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42-416: Founded in 1926 by Rhoda May Knight Rindge , Malibu Potteries was formed under the corporate name Marblehead Land Company. Rindge, after unsuccessfully prospecting for oil on her property near Zuma Beach, instead found red and buff clays suitable for the production of pottery. In Malibu, California alongside the ocean coast, a factory was built to produce ceramic tile. Rindge hired Rufus Keeler . Keeler

84-538: A half mile east of her pier, right on the beach. She recruited renowned tile and glaze expert Rufus B. Keeler to run the factory. At its peak, 125 employees worked at the factory, producing 30,000 square feet of tile monthly. Women hand-painted tile with toxic substances such as cadmium for oranges, uranium for oranges and reds, cobalt for blues, and lead for yellows. Methods included cuerda seca and cuenca, and patterns and iconography were inspired by books from an expensive library with which Rindge furnished

126-626: A home in Santa Monica . In the 1890s, the family began utilizing a Victorian ranch home they built in Malibu Canyon , which eventually burned down in a brush fire in 1903. They also had a home in Santa Monica. It had been Rindge Sr.'s dream to come to California for its temperate climate and what he had imagined as the American Riviera when he first came to California with his father on

168-566: A kiln fire that destroyed most of Malibu Potteries in 1931 (closing the Potteries entirely by 1932), Rindge was plunged into further financial trouble. She could not afford to complete the Rindge Castle, and she was forced to sell off her Malibu Movie Colony properties other assets. By 1942, she was forced to sell her unfinished castle, with the buyer being the Franciscan order . Though most of

210-537: A three-wing, 55-room mansion, called the Rindge Castle, atop Laudamus Hill, overlooking the ocean and a vast span of Malibu, with views reaching out to the Pacific Palisades . Nine thousand cases of Malibu Potteries tile were produced to adorn it, including a massive 13'x 59' all-tile faux Persian carpet, and hand-carved mahogany was to decorate it as well. When the Great Depression hit in 1929, followed by

252-526: Is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument . Her dam in the Malibu Hills is still extant, though long out of use and plans are in place to tear it down. Rindge's life has been the subject of numerous print and online articles over time, and in 2017, a Los Angeles Times bestseller titled The King and Queen of Malibu: The True Story of

294-546: The Army Corps of Engineers , proposes removing the dam arch and spillway, along with 780,000 cubic yards (600,000 m ) of sediment impounded behind the dam. Approximately 278,000 cubic yards (213,000 m ) of clean sandy sediments would be removed by truck to Ventura Harbor , tested for pollution, and then deposited by barge in shallow ocean waters near the mouth of Malibu Creek, east of Malibu Pier. The sediment will be placed to avoid damage to nearshore kelp beds, and to allow

336-529: The Klamath River , and Searsville Dam above Stanford University . The 1947 Matilija Dam, in the Los Padres National Forest north of Ojai also blocks steelhead trout spawning grounds and is planned for removal. Designed for water storage and flood control on Matilija Creek, it no longer performs either since it has silted up. In April 2023, California State Parks announced that the removal of

378-729: The Malibu Potteries lot remains vacant, is protected by the Surfrider Foundation and officially declared as the first-ever World Surfing Reserve via the Save the Waves Coalition. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Meanwhile, Rindge's pier, regarded as a Southern California landmark, has been a recreation destination since the 1950s and home to fishermen since 1934. In 1933, Rindge gave permission for

420-892: The Mayan Theater , The Roosevelt Hotel , the Geffen Playhouse , Dana Junior High School in San Pedro , and other public buildings across the United States—and even some abroad—still contain their own examples of Malibu tile. Though predating the Potteries by roughly 20 years, hence containing no Malibu tile, the Rindge family home she and her husband built in West Adams Heights, the Frederick Hastings Rindge House , still stands—the home Rindge lived in until she died. It

