1918 while the so-called Spanish Flu floated around the city.

Local actress Blanche Payson appeared in 158 movies with stars Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and the Three Stooges.

In the 1915 Flying A film “The Lonely Heart,” the heroine, who must be lonely (or perverted?), caresses a toad.

“The Diamond From the Sky,” a 30-part serial movie produced by our very own “Flying A” movie studio in 1915.

Stearns Wharf celebrates its 148th anniversary during the month of October.

The Flying “A” two-reel (20-minute) silent movie "A Modern Rip Van Winkle," was a 1914 version of the old Washington Irving story.

The folks from the “Flying A” studio were filming in various locations such as stores on State Street, the Channel Islands, and all around the county and beyond.

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.