Tim Reid, Historic Researcher
Time Ride Enterprises
754-368-1295
NEWS RELEASE
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF “ROBIN HOOD” ON CORONADO
Errol Flynn & Olivia De Havilland Stayed At The Hotel Del During the Summer of 1938
“The Adventures of Robin Hood” Played at Coronado Theater During Flynn’s Stay
Long Unpublished Photo of Flynn at the Hotel Pool Has Been Identified
CORONADO – The Summer of 1938 was an especially stellar one in the Emerald City. The Island witnessed a constellation of Hollywood Stars, including the most celebrated adventure star in cinematic history, the legendary Errol Flynn, who arrived at the Hotel Del during the debut of “The Adventures of Robin Hood” at the Coronado Theater. Following Flynn to the Hotel Del later that summer for the purpose of filming “Wings of the Navy” at North Island was Flynn’s equally-luminous ‘Robin Hood” co-star, Olivia De Havilland. Though already extremely popular around the world because of “Captain Blood” & “Charge of the Light Brigade”, “Robin Hood” launched them both into screen immortality. Seventy-five years later, “Errol & Olivia” are still widely regarded the most beautiful and romantic couple in film history.
Flynn visited Coronado frequently during the 30s, 40s & 50s, often on one of his two magnificent yachts, the Sirocco or Zaca. He was a world-class sailor, a famously talented tennis player, a renowned aquatic athlete and sportsman, and an early expert in the then- new sport of water skiing – the latter of which helped bring him to Coronado in the Summer of ’38. Even so, there are very few photos of Errol Flynn in The Crown City. As a result of recent research by an international group of Flynn historians, however, including by former Coronado resident Tim Reid, the photo of Flynn attached has been positively identified as one taken at the Hotel Del pool during the star’s stay seventy-five years ago this summer. A sensational, long-unknown poolside photo of his first wife, French movie star, Lili Damita, has also been found, as well as a photo of DeHavilland sunbathing on what is believed to be Coronado Beach, circa 1938.
In 1941, Errol again stayed at the Hotel Del, with Sirocco docked at the Coronado Yacht Club, while he filmed “Dive Bomber”, written by heroic Navy aviator, Hollywood screenwriter, and Coronado resident, Frank “Spig” Wead, who himself was later tributed by John Ford & John Wayne in “The Wings of Eagles”. Warner Brothers held its world premier of “Dive Bomber” on North Island in August of 1941.
Earl Conrad, co-writer of Errol Flynn’s autobiography, was also a resident of Coronado until his death in 1986.
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For further information and imagery, Tim Reid can be reached at the above phone number and/or email address. With his sons, he is researching and documenting the histories of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams & Errol Flynn in San Diego, Baja & beyond. He has been significantly assisted in his Flynn research by David DeWitt and multiple Authors of the Errol Flynn Blog, the Coronado Public Library, Coronado Historian Joe Ditler, the Coronado Yacht Club, San Diego State University Library Special Collections, and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
— Tim
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