Then & Now - Historical residential buildings in Long Beach

This video slideshow presentation is the result of my research on the history of a few of the vintage residential buildings in and around my neighborhood in Long Beach, California. Some of the buildings featured are the majestic Villa Riviera, Ebell Club & Theatre, Cooper Arms building, Breakers Hotel and it's famous Sky Room restaurant where some of Hollywood's greatest stars were frequent customers during the early years! The historic Breakers property is currently undergoing a $150-million restoration and development and is slated to reopen in mid- 2024 as Long Beach’s first luxury boutique hotel.

[@RTMonitor]

It’s kind of interesting when some of the hotels from the past still fit for today’s generation. I hope it’s still fitting for the next generation.

[@jeanbeck3962]

In 1952. My Navy husband and I attended a St. Patricks dinner dance at the Sky Room. A private party for the USS Sicily. A great memory.

[@Keithbythesea]

The reopening should be sometime soon. Looking forward tgo seeing the restoration of the Sky Room and the hotel!

[@Keithbythesea]

There is indeed so much history involving the vintage residential buildings in Long Beach. Glad you enjoyed my presentation and thanks for watching!

[@bluebluelectricblue]

I live in a huge one bedroom built in 1919 here in beautiful Long Beach. I walk to the beach, loving the old world feel of this city, keeps me young and living vibrantly. I truly feel the ghosts of Long Beach City 🌹💖

[@missladyhawke]

Thank you so much for this video. I was born and raised in Long Beach and it was very fascinating to see and learn about all of those buildings.

[@joekurtz8303]

Tons of history in Long Beach, all you have to do is peel back the onion, I live downtown And see daily. Always enjoy the old pictures of our shore . Our greatest treasure.

[@lovelylight1972]

how Pristine the buildings were and I still want to own a little apt at the Villa Riviera it is the most interesting building in Long Beach to me . Great presentation and the music just perfectly complemented it.

[@denny906]

When Downtown L.B. tore down most of it's buildings including the movie theatres there was nothing left to do. It became a ghost Downtown.

[@alexdelrio45]

My wife Rose and I spent the night at The Breakers Hotel on our honeymoon in 1987. As we both walked into the lobby to check ourselves in, I was still wearing my tuxedo and Rose her wedding dress. The people that were in the lobby saw us and said how beautiful my wife looked and how handsome I was. When Rose and I entered our room, we couldn't believe how amazing it was! It was like if we went back into time! Back to the 1920s or 30's! I'll never forget how awesome and magnificent The Breakers Hotel was and still is!

[@bopechanga1129]

Unfortunately long beach tends to demolish many beautiful building for glass ungly things

[@TheFriarGamer208]

bo pechanga I hate it when a city tries to kill their history by demolishing something that we all would never see again.

[@timothyschugt9697]

@@TheFriarGamer208 So true - so many beautiful buildings in Long Beach were destroyed and replaced by awful "modern" buildings that have not stood the test of time.

[@marleyg2850]

That's exactly why I left LB in 2012. I grew up in the area, lived there for years as an adult near Ocean Blvd and then gentrification really popped out in 2010 in the DTLA arts district. It was heart breaking.

[@holly-go-lightly]

I totally agree. Hard to believe that they demolished the original library and surrounding park. Memories of the beautiful inside of the library with all that beautiful wood gone....

[@HwangSu22]

Thank you for sharing your research works. I'm now doing the coastal design studio in USC, your video really helped me a lot.

[@f2mel2]

The Breakers now undergoing 5 star hotel conversion. I worked maintenance as a contractor for 15 yrs. I walked every inch of the building repeatedly. Cant wait to say hi. Same with La Reina Maria (The Queen Mary). Thanks for posting.

[@Keithbythesea]

Yes, the restoration of Breakers has been going on for a few years now and is slated for a reopening as a hotel again next fall. I'm looking forward to it and to seeing what changes have been made to the famous "Sky Room". Here is a recent article from last Summer lbbusinessjournal.com/news/breakers-hotel-to-open-next-year-as-a-fairmont-property Thanks for watching!

