Tag Archives: Beaches
Venice Miniature Railway train crossing over a canal bridge en route to Windward Ave, Venice Beach, California, circa 1905
Evidently, Abbot Kinney thought of everything when he created “Venice of America” (which we know today simply as Venice Beach.) Not only did he build a system of canals, but he also thought to install a miniature railway so that … Continue reading
Girl in 1955 Thunderbird drives the streets of Surfridge, California
Nothing can beat Kodachrome photography for clarity and vibrancy of color. In this photo, we can see some lucky girl drive her 1955 Thunderbird (look at that gorgeous blue!) along Ney Street in the beachside development known as Surfridge. Just … Continue reading
A crowded Venice Beach, California, 1917
People dressed for the beach a whole lot differently today than they did in 1917, when this photo was taken on Venice Beach. The place is crowded so I’m assuming it’s not the dead of winter. But look at how … Continue reading
A forest of oil derricks crowds the Huntington Beach coastline, Los Angeles, January 1940
After oil was discovered in Huntington Beach and Long Beach south of Los Angeles, oil wells popped up in their hundreds and pumped out oil for decades. This is a 1940 shot of Huntington Beach—not exactly the sun-dappled, picture-postcard vista … Continue reading
Oil derrick as Christmas tree, Huntington Beach, 1939
Huntington Beach is a lovely ocean-side community just south of Long Beach but back in the 1930s it was dotted with oil wells pulling from the large reserves that lay underground. It can’t have been a very pretty landscape so … Continue reading
Windward Ave at Pacific Ave, Venice, California, 1910
It always slays me to find pictures of Angelenos at Venice Beach all decked out in jackets, ties, hats, and long-sleeved dresses that reach the ground. These days it’s all cut-off jeans and bikini tops. Not that I blame anyone—heaven … Continue reading
Colorized postcard of the pier at Santa Monica, the year it opened in 1909
It took 16 months of construction, but when the Santa Monica pier opened in 1909 it was a big deal. Thousands of people swarmed onto the 1,600-foot-long concrete pier to enjoy a festive day of band concerts, swimming races and … Continue reading
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Tagged Beaches, Color photo, Santa Monica, Santa Monica pier
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Venice Pier built by Abbot Kinney showing the auditorium, the Ship Cafe, the dance pavilion
Here we have a shot of the Venice pier that Abbot Kinney (original developer of Venice) built in 1905. From left to right are the auditorium (with 300 seats), the Cabrillo Ship Café, and the dance pavilion with room for … Continue reading
Panorama photo of the Moorish-style bathhouse and Ocean Park Beach, Santa Monica, California, circa 1905
Click on the above photo to get a larger view. This panorama photo was taken (I’m guessing) from the Santa Monica pier looking south toward the stretch of Ocean Park Beach where the Moorish-style bathhouse opened in 1905. By all … Continue reading
A Thompson gravity switchback railway in front of the Arcadia Hotel, Santa Monica, 1890
Before the monstrous death-defying roller-coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain, there was the Thompson Switchback Gravity Railroad. Mr. Thompson built first one was built at Coney Island in 1884. This one was outside the luxurious-for-the-time Arcadia Hotel in Santa Monica … Continue reading