The Welcoming Committee: The Tale of Eiler Larsen

A few months ago, while in California, we stopped in the artsy seaside town of Laguna Beach. While walking, I noticed a really friendly statue of a man waving. Doing some digging, I learned that it was a memory dedicated to one of Laguna’s friendliest residents, Eiler Larsen. 

Elier Larson was a Danish immigrant born in 1890 who came to the United States in 1916. He would go on to serve the 8th Infantry for the United States in World War 1. During the war he would sustain a leg injury that would cause him to have a cane for the rest of his life. 

When he came back, he briefly worked as a messenger for Wall Street and then started traveling along the East Coast of the United States. When the Great Depression hit, Eiler decided to head west and ended up in the San Francisco area of California. 

One day, he heard about the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach and decided to head there. Part of the event is that live people would be cast to recreate famous paintings' subjects. Eiler was cast to play Judas to recreate the artwork of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. He would annually return to reprise his role until he decided to make Laguna his permanent residence. He would often have gardening jobs or work in a local pottery studio for income. 

One of his most notable traits as a resident was his ability to wave at cars passing by him on the street. He would often yell, "Hallooo!", "Delighted to see you!" or "Are you alive?! " His friendly demeanor made him a star in local newspapers, and many local artists used him as a model. 

Some residents complained that Larsen was too loud. Thankfully, the city council supported Larsen, as the city loved him. He was so loved by many residents that when he recovered from a stroke in 1953, the town raised $3000 so he could fly back to his hometown in Denmark. 

In 1975, Larsen passed away. The town dedicated two statues of Larsen for passersby to see. Though Larsen is gone, the town fondly remembers its greeter.