Los Angeles Landmark: The Bueller House
The Bueller House THE HISTORICAL GLAMOR OF RANCHO LOS CERRITOS. By Lindsey Goodrow THE BUELLER HOUSE There is a neighborhood in Southern California known to make appearances in countless Hollywood films, and no, it isn’t Hollywood. The Rancho Los Cerritos neighborhood in Long Beach, California, has been popularly chosen as a set location throughout the years due to its many marvelous and awe-inspiring homes. In 1986, a detached teacher in a classroom full of equally detached students called out in a monotone drone the now infamous question, “Bueller? Bueller?...” in hopeless repetition, aloof to the fact that there was, in fact, no student named “Bueller” present. Ferris Bueller, a mischievous and all-too-witty teenager, was pretending to be sick in bed at home, which was a Colonial-style structure full of grandeur. This home, supposedly nestled in the Chicago suburbs, actually lies in Los Cerritos, a quiet residential area located within Bixby Knolls, the northern edge of the city of Long Beach. . Many beautiful homes in this neighborhood appear on the big screen, in features such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Donnie Darko, She’s All That, American Pie, and countless others. Beyond the appeal to the silver screen, Los Cerritos has a rich history that deserves to be unveiled, and the gates to one of Long Beach’s oldest gated communities is beckoning to be opened. HISTORY The Bueller house was built in 1928. It has 7 bedrooms, 5 baths, and spans 4,900 square feet. The rest of the houses in this idyllic tract, which number 700 and are home to about 2,000 residents, are even grander in size and prominence. Originally established and constructed in 1906, the Los Cerritos neighborhood was built well before the Hollywood era even began (The first film made entirely in Hollywood was a short film in 1910 titled In Old California). For about two decades after the initial groundwork for a neighborhood was laid out, lots were sold here and there without much of a splash. In 1920, an audacious oilman by the name of Thomas Gilchrist purchased 10 acres, subsequently naming this new development “La Linda”, or “the pretty”. A home currently listed on La Linda has a generous price tag of $3.2 million — the historic George Hathaway Bixby Ranch House. This home is a whopping 30,492-square-foot lot with a total of 8 bedrooms and 7 baths. Imagine the upkeep! If they had a child in that household “sick” from school, surely the help would have seen to it that he didn't leave his bed, even for a day full of chaotic adventure and classic car wreckage. The historic George Hathaway Bixby Ranch House is no exception to the extravagant homes in Los Cerritos. This neighborhood has a quiet and hidden grandeur, with residences and households made up of old money, passed down through generations from 1930s oil families, doctors, bankers and law partners. But the history of this grand house is worth noting. George Hathaway Bixby was the son of Jotham Bixby, owner of Rancho Los Cerritos, and considered by many to be the father of Long Beach. Jotham Bixby acquired the huge Rancho Los Cerritos land grant in the 1860s, and used much of the land for sheep herding. This land would later develop into Bellflower, Paramount, Signal Hill and Lakewood. Jotham gave his firstborn son, George, a 10 acre plot of land to raise his family on as a gift for graduating college. It’s fun to imagine George as a trouble-making youth, playing hooky from school and getting into untold mischief like Ferris Bueller does in a home much like the one he grew up in. But George stayed in school. He graduated from Yale and went on to have a great vision of all that Long Beach could be, directing his energy towards the development and upbuilding of this budding city. George Hathaway Bixby died in 1922, just as Long Beach experienced its first boom in oil after that was discovered in Signal Hill. In its current glory, Los Cerritos is a quaint but affluent neighborhood that hides a deep well of history and glamor behind its gates. It is also called Virginia Country Club because it is home to the upscale and historical golf course by the same name. A charming museum and lush gardens are a few other notable highlights in Los Cerritos, and those who enjoy leisurely hikes or riveting bird-watching can walk along the Dominguez Gap Wetlands trails that border the Los Angeles River here. In 1866, Rancho Los Cerritos was sold to Flint, Bixby, & Co. In 1881, Jotham Bixby leased the land that would become Long Beach to William Willmore. It may be fascinating to find that many of the homes in Los Cerritos appear on the movie screen, but it is far more amazing to know that these houses can be traced back to the founding of the city of Long Beach. painting by Jamie Tabelson
Local Business Highlight: Keren Fine Art
Local Business Highlight: Keren Fine Art From Artist to Philanthropist. How has your work helped you help others? Since I was a young girl, I have created art for children with disabilities. I have always had a passion for making people smile as they experience my art. I recently donated my surfboard art to SURFERS HEALING KIDS WITH AUTISM and it has also been displayed at the Ritz Dana Point at an auction raising money for the children with autism. My art is meant to be an expression of happiness, love, peace and tranquility to people and their home. My gemstone collection includes crystals for positive energy and healing purposes and in my coastal collection I use soft calm colors to help release any tension in life. Why did you choose to help those around you? Growing up with a mother who is a nurse, I always wanted to help others.I feel she is who made me who I am today: someone who wants to give back.That is what truly makes me happy. Where does the inspiration come from? I love the ocean. As I travel and explore the globe I can't help but feel awe and inspiration from each ocean I see. My inspiration and passion begins with the ocean waters. The tranquility, peace, and ever-changing force of the waves creates a ceaseless spectrum of color and beauty that each ocean provides. My paintings are a direct interpretation of the sounds, color, and vibration that I experience when I visit the ocean. Every piece of art that I create is a message of my experience when I visit the sea. My hope and dream is that people are able to experience the pure bliss that comes from my heart with the piece that they select for their home. What are some of your favorite pieces? This is always a tricky question for me because every time I create a new piece I feel like, “wow this is my favorite!”. I truly love all my pieces equally because of the special healing message I create. Where can we find your work? I have a few art pieces in galleries throughout Orange County, CA and Vegas. My main showings are hosted by Coast Gallery Laguna Beach and Laterra Gems. In Vegas, you can find my pieces at The Venetian Hotel, The Forum Shops, Caesars Palace and the Excalibur.