[@briane173]

I lived most of my childhood in Belmont Shore and would regularly pass the Villa Riviera on the way to Navy Base Long Beach on Terminal Island or to get on the LB Freeway. Being one of the few buildings in Long Beach NOT to collapse during the '33 earthquake it had quite a reputation for sturdiness and resiliency. It's architecture stood in stark contrast to the high-rise Galaxy Apartments just up Ocean Blvd, and the Arena & Convention Center across the street. I haven't been to downtown Long Beach in so long I wouldn't recognize it now; but it makes me all the more grateful the Villa Riviera stills stands as a reminder of what was -- both in my childhood and in LB's storied history.

[@juliorubio5986]

But are still around longbeach

[@johngergen9194]

Thanks, As a teen living in Signal Hill in the late 1950s I remember all those Iconic buildings in Long Beach and always wondered what they were like inside and who lived there. Long Beach has a great history. Thanks again.

[@sushiscomments]

I was born and raised in Long Beach. I have spent the last 21 years of my life in this city and I have never realized how much history I can find by just turning a corner. This video gave me chills. Thank you so much.

[@americanvisualists7758]

Thank you for this nicely conceived historic presentation. I loved it. I recently looked up 2230 Ocean as it was where I first lived after being born at St. Mary's, 5/47. I've spent most of my life in the arts, but away from Long Beach. Ironically the Long Beach Art Museum now sits directly next door, to the east of my old address. I loved riding around old downtown LB as a kid. My grandfather easily convinced me Superman lived atop the Villa Riviera. I even got him to take me there to search but, alas, the waitress in the coffee shop sadly informed me Clark Kent was working on something very important, out of town. The building still fascinates me today.

[@wilhard45]

I dined several times at the Sky Room in the 1960s and 1970s. My friends and I would tell each other that you knew you were serious about a girl if you took her to the Sky Room for dinner. Wonderful food and an amazing view not to mention soooo romantic.

[@lohphat]

Born in Long Beach. My grandfather owned several restaurants there, the Leilani Hut in Belmont Shore where Legends is now, the Gay 90’s on Signal Hill, and The Hawaiian. When you see the floating Christmas trees in Alamitos Bay every year, it was also him who built and floated the first one.

[@johnminnott7334]

I grew up in Long Beach. An interesting presentation since so much has changed.

[@chaosdemonwolf1]

I live in England born and raised but my dad was in the army and married my mum who was from the states. I spent from 1968-1976 in California and had lots of memories of Long Beach including the Pike

[@pattiromero9764]

I love this video. Recently stayed at the Gaytonia and it was wonderful. I loved in Long Beach 14 years and am still trying to get back--a city with a gracious past and progressive present.

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank you Patti for the nice compliment! It was an interesting project putting this together - taking photos as I walked by these properties and then researching their history online. There are so many more vintage buildings in my city and I should do a Then & Now - Part 2. Hope you get back to LB soon!

[@kennethterry8894]

Thank you very much! I am a 3rd generation Long Beach native. This video brought back a lot of memories and answered a lot of questions about the "old buildings" I grew up with!

[@ripperduck]

My dad was from Socal and had family we would visit. My most enduring memory was of the Villa Rivera, mostly the street in front of it was curved. That amenity made it such a unique building. We would play on the beach, tour Navy ships on Sunday when they allowed the public on board. It was a real treat for a kid to experience all of that.....

[@andymann1667]

I wish you would have included The Wilmore on Cedar and 3 rd. It was the first apartment I lived on my own. It was featured in many episodes of the Ally My Beal TV show.

[@azriel562]

In 1996 I came to Long Beach for my first time, from Los Angeles. I was walking east Océan Blvd and when I did see the Villa Riviera Building. I knew than I should live in this wonderful city. I am here from February 1997. I love this city.

[@adictedgaming5382]

Long beach is awesom

[@god8575]

except for the crime

[@TheFriarGamer208]

Long Beach sucks

[@bartakin]

wow beauty...

[@ssoldie5490]

Thanks for this. I lived in San Pedro and Long Beach from 1941 to 1956, worked at Buffums Dept Store and live at the Y.W.C.A. '51-56'. Good memories.

[@Porsche996driver]

Hey there - 6 years later. Yes I’ve been to that old Buffums lol. I drive up to LB a few times a year. It’s always charming and so many decades of history.

[@tertiary7]

thanks for keeping this updated with the closed captions. good to know the breakers has a new owner. hopefully they blast that white paint off of it.

