Retro Redux: Swimming To Catalina With The Four Preps

As a Midwestern teenager in the 1950's, I was often fascinated by what I saw of sunny California in movies or even on TV (although it wasn't as colorful). It was a place that seemed almost magical, with a vibrant energy that was very appealing, and it was filled with exotically-named places -- or at least they sounded exotic to me.

I also noticed the music. Although this was before the Beach Boys exploded onto the scene, there was plenty of good stuff coming out of California, and one song that really hit me between the eyes just happened to be about one of those exotic-sounding locales. It was "Twenty-Six Miles (Santa Catalina)," by the Four Preps. (Ironically, their music also inspired Brian Wilson, helping him later create the signature Beach Boys sound).

Santa Catalina, usually just called Catalina Island, is located off the coast of Southern California and has a long and varied history that even includes service as a Spring training location for the Chicago Cubs. (The Wrigley family owned the Cubs - and the island - for several decades, so it made sense.)

Although the island's rich history includes a lot of colorful events, some of the most significant revolve around the Casino. The Avalon Casino was built in 1929, a huge Art Deco structure that was at that time the tallest building in the Los Angeles area. It was also known for many years as the location of the world's largest ballroom, with space for 6000 dancers, and during the big band era it was often filled.

It would have been a familiar landmark for teenagers growing up in the area, and that included four guys from Hollywood High who'd formed a singing group. Glen Larson, Bruce Belland, Marv Ingraham, and Ed Cobb were four clean-cut guys who appropriately enough called themselves the Four Preps. Performing in a school talent show in the mid 1950's, they were discovered by a talent scout for Capitol Records and signed to a recording contract.

Article Author: Big Geez

The Big Geez is a retiree who takes time off from trimming his ear hair to write about music -- sometimes doing conventional reviews, but often just sharing his opinions about how something resonates with his memories and those of his generation. …

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