Seaside Oil Company

Those who even remember this home-grown company probably do recall it primarily as the sponsor for a wonderful series of Fiesta posters in the late 1930s and early 1940s. This sponsorship was just one of several marketing innovations that made Seaside Oil one of the most creative companies in the business.

The company was founded early in 1898 in San Francisco. The two primary shareholders were John J. Cook of that city, who became president, and Joseph Musgrove of Santa Barbara. The other directors, each with five shares apiece, were all from Summerland.

The end of the 19th century marked the apogee of the Summerland oil industry. In 1899, 22 companies pumped out more than 200,000 barrels. Summerland had become the site of the world’s first significant offshore oil operations, with dozens of derricked piers extending out from the beach.