San Pedro Timeline
Postwar Industrial and Economic Growth 1946 – 1999
1946 - 1973: Post War Economic Boom
- 1946: After World War 2 the Navy became less involved in LA Harbor activities
- Port of Los Angeles refocused from military support to resume normal commercial operations
- 1946 — 1973: Trade resumed after the war leading to a major economic expansion and increase in prosperity
- Several industries experienced a huge increase and expansion in commerce: shipping, trucking, oil, fishing, canneries, ship and boat building, marine suppliers, pleasure craft berthing, etc.
- Population of San Pedro doubles during this period (possibly to 60,000) as people follow the prosperity
- Boom continues through the 1950′s, 60′s and into the early 70′s, ends with the recession of 1973-1975
1946: Post War Port of Los Angeles Growth Plans
- During World War 2 port development came to a standstill
- After World War 2 harbor officials focused on 3 key factors to expand growth:
- Development of new facilities
- Improvements to the existing cargo infrastructure
- Expansion of transpacific trade
1946: Tuna Canning Industry in LA Harbor Largest in the World
- The Fishing Industry is at its peak during and immediately following WW2
- Several new modern canneries opened in the post war boom, 15 canneries overall
- 1946: Pan Pacific Sea Food — tuna, also mackerel, sardines, first of a large number of expansions in cannery facilities post WW2
- 1946: Tuna canning in LA Harbor became the largest in the world
- 1947: Coast Fisheries Company
1946: Recreational Boating Growth after World War 2
- Recreational boat sales increase and continue to grow along with the economic expansion until the 70′s recession. Sales pick up again in the 90′s.
- The Port of Los Angeles features 15 marinas containing over 3700 recreational boat slips
1946: Population Growth after World War 2 Spurs Housing Expansion
- Booming post war economy draws large influx of people into San Pedro
- The Point Fermin, Palisades (above Paseo del Mar) and Vista del Oro neighborhoods fully built out and filled by the 1960s
1947: SS Markay Explodes
- June 22: While cargo of fuel oil is being loaded, a series of blasts occur
- Flaming gasoline across the 600 foot channel to berths 153, 154
- Blazing fuel on the water spreads between berths 167, 168 and 153
- 11 deaths, 23 injured
1947: 213 Area Code Assigned to Los Angeles
1948: Green Hills Memorial Park Established
1949: Los Angeles Harbor College Founded
- Los Angeles Harbor College founded in Wilmington to serve as a community college for San Pedro, Wilmington, and other nearby community students
- Provides students with programs to transfer to a four-year university as well as occupational training programs in business, office administration, electronics technology, computer technology, and nursing
- Mascot = Seahawk
1949: San Pedro Drive-In Opens
- May 27: San Pedro Drive-In opens with a double feature — John Payne in ″El Paso″ and Doris Day in ″My Dream is Yours″
- Car capacity = 831
- Construction cost = $300,000
- Operated by Pacific Theatres Chain
- Newspaper Advertisements:
- ″Largest and most modern of all Southern California drive-in theaters″
- ″Children under 12 free admission when accompanied by their parents″
- ″The world″s biggest screen and the largest snack bar in the world″
- Drive-in theater featured a playground
- November 22, 1982: The iconic Drive-In closed
1950′s: LA Harbor Fishing and Canning Continue to Expand and Dominate after World War 2
- Accounted for 80% of the 12 million cases of tuna produced in the US
- Tuna Canning in San Pedro is the largest in the world after World War II
- The canneries employed 5000 people with payrolls of $15 million
- Yearly volume of business exceeds $150 million
- 1951: Canner′s Cooperative Steam Company was formed to supply steam to canneries throughout Fish Harbor
- 1951: Municipal Wholesale Fish Market opened
- Van Camp, French Sardine (Star-Kist), South Coast Fisheries, Terminal Island Sea Foods, and California Marine Curing & Packing formed the cooperative. Pan Pacific later joins.
