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| Neighborhood History |
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 This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of its residents. If you have lived in the neighborhood for many years, the neighborhood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by.
If you have just come to call the neighborhood home, it is a way to learn more about the new community you have joined. We would love nothing more than to be able to share the history of neighborhood name with all who reside there. If you are interested in writing a brief history of the neighborhood to share with the community, please contact us!
This page is sponsored by Jack McSweeney of RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty. 310 346-0391
- Southbay resident since 1956. |
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Photographs reflect South Bay's changing face
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Website: jmcsweeney.com/Photographs of Sobay.htm
Email: *
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| The Hollywood Riviera - Spectacular coastal and city views.
Hollywood Riviera. The name alone conjures up images of glamour and scenic beauty. And, in fact the South Bay community of Hollywood Riviera does have a glamorous past and spectacular coastline and city views.
Nestled in the sloping foothills between Redondo beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula and extending from the coast inland for a mile, Hollywood Riviera is a community of about 10,000 residents and 3500 homes.
Hollywood Riviera is part of the city of Torrance, but unlike many other Torrance communities, The Riviera (as most residents call it) has a distinct feel that sets it apart from neighboring communities.
Much of the architecture in the area is Mediterranean in style, especially the original homes, which were built in the late 1920s and early 1930s. As you wind your way through the streets that have such Spanish names as Calle Miramar, Via Pasqual, Camino de Encanto, Via Mesa Grande, Calle Mayor, Via Monte d’Oro and Via los Miradores, you are struck by the quiet beauty, the lush greenery and the Mediterranean atmosphere.
Ask nearly any resident why they were attracted to Hollywood Riviera, and the answer will usually be immediate and emphatic- “The view.” In addition to the view, you can walk to the beach in minutes and also have easy access and commute to anywhere in Los Angeles.
Back in the early days the city of Torrance was a manufacturing town. Everyone just assumed that the city of Redondo beach would annex Hollywood Riviera, but Torrance saw the commercial possibilities of having access to the ocean, and moved quickly to annex the community.
The name “Hollywood Riviera” was chosen by developer Clifford Reid, who in 1927 began building homes on the land tucked into the coastline just north of Palos Verdes. The area’s scenic beauty reminded him of the European Riviera, but he felt that some Hollywood glamour was needed. Reid envisioned that his fledgling community would become a movie star playground.
However, no major thoroughfare linked Hollywood to the beach and the film industry did not flock to the Hollywood Riviera. Nevertheless, early visitors to Reid’s home- the first built and still magnificent- included Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Clara Bow, Marion Davies and John and Ethel Barrymore.
The Great Depression of the early 1930s halted most building in the community.
A major part of the community’s history is the Hollywood Riviera Beach Club, which opened in 1931, and sat on the cliff just south of Redondo Beach. Homeowners were automatically members, and could swim and host events there.. Interesting fact, the beach club was built so that it straddled the two cities of Torrance and Redondo Beach. That was because the two cities had different licensing laws on alcohol consumption, after hours patrons of the clubhouse moved from one side of the room to the other to continue drinking legally. The Hollywood Riviera Beach Club burned to the ground in 1958, and the site is now a county park, Miramar Park.
(Parts of this article appeared in the LA Times in 1992)
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