It must have been a rather warm day when this photo was taken circa late 1920s. The Angelenos were crowding Ocean Park Beach, which lays between its more famous neighbors, Santa Monica and Venice. The pier in the background was Lick Pier, which was a popular pleasure pier with all sorts of attractions and amusements. At the far right, we can see the outline of the appropriately named Dome Theatre. I can see quite a few men in jackets, ties, and boater hats, but I pity the swimmers. At this time, swimsuits were often made of wool, which sounds awfully uncomfortable, if you ask me.
Ocean Park Beach and Lick Pier (between Santa Monica and Venice), California, circa late 1920s
DODGEM feature was added after 1922 and maybe lost in the 1924 fire. The old dome was lost in that one, and a new version built. The Chutes ride was added to the far end of the pier in 1929 and does not seem to be here. By that time a structure called Frank’s Place seems to have occupied a similar site of the old Dodgem, so this image may be earlier 1920’s era?