[@kashprod]

As a Long Beach native & a lover/performer of early jazz I naturally really enjoyed your wonderful video. Have you done a video on homes? My grandparents owned (& lived at) the Kashishian Oriental Rug Company at 401 E. Carson...the place with the Turkish-like dome on the top. It is now a private home, and the dome and showroom windows are gone, unfortunately. I can send you photos of the original home if you are interested. Thanks again for a wonderful video

[@dcriley65]

I was a window washer at the BREAKERS in the earlier 80's, I loved the hotel but hated the Safety conditions.

[@susie154]

I graduated from Wilson High back in '72.

[@sfbfriend]

Mr. Holman, great video. My Great Grandmother lived at 140 Linden until her death in 1940. Her name was Isadora Friend. She lived with a Cecil Friend, one of her sons. It is awesome when you can put a place to the person. My Dad was born in Hawthorne and he grew up in the Long Beach area before moving to Elk Grove in the 40's. His Dad, my Grandfather worked for the Southern Pacific railroad. I do love the history, thank you so much for this. I can only imaging what it must have been like.

[@BrendaNegri]

Thank you for posting and yes the music just made it!

[@Keithbythesea]

Brenda Negri Thank you!

[@CrazyMario-wz7ve]

Keith H. I live there i like the pike

[@KateAndMePopCulture]

applause dear friend for your historical treat of vintage visuals and history !

[@commercialrealtor2510]

Thanks for sharing. I was always curious. How come you didn't include The Willmore? Just curious

[@richardtaylor7485]

Here's a side note to the Willmore a building downtown. Willmore was the original name for Long Beach.

[@Keithbythesea]

Thanks for the nice comment! In doing research of the historical home "Weathering Heights" in Bluff Park, (which I profile in my 'Afternoon Walking Tour on the Long Beach Coast!') I read about Balboa Studios and the famous actors and movie producers that made Long Beach their home when the motion picture industry was here, and was curious where the studios were located. I checked out your video on the Balboa Studios site and never new it was at 6th x Alamitos! I pass by there all the time!

[@azriel562]

Someday in 1996, I was walking on Ocean Blvd for my first time visit to Long Beach. And when I saw the Majestic Villa Riviera Building. I felt in love with this city. I am in this beauty city since 1997 to the present. Love you Long Beach.

[@koifish3273]

11:16 the house is probably 700k+ in 2019. California is too expensive to live 😥

[@Keithbythesea]

Curious, I googled and found that this 15 unit apartment building was last sold on Dec.13, 2005, for $5,450,000. The building is worth much more now! Thanks for watching!

[@TheCorvairGuy]

On the Villa Riviera - no mention that the Miss America Pageant was held there for many years in the ballroom. Too important not to mention! Otherwise, fabulous video. Perhaps you could have included the International Tower. Yes, more modern, but around for a long time, perhaps warranting historical mention.

[@Keithbythesea]

Why so critical? I wanted to give SOME of the history on a few selected historical vintage buildings in Long Beach. It wasn't possible to give an entire history on all these buildings and no doubt certain historical facts were omitted from all of them. My video is nearly 13 minutes long as it is. The international Tower was completed in 1966 and while it is definitely an engineering marvel, it did not fit into my subject of vintage buildings.

[@sodality3970]

Great music by Bix and the Gang !! I love it and thank you for this video !!

[@DM-tj8ii]

My wife and I had our wedding reception at the Breakers in 92. We were driven from the Bayshore Church in a 1930 Ford Tudor to the Breakers and it was an amazing night. I love the Breakers, I frequently drive around Long Beach in my 41 Ford and pass by there and think about that amazing night. Right now it's getting a makeover and should open sometime in 2021, a friend is helping build it and I can tell you it's going to be insane...looking forward to the day.

[@joshrockwellchem]

There's also the Willmore, Blackstone Apartments, and the Sovereign buildings that are historic in downtown

[@Keithbythesea]

You're so right! The properties I profiled in this presentation are those that I pass by during my weekly walks in and around my Long Beach neighborhood

[@itstheburnz]

Great job Keith! Informative and familiar.. as a LB native.. very fun and well done!

[@Keithbythesea]

Yes, there is a lot of history in Long Beach, It is the oldest beach community in Southern California. Thanks for watching!

