 The Romance of the Ranchos Long Beach 1840 American Marys Beautiful Daughter of Spanish Don't Long Beach 1864 Great Drought Ruins Ranchos Long Beach 1921 oil discovered on Signal Hill The title insurance and trust company of Los Angeles presents the Romance of the Ranchos Featuring Frank Graham as the Wandering Vecchero and dramatizing the romantic and colorful historical events Which characterized the growth of some particular section of Southern California? Life in California in the early days was always colorful and romantic and usually adventurous and exciting Things that really happened right here where we live today We're so full of interest that it is not necessary to depart from the true history in constructing these programs in Presenting Romance of the Ranchos the title insurance and trust company of Los Angeles is by the very nature of its business exceptionally fortunate For the same records by which the company is able to verify land titles by tracing ownership all the way back to the earliest Spanish land grants Also provide a convenient and accurate source of authentic historical facts Title insurance and trust company is very happy to be able to share this treasure chest of fascinating information With the citizens of the community it serves Here ladies and gentlemen to tell the story is our Wandering Vecchero Frank Graham. We're now snowchess, Senoras y Senores Tonight we take you to the city of Long Beach a great modern city Which a century ago was a vast pasture land part of two ranchos the ranchos Loseritos the little hills and Los Alamitos The little cottonwoods let us relive the romance of the ranchos In 1784 one of the first ranchos to be granted by governor Pedro Farjes Was a vast tract conceded to the old soldier Manuel Nieto and called Los Nietos The ranchos stretched from what is now Rio Hondo and the Los Angeles River to the Santa Ana River and from the ocean to El Camino Real in the Montobello and 20 Hills In 1834 many years after the death of the old soldier the great tract was partitioned among his four children by Governor Figueroa The land which was to become Long Beach was split into two ranchos Loseritos going to don your Manuel Nieto Dakota and Los Alamitos going to don Juan Jose Nieto But shortly afterward Juan Jose was called to see the governor in Los Angeles. You wish to see me your Excellency Yes, Senor Nieto. You were the owner of a rancho called Los Alamitos But of course your Excellency you granted it to me only a few weeks ago. So I did You're not Not going to take it away from me. Are you in a way? Yes, but you're excellent. I wish to buy it. Oh That's different. You already have two other ranchos you would not mind selling this one Well, perhaps that is the price. I will give you five hundred pesos For six squared leagues of land see five hundred pesos Not much is enough for the bear land. You have no stock on it. I must go to the expense of stocking You have little use for it. You have enough land on your other ranchos Five hundred pesos in cash is no poultry some will buy many cattle properly invested. It can't make you rich Come come. What do you say Senor Nieto? Well, I don't know. I'll have to think it over. Oh Well, then perhaps I'll have to buy land up north there I can get a bigger rancho for less money. I shall save some of my five hundred pesos Well as a favor to you your Excellency, but only because of that. I will take the five hundred Los Alamitos is yours Because of the ridiculously low price paid to the twenty six thousand a garanto Many questioned the validity of a grant made by a governor who immediately bought it for himself But the sale was not disputed figure over formed the company a agricultural tourer to stock the ranch with cattle and horses A few years later he died leaving his brother to administer the rancho But some years before an adventurous American had come to California and established a thriving business in the Pueblo de los Anguiles One day he paid a visit to his good friend don Juan bandini a prosperous ranchero of the Southland Don't have been stands me an ego. It is good to see you again. I see see don Juan It seems a long time it is a long time months since you have paid us a call Well, you should be happy not to have to see my ugly old face But nonsense, why do you not come more often? Oh business, you know for an old bachelor like me There's not much of interest except making El Di Nero You are a car that's all you think about. Why do you not just live enjoy yourself? I guess we're just born with a cusset streak. It won't let us take things easy Sometimes we amigo I think so too and when even you who are more like us than most Americanos cannot rest Well, I like you in spite of your energy. Gracias me amigo the feelings mutual oh and I must tell someone you are here You have an admirer senior You have completely won the heart of a certain young lady. She has been pining her heart away for you Yeah, what's this a young lady? Since one of you had a young lady here. Oh, you shall see Arcadia Arcadia Come here my dear. We have a guest one whom you will be most happy to see Oh El senior don't see don't avail himself. Yeah, you are happy to see him But this is unbelievable Surely this can't be little Arcadia Now you see how long it has been since you are here last was she she's grown up Really young lady and my child you are beautiful. See see she is You have stayed away a long time had I known such a vision of loveliness awaited me here. I should not have done so You're Americanos are very quick at turning a pretty phrase You know how to compliment a young lady, but I mean it's me amigo. She is truly lovely Well, I must tell you that your admiration is returned. She has counted