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.

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Looking Back: The Festival of Arts 1932 to Present

A History Timeline

1963

1963
Popular Festival Tram Service Begins
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1964

1964
Architect, innovator and former Festival Board president Don Williamson appointed Pageant Director, serves 1964-1978.
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1966

1966
The Sawdust Art Festival is established as an alternative festival without a jurying system
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1969

1969
Festival Completes Forum Theater on Festival grounds
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1973

1973
Thurl Ravenscroft serves as Narrator ("The Voice of the Pageant") 1973 - 1992
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1974

1974
"Window to the Sea" Main Beach Dedication
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1978

1978
New administrative building constructed on Festival grounds
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1979

1979
Glen Eytchinson becomes new Pageant of the Master Director from 1979-1995
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1981

1981
Dan Duling becomes Pageant Script Writer
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1989

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

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

1993
Fire and Flood cause $500,000 damage to Irvine Bowl and Festival grounds. Show still goes on summer 1994.
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1994

1994
Skip Conover becomes Pageant narrator from 1994 - 2010
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1996

1996
Diane Challis Davy appointed Pageant Director.
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1999

1999
Wells Fargo Gallery, First Gala and Special Events
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2000

2000
Attempt to move Festival and Pageant out of Laguna leads to board recall election.
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2002

2002
Festival signs 40-Year Lease with City of Laguna, effective through 2041
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2003-2004

2003-2004
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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2005

2005
New Pageant Workshops are dedicated.
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2007/2008 75th Anniversary

2007/2008 75th Anniversary
Two-year celebration honors the Diamond Jubilee 75th Anniversary of the Festival and Pageant.
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