Tag Archives: Santa Monica
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
Route 1 aka Roosevelt Highway aka Pacific Coast Highway along the coast north of Santa Monica in 1905
Back in 1905, when this photo was taken, going for a Sunday drive (or any day of the week) along the California coast on Route 1 aka Roosevelt Highway aka Pacific Coast Highway aka PCH was not for the faint … Continue reading
Looking north along a very crowded Ocean Park section of Santa Monica Beach, California, 1925
Between the more famous Santa Monica and Venice Beaches is a stretch of Los Angeles called Ocean Park. In this photo we’re looking north along a very, very crowded stretch of Ocean Park beach in 1925 during what I can … Continue reading
Looking north along Santa Monica Beach toward the Casa Del Mar Beach Club and Santa Monica Pier, 1920
The photographer of this 1920 photo was standing on Santa Monica Beach looking north. In the far distance we can see the Santa Monica pier. On the right are a couple of the large beach clubs that were popular back … Continue reading
A Van De Kamp’s Bakery on the bottom floor of the Parkhurst Building, 185 Pier Ave, Santa Monica, 1925
Practically every photo I’ve come across of a Van De Kamp’s Bakery shows the attention to detail that went into those stores. This one is a case in point. It was housed in the Parkhurst Building at 185 Pier Ave … Continue reading