Tag Archives: Santa Monica
Ocean Park Promenade, Santa Monica, California, circa 1907
Oh, what a different time it was. This photo of Ocean Park Promenade in Santa Monica shows how people went for a walk at the beach circa 1907 – fully dressed with hats, collars, ties, and floor-length dresses. I love … Continue reading
Dolores del Rio and her husband, MGM art director Cedric Gibbons in their Santa Monica home, May 28 1931
I love the sun-dappled tranquility captured in this shot of Dolores del Rio and her husband Cedric Gibbons in their 757 Kingman Ave, Santa Monica home, May 28, 1931. I think being married to MGM’s legendary and ubiquitous art director … Continue reading
Surfridge, California, 1949
Sometimes, I like to post a photo, not because it’s of a significant place to event but because it gives us a glimpse into everyday life in LA. This shot was taken in the town of Surfridge in 1949. Surfridge … Continue reading
North Santa Monica Beach, shortly after the Southern Pacific railroad reached the town, 1880s
This is what the northern end of Santa Monica beach looked like in the 1880s, shortly after the Southern Pacific railroad reached the town. It looks like a long, broad wooden platform was built on the sand, with—by the looks … Continue reading
“At the 1936 opening of the Roosevelt Highway (later renamed Pacific Coast Highway)”…maybe
This photo was captioned “At the 1936 opening of the Roosevelt Highway (later renamed Pacific Coast Highway)” which I’m not sure is right. The stretch of Highway 1 that was dubbed Roosevelt Highway was dedicated in 1929. Those girls are … Continue reading
Downtown train service to Santa Monica, 1892
This marvelous photo shows the arrival of a train from downtown L.A. into Santa Monica in 1892 (on what would have been the Los Angeles-Santa Monica Railroad, which later merged along with other lines to become the Los Angeles Pacific … Continue reading
Ocean Ave, Santa Monica beach, circa 1950
Don’t we all wish Ocean Ave along Santa Monica beach still looked like it does in this circa 1950 photo? In the 20 years I’ve lived here, I’ve never been there when it hasn’t been thronging with people…which is great … Continue reading
The bar at Irving Thalberg’s beach house, Santa Monica, circa 1930
Here we can see the bar at Irving Thalberg’s beach house in Santa Monica beach, circa 1930. From what we can see, it looks delightfully art deco, but my first thought was “It’s rather small, considering whose bar it is.” … Continue reading
Bird’s-eye view of the Santa Monica shoreline north from Castellammare Drive, circa 1932
This circa 1932 bird’s-eye view of the Santa Monica shoreline was taken north of Castellammare Drive, which is not far from the “Inceville” photo I posted recently where Sunset Blvd meets the Pacific. It looks so peaceful, doesn’t it? One … Continue reading
Santa Monica Pier and boardwalk, 1920
In this 1920 shot of the Santa Monica Pier, what struck me was the boardwalk paralleling the shoreline in what looks like halfway up the beach. North of that there seems to be a grassy area…? (albeit rather patchy looking … Continue reading