{"id":73787,"date":"2023-03-28T20:23:16","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T20:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=73787"},"modified":"2023-03-28T20:23:16","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T20:23:16","slug":"history-of-the-oc","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/history-of-the-oc\/","title":{"rendered":"The O.C.’s Claim to Fame: The Star-Studded History of This Famous Enclave"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The O.C.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before Mischa Barton and Lo Bosworth, there was Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Orange County was originally founded as a port region, while its name boasts about the plentiful farming opportunities, which was intended to promote immigration to the area. But the beautiful seaside towns soon became popular among celebrities during the early days of Hollywood, making it the ideal location for stars to settle in for weekend retreats.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrange County was conveniently close to Hollywood but not so convenient that the headaches of Hollywood followed the stars down here,\u201d Chris Jepsen, President\u00a0of the Orange County Historic Society, tells GRAZIA USA<\/em>. \u201cThey could relax on their patio or go for ice cream with their kids without having flashbulbs go off in their face.\u201d<\/p>\n

For younger audiences, Orange County entered the pop culture chat in the early aughts with the debut of the hit show The O.C.<\/em> The cast included newcomers Mischa Barton, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody and Ben Mackenzie \u2014 who made headlines and gained fame for their antics both on and off screen. Fans of Arrested Development<\/em> may recall the quirky Bluth family owned a frozen banana stand on Balboa Island in Newport Beach.<\/p>\n

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Next came popular reality shows like The Hills<\/em> and Laguna Beach<\/em> which created stars like Kristin Cavallari, Lo Bosworth and Lauren Conrad, as well as the original season of Bravo\u2019s The Real Housewives of Orange County<\/em>. A Selling Sunset<\/em> spinoff, Selling the OC<\/em>, focused on the well-heeled clients of the O.C. while Million Dollar Listing<\/em> Los Angeles star Josh Altman set up a new office in Newport Beach.<\/p>\n

But long before these shows made their mark on Orange County, major movie stars like Humphrey Bogart and wife Lauren Bacall, as well as Frank Sinatra (aka \u201cChairman of the Board\u201d), child star Shirley Temple and country-western legend John Wayne called Orange County home. In fact, Wayne was such a prominent resident of the area \u2014 he lived in Newport Beach from 1966 until the time of his death in the late \u201870s \u2014 that the regional airport in Santa Ana is named after him.<\/p>\n

\u201cStars like Harpo Marx would come to Santa Ana to quietly get\u00a0married,\u201d Jepsen says. \u201cJohn Wayne could yell at a bad driver and not have it appear in the national news the next day. And up until the big real estate boom of the 1950s and 1960s, Orange County was also more rural than Los Angeles. Depending on where you spent your time in Orange County, there was an element of \u201cgetting away from the hustle and bustle\u201d and driving out amongst the orange groves, along Laguna\u2019s rugged shore, or though rustic canyons.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Today, Orange County continues to grow and thrive, with a population of over 3 million people and a vibrant community. There are endless options for residents and visitors when it comes to drinking and dining, shopping and places to stay. Newport Beach\u2019s Fashion Island boasts shopping destinations like Neiman Marcus, St. John and preppy- chic Lilly Pulitzer while South Coast Plaza<\/a> in Costa Mesa is home to over 250 high-end boutiques like Dior, Chanel, Herme\u0300s, Van Cleef & Arpels<\/a> and Gucci as well as over 40 dining options, making it the O.C.\u2019s go-to destination.<\/p>\n

For super luxe vacations and staycations, there are plenty of options including the Resort at Pelican Hill, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach and Montage Laguna Beach, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is so much to offer in Laguna Beach and Orange County, from our stunning beaches and exquisite cuisine to outdoor recreation, creative activities, and more,\u201d Mary Rogers, Area General Manager and Managing Director at Montage Laguna Beach tells GRAZIA USA<\/em>. \u201cLaguna Beach began as an artist colony in the early 1900s and quickly became a popular destination because of its beautiful oceanfront locale, art galleries and charming beach town environment. You still feel and experience that when you\u2019re here, which continues to compel people to visit and return.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the new GRAZIA Gazette: Spring Fashion<\/em> edition:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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