the days since you were lost here You have completely won her with your Americano charm and perhaps with those little Trinkets you bring her every time you come. Oh, that is not true. Oh, see. I have something right here in my bag I should get it and you see my little dog. He never forgets I've made a mistake. That is I Well, I didn't realize what is it? What's the trouble me amigo? Well, you see it's been so long I I didn't realize it and I brought to see what did you bring? Well this oh, well and you're it's a doll See senorita a doll. Oh Oh It is beautiful. Oh, but no, you should not have it. I have a better idea Here's something I was going to take to my store in the Pueblo But now it shall crown one of the loveliest heads in all out our California Senorita, will you accept this slight gift from your sincere admirer? Oh Senority is too much. It must be worth 20 pesos. It is most elaborate You must not for this silly girl, Senorita. I insist it is less than a fitting gift for so lovely a young lady Oh, Senorita, I cannot say how much I like it. Gracias. Gracias, Senorita. Senorita. What are you doing there? That is how happy I am. Oh Me and Igor now you have made a conquest look at her running away Don't want she see she kissed you. You have truly won her heart now She actually kissed me Senor, it's been years since the ugly bachelor faces known the touch of a woman's lips. Oh, Senor I am sorry the city child was in pair to us. I hope you are not offended offended Senor, I'm delighted and well, I hardly know how to express it, but She's wonderful, Senor Wonderful Don't one here we go. I want to thank you for your hospitality Oh, Donneville, it is in the light to have you come here more often than you used to you are enjoying the fiesta See, it's wonderful. Everybody always enjoys your fiesta. See, except my little card here here. She has been looking sad Oh, Senorita, you must not mar the loveliness with such a joyful look. Why you said perhaps because you have not danced with me Oh, but Donneville has already danced with you three times that card yet Are you sure it is not because he has also danced with the other seniority? She's jealous of you me a me Such a silly girl, Senorita. Will you dance with me now? I do not think so. I am tired Now she is going to punish you then you're Senorita our card here Don't you think I've been punished enough having to dance with all those other old crows when I might have been with the loveliest Senorita in all of our California Perhaps not but you cannot stop blushing little doll. Will you dance with me, Senorita? Well, come have pity on your most humble admirer. All right, but do not think it is because of your plattery I can see through that, Senor. Very well then just to please an old bachelor Gracias And now I am deserted again You dance well Donneville. Oh, I'm not so bad for an old fellow I guess Oh, Senor, you must not say that. You are not old. I wish it were not so, Senorita Then it is not. I say it is not. To me you are young Oh, Senorita our card yet. No, you're wrong But I am not. Donneville, I'm tired of dancing Shall we sit down? Perhaps in the garden Won't you be cold? No, no. Come. Very well. My arm, Senorita Gracias. It is lovely here. The cool breeze, the moon, the music of the night But not as lovely as you, Senorita Please do not flatter me now, Senor I assure you I've never flattered you To me you're the loveliest thing that ever lived Donneville Wait. Don't move. In your face you're an angel Yeah, Miko. You must not say those things, not tonight Already I have dreamed too much Dreamed? See, for a young girl's heart, Senor, there is no accounting It is easily overthrown See, so as an old man Please do not say that ever again. You are not old I'm over 40 And what does that mean? Nothing. I am very young But somewhere, somehow, our hearts reach out into space To meet. Age makes no difference My dear, you can't mean that I do, Donneville. See, I do Senorita Arcadia, you're wearing the shawl My shawl as your mantilla See, it is my treasure Perhaps you'd accept another gift from me A different kind of gift What, Donneville? This. I've carried it with me for days now hoping to find courage to ask you Donneville Corazon, it is a necklace of pearls But that means marriage See, I got it in Mexico just for such a time It's for you, if you'll accept it You want me to be your wife? If you will have me Accept your only carry, though This is what I have dreamed And now it comes true Mia mother, I shall be most happy to be your wife Don Juan Vandini has given me permission for the marriage of his daughter Arcadia So it remains for you to help us You see, although I am a naturalized citizen of Mexico, I was born an American See, you wish the church to give you special dispensation for the performance of the marriage See, there is it Well, senor Stence, since you are an outstanding series in the bulk community And an upright righteous man I see no reason why such permission should not be granted Oh, gracias, gracias, your worship I shall arrange it immediately so that the bands may be published Your worship, I have one more request to make See? As you no doubt know, there is some disparity between the ages of senorita Arcadia and myself And I should like to avoid any ridicule which might be directed toward us by some thoughtless young people in the pueblo I understand, senor So perhaps we could dispense with the bands and be married right away If it could be arranged, I should be most happy to contribute to any charity which you might indicate Senor, that will not be necessary unless you wish But I feel sure that under these unusual circumstances, the marriage can be arranged as you request And may I offer my