Del Mar Castle Script
VO 1_Intro (:)
The opportunity to see a castle is common enough in Europe or
on TV. But, stateside—not so much. In Del Mar, one can be
sighted from I-5 looking west of the lagoon. Taking a short drive
up 15th street from Del Mar Village affords a better chance for a
closer look. For those who have made the discovery, the castle in
Del Mar is a memory that stands out.
VO 2_Tensia Trejo Intro (:17) Born in Del Mar in 1927, just one
year after it 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."
VO – 3 Parker Jackson is an expert on San Diego architecture
and the work of Richard Requa who designed the castle in 1926.
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- 4 (: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_5 Over the years, the castle has had several owners and
was even rumored to have caught the eye of a well-known singer.
Sandy Shapery bought the place in 1979.
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_6 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_7 Once renovated, the Shaperys made the Castle available
for fundraising events, often inviting local musicians to play. Beth
Ross Buckley is one of them. Beth plays the flute and 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_8 From time to time, the Castle also drew the attention of a
different crowd. Shapery kept an open mind:
ACT_Shapery_guru types wanted the castle (:06)
"I rented it out to some interesting people....guru types wanted the
castle!”
VO_9 Shapery didn't mind leasing the property to mystics, as
long as he was able to monitor the seminars. He didn't always
drink the Kool-Aid.
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_10 The Castle of Del Mar has lots of history and stories with
more sure to come.
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.