In this shot we can see Ocean Park Beach in Santa Monica crowded with bathers, circa 1920s. Given the fashions of the time and the weather of Los Angeles, I’m sure all these people were very glad to be at the beach, where they had some chance of cooling off. (That’s the Ocean Park pier in the background.)
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Thanks for this photo of Ocean Park Beach. In the 1940s, when my family lived in Burbank, we would often, in the summer time, go to Santa Monica to spend a day at the brach, cooling off in the chilly water. Some times we would persuade my Father to bring the camping equipment so we could sleep overnight on the sand (it was allowed then). We would pitch our tents, build a camp fire, ( also allowed then), roast marshmellows and hot dogs and have a wondrful time. My Dad, although going along with our request, often said,”Why do we choose to sleep on the beach, with sand getting all over us when we have a comfortable home, with soft beds, just 45 minutes away. For a kid of 9 years old, it was a real adventure and made perfict sense. What a time that was, and what a childhood I had.
Even though he didn’t understand the appeal, I’m still glad for your sake that he give you such adventurous memories, Richard.