| ISAAC JENKINSON FRAZEE |
| DEDICATED TO |
| WHO WAS ISAAC J. FRAZEE? |
| ISAAC FRAZEE ¥ ADVENTURER |
| ISAAC FRAZEE ¥ ARTIST |
| ISAAC FRAZEE ¥ POET |
| ISAAC FRAZEE ¥ DRAMATIST |
| ISAAC FRAZEE ¥ INDIAN AUTHORITY |
| Learned much about the American Indian from his own Father, who was an amateur anthropologist. | |
| Studied artifacts he found on his ranch in the Pamoosa Valley. | |
| Visited the Pala and Agua Caliente Indians regularly. | |
| Corresponded with authorities such as George Wharton James, Charles Fletcher Lummis, and Hamlin Garland. |
| ISAAC FRAZEE SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHER |
| Synthesized modern science, American Indian spirituality, and Christianity in his book EvolovE. |
| ISAAC FRAZEE DEVOTED HUSBAND |
| Isaac and Bettie were married 57 years with 7 children. | |
| Isaac brought Betty a flower every day. | |
| IsaacÕs recipe for a successful marriage was Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9, Verse 9. |
| ISAAC FRAZEE ¥ FAMILY MAN |
| Seven talented children. | |
| Isaac made them storybooks and toys. Taught them to be creative and to love nature. | |
| Created a magical childhood as a make-believe tribe called the Mushawallows! | |
| All were devoted to him throughout their lives. | |
| SOME FRIENDS OF ISAAC FRAZEE |
| OVERVIEW OF ISAAC FRAZEEÕS LIFE |
| Sunrise in the East: 1858 - 1885 | ||
| Boyhood in Indiana and California | ||
| Journey to Yosemite | ||
| Art Academy in Louisville, Kentucky | ||
| Morning at San Luis Rey: 1885-1890 | ||
| Spanish-American Influences | ||
| Homesteading at Casa Loma | ||
| Noon in the Pamoosa Valley: 1890-1927 | ||
| Why Isaac chose to live in a remote mountain valley north of Escondido. | ||
| Warland Castle | ||
| The Mushawallows | ||
| Kitshi-Manido: The Peace-Pipe Pageant Play | ||
| Sunset in Laguna Beach: 1927-1942 | ||
| The Laguna production of Kitshi-Manido | ||
| Dean of the Laguna Artists | ||
| The Bard of Lombardy Lane | ||
| SUNRISE IN THE EAST |
| ISAAC FRAZEEÕS MIDWEST ROOTS |
| The Frazee family were Kentucky pioneers who later settled in Indiana. IsaacÕs uncle, Lewis Jacob Frazee, was a well-known physician in Louisville. Another uncle was Alexander William Doniphan, Mexican War hero and prominent Missouri attorney. | |
| IsaacÕs father, William D. Frazee, was an Indiana lawyer, Elder in the Christian Church, and amateur anthropologist. He traveled extensively to study the American Indians, and also came out to California during the Gold Rush. | |
| In 1854, W.D. returned to Indiana to marry Rebecca Jenkinson, a member of a prominent Indiana Quaker family. | |
| IsaacÕs cousin was Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay. | |
| The Family moved to California in 1873 in hopes of improving Mrs. FrazeeÕs health. Isaac was 15 years old. Mrs. Frazee died three years later in 1876. | |
| The family had strong ties to the Christian Church in Indiana and California. |
| A YOUNG MAN IN CALIFORNIA |
| At 19, Isaac attended Southern Pacific College in Downey before it burned down in 1879. | |
| Briefly studied law with an attorney in San Bernardino. | |
| Although intelligent and well-read, Isaac preferred the outdoors to academics. His favorite sport was ÒcoursingÓ. | |
| As a young man, Isaac worked the many cattle, sheep, and wheat ranches in the Southland. He also enjoyed writing poems and sketching pictures. | |
| He grew tired of the rough life on the ranches and, in 1881, decided to travel north to Yosemite. |