[@captlarry-3525]

The town where I was born was a place "without history", that did a good job of inventing "instant history" through some very nice architecture.

[@staslurik]

How could you not show the Willmore condominium???

[@Keithbythesea]

As I indicate in the description, It's a presentation on SOME of the residential buildings in and around my neighborhood that I PASS BY on my morning walks. I don't walk on 3rd Street in downtown LB where the Willmore is located !!!

[@Keithbythesea]

It's really incredible how much history is in our town! In the 25 yrs I have lived here, I have always admired the old vintage buildings in my neighborhood and that is why I created this presentation. Thanks for your nice comment and for watching!

[@PUAlum]

Great video! Thanks for making/posing. And the music was perfect for the era of most of the buildings. Really nice touch!

[@Keithbythesea]

Thanks for the nice compliment. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@arias6720]

Thanks and good music

[@citadel9611]

Very nice video and channel. I remember most of these building when I lived in Southern California. Hope these building continue to stand for decades to come.

[@bbryant2503]

I lived on ocean blvd as a child/adolescent between gaviota & cherry and I remember as a young child the green roof of the riviera was the North Star for my sister and I when we took shortcuts home from anywhere downtown.

[@arronh02]

I miss my Home of Downtown Long Beach when I watch this.

[@mojogustavo336]

The elites demolished the old world.

[@ladyleesutter]

Terrific history. Love the photos, the well-written history, descriptions, and the music. Coincidentally this very same version of "Night and Day" played on public radio station I was listening to this morning.I lived in Long Beach from 1956 to 1970, graduated from' LB Poly my parents remained there until my mother died in 1984, and my father lived at the Breaker's shortly before his death eight years later..

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank you for your nice comments. Glad you enjoyed my presentation. I thought this vintage music would be a nice complement to the slideshow and that is quite a concidence that you heard the very same version of "Night and Day" earlier in the day!

[@carranza9863]

I like how they keep their historical buildings unlike Los Angeles

[@PennsylvaniaHistoryBuff]

Great vid! I love digging thru the history of LB. Balboa Studios and the silent film era of LB is my fav subject to delve into.

[@chrisjeffries2322]

💋 Thank you for sharing.

[@appeasebuildersco.1997]

Thank you for sharing! I love going back to the past.

[@edwardjames50]

OMG, Keith, you are the best! Thank you for this, including the exquisite music.

[@Keithbythesea]

My pleasure! ... it was fun doing the research for this video. Thanks for the compliment

[@LarryGarcia-p3j]

I live in the Country of the Mid-West. I was stationed in on a Destroyer in the Long Beach Naval Station in the 60's. I couldn't live in such a cramped city as Long Beach. To much Negatives, glad am a Country person.

[@Keithbythesea]

Living in LB has its pros and cons for sure. I live on Ocean Blvd., in Alamitos Beach, 9 blocks from downtown. It's nice having beach access across the street, but the constant emergency and firetruck sirens drive me crazy, especially at night! I have family living in the country in Valparaiso, Indiana and I could see myself retiring there someday. Now the harsh winters are another story! You can't beat the moderate climate on the West Coast.

[@MarvelousWesty]

Really want to visit LB now

[@Keithbythesea]

This rendition of Stardust is by Hoagy Carmichael- The First Of The Singer Songwriters- Key Cuts: CD A- 1924-1929 available on Amazon. This and the other music I used are listed in the closing credits of the video. Thanks for watching!

[@Leafylover]

It’s Truly a delight to see Long Beach the way my ancestors saw it. 🙏

[@johnnickle4180]

The house i lived in in 1960 for 60.00 a month is now 1350.00

[@SpencerMusicSchool]

Love this. I live in an historical 1925 Craftsman in the Bluff Park area. Love our reach architecture and history.

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Keithbythesea]

The video was on historical residential buildings,Then and Now (meaning still standing). The Pacific Coast Club was not included because as you may know, it was demolished in 1989, a couple of years after I moved to the neighborhood.Thanks for watching!

[@Keithbythesea]

Thanks for the nice compliment. Sounds like your Great Grandmother lived in the Lafayette building not long after it was built in 1929. It's the 3rd building profiled in the video. And I agree. It is wonderful when you can associate an historical place with a person, especially when it is someone in your own family! Thanks for watching! Cheers.........

