Jeff Gordinier’s “The Secret Diner in Catalina Airport” reminded two Alta Journal readers of their adventures flying in and out of the island’s tiny airport. Got something to say? We’d love to hear from you. Email letters@altaonline.com. Please include your name, city, state, and phone number so we can contact you. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.
HOP, SKIP, AND A FLIGHT
This story brought such a smile to my face and a wonderful memory of eating at the diner.
In college, I interned one summer for KTLA news. Hal Fishman, the news anchor, was an avid pilot and loved to take guests on short trips. One Friday, he invited me, the producer, and the news director to join him for lunch and asked us to meet him at his plane. When we arrived, he announced we were going to Catalina for buffalo burgers. It was exciting to land at and take off from the airstrip, and I actually thought the buffalo burgers were good (but maybe it was the adventure that made them so wonderful).
Laura Perry
Studio City, California
ISLAND CREATURES
In the 1980s, I visited the airport twice, on a three-day tour of Catalina Island Conservancy lands. Saw bison, native burrowing owl, and endemic Catalina ironwood trees. A favorite photo of my 14-year-old son was taken there, him lovingly holding a tiny, blind female Catalina Island fox. She was discovered and rescued at the airport and had become the charge of the conservancy. These foxes are now officially a threatened species.
I never ate at the airport. My first visit to Catalina was in 1959 via hydroplane, which landed in Avalon Bay. Water taxi carried us to Avalon pier.
Kathy Itomura
San Mateo, California•