| ISAACÕS JOURNEY TO YOSEMITE |
| A JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY: | |
| June 23, 1881 - September 4, 1881 | |
| San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Salinas, Gilroy, Merced... | |
| Yosemite: A turning point in Isaac FrazeeÕs life. | |
| Isaac kept a diary and sketchbook of his adventures on this incredible trip. His diary is now at the Huntington Library. |
| ART TRAINING AT THE LOUISVILLE ART ACADEMY |
| AN ART STUDENT IN LOUISVILLE: | |
| Studied under Clarence Boyd, a student of Carolus Duran. | |
| Sketchbook of pictures by himself and other students. | |
| Studio on Third and Walnut. | |
| Uncle Lewis Jacob Frazee sponsored him. | |
| In Louisville from 1882 - 1885. |
| ISAAC MEETS BETTIE DICKINSON |
| Daughter of John Addison Dickinson, a wealthy Louisville businessman, and Sarah Owens Dickinson. | |
| Born in 1863; graduated from Wittenberg College in 1882. | |
| Family accepted Isaac at first, in spite of his being a cowboy-artist from Òthe West.Ó | |
| Mother turned against Isaac when she discovered Isaac and Bettie were engaged. She wanted Bettie to marry a wealthy friend of the family. | |
| Bettie and Isaac met secretly for over a year--in parks, restaurants, etc. | |
| When Isaac returned to California in 1885, Bettie followed. | |
| Married August ,1885, at his fatherÕs ranch in Oceanside, California. | |
| She went from a wealthy Eastern household, where she was pampered, to the hard pioneer life in California. |
| THE ORACLE |
| THE COURTING COUCH |
| IsaacÕs studio in Louisville was at Third and Walnut--now a large hotel. | |
| The couch in his studio had been in the Frazee family for 60 years in 1882 when Isaac proposed to Bettie. | |
| For the Frazees 57th wedding anniversary, relatives sent it out to California. | |
| Isaac and Bettie invited young Laguna Beach couples to propose on it for good luck. | |
| After 180 years, the couch is still in the family. |
| MORNING AT SAN LUIS REY |
| The Frazees first settled in Los Angeles, where they opened an art studio. They found no interest in art in Los Angeles in 1885, so they moved south to Oceanside where his brother found him a government claim to homestead. | |
| Isaac learned much about Spanish-American culture while living in the San Luis Rey Valley. He became friends with Senora Ysadora Bandini Couts, owner of Rancho Guajome. He also was friends with Father OÕKeefe at the Mission San Luis Rey. | |
| The Frazees learned to be self-sufficient. They farmed, and grew their own fruits and vegetables. Isaac found he liked living off the land by his own efforts. | |
| HOME AT CASA LOMA |
| Casa Loma was the name Isaac gave to his homestead. | |
| Isaac built the house and developed the land. | |
| Overlooks the Mission San Luis Rey, the mountains, and the ocean. | |
| Isaac wrote Nahda: A Story of Spanish-American Life. | |
| IsaacÕs father, W.D. Frazee, and his brother, Don, had ranches nearby. IsaacÕs father wrote a booster book on the area called Oceanside: Gateway to all San Diego County. |
| THE SAN LUIS REY VALLEY RANCHO GUAJOME |
| THE SAN LUIS REY
VALLEY MISSION SAN LUIS REY |
| NOON IN THE PAMOOSA VALLEY |
| ISSAC FRAZEEÕS TOUR OF THE PAMOOSA VALLEY |
| CASA DE CONSUELO |
| THE OLD ADOBE |
| WORELAND PARK |
| CASTLE FROM THE PARK |
| THE CASA |
| THE CASA INTERIOR |
| OUTDOOR KITCHEN |
| THE HIVES |
| THE PATH TO THE SPRING |
| THE SPRING |
| THE PAMOOSA FALLS |
| Pamoosa is an Indian word meaning Òlong beardÓ. | |