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank You for the compliment and glad you enjoyed the presentation! I Hope to profile some of the grand private homes in long Beach too sometime in the future!

[@chaosdemonwolf1]

Is the old Pacific Coast Club building still there?

[@holly-go-lightly]

No, they demolished that as well...

[@CraigCleaveland]

Thanks Keith! I have a photo of myself as little kid in 1957 with the Villa Riviera in the background. The topmost steeple had a garish "Hotel" sign attached which I have not seen in any other photo, so I presume it was short lived. At that time it was adjacent to a very nice beach side park with benches (instead of Shoreline Drive).

[@longbchrentals]

Craig Cleaveland Glad you enjoyed it Craig! The city sure brought in a lot of landfill to create Shoreline Drive and the land for Shoreline Village and all the shops and restaurants! I would have loved to have been living in LB back in the day when the surf and beach met Ocean Blvd. at that point. Thanks for watching!

[@robertromero8692]

I used to work in downtown Long Beach.

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank you for watching! I'm glad it brought back memories for you and was informative!

[@ravenrose3730]

Wonderful and informative video. Thank you for the upload!

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank you for the nice compliment!

[@nofatebutwhatwemake9880]

Very well done. I see you did this in 2012, 10 years ago now.... I've only lived in Long Beach since 2003, so I'm no native, but I've always lived close to downtown, so I'm familiar with all of the buildings you mentioned. I just have to say that I think the most beautiful and artistic building in America were built during the 20s and 30s. The hotels today don't even compare. It saddens me to think about all the buildings that were lost to the 1933 earthquake in Long Beach. Glad the Ebell Club was restored. I used to drive and/or walk by it everyday. Thanks for the video! It's obvious from the comments that you made a lot of people very happy!

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank you for the nice compliment! Wow, now that you mention it, it has been nearly 10 years since I created this presentation... how time flies! I agree with you, I think the buildings and hotels from the 20s - 30s were more beautiful than what is built today. Living close to downtown LB, you probably know that The Breakers Hotel on Ocean is going through a complete renovation and there are plans to return it to its former glory - a 185 room luxury hotel. When I toured it in 2012 for this video, it was an assisted living facility for senior citizens (which closed in 2015) with the Sky Room bar and restaurant still operating on the top floor. Thanks again for your nice comment! Here's a link to info on the remodel. www.lbheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LBH_FallNewsletter2019_final.pdf

[@captlarry-3525]

The Broadlind is as much a gem as the Cooper is a crapper.

[@ronaldzent6321]

Have been in Long Beach since Summer of '79, Downtown still seems almost like a smaller Midwest city, like Des Moines, Iowa. Not like Downton LA. Guess that's why Long Beach used to be called "Iowa by the sea" have seen pics if the annual Iowa Picnic,. Think the turnouts peaked in the mid fifties, all those transplants. Not sure they even have it anymore, everyone has passed. Different Era too.

[@samk2266]

I lived in the 1948 Lafayette addition building shown @ 5.54 in 1995. The rent was $290/m. The room was very small and the place was very run-down back then, with strange neighbors.

[@stevekovacs4093]

By the way, some might remember Willie's Tin Shop on Alamitos, now long gone. Stan Willie told me that there was an apartment building on the corner where the Villa Riviera was constructed. He said it was cut up into three sections, loaded on rail flat cars and relocated up Alamitos and reassembled on a vacant lot. it's still there today, unlike the rail lines on Alamitos.

[@michaelvigil5321]

Crazy seeing the riviera stand by itself with at most 2 story buildings lining the coast neighboring the building, now today 4 story apartments to the east and high rise buildings to the west. Also seeing how far out they built the coast for the pike and aquarium.

[@janlloyd6138]

I wish you guys would show at the villa riviera which was so close to the ocean how did they manage to make the walk to the beach so much farther, my head hurts from thinking about it. Great video, ty!

[@galaxie6000]

That's great. Thanks for such a lovely little presentation. I used to live at the Gaytonia and the Villa Riviera and they are truly unique buildings and a rich part of Long Beach history.