JZ LIGHT SHOW ON PATTIZ AVENUE
JZ LIGHT SHOW ON PATTIZ AVENUE FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS GATHER FOR A FESTIVE LIGHT SPECTACULAR By Lindsey Goodrow It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And although it’s getting darker and colder every day, we can find comfort in the fact that the holiday cheer is alive and well in Long Beach, California. Neighborhoods all around, from the south side of Belmont Shore, to the east in Wrigley, up to Bixby and back around to Rancho Estates, have absolutely splattered their homes with decorative lighting, filling the city with brightness and cheer. There are lights that twinkle and shine. Lights that resemble icicles, snowflakes, candycanes, and stars. Lights that are shades of red, green, purple, orange, and red. Lights that shine blue and white. Big bulbs, little bulbs, and bulbs of all sizes in between. Lights wrapped around hedges and palm trees and porches. Lights stapled neatly on roof lines or haphazardly strewn around a lawn. Some special lights that are shimmering ever so brightly in Long Beach are coming from a house on Pattiz Avenue in Rancho Estates. These lights twinkle, flash, and dance in all fantastical colors and variations that one can imagine, and they do so every night during the holiday season.From the day after Thanksgiving up until January 3rd, everyone is invited to come see this dazzling display of light art. Whether you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit, you want to enjoy a free show surrounded by kind strangers, or you just want to get outside for a bit and breathe in the crisp air, stop by Pattiz Avenue to check out the JZ light show! THE MEANING BEHIND THE LIGHTS Around Halloween of 2020, the Johnson-Zaragoza family found out that their aunt had terminal cancer and only a few precious months left to live. With that, she immediately decided to put up her Christmas lights and enjoy her favorite holiday one last time. She made it through the Christmas season but sadly passed away on January 3rd, 2023. In honor of their aunt, the Johnson-Zaragoza (JZ) family, now sets up a holiday light spectacular from the day following Thanksgiving until January 3rd. All are welcome to enjoy the lights! This is the second year that the JZ Light Show has been put on. And this year is bigger and brighter than ever. To use the phrase, “going all out” would be an understatement; the home went from using 25,000 festive lights for an hour-long show to well over 60,000, and each light is choreographed and synchronized to season-themed music! The JZ family programmed this epic performance themselves. " data-provider-name="Vimeo"> Video footage provided by JZ Light Show and edited by Natalie Miranda IT’S A WONDERFUL NIGHT This year, the JZ light show is bringing out all the stops. The street will be closed off for the bigger shows, and families can set up chairs and blankets to watch the performance. The JZ family has also enlisted the help from neighboring families, so don’t be surprised when houses up and down the street play a role in all the fun! These high quality shows include special effects, sounds bits from the muppets, all your favorite holiday music, aerial performances, and more! AN AERIAL GRINCHMAS Watch as Aerial Butterflies take to the skies in a Grinch-themed cirque performance on Pattiz Avenue. Aerial performances occur during special Grand Light Shows, so make sure to check the website for future show dates. A HELPING HAND The show on December 15th was special in that it also included a Toy Drive which benefited two different children’s charities—that night’s guests were encouraged to bring unwrapped toys for children in need of extra holiday cheer. Look to next year's shows for the next toy drive. DON’T MISS OUT! Be sure to stop by Pattiz Avenue this holiday season for a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Lights are on display every night, but the bigger shows run on Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 6:30pm and 8pm, with each show lasting one hour and fifteen minutes. So bundle up, bring your loved ones, and settle in for a night of wholesome festive fun. “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie May your holidays be bright and cheerful and filled with spectacular moments of fun and laughter with your loved ones. Happy holidays! For more details on upcoming JZ light shows on Pattiz, check out the calendar: JZ Light Show
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