At five fifty four in the afternoon on the 10th of March in 1933, Long Beach, California was stricken with a terrible earthquake. The epicenter was actually off the coast southeast of the city. As it turns out, close enough.
It lasted for ten seconds. Ten horrific seconds.
There were as many as 120 casualties, and millions of dollars in property damage. The damage was widespread, but schools were particularly hard hit. It was noted if it had happened a few hours earlier when the schools were still open the death total would have been much higher, and mostly children.
Damage extended across the area.
As it happens W C Fields was shooting a film when it struck.
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