Tag Archives: Beaches
A wreckage-strewn Santa Monica Beach after the devastating flooding of Santa Monica Canyon, California, March 1939
In 1938, Los Angeles endured unprecedented rains and subsequent flooding. The first storm hit February 27 and 28, unleashing 4.5 inches of rain. Then on March 1, a second storm hit with gale-force winds, dumping ten inches of rain. It … Continue reading
Colorized postcard of the entrance Dragon Gorge roller coaster, Ocean Park, Los Angeles, circa 1912
In the 10+ years I’ve been posting daily photos of Hollywood/Los Angeles/Southern California, I’ve never even heard of the structure pictured in this postcard. This was the dramatic entrance to a roller coaster called the Dragon Gorge Scenic Railway, whose … Continue reading
Aerial view showing four pleasure piers – Santa Monica Pier, Crystal Pier, Ocean Park Pier, Venice Pier, Los Angeles, circa 1930s
In the 1930s, pleasure-seeking Angelenos certainly weren’t starved for choice when looking for some beachside fun. This aerial shot shows four “pleasure piers” built one next to the other. From the top down, there’s the Santa Monica Pier, Crystal Pier, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Aerial photographs, Beaches, Santa Monica, Santa Monica pier, Venice Beach
3 Comments
Looking along the Santa Monica pier past the Blue Streak Racer roller coaster and the Looff Hippodrome, Santa Monica, California, circa 1922
In this circa 1922 photo, we’re looking along the Santa Monica pier from the shoreline out toward the Pacific. It looks like there was plenty of diversion for Angelenos. The ornate building with the cupola was (and still is) the … Continue reading
Angelenos fill the beach with umbrellas rented from the Venice Bath House, Venice Beach, California, circa 1910s
It must have been a warm and sunny LA day sometime in the 1910s when this photo was taken of Venice Beach as there are beach umbrellas as far as we can see. Given how covered people were back then … Continue reading
A partial view of Lick’s Pier, Ocean Park, Santa Monica, California, 1929
This partial view of Lick’s Pier in the Ocean Park section of Santa Monica (next to Venice), California, was taken in 1929. It shows two different ballrooms—the Egyptian and the Bon Ton—as well as a few thrill rides. This is … Continue reading
A brightly lit Windward Avenue at night, Venice Beach, California, 1939
If ever a photo demanded to be a setting for a film noir, surely this is it. This is a 1939 shot looking down Windward Ave toward the Pacific Ocean from Pacific Ave in Venice Beach. I don’t think I … Continue reading
Pacific Electric Red Car runs along the beach north out of Redondo along the ‘Redondo Beach via Playa del Rey’ streetcar line, Los Angeles, circa 1960
Here is scenic streetcar ride I’d like to have taken when it was around. This Pacific Electric Red Car is rolling northward out of Redondo on the ‘Redondo Beach via Playa del Rey’ streetcar route that followed the coastline south … Continue reading
Aerial photograph of the part of Marina Del Ray known as Silver Strand, Los Angeles, February 4, 1959
Until I came across this aerial photo of Marina Del Ray, I’d never heard of a development called Silver Strand, which is what we are looking at here. It’s only 10 blocks long and 2 blocks wide, and stretches from … Continue reading
Passengers riding the Thompson Switchback Gravity Railroad from the Arcadia Hotel into Santa Monica, California, circa 1887
The building in the background of this circa 1887 photo was the Arcadia, a luxury-for-the-time oceanfront hotel in Santa Monica (open from 1886 to 1909) on Ocean Ave between Colorado Ave and what is now known as Pico Blvd. In … Continue reading