A history of Long Beach

"These make great holiday gifts by the way," said Dave Roochvarg, as he signed a copy of a new book he co-authored, "Long Beach," at the Long Beach Historical Museum on Aug. 11. For Roochvarg and his fellow co-authors, Roberta Fiore and Carole Shahda Geraci, the turnout for the book's official release party was "amazing" and, at one point, the line of people who waited to have their copies signed stretched onto the sidewalk on West Penn Street.

The turnout, the authors said, illustrates the strong interest and pride people have in their city.

"I think it was the biggest turnout we've ever had at the museum, so there's a lot of interest in this book," Roochvarg said. "This book really is the first overall history to be put out by a major publisher, and we're really thrilled about it."

The book chronicles Long Beach's rich and colorful history, and hit area bookstores earlier this month. It is published by Arcadia Publishing, part of its Images of America, which celebrates the history of communities across the country, and was written by local authors Fiore, Geraci and Roochvarg for the Long Beach Historical and Preservation Society. All proceeds from the book benefit the society and museum.

"We felt that we were the best people to do this and and it was a way for us to support our museum and the Long Beach Historical and Preservation Society as well," Roochvarg said.

Highlights of the book include vintage photographs from private collections and the Historical Society, beginning from the city's inception in 1906, when Sen. William H. Reynolds purchased what was once an abandoned barrier island and vowed to turn it into a city. The book includes more than 200 photos and illustrates Long Beach's transition over 100 years from a vacation spot known as America's "Healthiest City" to a thriving city.

Although most of the book chronicles the city's history up to the years shortly after World War II, it includes a chapter that highlights the city's later years, including the recent opening of the Allegria Hotel.

"What's really interesting about this town is the way it was planned — the architecture was incredible," Roochvarg said. "The 1880 Long Beach Hotel, for about 5-years, was the largest seaside hotel in the world. The last shot in book is of the Allegria. Just like the 1880 hotel, it shows a renewed interest in Long Beach as a destination spot. We thought it was important to include because it bookends the city's history."

The authors said that the book reflects the diversity of the city's architecture, culture, religion and unique neighborhoods, and includes images of the residents and bungalows in the West End, water-lined homes of the canals and the 2.1 mile boardwalk. The book was a labor of love, the authors said, and took about a year to complete.

"When we decided to do this, we realized the pictures we had really uncovered the city's history," Fiore said. "We have a wonderful archive, and we thought we should move forward with the book, the sooner the better."

The authors said that they were surprised by the private collections of photographs which were donated.

"People came forward with impressive family albums, which enriched our archives at the same time," Geraci said. "For posterity, we now have an archive filled with many many photos that we never would have had in our possession."

The book includes photos of the Long Beach Hotel — including a dinner menu from 1905 — the famous National Bathing Pavilion, which opened in 1908 and was destroyed during a fire in 1913, and the boardwalk casino, where the famous Rudolph Valentino taught the tango on the large dance floor.

The idea for the book began after Fiore, who for years had been looking to write the definitive history of Long Beach, teamed up with Roochvarg and Geraci. Once Arcadia expressed interest, the project snowballed, they said. Since Arcadia has published roughly 5,000 books about individual towns for its series, the authors were thrilled to have the support of a major publisher.

"We decided if somebody should do it, It should be the historical society," Roochvarg said, adding that he feels it is perhaps the best in Arcadia's Images of America series. "I have to say, this is the best one, because it just reads well and flows. I think we have a huge advantage over most communities in that we have so many stories to tell."

About 50 people contributed photos to the book, including Mark McCarthy, owner of Lola's Kitchen & Wine Bar, who had came into a collection of photos from a real estate agent in the 1920s, Roochvarg said.

Geraci said that it was their intention to write what is being described as the most definitive history of Long Beach to date.

"The big decision in writing the book was based on the fact that we had the most information and true understanding of the history — we wanted it to be valid — and we were looking to validate what we have known and get it out there for people," she said.

Those who were on hand at the book signing said they were impressed by the book's attention to detail.

"I was very impressed by the older photos," said resident Bob Shanley. "The dress wear on the boardwalk, compared to now, is amazing. I think the book is definitely going to make the younger generation see what this city is all about."