There were a lot of News Media around today at the Courthouse to cover the Jesse James Hollywood Trial. QUOTE: SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Jesse James Hollywood ordered the murder of a 15-year-old boy after kidnapping him to force the teen’s half-brother to pay a $1,200 drug debt, a prosecutor said Friday during his opening trial statement in the case that was made into the 2007 movie “Alpha Dog.”

Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth of the California missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans. It was established on the Feast of St. Barbara, Dec 4, 1786. Padre Junipero Serra, who founded the first nine missions, had died 2 years earlier. Serra had planned to build this mission, raising the cross at the presidio of Santa Barbara in 1782. It was Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, his successor, who raised the cross here and placed Padre Antonio [...]

The Roaring ’20s, heyday of flappers and bootleggers. Women get the vote. King Tut’s tomb is discovered. And on April 9, 19 24, a dazzling new venue opens in beautiful Santa Barbara – The Granada.

Photo of the Granada Building from 1999

Theatregoers entered through The Granada’s grand lobby and were impressed by the wide staircases, lovely Spanish fixtures and Moorish arches. The Wurlitzer organ and enormous chandelier drew much attention, as did the elegant upstairs lounges. While the [...]