Balboa Inn
Encyclopedia
The Balboa Inn, established in 1929, is located on the Balboa Peninsula (also known as Balboa) in the city of Newport Beach, California
.
In its day, the Inn was the number one hostel
ry on the Orange County
Coast.
The Balboa Inn was, and still is, a favorite getaway spot for Hollywood stars. For example, Olympic
athlete and Tarzan
star Johnny Weissmueller stayed there. Legend has it that Weissmueller swam the distance between the Balboa Pier
and Newport Pier
on a regular basis.
The Inn has been remodeled and modernized a number of times. However, its graceful Spanish
architecture remains largely unchanged today.
The most famous room at the Inn is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
's Suite with its nine (9) foot high doors.
(est. 1906), Balboa Pier
(est. 1906), Balboa Fun Zone
(est. 1936), and Balboa Island Ferry
(est. 1919). Activities nearby include narrated harbor cruises, Catalina Island
passenger ferry, sport fishing, restaurants, shops, stores, and the ocean beach. During large south ocean swells, the nearby world-famous Wedge
provides dangerous and exciting surfing
entertainment.
What is Balboa?
"We can't tell you how to dance Balboa, but we can tell you when you are not dancing Balboa."
from dancers around Balboa's start.
Origins of Balboa
It's hard to get a consensus view concerning the origins of Balboa. Many dance historians state that the dance was a derivation of Foxtrot, others believe it evolved from the Charleston or Collegiate Shag.
Willie Desatof an original Balboa dancer of great distinction believes it evolved from the Rhumba.
There were many different pre-existing dances around at the time and several of the old Balboa masters also knew many of these other dances. Balboa is an 8 count dance so a connection with other 8 count dances would be consistent. However, this should not rule out a connection to the 6 count dances, as evolution is a powerful thing! Although we can't be sure as to the precise origins, it does seem likely that early Balboa dancers were probably influenced by their knowledge of other dances around at that time.
Balboa Peninsula History
The "Balboa" got its name from the coastal Balboa Peninsula at Newport Beach, California. People from the Los Angeles area who'd seen it started referring to it as 'The Balboa', or the dance being done in Balboa.
In its day, was the number one hostelry on the Orange County Coast and today Balboa Inn "The Resort" is one of the most popular resorts on the West Coast. The Inn has been remodeled and modernized a number of times but its graceful Spanish architecture remains virtually unchanged today. At one time the Balboa Theater, operated by the colorful, hard-drinking, hard-swearing character Madame La Rue, stood next to the Balboa Inn.
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
.
In its day, the Inn was the number one hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
ry on the Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
Coast.
The Balboa Inn was, and still is, a favorite getaway spot for Hollywood stars. For example, Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
athlete and Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
star Johnny Weissmueller stayed there. Legend has it that Weissmueller swam the distance between the Balboa Pier
Balboa Pier
The Balboa Pier is one of two piers located in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. It is located in a part of Newport Beach called the Balboa Peninsula....
and Newport Pier
Newport Pier
The Newport Pier is one of two piers located within the city of Newport Beach, California, at the center of the Balboa Peninsula. It is 1,032 feet long and registered as California Historical Landmark number 794....
on a regular basis.
The Inn has been remodeled and modernized a number of times. However, its graceful Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
architecture remains largely unchanged today.
The most famous room at the Inn is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
's Suite with its nine (9) foot high doors.
Nearby attractions
Nearby historical buildings and sights and sites include the Balboa PavilionBalboa Pavilion
The Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, is a state landmark. Established on July 1, 1906, the Balboa Pavilion played a prominent role in the development of Newport Beach by attracting real estate buyers to an area formerly designated as “swamp and overflow” land.The Balboa...
(est. 1906), Balboa Pier
Balboa Pier
The Balboa Pier is one of two piers located in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. It is located in a part of Newport Beach called the Balboa Peninsula....
(est. 1906), Balboa Fun Zone
Balboa Fun Zone
The Balboa Fun Zone is a small amusement park located on the Balboa Peninsula in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. However, little is left of the original park....
(est. 1936), and Balboa Island Ferry
Balboa Island Ferry
The Balboa Island Car Ferry is a ferry service in Newport Beach, California.The ferry boats travel under 1,000 feet from Balboa Island to the Balboa Peninsula and vice versa, reaching a top speed of four miles per hour. The speed limit in the harbor is 5 miles per hour, and the ferry docks about...
(est. 1919). Activities nearby include narrated harbor cruises, Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
passenger ferry, sport fishing, restaurants, shops, stores, and the ocean beach. During large south ocean swells, the nearby world-famous Wedge
The Wedge (surfing)
The Wedge is a world-famous surfing and bodysurfing spot located at the extreme east end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. During a south swell of the right size and direction, the Wedge can produce huge waves up to high....
provides dangerous and exciting surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
entertainment.
What is Balboa?
"We can't tell you how to dance Balboa, but we can tell you when you are not dancing Balboa."
from dancers around Balboa's start.
Origins of Balboa
It's hard to get a consensus view concerning the origins of Balboa. Many dance historians state that the dance was a derivation of Foxtrot, others believe it evolved from the Charleston or Collegiate Shag.
Willie Desatof an original Balboa dancer of great distinction believes it evolved from the Rhumba.
There were many different pre-existing dances around at the time and several of the old Balboa masters also knew many of these other dances. Balboa is an 8 count dance so a connection with other 8 count dances would be consistent. However, this should not rule out a connection to the 6 count dances, as evolution is a powerful thing! Although we can't be sure as to the precise origins, it does seem likely that early Balboa dancers were probably influenced by their knowledge of other dances around at that time.
Balboa Peninsula History
The "Balboa" got its name from the coastal Balboa Peninsula at Newport Beach, California. People from the Los Angeles area who'd seen it started referring to it as 'The Balboa', or the dance being done in Balboa.
In its day, was the number one hostelry on the Orange County Coast and today Balboa Inn "The Resort" is one of the most popular resorts on the West Coast. The Inn has been remodeled and modernized a number of times but its graceful Spanish architecture remains virtually unchanged today. At one time the Balboa Theater, operated by the colorful, hard-drinking, hard-swearing character Madame La Rue, stood next to the Balboa Inn.