Foundation honors longtime chimes musician Jani Sue Eisenhut as the island landmark enters its second century.
For generations of Southern California boaters, arriving in Avalon Harbor has been accompanied by a familiar soundtrack.
Long before stepping ashore, visitors often hear the Westminster chimes echoing across the harbor from the Catalina Chimes Tower, one of the island’s most recognizable landmarks. As the historic tower celebrates its centennial this year, the Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation is recognizing the people whose dedication has helped preserve the tradition for decades.
Among those being honored is lifelong Avalon resident Jani Sue Eisenhut, who’s played the Catalina Chimes since 1967. The foundation recently unveiled a commemorative plaque recognizing her nearly six decades of service, ensuring the music has continued to greet residents and visitors alike.
Perched on a hillside overlooking Avalon Harbor, the Catalina Chimes Tower has become an iconic stop for visitors exploring the island. While many know it today for its panoramic harbor views, the tower’s history dates back a century.
William Wrigley Jr. and his wife, Ada, purchased the 20 Deagan Westminster chimes in 1925 and commissioned construction of the tower later that year. The chimes first rang out across Avalon in March 1926, beginning a tradition that has become woven into the island’s identity.
For Eisenhut, preserving that tradition has been a lifelong commitment. Raised in Avalon, she grew up inside the Catalina Casino, where she worked as an usher in the Avalon Theatre before eventually taking over responsibility for playing the historic chimes. Since 1967, she has continued performing the melodies that have become synonymous with life on Catalina Island.
The foundation also honored the late Charlie Canby, whose years maintaining the historic instrument helped keep the century-old chimes in working order for generations of island residents and visitors.
“The Chimes Tower is one of Catalina Island’s most recognizable and historically significant landmarks,” Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation President Alison Wrigley Rusack said. “Jani and Charlie devoted countless hours to preserving a tradition that has become part of the identity of Avalon.”
The Catalina Chimes Tower remains a favorite destination for visitors exploring Avalon, but for boaters entering the harbor, it often serves as one of the first reminders that they have arrived on the island. Along with the Catalina Casino, Green Pleasure Pier and the harbor itself, the chimes have become part of the experience that draws thousands of recreational boaters to Catalina each year.
The Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation, established in 2013, continues to restore and maintain the historic structure and its Westminster chimes through community support and charitable donations. As the landmark enters its second century, foundation officials say those preservation efforts will help ensure the familiar sound continues to welcome future generations of island visitors.