- 1952: Star-Kist opens huge new plant, at 10 acres, rumored to be the largest in the world
- However, sardines and mackerel gradually diminish throughout the 1950′s initiating a decline of the Fishing Industry
1952: Wayfarers Chapel
- Wayfarers Chapel, "The Glass Church", completed in Rancho Palos Verdes on Palos Verdes Drive South
- Designed by Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, in the late 40s and built between 1949 and 1951
- Part of the Swedenborgian Church of North America, serving as a memorial to Emanuel Swedenborg
- Wright wanted to achieve a delicate enclosure that allows the surrounding landscape to define the sacred space
- The church is very popular for weddings, both in the chapel and outside on the chapel grounds
- On the National Register of Historic Places
1952: World's Largest Jack-O-Lantern
- October: "Smilin' Jack", a 3 million gallon jack-o-lantern, greets incoming travlers to San Pedro from Union Oil Company at Anaheim and Gaffey
- Every October staff at the Phillips 66 oil refinery paint gasoline tank Hortensphere 304 to resemble a jack-o-lantern
- Smilin' Jack's grin is 73 feet long and his eyes are 18 feet off the ground
- The jack-o-lantern is illuminated during the Halloween season every year from 6pm to 9pm when festivities occur
1953: Multinational Food-Processing Conglomerates Begin to Acquire Tuna Canning Operations
- 1953: Quaker acquired Coast
- 1963: CHB Seafoods acquires Pan Pacific
- 1963: Heinz acquired Van Camp
- 1973: Commercial Diving Center acquired the Coast Fishing Company building
- 1980′s: Majority of canning plants being moved to less costly overseas locations
- 1984: Star-Kist first big cannery to shut down
- 1992: CHB cannery shuts down
- 2001: Chicken of the Sea closes, the last tuna canning operation in the US
1954: Marineland of the Pacific Opens
- August 28: World′s largest oceanarium when it opened
- Home to two of the most famous orcas, Orky and Corky
- Orky and Corky were moved to SeaWorld in 1986, where Orky was given a new name — Shamu
- 1986: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, owners of Sea World purchased Marineland, closed it in 1987
- Marineland was featured in several television shows including Lucy Show, Route 66, Beverly Hillbillies, Munsters, Partridge Family, Hart to Hart, Six Million Dollar Man, Emergency!, Colby′s, Wonder Woman, Sea Hunt, Simon & Simon, and A-Team.
- Several movies were also filmed on location during operation and after the park closed.
Mid 1950′s: South Shores Neighborhood Developed
- South Shores neighborhood developed to accommodate San Pedro′s growing population
- Mid-century style homes were in high demand at the time
- Most of South Shores was built in the single level mid-century design
- The remainder of the homes built were ranch style
- Late 60′s and early 70′s: Construction spread northward along Western into North San Pedro
- It joins the other San Pedro neighborhoods: Barton Hill, Holy Trinity, Central, Plaza, Miraleste, Point Fermin, Vista del Oro, and Palisades
1955: Nike Missile Sites Established
- Project Nike was a US Army project proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories
- First operational anti-aircraft missile system delivered in 1953
- Nike line-of-site anti-aircraft missiles were developed to protect the US from air attack from jets
- Los Angeles defended by a ring of 16 Nike sites
- Fort MacArthur, upper reservation near White Point established as one of those sites
- Headquarters sites were Signal Hill Long Beach, Fort MacArthur, and the Birmingham Army Hospital
- Army Air-Defense Command Post was established at San Pedro Hill in 1960
- In place until March, 1974
- Current day: Launch site is still intact, double-magazine site with Nike Assembly building
- Concrete launcher foundations, launch site roads still in place
1958: First Double Cross Channel Swim Completed
- Greta Anderson completes the first ever double cross channel swim
- Catalina to Mainland, San Pedro Breakwater: 10 hours, 29 minutes
- Mainland, San Pedro Breakwater to Catalina: 26 hours, 53 minutes
- Greta Anderson would later make 2 other one way crossings of the 20 mile span
- Danish swimmer who won gold and silver in the 1948 Olympics
