Description
The Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island real estate photographs comprise a small collection of original black-and-white photographic
prints from an unidentified real estate company showing properties for sale in the 1950s and 1960s in the beachside communities
of Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island, located within Newport Beach, California. The photographs advertise both commercial
and residential properties with handwritten notes on verso documenting the address of the property and sometimes other details,
such as the asking price. Among the commercial properties shown is the old Balboa Motel at 315 East Balboa Boulevard, which
offered 11 bungalow style units at the asking price of $70,000. Another photograph shows Rickey's Sea-Air Court, which was
located on the east side of Adams street and ran from Balboa Boulevard to the alley at Harding Street. It was home to many
of Balboa's long-time locals but was torn down in the mid-1970s to make way for two duplexes and a donut shop. The collection
also contains a photograph of Pop's Cafe at 811 E. Balboa Boulevard. One of the photographs shows a quaint bungalow and is
accompanied by a small, typed note that reads: "Cheapest place on Balboa Island. 2 Bdr - 2 Bath - Dbl garage close to S. Bay.
Very good rental. Full price $39,500."
Background
Balboa Island was created in the early 20th century out of swamplands in Newport Bay and was named after Vasco Nunez de Balboa,
who discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513. The island grew slowly with some of the first lots on the island selling for as
little as $25. When the first concrete bridge was built, the population boomed and today homes sell for several million dollars.
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet
1 box
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
Advance notice required for access.