Tag Archives: Santa Monica
Aerial photo Santa Monica beach and pier, 1924
This 1924 shot gives us a rare aerial view Santa Monica beach and (one of the incarnations of) its pier. I believe at this time the pier was known as Pleasure Pier—that rollercoaster looks impressively large. We can also see … Continue reading
Louis B. Mayer’s home at 625 Palisades Beach Rd, Santa Monica, built 1936
This beautiful 20-room home was built by MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer in 1936—apparently in just six weeks! It stood at 625 Palisades Beach Road in Santa Monica. At the time, that stretch of beach was very popular with the … Continue reading
Advertisement for the Syd Chaplin Aircraft Corporation featuring their schedule of flights, circa 1919
Sydney John “Syd” Chaplin (16 March 1885 — 16 April 1965) was an English actor. He was the elder half-brother of Sir Charlie Chaplin and served as his business manager. In May 1919, along with pilot Emery Rogers, he formulated … Continue reading
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Tagged Airports Aircraft Airlines, Movie Stars, Santa Monica
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Sorrento Beach Club, 808 Ocean Front, Santa Monica.
Sorrento Beach Club, Formerly The Gables Beach Club – “Where Wilshire meets the sea” – 808 Ocean Front, Santa Monica, Phone: 27290
Marion Davies / William Randolph Hearst Santa Monica Beach house.
When most of us think, “I’ll build a beach house!” we think of a cute little cottage that opens out onto the sand, some ivy, maybe. But when Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst had that idea, this was the … Continue reading
1912 view of Nevada Ave (now Wilshire Blvd) in Santa Monica
It seems hard to believe it now, but the Santa Monica beach end of Wilshire Blvd was, in the 1910s, known as Nevada Ave, and was part of a racecourse. This shot was taken in 1912:
Third Street, Santa Monica, 1891
Given how it looks today, it’s hard to imagine that Third Street in Santa Monica was ever the quiet, unpaved road that it was in this photo from 1891.
Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, 1963 photographed by Julian Wasser.
When “America the Beautiful” sings about “from sea to shining sea,” it could be talking about this 1963 shot of Wilshire Blvd as it takes its straight final run to the Pacific ocean at Santa Monica beach. I love how … Continue reading
California Incline in Santa Monica circa 1910s
This is how the California Incline in Santa Monica looked circa 1910s. There’s only one automobile in sight! (Mind you, in back then, how many cars would there have been in all of Santa Monica?) And look at how short … Continue reading
Advertisement for the gambling ship “Rex” which was off Santa Monica Beach until the early 1930s
And here’s an advertisement for the SS Rex gambling ship off Santa Monica from the Daily Racing Form in 1939: