REYES, Peter Victor

REYES, Peter Victor (1875-1950), well-known Santa Catalina Island photographer and fourth mayor of Avalon (1918-1926). Among other credits, his work appears in Zane Grey's Great Game Fishing in Catalina (1919). In about 1910, Reyes visited and photographed the northern Channel Islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands. The majority of his island photographs were taken on Santa Catalina Island, and many are in the collection of the Santa Catalina Island Museum.

In the News~

August 10, 1915 [TI/Avalon]: P. V. Reyes was running a half-page advertisement presenting the merits of photograph establishment. He is still in business here.

January 14, 1925 [TI/Avalon]: “Among the familiar names of 1908 are launch Mabel F, P. V. Reyes, Hotel Hermosa, Hotel Glenmore, Island Villa, J. Albert, and Hotel Stamford.”

May 21, 1942 [TI/Avalon]: “Funeral services will be held Friday for the late Mrs. P. V. Reyes, aged 66, who passed away Wednesday morning after a prolonged illness of more than ten years. Mrs. Reyes is survived by her husband, formerly Mayor of Avalon, and by an aunt, Mrs. R. Danielson of Los Angeles… Mr. and Mrs. Reyes came to Avalon during the Banning Company’s ownership of Catalina and established the Reyes Photograph Gallery and Art Store. Hundreds of the ‘fish pictures’ caried away by the enthusiastic anglers of Catalina’s earlier days, were taken by Mr. and Mrs. Reyes. For several years Mrs. Reyes was Avalon’s ‘first lady’ and was very active in community and other humanitarian work. She was a trained nurse and in the days prior to the establishent of the local hospital, Mrs. Reyes gave freely of her time and services to those who were ill or injured. Old time residents of Avalon have many affectionate rememberances of Mrs. Reyes. During the past ten years she has been confined to a hospital in Santa Monica and has been unabe to reside in her Avalon home at 724 Crescent Avenue. Mr. Reyes was present when whis wife passed away. A number of floral tributes from avalon friends have been telegraphed to the Todd & Leslie Mortuary for the ceremony tomorrow.”