- Retired from competition in the mid 50′s, moved to Long Beach and became a marathon swimmer
- Anderson also swam the English Channel 6 times
1958: Cargo Containerization Begins, Major Innovation in Shipping
- Major innovation and revolution in shipping occurs with the invention of the cargo container
- Cargo begins to be transported in standard size containers that are easily hoisted and stacked
- Standard container size: 8x8x20
- Containers can be loaded and unloaded, stacked, transported over long distances
- Easily moved to and from ships, trucks, and rail
- A ship′s turnaround time reduced from 8-10 days to 36 hours
- Diminishes need for warehouses
- Greatly reduces costs of transport
- Displaces many thousands of dock workers
- Reduces congestion in ports, shortens shipping time, reduces losses from damage and theft
- Containerization plays major role in globalization
- 1956: Malcolm McLean′s innovative firm Sea-Land made its maiden voyage from Newark to Houston
- 1959: First containers arrive in Los Angeles Harbor
- Matson Navigation Company was one of the first companies that popularized containerization
- Ships begin to be designed and built solely to handle containers
1960: Tsunami Impacts San Pedro
- May 22: Tsunami strikes San Pedro, caused by a magnitude 9.5 earthquake in south central Chile
- The surge was estimated to be between 8-9 feet
- Waves from the tsunami caused two deaths and an estimated $500,000 to $1,000,000 in damage
- Boats and piers were smashed by a series of tidal currents that surged back and forth
- About 300 yachts and small boats were ripped from their slips and about 15-20 boats were sunk
- The Terminal Island ferry, Islander, was swept off course by 300 yards, going sideways
- Monumental traffic jams occurred in both Los Angeles and Long Beach harbor areas
1962: Harbor Freeway Opens
- Harbor Freeway complete from Los Angeles to San Pedro
- Renamed from Harbor Parkway
- 1951: Initial purchase of land started
- 1952: Construction begins in Los Angeles
- Gradual push southward, not as quickly as originally planned
- Construction complete to Pacific Coast Highway, which connected it to Channel street which was open since 1956
- Until this time there were only two main roads north out of San Pedro
1962: Last of the Red Car Trolley Lines Closes
- The Los Angeles to Long Beach line closes, marking the end of the Red Car
- 2003: Red Car is revived in San Pedro along the harbor for a 1.5 mile stretch
- 2015: Red Car service ends again due to construction for the Harbor renovation
- Plans are for the Red Car to be resumed at a future date
1963: Vincent Thomas Bridge Opens
- November 15: Vincent Thomas Bridge opens, named after the longest serving assemblyman at the time
- Vincent Thomas represented SP and spent 19 years, beginning in 1940, arguing for the 16 different pieces of legislation that were necessary to build the bridge
- Only suspension bridge in the LA metropolitan area
- The first welded suspension bridge in the US
- 4th longest suspension bridge in California, 76th longest in the world
- Length = 6,060′, Width = 52′, Height = 365′, Clearance below = 185′
- Daily traffic — 32,000 vehicles
- Cargo easily transported on trucks from the San Pedro side over the bridge onto the Terminal Island Freeway to the southern end of Long Beach Freeway and up to the rail yards of East LA
1963: World Cruise Terminal Grand Opening
- Grand Opening of the World Cruise Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles
- Passenger and cargo terminals at Berth 93
- Built to accommodate the expanding cruise industry
- Designed by award winning architect Edward Fickett, he received another award for the design of this building
1963: Ports O′Call Village Opens
- Designed and built by David Tallichet, WWII pilot turned restauranteur
- 15 acres of shops, restaurants and attractions based on a New England village
- Major tourist area through the 60′s and into subsequent decades
- 2016: Ports O′Call closed and then demolished to make way for the planned San Pedro Public Market
1963: Cool Places for San Pedro Kids Growing Up in the Sixties
- Ports O′Call
- Norm′s Landing and the seals
- 22nd Street Landing
- Cabrillo Beach
- Parks — Point Fermin, Averill, Peck, Alma, Leland, Friendship, etc.
