{"id":70,"date":"2019-05-09T12:10:41","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T19:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/?p=999949522"},"modified":"2019-05-09T12:10:41","modified_gmt":"2019-05-09T19:10:41","slug":"famed-gaytonia-castle-and-how-you-can-see-it-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/art\/famed-gaytonia-castle-and-how-you-can-see-it-this-weekend","title":{"rendered":"Q&A: Fun facts on famed Gaytonia castle and how you can see it this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we mentioned in “The 7<\/a>” this week, unless you live there, or have friends that live there, one of the only ways to peek inside the Gaytonia, one of Long Beach\u2019s most standout historic landmarks (that out-of-place looking castle with the giant neon \u201cGaytonia\u201d sign glowing just a few blocks from Second Street), is during local nonprofit Steel Magnolias\u2019 annual Home Design Tour.<\/p>\n

Since it was founded in 1999, Steel Magnolias has raised more than $5.5 million for children with developmental delays and other special needs. Proceeds from tour tickets will go to the\u00a0Stramski Children\u2019s Developmental Center at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach.<\/p>\n

The tour includes three other stops, a recently renovated \u201cbeach retreat,\u201d a \u201csustainable sanctuary\u201d and a \u201cSpanish beauty\u201d all in Long Beach\u2019s 90803 ZIP code, but we asked architecture history buff and Steel Magnolias spokesperson Elizabeth Borsting\u2014who lived across the street from the building in college\u2014a handful of questions about the Gaytonia because, well, it\u2019s an almost-century-old gothic palace (where studios go for $1,750 and up) we thought you\u2019d want to know more about it.<\/p>\n

This Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.<\/i><\/p>\n

Who named the building \u201cGaytonia\u201d and why, and when was the iconic neon sign installed?<\/b><\/p>\n

The Gaytonia was named after the building\u2019s original owner, George T. Gayton. It was designed as a hotel-style apartment by local architect Reginald Freemont Inwood, who also built the Belmont Theater (now the Belmont Athletic Club).<\/p>\n

The sign was installed when the building was completed in 1930, which makes sense since it was hotel-style housing. The Villa Riviera had a neon sign, too, at one time. When I was first married, my husband and I lived at The Villa and we discovered it hidden away\u2014truth be told, we were snooping.<\/p>\n

What are a few hidden details or little-known facts about the building?<\/b><\/p>\n

For me personally, it\u2019s the history of the building and the people who once lived here, many are probably no longer with us. When the Gaytonia opened it offered maid service, valets, furnishings, a parking lot, linens (like a hotel) and dishes, too. It even had an Olympic-size swimming pool on an adjacent lot that eventually became condominiums, which is too bad.<\/p>\n

Sadly, Long Beach hasn\u2019t done a great job preserving its architectural landmarks.<\/p>\n

When you lived across the street from the building in college, what stood out to you?<\/b><\/p>\n

I was fascinated by the Gaytonia. Unfortunately, I never got to know anyone who lived in the building back then, people just came and went. But that experience started me on a path and appreciation for historic architecture, which is why my husband and I lived in the Villa Riviera and which is why we purchased our 1934 home in Belmont Shore. It used to be the rectory for St. Bart\u2019s Church in the 1940s and \u201850s. These places from the past have character and history.<\/p>\n

How much does the penthouse cost, as well as the other units?<\/b><\/p>\n

The penthouse at the Gaytonia has been taken by the owner of the building\u2014after all, he should get first choice, right? It\u2019s not huge, but it\u2019s tastefully decorated with a huge terrace overlooking Belmont Shore. All the units are rental units.<\/p>\n

But on our tour, guests can enjoy a glass of champagne (for a nominal fee) and a playlist of torch songs while lounging on the penthouse terrace. How fun is that? We have another unit at the Gaytonia that is part of the tour, too, and it\u2019s for rent. Who knows, someone may walk away with a signed lease and new address by the time our home tour is over.<\/p>\n

What do you think tour goers will get a kick out of on Saturday?<\/b><\/p>\n

The Gaytonia is one of four stops on the tour\u2014we also have homes in Alamitos Heights, Belmont Heights (not far from the Gaytonia) and Naples Island. We just added another unit to the Gaytonia stop. I think attendees will really get a sense of \u2018How Long Beach Lives\u201d our theme for this year.<\/p>\n

We have a sustainable home that produces the same amount of energy that it uses, so people who are passionate about creating a smaller footprint will enjoy seeing how it can be done. We have another house that has left no detail to chance\u2014it\u2019s new construction with old-world charm \u2014the owners have done an amazing job. And we also have a lovely reimagined beach retreat overlooking the canals of Naples, a former duplex now a single story home this house was made for entertaining.<\/p>\n

Then there is the Gaytonia, an iconic structure that feels as if it belongs in a fairytale. The craftsmanship and details speak to a bygone era\u2014it\u2019s truly amazing.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $50 with proceeds benefiting the Stramski Children\u2019s Developmental Center at Miller Children\u2019s and Women\u2019s Hospital Long Beach. Please wear flat, rubber shoes. The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and begins at 5411 E. El Cedral St. and ends with a post-tour reception. For tickets and more info, visit the Eventbrite link <\/i>here<\/i><\/a> and Steel Magnolias website<\/i> here<\/i><\/a> or call 562-331-8007.<\/i><\/p>\n

Looking for more things to do this weekend? Check out our weekly column \u201cThe 7\u201d here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 7: Things to do this weekend including… adults acting like they’re 12<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n