Betsy J. Green

Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1924

The best stories of the year

Santa Barbara celebrated the first Fiesta with parades and parties this year, and the Lobero Theater and the Granada Theater appeared. The new city hall opened, and the old one came down. Students began attending classes in the new Santa Barbara High School.

Families went to the movies or stayed home and listened to music and soap operas on the radio. Partygoers danced to the Charleston and drank illegal whiskey smuggled here from Canada. A Santa Barbara pilot flew around the world.

More and more families had cars, moved out of apartments, and built their own homes. Architects and builders couldn't keep up with the demand, so catalog companies stepped up, and catalog homes appeared on our streets. Santa Barbarans were clearly enjoying the Roaring Twenties.

Islands are the perfect places to film movies about nature, beaches, primitive life, shipwrecks, daring deeds, pirates, mermaids, and more.

More than 250 silent movies had scenes filmed on the Channel Islands featuring stars such as Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Buster Keaton, Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, and many more.

The earliest films were only five- or ten-minutes long and filmed on the beach. Island movies later grew into million-dollar features with casts of thousands.

$25 at bookstores in Santa Barbara, or Amazon.com

The best stories of 1918 include: wild storms, the Montecito Country Club opening, "Flying A" movies, the Lockheeds' flights, sauerkraut becomes "Liberty Cabbage," fire & flood worries, the circus arrives, the El Encanto Hotel opening, a solar eclipse, Life magazine cartoons, the Spanish Flu, pelicans making news, SB High School photos, victory gardens, draftees going off to war, and a special memorial page remembering the fallen of WWI. Available in Santa Barbara bookstores, and at Amazon.com (see below). $14.95

The best stories of 1917 include: A scissors artist showed his stuff, a pet monkey terrorized De la Vina Street, the city gained an alligator, the Central Library opened, Monarchs were discovered on the Mesa, women put on pants for the first time, two earthquakes shook things up, “Flying A” celebrated an anniversary, Lutah Maria Riggs won a scholarship, and the young men of Santa Barbara marched off to war. And much, much more. Available in Santa Barbara bookstores and at Amazon.com (see below). $9.95. 

MESApedia is the first comprehensive history of Santa Barbara’s Mesa neighborhood, containing more than 400 entries and images, portraying life on the Mesa in the 1800s. Much of the information in the book is drawn from articles in Santa Barbara’s newspapers of the 1800s. Read all about the first mansion in the Santa Barbara area, the best telescope in Southern California, a famous clipper ship captain, jousting contests, and much, much more. Available in Santa Barbara bookstores, and at Amazon.com (see below). $19.95

The best stories of 1916 include: This was the year the Lockheeds set up their seaplane business, young ladies’ swimsuits caused a scandal, a “Flying A” stuntman drove a car over an abyss, a major crime occurred at the Potter Hotel, a “human fly” climbed a clock tower, mysterious whangdoodles sailed through the air, and much, much more. Available in Santa Barbara bookstores and at Amazon.com (see below). $9.95

The best stories of 1915 include: more tales of the wacky and weird events in SB taken from the local newspapers. The second book in the history of Santa Barbara -- one year at a time! Reviewers called Green’s Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1914: “a fun read,” “Betsy tells it like it was,” “an easy-access snapshot of Santa Barbara 100 years ago.” 1915 was just as interesting, so Green is following up with a second book. Available in Santa Barbara bookstores and at Amazon.com (see link below). $9.95

The best stories of 1914 include: the tango, the 500-year flood, “tidal waves,” stunt pilots, Buffalo Bill, Poncho Villa, Sex at the Arlington Hotel, knee-length bathing suits, the war in Europe, an X-rated movie, Peter-the-movie-dog, Mule Man, Rattlesnake Jim, Flying “A” films, Martha Graham, German warships, Charlie Chaplin, and much more. Available in Santa Barbara bookstores, and on Amazon.com (see link below). $9.95

"Homeowners embarking on the project of researching their house and neighborhood history will find Betsy Green’s book an excellent resource." --National Genealogical Society Quarterly

"Could be a runaway bestseller!"  -- Old-House Journal

Every vintage home has an interesting story to tell. Yours is no exception. Elaborate Victorian mansions, cozy bungalows of the 1920s, and 1950's ranch-style homes -- all have a unique history. It's there waiting to be uncovered. This book is your first step on this journey of discovery. If only your walls could talk! What stories they could tell you?
$14.95

Nearly 200 vintage photos document the village’s first century, including the early residents, their homes, schools, automobiles, churches, and everyday activities. Farming families from Germany and New York state were among the first settlers to trudge along the Native American trail -- now Ogden Avenue -- and build their homes on the fertile prairie land that became Western Springs, Illinois. Today, the village's limestone and brick water tower, built in 1892, still stands as the centerpiece for many village events and celebrations. This book brings to life the evolution of Western Springs from farming village to stately suburb. $14.19