462-573: The Pacific Coast . In the process, Rindge constructed the Malibu Pier. Rindge subsequently became known for her battle to keep the Pacific Coast Highway —at the time, Roosevelt Highway —from accomplishing the same and similar goals. Rindge also built the 100-foot-high Rindge Dam . Furthermore, she built what became the Franciscan order 's Serra Retreat. Rindge is also known as donor of

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504-596: The Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit which extended from Los Flores Canyon in Malibu into Ventura County . Rindge successfully diverted the course of the Southern Pacific Railroad by fighting their efforts to connect their Santa Barbara end terminus with Santa Monica ; the route would have been coastal, not only infringing on the family ranch but destroying the natural beauty and topography of

546-639: The Battle for Paradise . Rindge Dam Rindge Dam is a 100-foot-tall (30 m) dam on Malibu Creek in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California . Located in Malibu Creek State Park , it sits just northeast of Malibu Canyon Road, and is partially visible from the turnouts south of the tunnel. The dam, a major obstacle to river wildlife, is due to be removed with demolition work beginning in 2025 and finishing in 2035. The dam

588-535: The Malibu Pier and 15 miles of standard gauge track, known as the Hueneme, Malibu and Port Los Angeles Railway , that ran down the length of the pier, where a steam-powered crane lifted cattle hides and walnuts onto boats for shipment and grains onto land for cattle-feed. The operation kept Southern Pacific Railroad out of Malibu, diverting its course inland. Rindge had successfully won her Southern Pacific Railroad battle, but on her victory's heels came homesteaders along

630-508: The Rindge derrick on Point Dume , but found none. However, she uncovered clay that she was told were ideal for tile-making. As the 1920s were a real-estate boom in Los Angeles, with thousands upon thousands of homes being built, and furthermore, in the tile-reliant Mission Revival , Mayan Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival , and Moorish Revival styles, a tile business promised to be lucrative. Thereafter, Rindge built Malibu Potteries

672-438: The architectural, builder and design trades for use indoors and outdoors on floors, walls, fireplaces, step treads, tables, benches, and fountains. After the stock market crash of 1929, the pottery closed for a short period of time and reopened. A devastating fire destroyed the factory on 30 September 1931. The unsold stock of tile was moved to Rindge 's unfinished home near the former factory. In 1942, Rindge died and her home

714-506: The castle eventually burned to the ground in the 1970s, various parts were salvaged, including Malibu tile , and the property is still in the hands of the Franciscans as Serra Retreat. By 1938 , Rindge was bankrupt. Her relationship with one of her sons was fractured, as he held her responsible for depleting the family wealth so severely between her court battles and lavish expenditures. Rindge died in 1941. Despite having been known to

756-532: The coupling. Rindge had proceeded to write Knight letters, leading to their face-to-face acquaintance. Knight and Rindge determined their compatibility and within two days were engaged. They were then married within a week, moving out to California within the year, 1887, by way of first-class Pullman Palace rail car. Upon arrival, they stayed at Emily Preston's ranch before venturing to Southern California . The Rindge couple had three children: Samuel, Frederick Jr., and Rhoda Agatha . The family first settled into

798-610: The dam removal project include risk of slope instability where the dam and sediments are removed, and an increased risk of flooding downstream from the dam. Downstream neighbors and the City of Malibu have expressed concern about these risks. In 2019 California Trout listed Rindge Dam as one of its top five priorities for dam removal, along with Scott Dam on the Eel River in Potter Valley, Matilija Dam near Ojai, four hydroelectric dams on

840-573: The dam's removal because it is blocking Steelhead trout from accessing the upper reaches of the Malibu Creek watershed . Others have campaigned in vain for the designation of the Rindge Dam as a California Historical Landmark . The Rindge Dam is property of the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the structure has been in disrepair for decades. The dam was declared off-limits to

882-508: The edge of her property demanding county roads to be laid through her ranch for the public good. Rindge was strictly opposed to the idea, entering the law office of O'Melveny & Myers in 1907 to take up the new fight against the Federal Government and People of the State of California. What ensued was an approximately 16-year fight costing Rindge over $ 1 million a year, first to keep out

