Talk:Santa Catalina Island, California

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The Wrigley link points to the wrong page.

I fixed that by editing the description of the prior ownership.Will McW 04:37, 27 Oct 2004 (UTC)

"permanent settlement"? I am not sure what this phrase means. Both San Nicholas and San Clemente Islands are military bases with personel who live there during their tour of duty. San Clemente Island even has a small bowling alley among other facilities (at least when I visited there circa 1978-9).

Besides Avalon, isn't there a small population at the Two Harbors (at the Isthmus)? Also: Info on the USC Marine Lab, and maybe the Boy Scout camp on the island should be added. I'll try to think of more, and then come back to do some editing. [[User:GK|gK ¿?]] 04:17, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Flora

Section still could use better info and sources.--Scott.kelley 00:07, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bison

I just visited the island and I saw a bison. There are still bison on the island, contrary to what the article says. -User:Xiao Li 06:08, 4 Sep 2005 (UTC)

That part of the article is very unclear and needs to be written. A quick check on the Conservancy website shows that the Bison are still there, although they are trying to limit the range of the Bison. [1] I couldn't find anything on the website about the relocation efforts, although I seem to remember from the newspaper reports that about half of the Bison on Catalina were relocated.
If you want, you can help clarify that section. I will try to do some further research and get back to this article, or perhaps one of the other editors who regularly edit this article will help clarify that section. BlankVerse ∅ 14:32, 5 September 2005 (UTC)


If it helps, I remember (on my previous trips to Catalina) that the Bison are permitted to stay because they don't cause the same environmental impact as the goats. Bobak 19:23, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

I go to Catalina every year and there are most definitly bison. The people of Catalina island are trying to get rid of the wild boar because they dig up the natural vegitation. I also have a panoramic shot of all of the east side of Catalina if you think I should upload it. Tom 03:29, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

The casino theater isn't just for movies, actually. I was surprised to learn that it's actually got flyrails, a light system, etc, and is useful for theater as well (I played in the pit orchestra for a musical that went there, in fact). Of course, it's very rarely used as anything more than a movie theater, but I figured I'd add it in to the article. My writing style's a bit clunky, but it's late. Wilgabriel 06:19, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

Yes, I would like to point out that the casino is not used for gambling (as mentioned below). I have been to Catalina before and visited the casino. Plays are performed there and it also acts as a very large movie theater. There are three huge rooms on the bottom level, each for plays or movies. I would also like to point out that the casino is home to the only movie theater on the island (i think). To access the upper levels there are ramps which were made because Wrigley liked the ramps at Wrigley Baseball Field. On the top level there is a very large ballroom, also used for basketball. I believe at one time it was the largest ballroom in the world. The casino is one of the best places to visit if you go to Avalon.

Isn't the Casino where the jazz festival happens every year? BlankVerse 06:48, 19 December 2005 (UTC)
And the high school uses it for basketball.

--made a quick fix to the Descendents trivia at the bottom of the page. -9917

[edit] Known Shipwrecks

I just added this section with one shipwreck. This is a request for others (as I will do) to identify specific wrecks and locations (if known). Don't know what one would consider a "Catalina" wreck but propose about 11 miles (half way to the California coastline) as the boundary.

[edit] Geology

  • "Catalina...is a geographic anomaly. Unlike California's other seven Channel Islands, it didn't break away from the mainland, but was formed by the upward heave of tectonic plates."

With all due respect to Sunset magazine, whose expertise in cooking and decorating is unchallenged, I don't believe that the other Channel Islands broke away from the mainland. (I'm not even sure how that would occur.) My understanding of the northern islands is that they are a continuation of the Santa Monica Mountains range, all of which has been lifted and lowered from time to time. Maybe we can summarize Catalina's geologic hsitory without reference to the other islands. -Will Beback 23:20, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

Go for it. :) jengod 02:33, 16 November 2006 (UTC)
  • A technical geologic summary can be found in "Natural History of the Islands of California" by Schoeherr, Feldmeth, and Emerson. But even this summary needs more accessible language for the Wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.169.216.85 (talk) 04:49, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pop Culture/Trivia

I believe Billy Joel's 1993 song denoting his exit from pop, Famous Last Words, mentions Catalina Island...possibly as his home. I wouldn't have thought this, but he seems to imply that "everyone" (the bulk of tourism) has left the island as summer has ended.

Sittin' here in Avalon
looking at the pouring rain
summertime has come and gone
and everybody's home again.
Closing down for the season
I found the last of the souvenirs
...

I will add it if I can find an authoritative answer. Anybody know if I am incorrect? StatsJunkie 06:31, 21 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Panorama

I added the panorama at the bottom. Avalon is to the far left, 2 harbors to the mid-right. Do you like it? Tom 03:52, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Beautiful. Centered and added an alt-taggy thing. jengod 02:34, 16 November 2006 (UTC)
BTW, I heart this article so much. It's so pretty. Go Team Wikieditors! jengod 02:59, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Fox Landing

I am removing Fox Landing from the public campground list b/c I can find no references to it be and public campground and the campground reservation people will not let you book it. Can whoever added it please provide some info ? Thanks!--Scott.kelley (talk) 05:02, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] UFO Sighting

There were a multitude of sightings in the late 60s and 70s. I think this would be worth putting in the article, as not many people know about it. (im not saying aliens exist, but UFOs do, because if you cant identify something in the air, its a unidentified.) - —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.119.185.104 (talk) 20:19, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

why are Catalina UFO sightings especially note worthy ? Without some good reasoning on this, not to mention cited sources, I wouldn't expect a UFO section to last very long. --Scott.kelley (talk) 00:39, 8 February 2008 (UTC)