[@briane173]

I forgot about the Gaytonia and that's surprising, since I lived two blocks from the Gaytonia on Prospect Ave. The house with the three dormers on the roof in front.

[@alicecoppers8980]

The Lafayette was a drug house in the eighties

[@Keithbythesea]

I wouldn't be surprised! I moved to LB in 1987 and since then there has been quite a bit of redevelopment.

[@lynnlobliner3933]

Wasn't the Breakers called the Wilton for awhile? From my childhood in the 50s I remember the Wilton and don't remember the Breakers.

[@Keithbythesea]

Yes, Conrad Hilton sold the hotel in 1947 (9 years after buying it) to Frank Fishman, who renamed it the Wilton Hotel. The hotel remained the "Wilton" for 14 years.

[@chuckycheese432]

I really appreciate you man. But you don't know what you're looking at. Check out ancient tartaria mud flood 200-year reset

[@PeterT1981]

Very nice! The research, music and editing are superb. Truly enjoyed that!

[@Keithbythesea]

Thank you for the nice compliment! This was an interesting project taking the photos and researching the history of these buildings. An update on the Breakers Hotel (the 2nd building profiled) - it was closed as a retirement home in 2015 and there are now plans to reopen it as a new hotel: la.curbed.com/2018/1/12/16880818/long-beach-hotel-breakers-renovation-pacific6

[@davefarr4596]

Hey thanks for posting. I use to be care taker of the Ebell Club in the late 70s. The theater had a big pipe organ l wonder what happened to it.

[@frankmarter6845]

Long Beach used to be the jewel of the coast. There are still a few of the buildings left from that era. Many in this video. Now the city is in tatters.

[@micheal1976]

Hello, Keith! Great video! Have you considered doing an updated version of this segment?

[@ButterySkater]

So you telling me that the ocean will be further and further from the coast in 50 years

[@stevekovacs4093]

Too bad you missed out on the Pacific Coast Club next to the Villa Riviera on Ocean Blvd.. that got wrecked in the 80s after feeble attempts to save it. Not earthquake safe they said, and down it went, replaced by more tacky condos.

[@Keithbythesea]

The Pacific Coast Club was still standing when I first moved to the neighborhood. Shame it could not have been saved.

[@LittleLadyLaLa]

Bravo! What a fantastic look at some of the most beautiful buildings in Long Beach. Than you for the tour.

[@janlloyd6138]

And do the Blackstone and show how LIghtaline use to be in back of it please!

[@robertmartinez4174]

if these buildings were around Downtown LA, they'd be demolished

[@bartvertrees4626]

You missed the "Pacific Coast Club"

[@reells571]

Yes, I was so looking forward to seeing it here. Too bad it was not included. My mom drove us down Atlantic Blvd. from Pasadena to LB where we had a membership in the Pacific Coast Club in the 1950's. I think it was $2.50 per month. We parked in that little side street on the south side of the club that dead-ended towards the water. There was always an open spot there for our '55 Ford. We would go in the main entrance and the hall inside was overwhelming to me as I stood there while my mom showed her membership card. We would use the dressing rooms and walk down that ramp right onto the sand... Maybe once a year we stayed overnight. We would spend Saturday at the beach in front of the club and then, after dinner, we would walk as a family (all dressed up) on the promenade to the Pike just as it was getting dark and all the lights were coming on.

[@loe2doe]

Truly loved this video .. was born in saint Mary's hospital in 1984 and still to this point haven't truly accomplished all the history of the beautiful city that raised me ..knowing that there is still history of back when it was born just brings joy!! ..proud to be from long beach ca, .... !!

[@masterwiccan9840]

Yep...Growing up in Long Beach (60's-80's) but living elsewhere now. The iconic Villa Riviera Building will ALWAYS be Long Beach to me

[@chaosdemonwolf1]

Damn. That was the fastest response i've ever had. The idiots should have converted the PCC club into condos, but likely claimed it was ''too expensive'' to refurbish. But that's just my opinion

[@paulb217]

Long Beach has so much to offer; both manmade and nature made. It is also a great place to live (not too many decent jobs left around!!) Sometimes; as I bike around the shore wonder about the older structures around; today I got some answers!!

[@thenoid5131]

This is my city in my lifetime many of my family and friends have moved out but me I just don't see myself living any where else (DJHUMPTYLB)