The Making of a Laguna Beach Masterpiece
A fantastic look at the Festival of Arts, the Pageant of the Masters and Laguna Beach through the eye of a 1958 camera.
Looking Back: The Festival of Arts 1932 to Present
A History Timeline
1964
06/16/1964
Architect, innovator and former Festival Board president Don Williamson appointed Pageant Director, serves 1964-1978.
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1966
06/16/1966
The Sawdust Art Festival is established as an alternative festival without a jurying system
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1973
07/02/1973
Thurl Ravenscroft serves as Narrator ("The Voice of the Pageant") 1973 - 1992
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1989
06/16/1989
The Festival of Arts with a $1.5 million donation established the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, in order to guarantee annual financial support for the arts in Laguna Beach.
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1990
07/06/1990
Artists Monica Dunham and Pat Sparkuhl start the guided art tours of the Festival of Arts fine art exhibit. A program that is still popular today.
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1993
11/16/1993
Fire and Flood cause $500,000 damage to Irvine Bowl and Festival grounds. Show still goes on summer 1994.
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2000
11/16/2000
Attempt to move Festival and Pageant out of Laguna leads to board recall election.
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2003-2004
06/16/2003
A Time Capsule is buried as part of festivities for 70th Anniversaries of the Festival and Pageant and to be opened in 2041.
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2007/2008 75th Anniversary
08/16/2007
Two-year celebration honors the Diamond Jubilee 75th Anniversary of the Festival and Pageant.
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