The personal stories of Catalina Island residents and visitors are intertwined with its unique history. One gentleman in particular, Doug Bombard, has been involved in nearly all aspects of island life.
The film explores over 90 years of Catalina’s rich history through the eyes of Bombard, who grew up exploring the island, built numerous businesses, and raised a family at Two Harbors. His recollections - overlaid with historical photographs and accompanied by his wife, Audrey, and his sons, Tim and Greg - bring the past to life with detail and heart. From the building of the original Miss Catalina boats to diving for coins in Avalon to developing the Isthmus, Bombard’s experiences are iconic to the story of Catalina and to the shaping of the island community as we know it today.
The documentary was filmed and produced by Bill Banning and Alison Armstrong of Story Bank Productions. Their studio is located in Santa Monica. Bill Banning is a descendant of the Banning family that owned Catalina Island/Santa Catalina Island Company before it was purchased by the William Wrigley Jr. and he is passionate about sharing the island’s fascinating history.