Welcome to the Newport Beach Historical Society
Over the last thirty years, our active group has been led by founder Bill Grundy. Historical markers have been placed and dinner-lectures have provided a warm reunion for the descendants of this great city. These traditions shall continue as we embrace the future.
Our first and immediate priority is to preserve the living past. Our new program, Project HiStory, is designed to capture the real essence and spirit of Newport Beach. We invite everyone to share your tales, impressions and memories of old (and new) Newport. To submit your stories, Click Here.
Our second priority, we are a repository of your historical documents, photographs and films. We must develop an advanced system to catalogue and preserve these materials.
How will we grow? Do we raise $50 million and build a museum with a staff of curators? Do we create a virtual museum on the Internet for everyone, everywhere to enjoy? Do we rent a small storefront and display a few old photos? Join the debate and give us your thoughts and impressions in the forum below.
The history of Newport Beach is dynamic. Our internationally known city has been a vital crossroad in so many fields: aerospace, politics, Hollywood, sports and business. We have stories to tell and much to be proud of.
As I take the reins of the Historical Society, my Pop must be smiling from heaven. In a few short years, our family will mark the centennial of the day when my grandfather Dr. Gordon M. Grundy first set his medical bag down in Newport.
With a great respect for the past, let’s make the future of the Newport Beach Historical Society into something special.
Sincerely,
Gordy Grundy
President
Don Dickey, Vice President
Jim Rubel, Treasurer
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Helen Ann Langmade, Daren McGavren, Sparks McClellen, Skip Freely, Virginia Eichler, Howard Hall, Allen Baker, Mara Gunn, Lisa Johnson
July 9th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Hello Mr. Grundy, It was fun to read about your historical society in the Daily Pilot and now online. Just so you know who we are – Leonard (my husband & partner) and I own two production companies: 1) solar eye communications, in which we filmed your father for the NB Chamber of Commerce centennial video (see their website or perhaps you were at the celebration a few years back) and 2) OC Influential Productions, LLC which was formed to make films about influential people in OC’s history. The first film, MODJESKA-WOMAN TRIUMPHANT, was about Helena Modjeska, a 19th century icon on the American stage & 1st OC international celebrity who died in Newport Beach. The film is currently airing on KOCE and was screened at the NBFilm Fest this year. (Perhaps you’d like to get a copy for your archives). Anyway, I am writing to you because we are always looking for exceptional material for another film for OC Influential. This community’s history and development and bio pics are of great interest to me personally. I live in in this area and love to hear great stories about it. Through our various projects we have learned much about the people and companies who have contributed ( Henry Segerstrom commissioned us to produce a piece on their family farming operation – clips on our website). I am currently looking for a very charismatic person, a bit on the “edge”, whose life experience would be interesting to do a film about or an event that was a turning point. Although I prefer in-depth stories for feature films & full length-documentary, if there is a short story conducive to a 5-10 piece that’s worth filming, I’m all for it, as long as we can get some funding to make it happen! We script, direct, shoot & edit ourselves. KOCE is always asking me for new material. Please let me know if you are interested in working with me on such a film project. It would certainly add visibility to your organization, preserve NB history and expand your archives! And we would have another “OC Influential” film! Please check out our work: http://www.modjeskawomantriumphantmovie.com and http://www.solareye.biz
Best wishes for a successful NBHS! basia myszynski
September 27th, 2011 at 10:37 am
Hi Terry,
One of our primary goals is to become a repository of old photos and memorabilia.
Get me best at: go@gordygrundy.com
Cell: 213.200.5523
Best,
Gordy