- White Point / Royal Palms
- Gaffey Street Pool
- Movies — Warner Grand Theatre, The Strand, San Pedro Drive-In
- Marineland
- Disneyland
- Knott′s Berry Farm
- Catalina
- Griffith Park Observatory
- La Brea Tar Pits
- Los Angeles Zoo
- Fishermen′s Fiesta
1966: SS Princess Louise Opens for Business
- September 25: Princess Louise moved to a permanent berth at Los Angeles Harbor, opens for business
- The largest floating restaurant in the US at the time
- Served 2000 guests per day
- Towed to a new location at Berth 94 in 1979
- The Princess Louise was built in 1921 in North Vancouver, British Columbia
- Considered a luxury cruise ship of the era
- Provided tourist service between Vancouver and Alaska, a 1750 mile round trip
- At 317′ in length, part of the Canadian Pacific Railway′s Princess fleet, considered a ″pocket liner″ because it offered on a smaller vessel the superior class of service equal to the great ocean liners
- Removed from service in 1964 before moving to LA Harbor in 1966
- 1989: Restaurant closed on January 15
- 1989: The ship capsized at her berth on October 30, foul play suspected
- While being towed to her watery grave near Catalina the SS Princess Louise sank to the briny deep
1967: RMS Queen Mary Permanently Berths at Long Beach
- December 9: RMS Queen Mary arrives at Long Beach and is permanently moored there as a tourist attraction featuring restaurants, a museum and a hotel, along with Jacques Cousteau′s Living Sea Museum
- 1971: The Queen Mary opens its doors to tourists
- The Queen Mary was launched 1934 and retired from service in 1967
- Was primarily an ocean liner for the Cunard Line that sailed primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean
1973: Major Recession Starts, Lasts Throughout the 70s
- The thriving economic growth of the post World War 2 boom starting in 1947 had finally ground to a halt in 1973
- Starting in February, a stock market crash and inflation increase occurred, followed by recession and unemployment
- This precipitated the lingering Stagflation issues that stifled the economy throughout the 70s
- The recession would be the 5th most severe in US history
Stock Market Crash
- Starting in February 1973 the value of the S&P 500 declined by over half and the Dow declined by 45% over 21 months
- The average trailing PE ratio slumped from 17-18 to 7-11 and stayed at that level for a decade
- The stock market was so affected that it took until August 1983 to return to the same levels of January 1973
Recession
- The post war boom that started in 1947 had slowed to a crashing halt in 1973
- The annual GDP ratio dropped from a pre 1973 value of 3.6% per year to 2.8% after 1973
- Productivity growth dropped from 2.5% to 1.5%
- GDP growth rate dropped from 7.2% to -2.1% in 1973. Real GDP level fell 3.2%
Inflation
- The inflation rate ranged from 2.94% to 3.61% in 1972
- In January of 1973 the inflation rate was 3.61 but increased dramatically throughout the year, to 6.8% in the Third Quarter, and to a high of 8.71% in November
- The inflation rate continued to increase in 1974 to a high of 12.3%
Unemployment
- Unemployment was close to 5% throughout 1973 and started to rise in 1974 until it reached 7.2% in the 4th Quarter of that year, reaching a high of 9% in May 1975
Income Growth Slowdown
- A slowdown in income growth started in 1973
- Between 1947 and 1973 family income increased over 100%, increasing at an average annual rate of 3.19%
- Between 1973 and 2004 family income only rose 22%
- Between 1973 and 2006 family income for the bottom 90% increased at an average annual rate of .5%
- Between 1973 and 1987 the income of families headed by someone less than 30 years of age fell 30%
Factors that Exacerbated the Economic Malaise
- Oil Crisis: The OPEC oil embargo began on October 17 which increased the price of oil
from $3 per barrel to $12 dollars per barrel
- This embargo had a suppressive on the US economy and coupled with the stock market crash was the first event since the Great Depression
to have a persistent economic effect
- Federal Reserve Chairman, Arthur Burns (1970 - 78): Burns did not respond appropriately to the inflation
problem.
- Burns did not believe the Federal Reserve should be expected to cope with inflation single-handedly.
- He backed an expansive monetary policy where the prime interest rate was left relatively high.
- Burns ultimately received poor marks for his handling and control of inflation that took more than a decade to resolve.