| The Valley was named Pamoosa by the Indians after this waterfall. | |
| A large punchbowl is shown at bottom right. A vulture once got caught in this punchbowl. |
| SKETCHES OF MOOSA |
| San Francisco in 1893 |
| WARLAND CASTLE THE FRAZEE HOME IN MOOSA CANYON |
| The finished tower. |
| THE MOOSA POST OFFICE |
| KITSHI-MANIDO: THE PEACE PIPE PAGEANT |
| Isaac FrazeeÕs tribute to the American Indian, based on years of study. Faithful to the spiritual beliefs of the Indian. ÒKitshi-ManidoÓ means ÒGreat SpiritÓ. | |
| Idea for an Indian pageant given to him by his friend, opera singer Ellen Beach Yaw. | |
| Performed in 1915 and 1916 on the Frazee ranch. Later performed in Laguna Beach | |
| Isaac wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the play. Also starred his children and neighbors. | |
| Used natural materials from the area--mineral dyes, plant fibers for costumes, wigs, etc. | |
| Music by Isaac Frazee, arranged by William Bower, and performed by members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. | |
| Over 1,500 attended the first performance; more the second night. | |
| No admission was charged. It was intended to be IsaacÕs Ògift to humanity.Ó |
| THE AMPHITHEATER |
| Created on a natural slope down to the creek. | |
| Castle was on the hill above the amphitheater. | |
| Orchestra pit was in the dry creek bed. | |
| Footlights were kerosene lanterns. | |
| Spotlights were the moon and car headlights. | |
| Sets were simple. |
| The Moosa Amphitheater by Isaac Frazee |
| SCENES FROM THE MOOSA PRODUCTION |
| THE MUSHAWALLOW TRIBE |
| The Frazees lived with their 7 children in this isolated valley north of Escondido. Although there was a one-room schoolhouse in the valley, Isaac and Bettie devoted themselves to their childrenÕs upbringing. | |
| To stimulate the childrenÕs imaginations, Isaac took on the role of chief of an imaginary tribe called the Mushawallows. The ÒtribeÓ would tame wild animals, study local Indian lore, perform plays, sketch, write poetry, and learn directly from nature. | |
| An Indian stone horn found on the ranch would call the tribe to council. Isaac named this horn Lincolona. | |
| Isaac devoted much of his free time to projects with his children. |
| Slide 48 |
| MUSHAWALLOW BOOKS (2) |
| SUNSET IN LAGUNA BEACH |
| Frazees began to spend their winters in Laguna Beach in 1921. Moved here permanently in 1927. | |
| His Kitshi-Manido Indian Pageant was the forerunner of the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts. | |
| He was one of LagunaÕs pioneer artists and was considered to be the dean of the Laguna art colony. | |
| Also LagunaÕs esteemed poet, philosopher, and most respected citizen. |
| ISAAC FIRST VISITED LAGUNA BEACH IN 1878. |
| First artist to sketch a picture of Laguna. | |
| Later painted this picture from the sketch. | |
| Painting and sketch donated to Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. |
| "Isaac and Bettie Frazee visited..." |
| Isaac and Bettie Frazee visited Laguna Beach in 1918, undoubtedly to attend the first exhibition of Laguna Beach artists. They were already friends with many of them. | |
| The Frazees began spending their winters there in Laguna in 1921. During that year, they became involved with the Art Association. Isaac donated his Peace Pipe Pageant as a fundraiser; he also directed and starred in the play. | |
| In 1927 Isaac and Bettie moved permanently to Laguna Beach. | |
| Isaac devoted all of his time to his art and poetry. At last he was a full-time artist! | |
