Tag Archives: Beaches
Ocean Park Beach and Lick Pier (between Santa Monica and Venice), California, circa late 1920s
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 … Continue reading
Looking north along the Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica Beach, 1948
Imagine, if you will, taking a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway that parallels Santa Monica Beach. Now imagine that it’s 1948 and this is how clear the road is. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 25 years and have … Continue reading
Sailing a gondola on the Venice Lagoon, Venice Beach, California, circa early 1900s
When real estate developer Abbot Kinney conceived and built his “Venice of America” project in the opening years of the 20th century, he had a high-minded plan complete with canals. This photo is one of the better ones I’ve come … Continue reading
Angelenos strolling along the Venice Beach midway, California, circa 1900s
This photo of Angelenos strolling along the Venice Beach midway circa 1900s shows that things haven’t really changed much in 120 years. (Well, that is to say apart from the formal way people are dressed while at the beach.) Venice … Continue reading
Manhattan Beach pier at Manhattan Beach Blvd and Ocean Dr., Los Angeles, circa 1939
In this shot we’re seeing the Manhattan Beach pier which stretches in the water from the western end of Manhattan Beach Blvd at Ocean Dr. I wonder if the building on the left is the change rooms, or did people … Continue reading
A crowd of Angelenos watch a band playing out front of the Casino restaurant at Ocean Park, Santa Monica, California, circa 1905
The Casino restaurant in the Ocean Park part of Santa Monica wasn’t a “casino” as we think of it today. Back in 1905, which is around the time this photo was taken, a casino simply referred to a building used … Continue reading
The home of Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer at 707 Ocean Front, Santa Monica, California, circa 1931
Before Malibu became the beachside addressed favored by Hollywood’s celebrated, the place to build was along Ocean Front (now Pacific Coast Highway.) In 1926, MGM chief, Louis B. Mayer, had his leading set designer, Cedric Gibbons, come up with a … Continue reading
The Looff Hippodrome housing the Looff’s carousel on the Santa Monica pier, Santa Monica, California, circa 1920
This rather marvelous edifice was called the Looff Hippodrome on the Santa Monica pier, photographed circa 1920. It was built in 1916 by Charles Looff to hold a Looff Carousel. (Looff was a German-born builder of hand-carved carousels and built … Continue reading
Pacific Electric’s streetcar #149 leaving Santa Monica en route to the Long Wharf, 1916
The Angelenos seen here riding Pacific Electric’s streetcar #149 look as though they’re out for Sunday excursion. The year was 1916 and they’re about to leave Santa Monica for a trip to the Long Wharf which, when it opened in … Continue reading
Looking south along Santa Monica Beach toward the pier, Los Angeles, 1929
It looks like living right on the beach was very popular even back as far as 1929, when this photo was taken from the top of the Santa Monica palisades looking south toward the pier where we can see the … Continue reading