Author Archives: Sam Gnerre

70 years later, Torrance High standout Aramis Dandoy still holds a Rose Bowl game record

Aramis Dandoy was born in Long Beach on Oct. 21, 1932 to Ernest G. Dandoy and Esther M.  Gingrich. Soon afterward, the family, which included his brothers, Ernest and Dale, moved to 235th St. in Torrance, where Dandoy grew up. He started attending Torrance High School in the fall of 1947, and it quickly becameContinue reading “70 years later, Torrance High standout Aramis Dandoy still holds a Rose Bowl game record”

Seaside Ranchos development rises on former Ellinwood Ranch property in Torrance

The area that would become the Seaside Ranchos development in Torrance, one of the city’s most desirable residential areas in which to live, was originally part of the Sepulveda family’s Rancho Los Palos Verdes Spanish land grant. The land grant included the Palos Verdes Peninsula and areas of San Pedro on the east and present-dayContinue reading “Seaside Ranchos development rises on former Ellinwood Ranch property in Torrance”

Author and Renaissance man Leonard Wibberley spent much of his life in Hermosa Beach

By the time his most famous novel, The Mouse That Roared, was published in 1955, Irish-born Leonard Wibberley already had lived and worked in a variety of jobs at a variety of locations all over the world. Born on April 9, 1915  in Dublin, he was the youngest of six children. After his early yearsContinue reading “Author and Renaissance man Leonard Wibberley spent much of his life in Hermosa Beach”

The Great White Steamship delighted millions before meeting its ignominious end

The S.S. Catalina was one popular ship in its heyday. During its fifty-plus years of operation beginning in 1924, she carried an estimated 25 million passengers from the Port of Los Angeles to Santa Catalina Island and back again. The Catalina wasn’t the first ship built specifically for transporting tourists across the sea to Avalon,Continue reading “The Great White Steamship delighted millions before meeting its ignominious end”

Peafowl come to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, but not everyone is happy

Several theories have been put forth regarding the origin of the peafowl population on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The term peafowl refers to both the male (peacock) and female (peahen) of the species. It’s safe to credit investment banker Frank Vanderlip, who bought the Peninsula in 1913, with bringing the birds to his new estate.Continue reading “Peafowl come to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, but not everyone is happy”

The USS California served as flagship of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet for nearly two decades

Seven U.S. Navy vessels have been named the USS California since 1867. Perhaps the most famous is the fifth one, the Tennessee-class battleship given the identification number BB-44 (“Battleship #44”) by the Navy. The ship got its official launch on Nov. 20, 1919 in Vallejo, California at the Mare Island Navy Yard where it wasContinue reading “The USS California served as flagship of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet for nearly two decades”

Mira Costa High School was built on Francis Uyematsu’s last 40 acres of land

The sale of 40 acres of land to the Redondo Union High School District became final on Feb. 18, 1947. The location on Gould Ave. a few blocks east of Pacific Coast Highway was ideal for the district’s second high school, which was needed to accommodate the rapidly rising postwar enrollment at Redondo Union High.Continue reading “Mira Costa High School was built on Francis Uyematsu’s last 40 acres of land”

President Jimmy Carter makes a campaign stop at North High in Torrance in 1980

When President Jimmy Carter’s re-election campaign advisers were planning a key West Coast swing through Washington, Oregon and California in mid-September 1980, they decided to hold the campaign’s 19th Town Hall meeting in Southern California. The Town Halls were question and answer sessions with rank and file voters on topics of their choosing. Under theContinue reading “President Jimmy Carter makes a campaign stop at North High in Torrance in 1980”

Wartime sabotage was a major concern at defense plants, key infrastructure locations

A recent viewing of the admittedly obscure 1944 film “Secret Command,” during which Pat O’Brien goes undercover in a defense plant to expose Nazi saboteurs, inspired this look at how the fear of sabotage was a major concern during the 1930s and 1940s. The film is a routine thriller, but is of historic interest. MuchContinue reading “Wartime sabotage was a major concern at defense plants, key infrastructure locations”

Is this your new site? Log in to activate admin features and dismiss this message
Log In