| Bettie wrote many sketches of Spanish-American life, and sold many of the handmade rugs she crafted. | |
| Isaac wrote columns and poetry for the local newspaper. The Frazee home soon became the hub of the local artist community, and the Frazees were one of LagunaÕs most respected couples. He and Bettie were affectionately known as ÒMotherÓ and ÒFatherÓ Frazee by everyone. |
| ISAAC FRAZEEÕS LAGUNA BEACH |
| KITSHI-MANIDO Laguna Beach |
| KITSHI-MANIDO Laguna Beach |
| KITSHI-MANIDO Laguna Beach |
| KITSHI-MANIDO Laguna Beach |
| THE IMPACT OF
KITSHI-MANIDO ON LAGUNA BEACH |
| Forerunner of the Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters. | |
| Created a strong sense of Community. | |
| Helped to promote the artist colony and raise money for the new art gallery. | |
| FRAZEE ART STUDIOS IN LAGUNA |
| Through his newspaper columns, Isaac made Lombardy Lane a Laguna Beach Landmark. | |
| For 10 years he and Bettie saved to purchase a lot on El Bosque, site of the 1921 Peace Pipe Pageant. In 1941, his new studio was completed--only a year before he died. |
| ISAAC FRAZEE THE LAGUNA ARTIST |
| The Dean of Laguna Artists during the 1930Õs. His small studio on Lombardy Lane became the social hub of the Laguna art colony. | |
| Although his art never achieved the same level as that of his contemporaries--Anna Hills, William Wendt, W.A. Griffith, Joseph Kleitch, Edgar Payne, Karl Yens, etc.--his work was respected by them all. | |
| Review in the South Coast News: ÒHis paintings have a dream-like quality closely akin to his poetry.Ó | |
| Although he painted a variety of subjects, including portraits, still-lifes, buildings, etc., nature was always his favorite. He saw the ÒGreat SpiritÓ within nature, and used his art--as he did his poetry and drama--to show the presence of God in everything. |
| WHITE MOUNTAIN |
| THE HILLS OF HAPPINESS |
| THE RIVER |
| COWS OF SAN LUIS REY |
| MORRO ROCK |
| CYPRESS POINT |
| SPRING PLOWING |
| WORELAND CASTLE |
| THE SPIRIT TRAIL |
| GOOD AND PLENTY |
| ABRAHAM LINCOLN |
| Isaac Frazees first and only attempt at sculpture. | |
| ISAAC FRAZEE -- HISTORIAN? |
| Isaac authenticated the story of Sylvester Pattie and his band of adventurers, the first settlers to arrive in California through the Southwest. | |
| IsaacÕs grandmother was a friend of the Patties, and kept Sylvester PattieÕs youngest daughter during the trip. | |
| Isaac wrote numerous letters to the San Diego Historical Society and was responsible for a memorial plaque being erected at the Presidio. He read this poem at the dedication ceremony. | |
| THE BARD OF LOMBARDY LANE |
| Isaac wrote an ongoing poetry column for Laguna Beach newspapers. | |
| Wrote in many different styles. | |
| Many of his poems were humorous and witty commentaries on life in Laguna Beach. | |
| Also, he wrote more serious poetry for various regional publications |
| Laguna Beach |
| The Day of Judgement |
| To Anna HillÕs ÒCloudÓ Painting |
| ÒAll WiteÓ To Little Harold Crosby |
| Siesta de Amor |
| Forty Times a Day |
| Laguna Beach |
| The Fog Artist |
| The Rescue |
| E-VOL-LOVE |
| A ÒNew AgeÓ book in 1929! | |
| Story of an Òefficiency expertÓ who discovers a lost Indian tribe. | |
| Laid out IsaacÕs philosophy synthesizing Christianity, modern physics, and American Indian Spiritual beliefs. |
| GOD |
| LAGUNAÕS RICHEST MAN! |
| Old Men |
| I REMEMBER FATHER Helen Frazee-Bower |
| Slide 88 |
| Slide 89 |
| THE END |
| Slide 91 |