For 40 years Eiler Larsen, a native of Denmark, gave a friendly wave and warm smile to all those who passed through Laguna Beach. He began his “greeting” career during the Depression while living in Washington D.C. His cheery smile and bubbly personality gave people a much needed hope that things would get better, In the 30′s he moved out West first to San Francisco then Carmel. His friends urged him to go South and try out for the famed Pageant of the Masters held annually in Laguna Beach. Eiler Larsen was a natural for the production with his long hair and beard. He soon made this little artist colony his “greeting corner” of the world. The city fathers proclaimed him the Official Laguna Greeter in 1963. They even put his foot-prints in the sidewalk. Visitors and Lagunatics alike looked forward to Larsen’s friendly wave and warm greetings.
