From beach bungalows to a bustling city

“Long Beach is really a microcosm of the United States — the history of our city and the diversity of our population over the years is what this country stands for, and we’re people who give dignity and respect to each other,” said Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, one of the many local officials who commemorated the city’s 90th anniversary on Sunday.

In 1922, Long Beach transitioned from an incorporated village to a self-governing city, and hundreds of residents and visitors turned out to celebrate the milestone event at Kennedy Plaza.

Before the barrier island became known as the “City by the Sea,” Sen. William H. Reynolds originally conceived Long Beach as a seaside resort in 1906, catering to wealthy beachgoers in the summer months.

Once Reynolds constructed year long residences that housed large families in 1908, Long Beach started to experience a major transition due to an increase in middle class families of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds that continued to settle in the city over the years. Today, Long Beach has a population of more than 33,000 residents, according to 2010 census data.

At the commemorative event, the Long Island Harmonica Society performed songs reminiscent of the Roaring ’20s, while many residents participated in a fashion show, modeling glamorous costumes of the era courtesy of coordinator Karen Renick-Prezioso and Stephanie Thornton, owner of Salvage Chic.

The fashion show also featured a skit that depicted the life of Broadway producer and former Long Beach resident Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., as told by participants who portrayed his wife Billie Burke and his girlfriend Lillian Lorraine.

Throughout the event, the crowd listened to live musical performances from The Long Island Banjo Society and the Long Beach High School Jazz Band, who performed classic tunes by musicians such as Glenn Miller and Count Bassie.

The event also featured historical bus tours around Long Beach, stopping at the Felix House in the Red Brick District and Riverside Boulevard at the boardwalk to discuss their significance in the city’s history.