Tag Archives: Santa Monica
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
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 Sovereign Apartments at 2nd St and Washington Ave, Santa Monica, California, 1931
I have no information about this Spanish Revival Style apartment block at 2nd St and Washington Ave in Santa Monica other than they were called the Sovereign Apartments, they were built in 1928, this photo is from 1931, and they’re … 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
Third Street in Santa Monica before it was made into a pedestrian promenade, California, circa mid 1950s
In terms of attracting money-spending foot-traffic, one of the best things Santa Monica did was to convert Third Street into a pedestrian-only zone between Broadway and Wilshire Blvd. The city cut off all vehicular traffic in the mid-1960s so by … Continue reading
Ralph’s supermarket on the corner of 3rd Street and Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, 1940
I’m sure that the big white slab holding Ralph’s vertical blade sign has a technical, architectural name—but I don’t know it. Whatever it’s called, I like the way adds a little dramatic oomph to an everyday business like a supermarket. … Continue reading
Angelenos relaxing in a covered pavilion at the Edgewater Beach Club, Santa Monica, California, 1926
In the 1920s, Santa Monica beach had several beach clubs lining the shore: the Breakers, Edgewater, Del Mar. This photo was taken in a pavilion at the Edgewater Beach Club, whose address was listed as “1855 Promenade” which doesn’t even … Continue reading