Drawing out Newport memories

As local author Christopher Trela reflected on Newport Beach’s 100-year history Friday at the Oasis Senior Center in Corona del Mar, the personal memories poured in from the residents.

Paul Bryan Jr., a Newport Beach resident since 1949, recollected living across the street from John Wayne, seeing Dick Dale — the king of surf guitar — play at the Rendezvous Ballroom and, most important, dining at the famed Balboa Bay Club, where he first charmed his fiancee by interrupting her dinner to ask her for a dance.

“That’s where the romance started,” Bryan’s fiancee Eleanor Gunter added.

Viewing a montage of antique and contemporary photos from Trela’s book, “Newport Beach Centennial: Celebrating a Century,” Oasis residents witnessed the transformation of Newport Beach over the years. Some things, such as real estate, have changed — homes from 100 years ago that couldn’t sell for $200 have been replaced by $75-million mansions. And others, like the Arches restaurant, have remained as local staples, though famous clients of old, such as Humphrey Bogart, have long passed on.

Trela’s decision to write the book came while volunteering on the Newport Beach Centennial Committee. His devotion to the city and its history was made obvious in the presentation, which was full of historical information and enthusiasm.

His favorite tidbit of Newport Beach history: the city’s incorporation on Sept. 1, 1906 was motivated not by residents’ yearning to have a city, but by their desire to issue liquor licenses, and according to Trela, they issued plenty.

Since his family moved to Huntington Beach when he was 7 years old, Trela has been frequenting Newport Beach destinations, though he didn’t become an official resident until two years ago. Not planning to leave any time soon, Trela is still waiting to cash in on several thousand tickets he has collected over the years playing Skee-Ball at the Balboa Fun Zone.

“I just love it here,” Trela said. “Now that I’m in Newport Beach, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

Usually, Trela likes to have lunch at his favorite Newport Beach restaurant, Great Mex, but Friday’s presentation preempted that. He’ll pass up his shrimp tacos again to autograph copies of his new book from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Martha’s Bookstore on Balboa Island, 308 1/2 Marine Ave. Admittance is free, and books will be available for $25.