blessings and your union and my hope that you shall live a long and happy life together And so 100 years ago, in May 1841, Donabelle Stearns and Maria Arcadia Bandini Married in the little church of Our Lady of the Angels Still standing in the Los Angles plaza Now Donabelle must have a fitting home for his beautiful bride And so on the corner of what became main in Arcadia streets in Los Angles He built a show place of the town, El Palacio It quickly became the center of the social life of the growing city It was there that the most lavish parties and fiestas were held And it was there that Donabelle brought home news a few months after the marriage Arcadia, Arcadia See, Abel, what is it? Oh my dear, I have news, great news Oh, what did you tell me quickly? You're so excited See, I have a right to be I bought my first rancho No See, I've just settled matters with Francisco Figueroa, brother of the late governor To buy his rancho los alimitos Oh, mi querido, that is wonderful I am so happy for you See, my dear, now I am a real California ranchero But this is only the start I shall buy more ranchos and more cattle I shall build my holdings up until I am the biggest ranchero in all Altar, California See Oh, mi querido, you are so funny Funny? What's funny about it, eh? Don't you think I can do it? See, of course you can do it And you will be a ranchero, but But what? But you will always be the ranchero americano For you must be the biggest, the most successful in all Altar, California Oh, well I do not want you to change And I am sure that you will be the greatest ranchero in all Altos, California Frequently, we have referred to title insurance and trust companies Huge system of records called its title plan The importance of these records leads naturally to speculation As to the consequences of their possible destruction by fire, earthquake, or other cause In the great Chicago fire in 1871 All records except those of one title company were destroyed In the great fire in San Francisco in 1906 Practically all of San Francisco County's records were totally destroyed And the result was chaotic Only by means of a special act of legislature, the McEarney Act And frequently at a cost of lengthy and expensive court action Were landowners unable to reestablish their titles to property In the absence of the county's records To protect this community against such a contingency Title insurance and trust company maintains a duplicate set of records Including priceless maps and essential data Contained in all of vitally important county records In a special archives building Away from the downtown area on Eastern Avenue Constructed of steel and concrete, its foundations sunk to bedrock This building is as completely fire proof, quake proof And generally disaster proof as is possible to construct It is set on the crown of a small hill safe from flood waters And centered in an 11 acre piece of ground Protecting it from the encroachment of neighboring buildings A caretaker is on duty day and night The existence of this archives building and its priceless content Is important to you Or no matter what disaster may strike And destroy the title insurance and trust company's downtown title plant Or the county's own public records This community will not face a situation Such as confronted San Francisco 35 years ago All records necessary for the verification of land ownership Will have been preserved Dona Bell Stearns vowed that he would become the greatest ranchero Of all out of California And he kept his word One after another he acquired ranchos Until he owned a vast acreage spread out overall of Southern California At the Rancho Los Alamitos He acquired a new neighbor Another American, Don Juan Temple Who married the daughter of Dona Manuela Nieto de Cota And bought the ranchos Los Cerritos from her And her brothers and sisters So now all the land that was to become Long Beach Was owned by the two Americans Dona Bell and Don Juan were friendly rivals in business But close friends socially Sometimes the work was shared And sometimes a visitor was amazed to be taken on An interesting excursion called A Run Through the Mustard See my friend, here they come Those are Don Juan Templest men coming up Here all you're about to hear Now what is it you know how to do? We're going for a run through the mustard Sounds crazy to me What do we do? Well, you see the mustard? No Where's any mustard? They're in the field right in front of you I mean those, uh, tarweeds or trees or whatever they are They're mustard plants I never even knew mustard grew in plants Thought it was something that came out of a can This is wild mustard growing here in these plains As far as you can see It's taller than a man on horseback See, and that's the trouble One can get lost in it very easily I can imagine Well then, uh, why are we going for a run through it? Because many head of cattle stray into it and get lost We can't see them, they're hidden So we gather all the men and ride through Keeping a certain distance apart And drive all the cattle out the other side Well, well, well Hi there Don Juan Are we ready? He's ready You take that in Dona Bell See? All right men, you know what to do Into it Come on my friend Now you can see what a run through the mustard is like Come on Every year the two rancheros look forward to a great event Both were great horse lovers As were most of the early Californians And each year The owner of Los Alamitos pitted his best racer Against the favorite of Rancho Los Cerritos On the appointed day The entire populations of both ranchers Assembled on the course Which ran straight from Signal Hill to the beach The wagering was fast and furious And each owner was vehement in behalf of his horse