John Barrymore

John and Ethel Barrymore were famous stage and screen actors, and brother and sister. They both visited the Channel Islands, and spent time on Santa Cruz Island and Catalina. John Barrymorevisits to Santa Cruz Island has been written about in Helen Caire's book "Santa Cruz Island, a history and recollection of an Old California rancho'.

" It all began with an interesting encounter. One August day in 1930 my father was in the vineyard in the vicinity of the chapel, inspecting the state of a young cluster of grapes, when a stranger approached through the chest high vines. The man was slim, of medium height, hatless; his hair, receding somewhat from a high forehead, was dark, and very blue eyes seemed bluer in his slender, tanned face. The profile, finely chiseled, was classic and unmistakable. John Barrymore introduced himself.

He explained that he was on vacation at Pelican Bay Camp with some friends from Montecito. My father and John Barrymore talked for some time, standing among the glistening green vines, the actor occasionally running a hand through his hair, his nervous eyes betraying his fatigue. He very gladly accepted my father's invitation to lunch."

The Barrymore party was invited back for dinner a few days later, and he was shown around the ranch grounds. They were served island fare which was received with great appreciation - from the Reisling from the island winery, to the stuffed zucchini. As Helen Caire recounts, Barrymore praised the meal in Shakespearean quotes, which were bounced back jovially by her father, Frederick Caire.

" Ambrosia!" Barrymore murmured dramatically. " Too good to eat!"

"If it were done, when tis done, then twere well it were done quickly." My father laughed, lifting his fork in a gesture of mock menace at his plate.

" Let the assassination trammel up the consequence," was Barrymorebuttered breadcrumbs. "

Barrymore was so pleased with the experience of island life that coverage in the Santa Barbara Morning Press of June 10, 1930 stated :

Barrymore is pleased with island cruise - noted actor and Party Enjoy trip to Santa Cruz on Yacht - Visits Friends Here - Star Lauds Fred Caire for Hospitality; Says He Envies Him -

Santa Cruz Island is a most marvelous place and Fred Caire, its owner, is a most marvelous host, in the opinion of John Barrymore, stage and screen star, who with his wife and baby and a party of friends in the Barrymore yacht, Infanta, have been cruising about these waters.

Barrymore characterized the island as an "institution." " It is the greatest institution of its kind in the world, being so near Santa Barbara, the supercivilized community," he declared. " The supercivilized may be taken as you will."

He said he would like to own an island kingdom like Santa Cruz. " I to be the king of such a place. I envy Fred Caire more than anyone else I know; Santa Cruz is such a great, fantastic real dream of natureIt is one of the most picturesque places I have ever visited."

Barrymore visited with the Caires several times over the next few years, and brought his sister, Ethyl, also a stage star, for a visit. They enjoyed a visit to the Main Ranch, fresh cut flowers, and a game of the then-rage, Pee Wee Golf.