California Chess in the 1930's

by Bill Wall

In 1930, Ernest Clarke (1877-1948) was editor of a weekly chess column in San Francisco.

In 1930, George Patterson won the Los Angeles Chess Championship.

In August, 1930, Harry Borochow of Los Angeles won the California State Chess Championship, held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco. He was born in Russia in 1898.

In October, 1930, the California Intercollegiate Chess League was formed.

In January, 1931, Harry Borochow won the Southern California chess championship (Tallman Trophy).

In 1931, the University of California won the California Intercollegiate championship. The individual winner was Guthrie McClain (1910-1991).

On March 26, 1931, Dr. Charles L. Lindley died in Los Angeles. He was the founder of the Beverly Hills Chess Club.

In April, 1931, the first issue of THE CHESS REPORTER was published by Henry MacMahon.

On April 18, 1931, San Francisco beat the East Bay by the score of 14.5 to 10.5. The event was held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco.

In May, 1931, the Beverly Hills Chess Club won the Southern California Chess League, followed by Los Angeles, Long Beach, Cal-Tech, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, and Highland Park.

On May 31, 1931, the Annual Chess Tournament between Northern California and Southern California, held in San Luis Obispo was won by the South, with the score of 14.5 - 10.5.

On July 16, 1931, Elmer Gruer died. He was born in 1890. He was California State Chess Champion in 1921, 1926, and 1927.

In August, 1931, Harry Borochow won the California State Chess Championship, held at the Beverly Hills Chess Club. Henry Gross and Johnny Tippin took 2nd-3rd place.

In 1931, George Patterson won the Los Angeles Chess Championship. Bierwirth took 2nd place.

On November 28, 1931, C.J. Gibbs and Richard Lyon tied for 1st in the Southern California chess championship. Lyon later won a play-off.

In 1931, Clifford Sherwood edited a chess column in the Los Angeles Times.

In 1932, the Hayward High School won the Northern California High School Chess League.

In 1932, Dr. M. Scholtz won the Los Angeles chess championship.

In 1932, Adolph Fink won the San Francisco chess championship.

On May 29, 1932, the Annual Chess Tournament between Northern California and Southern California, held in San Luis Obispo was won by the South, with the score of 10.5 - 9.5.

On August 14, 1932, Alexander Alekhine arrived on the eve of the Chess Congress Masters Tournament (part of the Los Angeles Congress) at the Maryland Hotel in Pasadena, following the 10th Modern Olympic Games at Los Angeles. Alekhine won the event (and $250) with a score of 8.5-2.5. Isaac Kashdan took 2nd with a score of 7.5-3.5. Next were Arthur Dake, Sammy Reshevsky, and Herman Steiner with 6.5. Next came Harry Borochow, California State champion, with the score of 5.5-5.5. He was followed by Fred Reinfeld, Jacob Bernstein, Reuben Fine, and Samuel Factor, all with 5-6. Jose Araiza came next with a score of 3.5-7.5. Last place went to Adolph Fink, San Francisco's strongest player, with a score of 3-8. It was agreed that the California player having the highest score in this event would be declared champion of California. Thus, Harry Borochow became California champion for the third straight year. This international tournament was promoted by Cecil B. DeMille. The tournament organizers also wanted to invite Capablanca, but Alekhine demanded an extra $2,000 appearance fee if Capablanca participated in the event. The money could not be raised (the whole budget for the tournament was $1,500), and Capablanca was not invited.

In August, 1932, Alekhine, Kashdan, and Dake took a flight over Los Angeles and Pasadena on the Goodyear airship Volunteer. Kashdan and Dake played a chess game on the airship, which was broadcasted from the airship to a local radio station.

On September 1, 1932, Alekhine gave a 50-board simultaneous display at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He lost at least 2 games (to R.McBride and to Dr. M. Scholtz).

On September 15, 1932, Alekhine gave an 8-board simultaneous blindfold exhibition at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, winning 5 and drawing 3.

On December 15, 1932, world champion Alexander Alekhine gave a 22-board simultaneous exhibition at the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC), winning 19 and drawing 3.

