Class Registration
Central Gardens
November 19: 7:00 pm
W.S. Collins: Balboa Island Visionary, Con Man or Both?
The farsighted land speculator is best known for buying the entire Newport Beach townsite in 1902 and next creating Balboa Island out of a tiny, mosquito-ridden mudflat. But Collins also had a darker side that’s been rarely explored: shady deals, broken promises, five wives, and endless controversies. Though only spending little more than a decade in Newport Beach, W.S. Collins may be the most interesting person in city history.
Bill Lobdell is a local historian who produces a popular podcast called "Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror," along with “History in a Newport Minute” videos that have gotten more than 1.5 million views. Bill’s love for Newport Beach history began during his decade-long stint as the award-winning editor of the Daily Pilot. He also worked as an award-winning investigative reporter and editor for the Los Angeles Times for many years. Bill lives in Corona del Mar.