Ancient Fiesta Footage on TV

SB Channels to Air Old Spanish Days Footage from 1920s

Archival footage of the 1924 and 1926 Old Spanish Days parades will be broadcast on Channel 21 beginning on Monday, July 28 and continuing through Sunday, August 3. This 16mm film was shot by Western artist Ed Borein and is owned by John Reynolds, former president of CBS Television. Reynolds is allowing it to be broadcast on the Santa Barbara Channels (Channels 17 and 21 available to subscribers to Cox Communications).

Apart from the interest that it provides for Fiesta fans as footage of the first and third Old Spanish Days parades, the film also shows the stark contrast between the downtown Santa Barbara skyline before and after the devastating earthquake of 1925 that took place between the films. It also has an accompanying narration that explains the history of the festival, which has become a hallmark of Santa Barbara’s social calendar. Hap Freund, the executive director of SB Channels, explained, “Local viewers have an unusual opportunity to see what Santa Barbara’s downtown and first Fiesta Parades looked like.”

A preview of the program is available at sbchannels.net and will air on SBTV, Channel 21 at the following dates and times: