Tag Archives: Santa Monica
A view of Santa Monica from the pier in 1877.
This is the view of Santa Monica from the pier, circa 1887. I didn’t know there even was a pier in Santa Monica from which to look back and view the half-dozen buildings there. At least you could guaranteed that … Continue reading
Shoppers exit a Santa Monica Bay Cities Transit Bus, 1938
How cute is this little bus? It was a Bay Cities Transit Bus, which (I’m educatedly guessing) Santa Monica ladies took to go shopping at all the nice stores on Wilshire Blvd. This shot is from 1938 when the two-light … Continue reading
Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica in 1938
This is the Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica in 1938—probably somewhere near the California Incline, I’d say. It looks so calm and peaceful (and easy to find a park), doesn’t it? I can see a total of FIVE cars on … Continue reading
Birdseye view of resorts near Los Angeles, California 1910 to 1913.
This caption on this photo was “Birdseye view of resorts near Los Angeles, California 1910 to 1913.” It reminds us how parts of greater LA were once distinct areas. I can see how Venice and Santa Monica could be considered … Continue reading
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Tagged Beaches, Color photo, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice Beach
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A Pacific Electric Red Car stops at Santa Monica’s Ocean Ave. station, early 1950s.
I love coming across a color photo that shows how red the Red Cars were. They must really have been a bright splash of color as they rattled their way down the streets of Los Angeles. This one was taken … Continue reading
Gables Beach Club, Santa Monica beach, circa late 1920s
In the 1920s and 30s, a number of fancy beach club were built along Santa Monica beach: the aptly named Santa Monica Beach Club, and the French-inspired Deauville Beach Club. There was also the Gables Beach Club, a grand Tudor-style … Continue reading
El Miro theater, 1441 Third St., Santa Monica, circa 1930s
Ah, they don’t make theater facades like this anymore, do they? This is the El Miro theater which stood at 1441 Third Street (now the Third Street Promenade) in Santa Monica. I love those clean deco lines and the light … Continue reading
Building the Santa Monica Freeway
Freeways have been a part of the L.A. landscape for so long now that it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t there, or what the cityscape looked like before they were built. This shot is of the Santa … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Downtown Los Angeles, Freeways, Los Angeles, Santa Monica
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Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer’s beach house on Santa Monica beach
MGM’s Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer had a beach house on Santa Monica beach. As with his neighbors Louis B. Mayer and William Randolph Hearst, it sat right on the edge of the sand. But unlike his neighbors, Thalberg was … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Beaches, MGM, Movie Stars, Santa Monica
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MGM art director Cedric Gibbons livingroom, Santa Monica, 1930s
Cedric Gibbons was the king of art direction during MGM’s greatest years: 1925 to 1956. It was his eye that gave their pictures that sumptuous MGM look, so you can imagine that his house wouldn’t be too shabby. This is … Continue reading