Del Mar Castle Script
VO 1_Intro (:)
The next time you drive past Del Mar on interstate five, search the hillside to the west of
the freeway overlooking the lagoon and you MIGHT see it. Take a short drive up 15 th
street from Del Mar village and you MIGHT find it. Unless you are looking for it, the
Castle of Del Mar can easily go unnoticed. But for those who have discovered the
Castle it has left a lasting memory.
VO 2_Tensia Trejo Intro (:17)
Born in Del Mar in 1927, just one year after the castle was built, Tensia Trejo shares a
family story about the Castle.
ACT_Tensia_Bike Story and its gonna be a castle
Start of the story about her two brothers riding their bikes up to see the construction
"Oh my god one of them said...it's gonna be a castle! And that was the first time they
knew that the house was gonna be a castle."
"we turned around and came down to tell our parents they are building a castle"
"that was the beginning of the history as far as we were concerned."
San Diego resident, Parker Jackson, is an expert on San Diego architecture. He
introduces us to Richard Requa, the man who designed the Castle back in 1926. Parker
himself lives in one of the Requa model homes in the Kensington section of San Diego.
ACT_Jackson_responsible for look of san diego
“Who was Richard Requa? He's responsible as an architect for the look of San Diego
today, the Mediterranean tiled roof, stucco, etc.”
VO_getting the design right (:12)
Contracted by the Castle’s original owner’s, the Harding family, Requa spared no
expense in getting the design right.
ACT_Jackson_went to Spain in 1926
“The setting for the Castle, it was designed as a pure example of Mediterranean style
architecture because there were castles in Spain in addition to the adobe and tile roof
construction that looked like this. Requa went to spain in 1926. The front doors are
imported from spain. Many of the light fixtures manufactured in Italy by artisans from
Requa's designs photographed from spain.”
VO_caught the eye of well known singer (:10)
Over the years, the Castle has seen several owners, and was even rumored to have
caught the eye of a well-known singer. Sandor Shapery, who owned the Castle from
1979 until 1984 and goes by Sandy, tells how the Castle caught his interest.
ACT_Shapery_I bought it and most expensive in Del Mar (:46)
How he found out about the castle for sale....traveling in Europe....”Barbara Streisand
was looking at buying the Castle...contacted the owner and bought it!”
VO_fallen into disrepair (:11)
The Castle had unfortunately fallen into disrepair prior to Sandy buying it. He quickly
realized he had his work cut out for him.”
ACT_Shapery_it was a major project (:30)
“Well the whole property was in need of repair....fish ponds....front
lawn...kitchen....master bedroom...plumbing....it was a major project.”
VO_Intro Beth Ross Buckley (:19)
Once renovated, the Shaperys made the Castle available for fundraising events, often
inviting local musicians to play. One such musician is Beth Ross Buckley. Beth is the
Executive Director of Camarada Chamber Music Ensemble.
ACT_Beth_Its a treat to perform in the castle like a concert hall (:22)
“it's a treat to perform at the Castle because it was designed as a music room...it's like
playing in a concert hall”
VO_attention of a different crowd (:10)
From time to time, the Castle also drew the attention of a different crowd. Sandy recalls
one such person who rented the Castle from him.
ACT_Shapery_guru types wanted the castle (:06)
"I rented it out to some interesting people....guru types wanted the castle!”
VO_not always impressed (:14)
Though he always made it part of the rental agreements that he be allowed to attend
the seminars of his colorful tenants, Sandy wasn’t always impressed. Speaking about
one seminar he attended:
ACT_Shapery_didnt see him levitate (:10)
"They were a little too strange for me. I was one of the few people who didn't see him
levitate, and I watched carefully."
VO_Tensia castle memory
The Castle of Del Mar has many stories to tell and more yet to be written. But for now
these stories will live on in the memory of people like Tensia Trejo.
ACT_Tensia_other houses but none like the castle
“There are other houses...beautiful houses....but none have left the impression as a
child when you see it and its a castle. Stories you are told as a child always seem to
include a castle.”
VO_Outro
For City Stories, I’m Larry Moser.