Locals Write a Song About Historic Capitola

Capitola is about to be serenaded. When the Capitola Historical Museum re-opens its doors on Feb. 25t, it will unveil a new exhibit "Capitola—Where the Land and Sky Meet the Sand and Sun," and a historical movie featuring a new-old song called "Capitola Serenade."

Although the lyrics are hot off the press, there is something very old about this song—it's set to music written about Capitola in 1913: "Capitola March Two Step," composed by F.H. Losey.

"It's set to the music of the time, 1912, so the words are in that spirit," said Museum Director Carolyn Swift of the song lyrics, which were written by Joe Ortiz, co-owner of .

"Ukulele Dick" a local musician who has owned and operated Guitar Works in Felton for 40 years, sings the tune in the video, and plays a "banjolele"—an instrument that looks like a tiny banjo. The piano part is played by Ross Gibson, a local historian who collects sheet music for songs written about Santa Cruz and Capitola from as far back as 1850.

"He is the kind of guy that time forgot, he is as if he stepped out of the 1890's and his style of playing is just that," said Ukulele Dick of Gibson's piano skills, which he called "a little straighter and not as synchopated as ragtime, but almost raggy" in "Capitola Serenade".

According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the song lyrics, which will not be unveiled until the museum opens for the new exhibit, serenade Capitola as it was in 1912, and Swift described them as "campy" and "very Capitola." 

"Joe's lyrics really represent the era of slightly risque innocence," said Ukulele Dick. "1912, this was a time of trolley cars, guys with handle bar mustaches and straw hats and barber shop quartets. This was the dawning of the automobile — most people were in carraiges and railroad cars and used the Pony Express. Every town had a community band, like a marching band."

The video, which will be sold at the museum, features Ukulele Dick wandering around the streets of Capitola, serenading the town with his arms outstretched. It's also spliced with historical footage and vintage photographs of Capitola in the old days.

"It was a lot of fun, a collaboration of great antique minds," said Ukulele Dick.

The new exhibit will also pay homage to the , which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

The Capitola Historical Museum reopens with the new exhibit on Saturday, Feb. 25 and will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Also, mark your calendars for the new exhibit's opening Reception on March 10. For more information, call the museum at 831-464-0322.