History
The 4th of July Celebration has a long and colorful history. Today, it remains the city's longest held community tradition.
The celebration first began in Huntington Beach on July 4, 1904 to commemorate the arrival of the first electric passenger train, linking the still unincorporated area with Long Beach and Los Angeles. The Board of Trade, a business association and forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored this first event, which was attended by an estimated 50,000, many of which were enticed here by the efforts of real estate promoters. The initial celebration activities included fireworks, barbeques, speeches and games.
Various groups managed the event in the initial years, most notably the Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion. It included a range of activities over the years such as tug-of wars, beauty contests, patriotic speeches, footraces, confetti battles, music, dancing, carnivals, airshows, penny scrambles, pie-eating contests, vaudeville acts, horse races and jalopy races. Perhaps the most dramatic of spectacles featured the city's first lifeguard and fire chief Dilbert Bud Higgins. In the late 1930's Higgins would don a firesuit, cover his face with petroleum jelly, soak himself with alcohol, light a match and dive in a fiery ball from a 50-foot platform high above the pier into the water below. This yearly stunt would thrill the crowd for years.
A prominent member of the community and head of the Chamber of Commerce, Bill Galliene aka "Generalissimo" is credited with almost single-handedly keeping the celebration going through the 1930's, 40's and 50's. His spirit is remembered today though the annual Bill Gallienne Award, given to a volunteer who has donated time and energy to the event.
During the years of 1943-46 no celebrations were held because of war. From that point on the parade and celebration has continued to be held in Huntington Beach each year. Some of the notable grand marshals have included movie stars such as Victor Mclaglen, Jane Mansfield, Natalie Wood, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Robert Wagner, Mickey Rooney and Dorothy Lamour as well as other celebrities including George Putnam, Buzz Aldrin, Johnny Grant and Lou Rawls.
In the early 1970's, the parade began to be operated by the city Public Information Office, along with a five-member Special Events Board, which formed to plan the 1976 bicentennial parade. That year, the parade gained national attention when it was selected as the official bicentennial parade for the State of California. In 1979 the Board became the 4th of July Executive Board, with individual members appointed by the City Council. To this day, the Board has been charged with overseeing all aspects of the event including planning and fundraising.
In 2004, the City celebrated the 100th anniversary of the celebration by bringing fireworks back to beach, where they had not been held since the 1970's.
Meeting Times and Dates
The board meets monthly on the 1st Wednesday at 6:00 P.M year-round, with two meetings in May and weekly or as-needed meetings in June.
Vacancies
In the event a member retires or is unable to compete his term, an appointment shall be made to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. To apply to become a member, please fill out the Boards & Commission Application.
Board Appointments to the Board are made by individual City Council Members.
Patricia (Pat) Stier, Chair
Karen Pedersen, Vice Chair
Patti Davis
Mariann Ettorre
Erik Gomez
Stacey Newton
Agendas
June 18, 2008June 04, 2008
May 7, 2008
April 2, 2008
March 5, 2008
February 6, 2008
January 9, 2008
December 11, 2007
November 3, 2007
October 3, 2007
September 5, 2007
August 08, 2007
June 27, 2007
June 20, 2007
June 13, 2007
June 06, 2007
May 16, 2007
May 02, 2007
April 11, 2007
December 06, 2006
November 01, 2006
October 04, 2006
September 06, 2006
August 02, 2006
June 14, 2006
May 17, 2006
May 3, 2006
March 1, 2006
Minutes
May 7, 2008
Apr 15, 2008
Apr 02, 2008
March 05, 2008
February 06, 2008
January 08, 2008
December 11, 2007
November 3, 2007
October 3, 2007
September 5, 2007
August 08, 2007
June 13, 2007
June 06, 2007
May 16, 2007
May 02, 2007
April 11, 2007
March 07, 2007
February 07, 2007
January 10, 2007
December 06, 2006
November 01, 2006
October 04, 2006
August 02, 2006
June 7, 2006
May 03, 2006
April 05, 2006
February 1, 2006
Staff Contact
Naida Osline, Community Services 714-536-5486