Although there are indications that the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce goes back to 1889 as a Board of Trade, one historian reports that the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce held its first meeting as a banquet in the Hotel Redondo on December 5, 1907.

A big banner behind the head table proclaimed its motto: "Apostle of Enthusiasm." The first president is reported to have been Judge Charles Silent, organizer of the Redondo Development Company.

In a report to the public in 1908, the Chamber of Commerce announced it had 150 members, in a city of 4,000 with an assessed value of $1,750,000.

The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce on January 1, 1908, entered its first float in the annual Rose Parade. It was a 41-foot long magnolia leaf and carnation sperm whale, with moving fins and tail and water spout. The entry won a grand prize ($75.00), a blue banner and a silver cup from the Pasadena Board of Trade and was termed the "best exhibit from any civic body outside Pasadena."

The Chamber of Commerce in Redondo Beach has been an active and far-sighted organization since its beginnings. In addition to calling attention to the city for many years through participation in the annual Tournament of Roses (until cost became prohibitive in recent times), the Chamber was an active part of the community in the early days with Christmas programs, a summer band program and an Easter floral program.

In 1912, representatives of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce aggressively sought an appropriation for a Harbor. A resolution of the Chamber stated in part, "That since upon completion of the Panama Canal, facilities of harbors on the Pacific Coast, especially Southern California, will be inadequate to handle the push of more ships." Chamber representative Harry Brolaski was dispatched to Washington, D.C. to attempt to get the needed appropriation of $5,000 for the harbor.

In 1913, the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce even purchased the Santa Barbara Baseball Team franchise for the remainder of the year.

In 1914, a group called the "Glad Handers" was formed and they took a caravan of four cars through the Imperial Valley and on to Phoenix. They reported they "gave away 18,000 carnations, 5,000 pennants, 5,000 pins and 5,000 folders, advertising our Beach City as THE Resort City of Southern California. The slogan: ‘You’ll Like Redondo Beach’.

Also in 1914, the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce suggested that a movement be started to annex Palos Verdes Hills. Today’s challenges and the responses of the community and the Chamber, will be tomorrow’s history.

Historic Places

For more than one hundred years, Redondo Beach has captured the imagination of travelers from around the world. Modern surfing was born here. Boards, Baggies and bikinis became industries, and the Beach Boys pounded out a surf beat that lured a whole generation to enjoy the West Coast promise of freedom.

Redondo Beach has hosted many colorful visitors, including natives, wranglers, ranchers, railroad barons, rumrunners and a gangster or two—not to mention the beach revelers who rode the Pacific Electric Railway Red Cars for a weekend away from the heat of the Los Angeles Basin.

Discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542, the Santa Monica Bay and environs remained largely untouched until the Dominguez Rancho was established in 1784 as a farming and grazing area.

Fast-forward to the boom of 1800s when land was cheap and Los Angeles needed a Port for shipping and passenger travel. Redondo Beach served that need until the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro ended its shipping trade.

The reputation of Redondo Beach as a resort and recreation area stayed on through the trials and tribulations of the Great Depression, world wars and the dreaded Prohibition—which led to the demise of the beautiful beachfront Hotel Redondo. During the 50s and 60s Redondo Beach once again became a popular resort city as well as a great place to live work and play.

Historic Riviera Village
The first inhabitants of the Hollywood Riviera, now known to locals as the “Village”, traveled nomadically, followed food sources, and were scantily clad. Not much has changed in the 6,000 years or so since the coastal natives camped on the shore. You will see our natives in beachwear, enjoying the sunny weather, and dining outside. Our local seafood is among the best in the world.

The original developer of the Hollywood Riviera was entranced by the movie business and felt that the seaside properties would be a natural location for the Hollywood “set” to buy and build. A few movies were made in the thirties and few smart producers bought properties, but the Hollywood scene never materialized. What did material are delightful cluster of shops, restaurants, café bistros and galleries.

The Village is located in and around the area between Torrance and Palos Verdes Blvds. It’s a perfect place for strolling and stopping for en espresso and dessert. The shops are a lively mix of swimwear, sport wear, objects d’art, antiquities and California original art.


George Freeth Memorial
Old Historic Pier
Redondo Beach Historical Museum
 

Leadership Redondo History

Leadership Redondo has been an active program of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce since the year 2000.  It was initiated by Marna Smeltzer, John Parsons and Dawn Wendl, based on other programs in the United States designed to develop knowledgeable community leaders.

The mission of Leadership Redondo is to develop effective community leaders who will strengthen and transform our community. The goals are:

Create an environment in which participants develop a sense of community stewardship and are encouraged to assume leadership roles in community affairs.

Develop awareness of the Redondo Beach community and its problems, challenges and opportunities by examining factors that affect life in the city.

Examine principles and practices of leadership and help participants identify and enhance their own leadership styles with an emphasis on a community perspective.

A steering committee of past participants serves as an advisory group.  Classes meet from January through November at various sites in the community, for one full day each month.  In the year following the class sessions, the group continues to meet on its own to develop and implement a project of its choice.  Projects undertaken in the past include the following:  2000 – an educational program relating to Heart of the City; 2001 – Character Counts program for the business community;  2002 – Path of History; 2003  - Business Recycling program; and  2004 – Speaking of Redondo..., documentation of oral histories of long-term Redondo Beach residents.  The 2005 project is Art Benches; the creation of artistically appealing benches in Riviera Village. The class of 2006 project was Picturedondo.com; the class of 2007 project is a 9/11 Memorial.

 A new class will start in January 2008, meeting for a full day on the second Friday of each month. Tuition is $675 per person.  Recruitment for the 2008 class begins in October 2007, and applications are available on this website or by calling the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce at 376-6911, extension 21.

The Redondo piers as seen in 1919. In the foreground are the remains of Wharf 1 which was destroyed by the pounding of Pacific storm waters. Historically there have been seven piers—built, rebuilt, destroyed and dismantled in the last 100 hundred years. Today, the pier is still a popular destination place for locals and visitors, providing venues for sport fishing, as well as dining, shopping and entertainment. For more information on activities at the Pier/King Harbor area, click here.

Morrell House Living History Museum