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924-498: The first in the area to rent and sell homes to elite actors, directors, producers, and other aristocratic figures. In shaping the city in this way, she ultimately fulfilled her husband's vision for the region as an American Riviera . The tile Rindge produced remains in thousands of homes, the most extensive display remaining being her daughter's home, the Adamson House , slightly west of Rindge's pier, while Los Angeles City Hall ,

966-481: The first transcontinental railroad. He had always wanted a farm by the sea, and once he purchased the Malibu rancho as the final Spanish land grant owner of the property, he established a cattle ranch. He also became deeply involved in civic life, from serving as director of Edison Electric, founding Conservative Life Insurance Company, and promoting Temperance by helping close saloons in Santa Monica to building Santa Monica's First Methodist Episcopal Church and taking

1008-518: The founder and proprietor of a cult-like religious faith-healing health colony in Northern California , first brought Knight out west. Back in Michigan, Knight was paid a visit by Frederick Rindge , who had been a client at Preston's colony. He had seen a photograph of her on Preston's piano, felt enchanted, and asked Preston for her blessing in romantically pursuing her niece. Preston encouraged

1050-495: The hundreds, for trespass, libel, and defamation of character. Ultimately, she lost her county roads battle and, finally, her effort against Roosevelt Highway, enumerating four California Supreme Court cases and two United States Supreme Court cases, including Rindge Co. v. County of Los Angeles . In 1926, Rindge found herself land-rich and cash-poor due to her extensive court battles. In an effort to recoup her expenditures, she first drilled for oil on her property, establishing

1092-429: The land upon which her daughter and son-in-law's home, the historic Adamson House , was built. Rindge was born Rhoda May Knight in 1864, the eighth child of James and Rhoda Roxanna Lathrop Knight. She grew up on a sheep farm outside Trenton, Michigan with 12 siblings. By age 22, she was working as a math teacher at a local schoolhouse. Knight's family was strictly Methodist . Her aunt, Emily Lathrop Preston,

1134-399: The only place they meet is at the top. The main concrete arch of the Rindge Dam was completed in 1924. The spillway of the dam was finished in 1926. The 600 acres (240 ha) behind the dam have been completely filled with sediment since circa 1950, which creates a waterfall from Malibu Creek. The dam became incorporated into Malibu Creek State Park in 1976. Fish advocates have called for

1176-505: The pier to be used in what became the iconic movie King Kong starring Faye Wray , earning its place in film history. The pier was restored in 2009, earning its steward, California State Parks , the Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award. In Summer 2009, the pier became home to a surfing museum. As a community, Malibu is known for its wealthy entertainment business denizens, a stage Rindge set by being

1218-468: The post of vice president of Union Oil. When he died suddenly at the age of 48 in 1905, Rhoda May Knight Rindge was left with the totality of his business dealings, setting the stage for her unusual position at the time as a woman at the helm of a major family estate. Prior to her husband's death, there had been word that Southern Pacific intended to connect their Santa Barbara terminus with Santa Monica , which would entail running tracks right through

1260-400: The pottery. The potteries produced not only flat ceramic tiles for ceilings, walls, baseboards, and floors but also ceramic tile fountains, murals, urns, and bathroom built-ins like toothbrush holders and soap dishes. Despite the success of the pottery, Rindge still struggled to balance her finances, even as her net worth was estimated in the many millions in 1928. Hence, Rindge's next venture

1302-563: The public for so many years as more than ornery, her role in preserving Malibu's ecological landscape is still felt, as large swathes are not only preserved but protected as part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area . This includes the sprawling, nature-ensconced Pepperdine University campus, for which her daughter's family donated the first 138 acres—original Rindge ranch land. World-famous Surfrider Beach , where her pier still stands and

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1344-538: The public in 2014. The US House of Representatives authorized a dam removal study in 1992. The US Army Corps of Engineers released a draft in January 2017, entitled the "Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study". Estimates for the cost of demolition have been as high as $ 80 million. On March 9, 2018, the California Coastal Commission endorsed a plan to remove Rindge Dam. The Plan, developed by