On December 17, 1932, Alekhine played against 26 boards at the new Hollywood Chess Club, winning them all. The next day, he then gave a 7-board simultaneous blindfold exhibition at the Hollywood Chess Club, winning 5 and drawing 2. The president of the Hollywood Chess Club was Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Herman Steiner later became the president of the Hollywood Chess Club. Members included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Charles Boyer, and Jose Ferrer.

The 1932-33 Southern California championship was won by George Patterson. 2nd place went to Dr. Robert B. Griffith.

On January 7, 1933, Herman Steiner (1905-1955) played 80 boards with four players at each table (320 players total) at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He won 70, lost 7, and drew 3.

In 1933, the Beverly Hills Chess Club won the Southern California Chess League Championship.

In 1933, the Castle Chess Club won the first Northern California Chess League, followed by the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club, the University of California Chess Club, the Russian Chess Club, the Black Knight's Chess Club, and the Oakland Chess Club.

In 1933, a match on 25 boards was won by the East Bay against San Francisco by the score of 13 to 12.

On April 8, 1933, Jose Capablanca, age 44, played 32 boards at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He won 25, drew 6, and lost one game, to J. Allen and E. Carlson in consultation.

On April 11, 1933, Jose Capablanca, playing the white pieces, played a game of living chess against Herman Steiner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The game was pre-arranged by Capablanca, who checkmated Steiner in 25 moves. Cecil B. DeMille presided as referee and announced the moves.

On May 21, 1933, Capablanca played 23 boards at the Hollywood Chess and Bridge Club, winning 21 and drawing 2 games, against state champion Harry Borochow and to Mrs. Bain.

In July, 1933, Herman Steiner became chess editor of the Los Angeles Times.

In 1933, the Hayward High School won the Northern California High School Chess League.

In 1933, Harry Borochow won the California State Championship.

In 1934, the strongest chess clubs in Southern California included the Yiddish Chess Club, the Los Angeles Chess and Checker Club, the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and the CalTech Chess Club.

In 1934, the Hayward Union High School won the Northern California High School Chess League for the 3rd successive year. Los Angeles High School won the Southern California High School Chess League. Hayward defeated Los Angeles High School by the score of 5-2 to take the state title.

On May 27, 1934, the Annual Chess Tournament between Northern California and Southern California, held in San Luis Obispo was drawn, with the score of 12.5 - 12.5.

In 1934, Harry Borochow won the California State Chess Championship.

In 1934, Robert Carmany won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1935, Harry Borochow won the California State Chess Championship.

In 1935, R.W. Wise won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1936, Harry Borochow won the California State Chess Championship.

In 1936, E.P. Elliot won the Los Angeles Chess Championship.

In 1936, Charles Cody won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

On July 19, 1936, the Hollywood Chess Club drew a short-wave radio match, using Morse Code, with the Hawaii Army Chess Club. It may have been the first overseas radio chess match. Two boards were played. Hollywood lost on board one game and won on board two.

In June, 1937, Arthur Dake gave a 24-board simul at the Mechanics' Institute. He won 18, lost 2, and drew 4 games.

In 1937, Northern California defeated Southern California in their annual match by the score of 13 to 12. The event was held in San Luis Obispo.

In 1937, Harry Borochow won the California State Championship.

In 1937, Robert Carmany won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1938, Northern California defeated Southern California by the score of 14.5 - 10.5, held in San Luis Obispo.

In 1938, Harry Borochow won the California State Championship.

In 1938, A. R. Chapman won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1939, I.A. Horowitz gave simul exhibitions in California. In Los Angeles, he won 19, lost 4, and drew 1. In Carmel, he won 25 and drew 1. In San Francisco, he won 18, lost 1, and drew 4.

In March, 1939, the Mechanics' Institute won the Northern California Chess League, followed by the Castle Chess Club, the Russian Chess Club, the Oakland Chess Club, the University of California Chess Club, the Alameda Chess Club, and the San Francisco Chess Club.

On April 8, 1939, San Francisco beat the East Bay in their annual match by the score of 14.5 to 10.5.

On May 21, 1939, Northern California defeated Southern California by the score of 14 to 12. The event was held in San Luis Obispo.

In November, 1939, Philip Woliston, age 19, won the California State Championship, held at the Hollywood Chess Group. 2nd-3rd place went to Harry Borochow and Herman Steiner. George Koltanowski took 4th place.

In 1939, Milton Meyer won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.