1936

Nov 18

2202 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 27, n. 1, p. 51.

Santa Maria, California, November 18, 1936 - An earth tremor was felt at 10:02 am which caused dishes to rattle and electric light fixtures to sway. It was also felt in Arroyo Grande and Atascadero.

1937

Mar 26

The Morning Press (Friday, Mar. 26, 1937).

Sharp Quake gives shaking to Southland. No damage reported from shock felt over 10,000 square miles; Los Angeles and southerly cities rocked.

LOS ANGELES, MARCH 25 - A strong earthquake shook southern California today over an area of more than 10,000 square miles.

Dr. C. F. Richter of the seismological laboratory of the Carnegie Institution termed it "strong enough to cause considerable damage near its point of origin."

This he estimated to be 110 miles southeast of Pasadena, either in the mountains of San Diego County or on the east side of the Imperial Valley, rich agricultural district at the Mexican border.

Several small after-shocks came on the tail of the first heavy movement, he said, and at about 9:48 am, what appeared to be a distinct after-shock recorded on the visible instruments.

The shake came at 8:49 am, Pacific Standard time.

Los Angeles and its environs were swayed by a long and continuously increasing motion. Long Beach reported it was quite unlike the heavy 1933 shock, which came as a jolt, while todayÕs movement was a sort of rhythmic shimmy, with an east-west motion.

1937

Sep 21

Santa Barbara News Press (Wednesday, Sep. 22, 1937).

Earth Tremor Is Reported in Valerio. A barely perceptible earth tremor was felt at 6:50 last night in the residence section around West Valerio canyon. Residents in this section said that dishes were rattled slightly when the tremor was felt. A check of the city revealed that other portions of the city felt no shock.

1938

May 31

The Ventura County Star Free Press, 63rd year, no. 177 (Tuesday, May 31, 1938).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SWAYS UNDER JOLT. Los Angeles - An earthquake jolted southern California today, awakening residents and sending pictures crashing down from the walls but apparently causing no damage.... Saugus 40 miles to the north felt shocks.

1938

May 31

2219 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 28, n. 3, p. 232.

Goleta, CA - At 10:19 pm an earthquake which caused an appreciable trembling of buildings was felt in Goleta.

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXV, no. 213 (Wednesday, Jun. 1, 1938).

City Area Feels Second Earthquake. A second slight earthquake, following after one at 12:35 am yesterday, was felt in the Santa Barbara vicinity at 10:19 oÕclock last night.

The shock was slight, although Goleta residents reported an appreciable trembling of buildings in that district. It had approximately the same radius as its predecessor.

Earth Slips, South State Homes Shake

Quake Felt Here; No Damage. The earthquake which jarred southern California early yesterday morning was felt in Santa Barbara but there was no report of any damage. Buildings were shaken slightly and many residents were awakened.

1938

Oct 2

Santa Barbara News Press (Monday, Oct 3, 1938).

Light Quake In Santa Barbara. Two distinct earth shocks, within a half minute of each other at 10:45 am, were felt in Santa Barbara and vicinity yesterday morning. There were no reports of damage, although residents described the quakes as of sufficient intensity to rattle windows and sway the beds of late-risers.

Ventura County Star Free Press, 63rd year, no. 284 (Monday, Oct 3, 1938).

SLIGHT QUAKES HERE RATTLE WINDOWS -- Doors and windows rattled as 2 distinct earth shocks were felt by Venturans at 10:45 am. There was no damage reported in either this city or Santa Barbara where the quake was also felt.

1938

Dec 8

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 2, p. 415.

Press reports state that an earthquake was felt in the Riviera and Beach districts of Santa Barbara at 9:00 pm. According to the Pasadena Seismological Laboratory, no shock was recorded at Santa Barbara or the other stations at this time. It was probably not an earthquake.

1939

Feb 11

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 2, p. 417.

A slight earthquake was felt by residents of Goleta, Hope Ranch, and a small section of Santa Barbara shortly after 7:00 pm.

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXV, no. 102 (Sunday, Feb. 12, 1939).

HOPE RANCH, GOLETA, FEEL SLIGHT QUAKE. A slight earthquake, consisting of a single, short, sharp jolt, was felt by residents of Goleta and Hope Ranch and a small section of Santa Barbara shortly after 7 oÕclock last night. Not even a broken dish was reported, however.

1939

Oct 2

Ventura County Star Free Press, 63rd year, no. 284 (Monday, Oct. 3, 1939).

SLIGHT QUAKE HERE RATTLES WINDOWS. Doors and windows rattled as two distinct shocks were felt by Venturans yesterday at 10:45 am. There was no damage reported in either this city or Santa Barbara where the quake was also felt.

1939

Dec 25

Santa Barbara News Press (Tuesday, Dec. 26, 1939).

SHARP EARTHQUAKE FELT IN GOLETA AREA. A sharp earthquake at 7:40 oÕclock Monday morning caused numerous calls to the News Press. The quake centered around the Goleta district, but was felt at Elwood, and the northwestern part of Santa Barbara, as well as, mildly, on the Riviera. While the tremor was sharp, no damage was reported.