1976: SS Sansinena Explodes in Los Angeles Harbor
- December 17: SS Sansinena, a Liberian oil tanker, explodes in Los Angeles Harbor, Berth 46
- Explosion causes window breakage for miles, fine oil droplets sprayed for miles
- Port traffic was closed
- Steamship built in 1958, owner — Barracuda Tankers, Port of Registry - Monrovia
- It had discharged its cargo of crude oil and was taking on ballast and fuel when the explosion occurred
- US Coast Guard investigation found the explosion to be caused by flammable vapor buildup on the deck of the ship
- 6 fatalities, all members of the Italian crew
- 3 missing and presumed dead (2 crew and one dock security guard)
- 46 injured, 9 required hospitalization
1978: Los Angeles Sportswalk, Sportswalk to the Waterfront
- October 5: Sportswalk to the Waterfront opens on 6th street between Palos Verdes and Centre Street
- Commemorates outstanding collegiate, Olympic, and professional athletes from the area and participating in area teams with bronze plaques embedded in the sidewalk
- Opened in conjunction with the revitalization of the Beacon Street District
- San Pedro′s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Discontinued from 1998 to 2004
- Resurrected as part of the effort to revitalize San Pedro′s historic downtown and create linkage to the waterfront
- The Waterfront Committee presents two special awards each year in October: the Pat Tillman Award for Courage, and the Trani Award for contribution to local athletics
Olympic Athletes Born in San Pedro
- Wendy Allen: Alpine Skiing, 1968 Grenoble, Born 1944, Slalom, Giant Slalom, highest rank: 22
- Bob Gutowski: Athletics, 1956 Melbourne, Born 1935, Pole Vault, Silver
- Matt Hemingway: Athletics, 2004 Athens, Born 1972, High Jump, Silver (relation to Ernest Hemingway)
- Mike Stamm: Swimming, 1972 Munich, Born 1952, 100 Back Silver, 200 Back Silver, 100 Medley Relay Gold
- Ed Trevelyan: Sailing, 1984 Los Angeles, Born 1955, Soling — Mixed 3 Person Keelboat, Gold;
- Made 1980 Olympic team that did not compete, won World Championship in 1979, North American Championship in 1978, and National Championship in 1979.
- Born in San Pedro, attended Point Fermin Elementary, family moved out of the area when Ed was in the 6th grade
1978: USS Los Angeles Naval Monument
- May 3: Designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #188
- 1944: The heavy cruiser launched at Philadelphia Navy Yard
- Motto: ″Not for self, but for country″
- Operated post WWII off the coast of China
- Involved in the Korean War where she received 5 battle stars
- 1953 — 1963: Cruiser division flagship with the 7th Fleet in the Pacific
- Home port: Long Beach
- 1963: Decommissioned in San Diego, became part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet
- 1975: Scrapped in San Pedro
- Her flying bridge and bow is on display at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro
1978: Korean Friendship Bell and Belfry of Friendship
- October 3: Presented by South Korea and dedicated to celebrate the US bicentennial and friendship between the 2 countries
- Located at Angel′s Gate Park, Gaffey and 37th Street, formerly Fort MacArthur Upper Reservation
- Modeled after the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok the Great of Silla, cast in 771
- Both bells are among the largest in the world
- Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #187
1979: Los Angeles Maritime Museum Opens
- Maritime Museum opens in the Municipal Ferry Terminal building at the end of 6th Street
- Largest maritime museum on the west coast
- Provides maritime exhibits, collections, library, shop, and tours
- History of Los Angeles Harbor, and the maritime industry
1980: Los Angeles Port Master Plan
- The original Port Master Plan establishes policies and guidelines to direct the future development of the Port
- The Plan is designed to promote and safely accommodate foreign and domestic waterborne commece, navigation, fisheries in the national, state, and local public interests
- The Plan also provides for public recreation facilities and visitor servic areas to facilitate public access to the waterfront and better integrate the Port with the surrounding community
- Original Master Plan approved by the 5 member Board of Harbor Commissioners and certified by the Coastal Commission
- The Plan is amended on a regular basis including 20 year updates
- Goals:
- Optimize Land Use
- Increase Cargo Terminal Efficiency
- Accommodate Diverse Cargoes
- Increase Public Access to the Waterfront
- Protect Historic Resources
1981: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Opens
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium opens across from the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse
- The Aquarium started as the Cabrillo Beach Museum in 1935 at the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse
- Name was changed to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to highlight its living collections
- John Olguin, director from 1949 until 1987, initiated several educational programs
- 2004: The Aquarium was expanded with a much larger structure
1982: San Pedro Man Soars to 15,000 Feet in Lawn Chair
- July 2: Larry Walters fashioned a homemade airship made of a patio chair and 45 helium filled balloons from his home on 7th Street in San Pedro to a height of 15,000 feet and drifted to Long Beach. His balloon cables became tangled in power lines on 45th Street and broke allowing Walters to descend to the ground unharmed.
