This beautiful reproduction poster has been re-mastered from an early 1930's brochure for the Hotel St. Catherine, on Catalina Island. Catalina Island is a popular tourist destination in California's Channel Islands.
The vibrant colors and detail of this classic image have been painstakingly brought back to life to preserve a great piece of history.
The high-resolution image is printed on heavy archival photo paper, on a large-format, professional giclée process printer. The poster is shipped in a rigid cardboard tube, and is ready for framing.
The 13"x19" and 18”x24” formats are excellent image sizes that look great as a stand-alone piece of art, or as a grouped visual statement. These posters require no cutting, trimming, or custom framing, and a wide variety of these frames are readily available at your local craft or hobby retailer, and online. The 18”x24” size has a 1” white border.
A great vintage print for your home, shop, or business!
HISTORY OF SAINT CATHERINE HOTEL, CATALINA ISLAND
Saint Catherine Hotel, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, (1918-1966) was built on the site of the Banning home in Descanso Canyon in the aftermath of the November 29, 1915 fire, which destroyed a large portion of Avalon, including the Metropole and many other hotels, the Tuna Club, Pilgrim Club, main bathhouse, waterfront shops, and all other city structures within its path. Faced with enormous financial losses, the Bannings took a trust deed in the amount of $850,000 to pay off debts and build a major new tourist hotel — the Saint Catherine.
The Hotel Saint Catherine opened its doors on June 28, 1918. The hotel was constructed by the Milwaukee Building Company under the supervision of Hancock Banning and Captain William Banning. After William Wrigley, Jr. obtained the island from the Banning brothers in 1919, additional accommodations were erected on the west side of the hotel, the grounds were extended and a swimming pool was added. The hotel could seat 1200 people for dinner. Tables were set with Catalina Pottery, and fresh fruit and vegetables grown on the island were often served. The hotel's high standard of elegance when it opened made it the island' first choice for accommodations by visiting Hollywood stars. They could come and go more privately in their own yachts to the hotel's pier in Descanso Bay.
For 47 years, the famous hotel served as an elegant vacation spot for visitors to Santa Catalina Island, including many foreign dignitaries.
During World War II (1941-1946) the hotel was used by the Merchant Marines who were in training at the Country Club, the Cubs ballpark and the Casino. All of the furnishings were removed. Of these, only the Saint Catherine was not reopened for the tourist trade after the war. Guest rooms were converted into fifty-three 2 and 3-bedroom apartments for employee housing following the war, and in 1947 the back kitchen was removed.
When the need for visitor accommodations again grew, in 1953 the Tomerlin brothers of the Wilton Hotel in Long Beach leased the premises, followed by Joe and Rose Arno, Avalon restauranteurs who operated the property as a suite hotel for island visitors until 1963. During its last three years, two separate operators tried to make a success of the operation, but rooms without private baths were not in high demand.
Despite some restoration, the decision was made to demolish the hotel after visitation declined and the hotel was operated only at a loss. Demolition began at noon on Saturday, February 12, 1966 when wrecking equipment from Kirtland Truck and Equipment Company of Gardena arrived by barge from the mainland. Demolition was completed within a month.
Santa Catalina, one of California’s Channel Islands, lies southwest of Los Angeles. It's known for its wildlife, diving sites, and Mt. Orizaba, its highest peak. The resort town of Two Harbors lies to the north. To the south, in the city of Avalon, palm trees and cabanas line Descanso Beach. Avalon’s circular, art deco Catalina Casino is a cultural center with a movie theater, ballroom and museum.