1939

Dec 27

Ventura County Star Free Press, 65 year, no. 44 (Wednesday, Dec. 27, 1939).

(big earthquake strikes Long Beach area, but no mention of it being felt in Ventura area. Ed.)

1939

Dec 28

0415 hrs

Ventura County Star Free Press, 65th year, no. 45 (Thursday, Dec. 28, 1939).

Santa Maria: An earthquake shock was felt here at 4:15 am today. It was sharp enough to awaken sleepers but did no damage. An earthquake also rocked the Salinas area at 4:15 am. No damage was reported.

Santa Maria Daily Times, vol. 22, no. 216 (Thursday, Dec. 28, 1939).

Light Tremor Felt Early Today. An earth movement at 4:15 this morning awakened sleepers along the central California coast.

Many in Santa Maria reported being aroused by the shock, though many others were undisturbed. Those awakened said dishes rattled perceptibly in cabinets.

Salinas citizens were awakened at the same hour. Watsonville, Paso Robles, and other localities along the coast also reported feeling the disturbance, but no damage was done anywhere.

The central coast disturbance was attributed to a settlement along the San Andreas fault which extends up and down the coast.

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXVII, no. 65 (Thursday, Jan. 4, 1940).

PREDICT QUAKE. Edgar C. Thrupp, Vancouver B. C., member of the Engineering Institute of Canada, who predicted the terrific earth tremor which recently struck Turkey, and several other minor earthquakes in 1939, claims that the world is due for a series of disastrous earthquakes in 1940. Thrupp, who says NewtonÕs law of gravity is all wrong, predicts quakes soon will occur in Chile, California, and Japan. Between July 20 and Aug. 5 there will be another series comparable with the disasters in Asia Minor in 1882 when 20,000 persons were killed, he says. HeÕs shown examining a roll of intricate astronomical charts he uses in his predictions.

1940

Jul 21

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXVII, no. 265 (Monday, Jul. 22, 1940).

LIGHT QUAKE -- Santa Monica, July 21. A light earthquake which apparently centered here shook the area between Santa Monica and Hollywood but did little or no damage.

1940

Oct 10

2157 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 31, n. 1, p. 87.

Santa Monica, California - At 9:57 pm an earthquake, which appeared to be strongest in the Santa Monica Bay region, was felt along the coast for 200 miles from San Diego to Ventura. The Pasadena Seismological Laboratory gives an epicenter for this shock at 33û47ÕN, 118û35ÕW.

The Oxnard Press-Courier, Vol. 33, no. 87 (Friday, Oct. 11, 1940).

OXNARD SHAKEN BY EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTHLAND. Oxnard felt the sharp earthquake that jiggled southern California last night, but no damage was reported anywhere in the city.

Residents called police headquarters after the tremor, recorded here at 9:57 pm.

According to the United Press, the tremor had an east-west motion and lasted for about 20 seconds. It was felt from San Diego to Ventura, apparently being confined to the coastal belt.

Ventura County Star Free Press, 65th year, no. 291 (Friday, Oct. 11, 1940).

VENTURA RESIDENTS FEEL EARTHQUAKE; NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

A sharp earthquake jolted southern California along 200 miles of coast late last night, sending theater patrons and residents scurrying into the streets. There were no reports of serious damage, however, according to police and sheriff offices.

A San Diego seismograph recorded the tremblor at 9:58:05 pm but another recording to determine the epicenter was not available. It appeared to have been confined to the coastal area from Ventura to San Diego.

1940

Oct 11

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXVII, no. 347 (Saturday, Oct. 12, 1940).

Los Angeles, Oct. 11 -- Santa Monica bay communities experienced a mild earthquake of brief duration at 4:23:30 pm. Friday and a slight shock was felt in Los Angeles. Redondo Beach, Gardena, and Torrance apparently were most noticeably affected, but damage was confined to cracked plaster. A minor shock was felt over a wider area Thursday night.

1940

Nov 10

0224 hrs

BSSA, vol. 31, n. 1, p. 90.

November 10, 1940 - An earthquake at 2:24 am awakened residents of Santa Barbara. Damage was limited to a few broken dishes.

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXVIII, no. 11 (Monday, Nov. 11, 1940).

A sharp earthquake shock lasting several seconds shook Santa Barbara yesterday morning at 2:24 oÕclock, waking sleepers, rattling windows and doors and setting chandeliers to swaying before it rumbled off into the distance. Apparently the tremor was of local origin and was confined to the immediate vicinity of Santa Barbara. No shocks were reported from other southern California points. The shock struck with a sharp jar and then tapered off in a swaying motion, reports agreed.

Ventura County Star Free Press (Monday, Nov. 11, 1940)

Santa Barbara County coastal area feels slight earthquake at 2:24 a.m. yesterday.

1940

Dec 14

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXVIII, no. 45 (Sunday, Dec. 15, 1940).

QUAKE REPORTED -- Dec. 14. Several persons residing northeast of here reported Sat. they were awakened at 4:15 am by a sharp earth jolt followed shortly by another of less violence. The tremors were accompanied by a noise such as a bomb exploding at a great distance.