- The flight lasted 45 minutes, crossed the primary approach corridor of Long Beach Airport, and was spotted by two airliners
- Walters bought 45 8-foot weather balloons and helium and attached the balloons to a lawn chair
- The aircraft was called ″Inspiration I″
- He took a pellet gun, a CB radio, sandwiches, beer, and a camera on his flight
- His descent plan was to shoot some of the balloons with the pellet gun, balanced on each side, for a controlled descent. He dropped the pellet gun while in flight.
- Offices from the Long Beach Police Department arrested him after the landing: ″We know he broke some part of the Federal Aviation Act, and as soon as we decide which part it is, some type of charge will be filed. If he had a pilot′s license we′d suspend that, but he doesn′t.″
- Walters was charged with operating a ″civil aircraft for which there is not currently in effect an airworthiness certificate.″ The charge was later dropped and the fine was reduced.
- Walters became known as ″Lawn Chair Larry″ and briefly gained national fame
1983: Port Completed Main Channel Dredging to 45 Feet
1984: Several Local Canneries Begin to Shut Down
- Early 1950′s: Multinational food companies begin to purchase the canneries in San Pedro
- Early 1980′s: Most canneries are shut down and moved overseas (Samoa, Southeast Asia, Latin America) due to cheaper labor
- 1984: Star-Kist
- 1992: CHB
- 2001: Chicken of the Sea, the last of the canning operations in the continental US
1984: Anna Lee (Tingle) Fisher Second Woman and First Mother in Space
- SPHS graduate, class of 1967, where she received the Most Likely to Succeed honor
- Shuttle Discovery, STS-51A, 192 hours in space
- While in space, Fisher conversed with President Ronald Reagan who asked if she would recommend space travel for her 14 month old daughter. She responded: ″That I would Mr. President. It′s truly an incredible experience.″
- Addressed 1000 students at SPHS, stressed the importance of education, and said, ″Don′t be afraid to dream, because there are a lot of neat opportunities out there.″
- Mother of the Year award in 1984
- BS and MS in Chemistry, Doctor of Medicine with specialization in emergency medicine
- Plaque in her honor is at the Maritime Museum
1986: Intermodal Container Transfer Facility Completed in San Pedro and Long Beach
- Rapid transfer of containers from the Port′s marine terminals to trains for both San Pedro and Long Beach
- ″On-dock″ container loading reduces costs, improves efficiency, decreases truck traffic entering and leaving the port
- $55 million, 237 acres, 6 loading and unloading tracks, 24/7 operations, 580,000 annual container capacity, customs available on demand, equipment repairs made on-site
1989: SS Lane Victory
- Preserved in Los Angeles Harbor as a museum ship
- 1945: Originally built in Los Angeles and launched on May 31
- Named after Lane College
- Carried war supplies in the Pacific, then delivered goods to Europe under the Marshall Plan
- 1948: Laid up at Suisun Bay, California
- 1950: Back in action during the Korean War evacuating civilians and US troops
- 1966: Restored to duty for the Vietnam War moving troops, ammunition, and supplies
- 1988: Signed over to the US Merchant Marine Veterans
1990′s: Port of Los Angeles Becomes Nation′s #1 Port
- Port of Los Angeles becomes the US #1 Port, handles 13.5% of North American market share
- Port of Long Beach is #2, handles 12%
- Estimated 1.2 B cargo shipped every day
- Port of Los Angeles is called America′s Port
- Main trade partners in order of volume: China/Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan
- Main trade inventory: Furniture, automobile parts, apparel, electronic products, plastics
- However, the waterfront and surrounding communities of San Pedro and Wilmington continue to age and deteriorate
1990: SS Princess Louise Sinks to the Briny Deep
- SS Princess Louise sinks while under tow about 16 nautical miles southwest of Point Fermin
- Incident occurs while enroute to Catalina to be sunk as an artificial reef
1990: Remembering San Pedro Businesses
- The Princess Louise sinking to the briny deep brings to mind old San Pedro businesses
