Edit Object 702

A beautifully rendered hillside view of the city and harbor of Avalon from life by Los Angeles artist Alex Lethen. It is a work of masterful observation, literally an artistic frozen moment of historic minute detail, including the two most famous Santa Catalina Island Company steamships: S.S. Catalina and S.S. Avalon. Lethen worked as a freelance artist and illustrator in the greater Los Angeles area from 1919 until his passing in 1949. He was a noted member of the International Artists Club Of Los Angeles, and is listed in Nancy Moure's and Edan Hughes' books on California artists.

A list of the rare landmarks depicted must start with the 1890-built Holly Hill House; the oldest building still existing in Avalon and the first of many listed in the state register of historic buildings. Below it, the Greek Amphitheater band stand is dressed in summer, possibly 4th-of-July, colors, while the stretch of main beach is well populated with just some of the million-plus visitors who would visit Catalina in an annual season. So many Pasadena residents would come each summer, for example, that they stationed their own local reporter on the island to send daily accounts back to the hometown paper.

The list continues on the water, where the white-hulled S.S. Catalina is moored at the steamer dock, and the former Virginia, S.S. Avalon, is coming into port. Avalon served from 1920 until 1951, and Catalina was launched in 1924 and steamed her last run in 1976. On the outward voyage, the steamers would cruise some of the coastline around sugarloaf point, shown here with the sugarloaf casino dance pavilion, the 1920-1928 predecessor to the grand ballroom, and the 80-foot height of little sugarloaf. The seemingly timeless island resort has gone through changes, some of which are so professionally and artistically detailed in this 1920s painting.

Select a Type
American Ship Portrait
Barometers
Bells
Binnacles & Compasses
Binoculars
Book Maritime
Book Voyages
Books
Books General
Boylhart Collection
Builders Full Models
Builders Half-Model
Canes - Decorative
Canes - Gimmick
Cannons
Carving
Chronometers
Clocks
Contemporary Art
Contemporary Models
Decorative Art - Boxes
Dieppe Models
Diorama Models
Diving Helmets & Equipment
Dockyard Models
Edged Weapons
Engravings
Figureheads
Firearms
Fishing Equipment
Folk Art Models
Furniture
Glass and Pottery
Globes
Jewelry
Joe & Lisa's Art Collection
Lamps
Letters
Lighthouse Artifacts
Limited-Edition Prints
Lithographs
Maps & Charts
Marine Narrative
Marine Narrative at Sea
Medical
Microscopes
Miscellaneous Artifacts
Navigation Instruments - Compass
Navigation Instruments
Navigation Instruments - Sextant
Octants, Quadrants & Backstaffs
Original art
Other Models
Painted Photograph
Passenger Liner Memorabilia
Patent Models
Period Models
Photographs
Pond Models
Pottery
Prints
Prisoner-of-War Artifacts
Prisoner-of-War Models
Sailor Crafts
Sailor Valentines
Sailor Woolworks
Scrimshaw Artifacts
Scrimshaw Private
Scrimshaw Teeth
Sea Chests
Sextants
Ship Clocks
Ship Hardwares
Ship in a Bottle
Ship Log Books
Ships Flogging Whip
Signed Documents
Silver and Silver Plated Models
Speaking Trumpets
Statues
Steam Engine Models
Steam Models
Sundials
Sword
Tankards & Pitchers
Telescopes
Tillers, Rudders & Yokes
Toy Models
Trinity Boxes
Trophys & Presentions
Voyages & Travels
Watches
Whaling