1386-403: The roads, then Roosevelt Highway. The court cases were extremely complex and imbued with intense hostility, with Rindge sabotaging the public's efforts to lay roads with extreme measures. Such measures ranged from employing armed guards on horseback to patrol her property and enforce locked gates to digging up roads and replacing them with alfalfa and pigs . She waged civil suits, numbering in

1428-553: The sand to eventually move shoreward and downshore to replenish nearby beaches. The remaining sediment would be deposited in the Calabasas Landfill. The project would also modify or remove barriers, mostly culverts under roads, that block fish migration on the Cold Creek and Las Virgenes Creek tributaries of Malibu Creek upstream from the dam. The project would start in 2025, and take eight years to complete. Risks associated with

1470-556: The tiles were unscathed by the fire. The excess tiles not used in the restoration of Serra Retreat were eventually sold with many being placed in private collections. Robert (Bob) Harris, a sound technician in the movie industry purchased a large collection of Malibu Potteries tile. In 1979, Harris and ceramist Jim Sullivan founded Malibu Ceramic Works and began producing tile in the style and manner of Malibu Potteries. Rhoda May Knight Rindge Rhoda May Knight Rindge , (b. 1864, d. 1941), also known as May Rindge or May K. ,

1512-436: The vast 13,315-acre Rindge property. Frederick hatched a plan to take advantage of an obscure Interstate Commerce Commission law that stated if one railway ran through a property, there could be no other railway doing the same. Hence Rindge decided to build his own private track —a utilitarian one to service his cattle ranch—but died before carrying out the plan, leaving the operation up to Rhoda May. She subsequently built

1554-463: The venture became one of Southern California 's most successful of its kind alongside Catalina Pottery , Gladding, McBean , and Batchelder tile . Rindge also founded the Malibu Movie Colony , building and renting cottages—and later selling them—to early Hollywood stars such as Bing Crosby , Gloria Swanson , and Mary Pickford . She fought bitterly to preserve her family's rancho,

1596-519: Was an American businesswoman. She was known as the Queen of Malibu as well as the Founding Mother of Malibu and L.A.'s first high-profile female environmentalist. She was the first woman to serve as president of a railroad company. Additionally, she founded Marblehead Land Company in 1921, and the Malibu Potteries in 1926 , the first business in Malibu. The company originated Malibu tile , and

1638-480: Was built by hired workers of May Knight Rindge , who owned the Malibu Ranch, the former Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit , at that time. The frame of the dam was constructed using rails from the Hueneme, Malibu and Port Los Angeles Railway , which was a 15-mile railroad that May Rindge built through the Malibu Ranch. The dual walls of the dam were built into an already-existing rock monolith in the center of Malibu Creek;

1680-561: Was formerly a ceramic engineer for California Clay Products Company (Calco). Rindge and Keeler hired William Handley, a former product designer for Calco. At the height of the companies production, 125 employees produced over 30,000 square feet of tile a month. The company specialized in the production of ceramic tile. The styles were influenced by Moorish, Egyptian, Mayan and Saracen cultures. Tile designs were mostly geometric. Tile murals were made with peacocks, ships, and birds. The company also produced fountains. Tiles were produced for

1722-513: Was sold to the Franciscan Friars. The Friars named Rindge 's former home Serra Retreat. Serra Retreat was damaged in the September 1970 Malibu Canyon wild fire and was rebuilt using many of the original tiles. The wild fire had exposed a massive amount of Malibu Potteries tile stored on the property. The supply of vintage tile was unknown except to the heirs of Rindge . The vast majority of

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1764-509: Was the Malibu Movie Colony—cottages built on her beachfront by movie studio carpenters that were at first leased to figures in the nascent movie business such as Bing Crosby , Gloria Swanson , Mary Pickford , Anna Q. Nilsson , Dolores del Río , Gary Cooper , Lana Turner , Adela Rogers St. Johns , Carole Lombard , and Clark Gable . In the meantime, Rindge commissioned a 99-foot yacht called The Malibu and began work on

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