- Lochman Farms Dairy, 2800 S. Western
- DiCarlo Bakery, 1701 N. Gaffey
- Thrifty Drug, Pacific & 9th
- SH Kress and Co., Pacific & 7th
- JC Penney, Pacific & 6th
- Williams Book Store, 443 W. 6th St. (1909 — 2013)
- Yale Waterman′s, 439 W 6th
- Fierman′s Sports Shop, 421 W. 6th
- Giant Book Store 414 W. 6th
- Norman′s Men′s and Boy′s Clothes, 371 W. 6th
- Sunset Photo, 319 W. 6th
- Union War Surplus, 281 W 6th
- Hadens Photo Shop, 255 W. 6th
- Richards Cleaners, 538 W. 5th
- Seaside Pharmacy, 5th & Harbor (established 1889)
- Petros Realty, 464 W. 7th
- Fin N. Feather Pet Shop, 436 W. 8th
- Cross Pharmacy, 1444 W. 8th
- Cris & Son′s TV, 801 S. Pacific
- Albert′s TV, 946 S. Pacific
- Ramona Bakery, 1101 S. Pacific (established 1937)
- Mars Auto Supply, 1201 S. Pacific
- Norwegian Import and Bakery, 1321 S. Pacific
- A-1 Photo Service, 1306 S. Pacific
- Colletto Ford, 1553 S. Pacific
- Ray Deeter Tire Town, 1624 S. Pacific
- Big C Building Supply, 957 N. Gaffey
- Jesse′s Record Shop 316 S. Gaffey
- San Pedro Cleaners, 1603 S. Gaffey
- Ana′s Hair Fashions, 1617 S. Gaffey
- Fuller Paint Store, 609 S. Gaffey
- Siegal Realty, 740 W. 9th
- McCowan′s Market, 10th & Gaffey, 20th & Walker, 1st & Bandini
- Wagner′s Market, 9th & Meyler
- Point Fermin Market, 3833 S. Pacific
- Charlie′s Barber Shop, 3800 S. Pacific
- Harbor Village Barbers, 2436 S. Western
- Clara′s for Flowers, 720 Weymouth
- Painless Parker Dentist, 7th & Beacon
- Bank of San Pedro, Beacon & 6th
1991: 310 Area Code Assigned
1991: Natalie Schafer Dies, Ashes Scattered in the Pacific Ocean at Point Fermin
- Natalie Schafer, who played many roles on Broadway, Film and TV (mostly known as Lovey Howell on Gilligan′s Island), dies in her Beverly Hills home of cancer, aged 90
- She chose cremation and to have her ashes scattered at Point Fermin near the Lighthouse
- Born in New Jersey and raised in Manhattan, she played supporting roles in at least 17 Broadway plays before moving to Los Angeles in 1941 to work in films
- She played in over 30 films and several soap operas along with guest roles in several TV series during her career, many times playing sophisticates, elegant, fashionable women, including her recurring role of Eunice ″Lovey″ Wentworth Howell, wife of millionaire Thurston Howell III in Gilligan′s Island for which she was best known
- Natalie Schafer was actually a multi-millionaire from her investments in Beverly Hills real estate
- Auditioned for Gilligan′s Island for the free trip to Hawaii
- She was originally cast as a humorless grande dame, but worked with the writers to create a more humorous role
- Was a breast cancer survivor
- During the last few years of her life, Dawn Wells was her caregiver
- Bequethed over $1.5 million to the Lillian Booth Actors Home to renovate the hospital's outpatient wing
- When Gilligan′s Island first aired, the Coast Guard received multiple telegrams from concerned viewers reporting there were castaways stranded on an island in the Pacific
1997: Pier 400 Project Completes Phase I — Largest Capital Improvement Project in all US Seaports
- Port of LA and US Army Corps of Engineers engage on the largest capital improvement project in all US seaports
- 20 year, $300 million plan for dredging and landfill for piers 300 and 400
- Stage I dredged from 45 to 63 feet to accommodate larger deep sea container and tanker vessels
- Added 265 acres of land to accommodate an expected doubling of cargo moving through the port
- Positions port to accommodate tremendous growth in international trade
- Stage II expected to complete in 2000: plans to deepen from 63 feet to 81 feet, lengthen a 50 foot channel, construct a 75 foot deep channel to the east side of Pier 400, and create an additional 325 acres of land
1998: Shakespeare by the Sea Debuts
- Annual play performances that run for 10 weeks during the summer at several outdoor seaside venues including Point Fermin Park band shell
- Several of Shakespeare′s plays have been performed
- First play: The Comedy of Errors
- Hamlet: ″the play′s the thing wherein I′ll catch the conscience of the king″
- As You Like It: ″′tis true that a good play needs no epilogue″
