Big Bear Lake Historical Videos
This historical category contains a collection of online videos which has local Big Bear historians sharing their thoughts and stories about Big Bear’s rich history.
A Day On Big Bear Lake With Elvis Presley
The Hollywood Film industry and Big Bear Lake have a long history that began in 1911, and continues to this day. Back in 1962, Elvis Presley was in Big Bear Lake making a movie called “Kissin’ Cousins”. In this video, Noel Blanc and Kim Sweet help us tell the story...
The Forgotten Dam At Big Bear Lake
Between the time that the Rock Dam at Big Bear Lake was built in 1884, and today’s multi-arch dam was built in 1912, there was a failed attempt to build a larger dam that would have replaced the Rock Dam. It turns out that some of that old dam still exists today. This...
Three Village Theaters at Big Bear Lake
A historical look at the Southeast side of today’s Village Drive at Big Bear Lake, and of the three movie theaters that once operated there. The Historical images were provided by the recently published “Vanishing Big Bear-2” and from the Rick Keppler and Mark Durban...
The Pan Hot Springs Inn at Big Bear Lake
This short video tells about Big Bear City’s first resort, the Pan Hot Springs Inn. The Historical images were provided by the recently published “Vanishing Big Bear-2” and the Rick Keppler historical collection. This hardbound 8.5” x 11” book is available at Big Bear...
The Big Bear Lake Dam – A History of Two Bridges
A short story of the old bridge that was built across the dam at Big Bear Lake, California, in 1924, and the new overpass which replaced it in 2011. The Historical images were contributed by the recently published “Vanishing Big Bear-2”...
Fluctuating Lake Levels & Sawmill Cove
There was once a time, before the dam was built, about 20,000 plus years ago when our Big Bear Lake was larger and up to sixty feet higher higher than it is today. How was this possible? Noel Blanc, the host of the "Good Day Big Bear" on Channel-6 discusses this with...
Mel Blanc’s Historical Big Bear Home
Noel Blanc, Kim Sweet and Rick Keppler discuss Noel & Katherine Blanc's home at Big Bear Lake. This interview took place in October 2011, on the Channel-6 Good Day Big Bear Show The Blanc's Big Bear home sits in Sawmill Cove. This cove was once the home of a...
Moonridge Outdoor Theater
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGlM5wANgpg Back in the early 1900's outdoor theaters were very popular throughout Big Bear Lake. This video presents the history and images of a little known, but huge outdoor amphitheater located in the Moonridge area of Big Bear Lake...
The Rock Dam
In 1885, Frank Brown built a narrow rock dam at the west end of Big Bear Valley. At the time it was reportedly the largest man made lake in the world. This is how it happened. Narrated by: Kim Sweet Produced & Written by: Rick Keppler
Historic Tour Boats on Big Bear Lake
This tells the story of how the original Big Bear Lake Tour Boat, the Sierra launched in 1917, evolved into the Big Bear Queen that operates out of the Big Bear Marina today. Also told, is the story of "Step In Again 1", a historic 1929 Chris Craft that was part a...