Description
About this venue
The Tuna Club of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island has been a landmark and active fishing club since 1898.
Founded by Charles Frederick Holder, the club brought sportsmanship to fishing. Tournaments were held and prizes awarded to those who could catch the biggest tuna with the lightest tackle.
At that time, fishermen would often plunder and discard huge amounts of fish. Charles wanted a better way, so “catch and release” became a practice followed by the club’s members for years.
Tuna Club membership included Stan Laurel, Cecil B. DeMille, Zane Grey, George S. Patton, Charlie Chaplin and Herbert Hoover.
One night, the caretaker of the club showed me a picture on the bar of Winston Churchill. Apparently the club had received a letter along with a photograph after Churchill had returned to England. In the photograph, Churchill, along with his fishing tackle, was standing next to a monstrous Black Sea Bass hanging by its tail on a hoist.
No one had believed Winston’s grand fish tale upon his return to England, so he had written to request that some of his fellow members testify with their signatures on the photo. In trade, they received a like photo of him for the bar.
Painting the Tuna Club
While working in my studio in Lido Shipyard one morning in 1986, two officials from the Tuna Club had come through my door to give me a commission to paint their clubhouse.
The work took the better part of a week. My accommodations were in the men’s dormitory on the second floor of the club. I was given an extra Harbor Patrol boat which, when anchored, enabled positioning for the painting.
Sitting day after day while making this blend of watercolor and ink, I witnessed the effects of the tide close to shore. I also experienced the sounds and smells among the pilings that support the large clubhouse, its outstretched deck and the seasonal floating dock.
At night, dinner and a drink were only a short walk away. After that, I returned to a quiet off-season night’s sleep. The quarters were simple with 1940’s and 1950’s decorations – and complete with framed prints of bunnies by Vargas. The sound of the water lapping under the club and the clanking of rigging from nearby boats was the recipe for a good night’s sleep.
After completing and delivering this piece of art, I kept coming back to stay in the same room in the south turret. For years, members would ask me if I had seen Joe. “Joe who?”, I asked in return…but no answers.
Finally I learned of him. Joe was the ghost who lived in that room. Known for his benevolence throughout the years, Joe woke slumbering boaters if they were dragging anchors or in any kind of danger.
The caretaker became a fervent believer in ghosts after seeing Joe late one night. Joe, standing at the bottom of the stairs, was wearing a night gown and cap…and holding a candle.
Related Artwork
See the watercolor painting titled “View from Avalon Chimes Tower”.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.