The Man in the rearview Mirror
Blackies, Newport Beach 1930s.
Have you ever wondered who is behind the voice of your favorite podcast or socials? We have and had the amazing opportunity to get to know William Lobdell, the man behind “Newport In The Rearview Mirror”. He has shown us that there a lot more history nerds out there and that our community really does care about our roots.
What made you decide to launch “Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror”?
“I served as editor of the Daily Pilot newspaper for about a decade and during that time became fascinated with Newport Beach history (I think our town has the most interesting past of any California city). And I'm also a voracious consumer of podcasts (I even started a triathlon podcast in 2004 at the dawn of the podcast era). So, I put those two loves together. I was an investigative journalist for many years, so it's very satisfying to pore through century-old newspapers and books to dig up forgotten historical facts.”
What has surprised you about the podcast?
“I thought initially I'd have only a few local history nerds like myself listen to the podcast, but we're approaching 35,000 downloads. The size of the audience--and their passion for Newport Beach history--has been totally unexpected.”
Have you always had a passion for history?
“Yes. I love history books, biographies, historical fiction, documentaries, old newspapers, historical sites--anything, really, about the past.”
How long have you lived in Newport?
“On and off for four decades. I lived on Balboa Island and the peninsula while a student at UCI and returned to Newport Beach (the peninsula and then Corona del Mar) about 13 years ago (between Newport residencies, I lived in Eastside Costa Mesa).”
Photo courtesy of William Lobdell
If you lived in different neighborhoods, which was your favorite and why?
“I love Corona del Mar. To me, the CdM side of the bay seems a little more peaceful, and almost everything is within walking distance.”
What are your top three favorite spots in town?
“That's a tough one to narrow down, but I'd say the Balboa Island ferry, Corona del Mar State Beach at sunrise, and the thrown-back Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club.”
Is there anything you wish would have stayed the same?
”Not really. Progress has created one of the best cities in the world. But I do wish I had a time machine so I could experience some of Newport's more fascinating eras, especially Balboa in the early 20th Century when that part of town served as a forerunner to Las Vegas with huge crowds (like tens of thousands), dancing, all kinds of contests, drinking (even during Prohibition), gambling, and shows. It was wild.”
Is there anything you hope will change?
“If I were king of Newport Beach, I'd turn neglected Lower Castaways Park into a historical park since that's where a "new port" was established in 1870, creating the beginnings of modern Newport.”
What is your hope for the future of sharing our town's incredible history?
“For me, I want to continue to highlight and preserve for future generations Newport Beach events and people that helped shape the town but have been nearly lost to history There's also been some discussion of creating a more interactive podcast for visitors, history tours, and publishing a local history book based on the podcast. We'll see what the future holds there. Last but not least, there are several wonderful organizations and residents who have a passion for local history and are doing great work. I'd love for all of us to combine our efforts to create even better resources, especially online, for those interested in Newport Beach history.”
Photos courtesy of Newport In The Rearview Mirror.
