Activist Portrays Himself in Historical Society Talk

The next Laguna Beach Historical Society program will feature long-time Laguna Beach resident Arnold Hano sharing a personal history, entitled “History Not Always Made by a Committee.”
The program Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and will be held at the Laguna Beach City Hall Council Chambers, 505 Forest Avenue, where the public is invited to come free of charge. The program will be videotaped and is to be televised on the local Cox Cable channel 30.

Hano has led environmental insight and action in Laguna Beach for more than 50 years and has been active in many political and environmental battles. The August 1971 election adopting a city-wide building height limit may be his major accomplishment, but he has been active in many political and environmental battles.

Hano will discuss topics ranging from the difficulty blacks had getting haircuts in Laguna Beach, saving the large pine tree on North Coast Highway between Chiquita Street and Cliff Drive in North Laguna, saving the Chateau building (moved to 1166 Glenneyre St.) and the Casa de Mandingo building (moved to 1750 S. Coast Highway), to the participation of women in local government.

As his wife Bonnie puts it, “Arnold is an idea person who has the ability to galvanize others to the cause.  And he does it with humor.”

The couple, their daughter and a puppy arrived in Laguna Beach on September 1, 1955, and moved to Goff Street. Arnold was a free-lance writer and Bonnie had been production manager for Stan Lee’s Marvel Comics. The Hanos have lived in Laguna Beach continuously since, except for a two-year stint in the Peace Corps beginning in 1991.

In addition to writing many columns for local newspapers, Arnold Hano has an array of writing credits related to the sports world, including biographies of Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, and “A Day in the Bleachers,” which has been continuously in print in paperback since 1982

The Laguna Beach Historical Society has a web site to view historic photographs at www.Laguna-Historical-Society.smugmug.com. Those interested in supporting and joining should send $15 per individual, $25 per household or $50 per business/organization to 278 Ocean Avenue, Laguna Beach CA 92651.

Arnold Hano outside the Chateau building, which he had a hand in rescuing and relocating to its present Glenneyre Street location. He describes more of his preservation efforts in an upcoming Historical Society presentation. Photo by Ted Reckas.