A special report by Kate Karp. Nostalgia took a sentimental journey on an underground route Wednesday as the Jergins Tunnel officially opened its mouth to admit its first public visitors since 1967.
The tunnel is one of the dwindling number of Long Beach’s historic places that hasn’t come into the view of the myopic eye of the developer. It was built by businessman Andrew Jergins across busy Ocean Boulevard through Pine Avenue into the old Pike amusement park. It was an intelligent move to attract visitors and further increase business in what was then a bustling fun zone and sparkling beach, andalso provided a safe pass for pedestrians. The tunnel was shuttered closed in 1967 after the area took a downturn and the tunnel became a haven for the homeless and criminals.
“It basically opened and closed for safety reasons,” said Ryan Smolar, cocreator and organizer of the upcoming megacultural festival University by the Sea.
Smolar said that the tunnel’s opening is part of the festival, and will be used as a literal underground movie house. Participants will view vintage locally produced films, many starring Buster Keaton, and they will also see old home movies and footage showing Long Beach’s past.
The tunnel began its reopening celebration at a media event at CasaVino wine bar on Pine Avenue. Morgan Humphrey, a longtime activist for the opening of the tunnel, cut the ribbon, and women attired in flapper dresses and hats stood at welcome. Attendees included Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, several representatives from the city council offices and John Thomas, author of Long Beach Art Deco, who came nattily dressed in a fedora and matching suit. Charter Cable’s Ron Petke was there to play his ukulele, and an old record player skreeked out band numbers on 78-rpm shellac.
After having been closed up for 40 years, the tunnel isn’t in pristine condition, but the guests could walk the same mosaic tile floor that was laid before its opening in 1927 and hear in the echo of their footsteps the elated cries of the ghosts of beachgoers past and the crashing of the waves that also once were.
The tunnel will remain locked up and monitored before and after the festival. So far, there are no future plans, but it is hoped, if there is any thought of turning it into Chain Shops in the Tunnel, that the people instrumental in opening it will stand firm. If not—well, there are all those phantoms of the folks who sold bangles and baubles out of carts in the underpass. They’re rumored to have been pretty tough.
For more information and tickets to University by the Sea and the Jergins Tunnel, please visit UniversityByTheSea.com