Dona Bell, that palomino of yours Could not beat a very slow cow She doesn't have to race a cow But she can very easily beat that pinto of yours How about another hundred that she does Make it five hundred and I'll take it Very well, it's a bet Mark it up, senor Are you ready Dona Bell? Can I give you a signal? See, wave the flag We shall show this gentleman What the horses of Los Alamitos look like And here it goes Here they come Come on, Diablo Come on, estrella Your horse could beat a cow and dead Wait until next year, senor Just wait until next year Next year won't be any different on one I can't lose, that's all I can't lose But Dona Bell could lose And did Satisfied that he was the greatest run Chero of the land He started a new venture He built a building in Los Angeles And called it the Arcadia Building But now, California belonged to the United States There were taxes and costs had gone up He had to borrow money, mortgages land And slowly, things began to go against him We'll need more money to finish the building You're in too deep now to pull out You'll just have to borrow more You'll have to go before the court And prove your claim to the land Being lawyers and fees It's cattle thieves, Dona Bell They've raided Los Alamitos again It's 500 heads this time Business is bad, Dona Bell I can't get the price for your hides Are you used to? We need more money, Dona Bell More lawyers than yours 500 heads more stolen I bet it's drought It hasn't rained for months It hasn't rained for months There's no water The cattle are dying like flies Two years, drought Parched earth, dried up pastures Initiated cattle moaning in agony Staggering, dropping, helpless Nothing can be done There is no water In two years of drought We have finished our count today, Dona Bell You've lost 20,000 head of cattle You're ruined Reese vs. Abel Stearns I issue a decree of sale Against the defendant's rancher, Los Alamitos To meet the debt Los Alamitos passed from the hands of the energetic American And a short time later, Don Juan Temple on Los Cerritos Was to give up his vast land, too Between 1866 and 1881 The two great ranchers gradually came into the possession Of one family A family still closely associated With the land which became Long Beach The Bixby family And then, one day in 1882 A man stood on the spot near what is now The corner of American and Anaheim streets Yes, ladies and gentlemen This is the spot where I have dreamed Of starting my American colony And now the dream is to become a reality Mr. Bixby has given me an option on this land The maps are drawn up Streets are laid out And we're ready to sell lots In the new town of Willmore, California William Rowan Willmore's ambitious plans For the city collapsed But the start he gave it was taken up By a new group of men Who organized the Long Beach Land and Water Company And renamed the settlement Long Beach In 1887, the town was officially established Just in time to be caught up in the wild Boom of the 80s Which brought thousands of settlers Streaming to California The terminal railroad And then the Pacific Electric Offered new easy access to Long Beach And the seaside resort grew by leaps and bounds 1900 2252 1910 17800 1920 55600 1930 142,000 1940 163,000 people Partially responsible for such phenomenal growth Had been the great discovery Which took place one day in 1921 When Here she comes Look out, boys, it's a gusher A gusher, oh yeah On that same signal hill Where once Dona Bell Stearns And Don Juan Temple Raced their thoroughbred horses The liquid gold of petroleum Was brought up from the depths And the land of the ranchers Los Cerritos and Los Alamitos Became the great metropolis of industry, commerce Pleasure and good living That is the Long Beach of today Such is progress And such is the romance of the ranchers Before Frank Graham returns To tell you about next week's story Here's another interesting word About the archives building We spoke about a few minutes ago The building we described Is the one that is now being used After the San Francisco fire The management of title insurance And trust company at Los Angeles Saw the necessity for protection Against a similar loss of public records So it was then that the title insurance And trust company's first archives building Was built in 1911 On a three and a half acre track At Melrose and Van Ness avenues in Hollywood At that time the company had great difficulty In obtaining a caretaker For two reasons that are interesting today The first was that the location Was so far away from the city A caretaker living on the property, it was said Would have no opportunity For any social life, whatever The second objection was that the howling Of coyotes at night made it impossible to sleep Remember now that was at Melrose and Van Ness avenues In Hollywood only 30 years ago It illustrates the speed of this community's growth A growth that quickly cured those particular objections To the location However the building finally became too small Was abandoned to the march of progress in 1939 When the present archives building On Eastern Avenue was completed And what's the story for next week Frank? The story next week is not about a rancho But a man In the early 1870s the entire Southland Trembled with the name of Vasquez The terror spread by this famous bandit Punishes an exciting chapter In the romance of the ranchos Don't miss it And so until next week This is your wandering Baccaro Frank Graham Saying Hasta la vista, señoras y señores The romance of the ranchos A presentation of the title insurance The company of Los Angeles Featuring Frank Graham as the wandering Baccaro Comes to you each week at the same time Bob LeMond speaking This is the Columbia Broadcasting System