Celebrities Came to Catalina 

Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Betty Grable, Johnny Weissmuller and John Wayne were among regular visitors to Catalina Island as were Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan.  Even Marilyn Monroe known as Norma Jeane Dougherty lived on the island for a year during her first marriage.  Norma Jeane's time on Catalina did much to shape her future Hollywood persona.  Her short and troubled life was rarely happy, but her many biographers generally agree that the time she spent on Catalina was among her most content.  

Many celebrities and actors worked and played on Catalina island during the 1930s.  Some developed life-long love affairs with the island and its surrounding waters.  Charlie Chaplin and his wife, Paulette Goddard were frequent visitors and loved angling for marlin and tuna around the island.  James Cagney and his wife were known to anchor their schooner racing yacht, Martha, in Descanso Bay.  The bay is a beautiful cove and beach located just beyond the Catalina Casino with cabana rentals and a restaurant/bar.

Cecil B. DeMille, a prominent film director who filmed at least three pictures on Catalina was quoted in The Catalina Islander as saying .. "Catalina is the only place where I can get away to work amid real inspiration."

While doing research and writing about Catalina Island I was reminded of a story forever associated with the beautiful island in the Pacific off the coast of Southern California.  It involves another beautiful Hollywood actress by the name of Natalie Wood and her untimely passing November 29, 1981 on Catalina Island at the age of 43.  Following this article will be an article titled Remembering Natalie.