Comments on: Visit to the Hedley Homestead

By: Lynne

Lynne — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 05:18:59 +0000

Bungy Hedley wrote a book “View From The Top of The Mast”, and I believe there is contact information in the book.

By: nancy figone (Marconda)

nancy figone (Marconda) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 02:57:50 +0000

Hi-I have been trying to get in touch with Bungy or Bay Heldey for some time. My father (Amie Marconda) and my uncle (Harold Marconda) were very very good friends with the Hedley family. I remember going to their home for parties, climbing the mountain (Cliff), talking about the Tarzan movies filmed on location and a movie called the Purple or White Orchid or something like that. I spent the night with Bungy and Bay (downstairs) and remember the three levels in the house with their mom helping us warm our hands under warm water in the kitchen sink, after we had spent the day and evening with our hands in the cold ocean water searching for shells. I still reminisce about the middle level dining room and the huge upstairs window which looked out over the ocean for “as far as I could see”. Almost Everthing in and outside of the house was made of SOMETHING from nature or the ocean–it was wonderful. I also remember playing the “find your shoe” game when we attended parties at the Hedley home at the dance floor fire pit area.
We all attended the opening of the Hedley’s store at Disneyland in Adventure Land and looking over all the wonderful driftwood items sold there. My dad and mom (Amie and Mary Marconda) so enjoyed taking us to visit at the Hedley’s home–it was like a little journey to Captain Nemo’s secret world a hideaway outside of the bustling town.
My entire family had stores and businesses at the Farmer’s market from the 1950′s and two of those businesses are still open (Marconda’s Meats and Langston’s Sausage). We also had Polynesian Casuals clothing store, Coral Reef Gifts (import/export items, shells, etc.,), Clara and Joe’s Bread Bin, The Jelly Jar, and so on. I think most of my life was spent at Third Street and Fairfax or enjoying life at Manhattan Beach/San Pedro. We would also Pop in to visit Hedley’s every time we took the big white steamer to Catalina, since we had friends who owned the Edgewater Hotel.
Well, if you would be so kind as to see that Bungy or Bay get this little reminder of the wonderful times I had with them, it would be appreciated. Drop me a note if and when you can. I do have a signed copy of How Daddy Became a Beachcomber book, and it references my Uncle Harold Marconda in it, since “uncle” Hedley’s creations were sold in the Coral Reef Gift Shop, owned by my dad and my uncle.
God bless you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Nancy (Marconda) Figone

By: Humu Kon Tiki » Blog Archive » Three Books from the Beachcombing Hedley Family

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 21:54:08 +0000

[...] Eli Hedley Beachcomber, 1943 Catalog (Reprint) This is a reprint of Eli Hedley’s catalog of wares, with charming ink illustrations of the unusual items he offered. During WWII, Eli’s wares were used in decorating many bars, restaurants, hotels and homes, and he was especially favored in Hollywood. He was responsible for the decor is some of the most famous tiki bars, and the back pages of the catalog include a thick addendum of black & white photos of his tikis, his shop, the family homestead, and a 1943 article from Life Magazine. [...]

By: Humu Kon Tiki » Blog Archive » My Travels: San Pedro

Humu Kon Tiki » Blog Archive » My Travels: San Pedro — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:47:53 +0000

[...] At the top of our must-see list was The Cove, a.k.a. the old Hedley homestead, as seen in this earlier Humu Kon Tiki post. This stretch of beach, which is currently Royal Palms/White Point park, is where Eli Hedley raised his family of four daughters, making a living creating decor using the items that floated up onto the beach. They became regular hosts to the Hollywood set, and built it up into quite a little industry, essentially spawning the whole Beachcomber look. The home itself is no longer there, but the stone gate sides are, as are the dance floor and two large outdoor fireplaces. If you’ve been following the stories told by Eli’s daughter Bungy on Tiki Central, then you simply must see this place in person — its truly awe-inspiring to be in such a beautiful place, and imagine living there and having such a rich and otherworldly life. Samoan Sea apartments Tiki at the Samoan Sea apartments [...]

By: Humu Kon Tiki » Storytime with Aunt Bungy

Humu Kon Tiki » Storytime with Aunt Bungy — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 03:34:38 +0000

[...] Visit to the Hedley Homestead [Humu Kon Tiki] [...]