Fred E. Basten Santa Monica Bay: The First 100 Years, A pictorial history of Santa Monica, Venice, Ocean Park, Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu, Douglas-West Publishers: Los Angeles, CA, 1974, 227 pp., 1908, 1906, 1905, 1904, 1902, 1901, 1900, 1892, 1880s,
Loring's Lunchroom opened on the north shore end of the Santa Monica Pier in 1902. Page 62.
"Actual development in the Venice area began in 1892 when Abbot Kinney, world-traveled connoisseur of art and scenic beauty (and wealthy manufacturer of Sweet Caporal cigarettes), induced the Santa Fe Railroad to extend its tracks northward from Port Ballona . . . that was abandoned in the mid-1880's . . . (p. 76) Kinney actively began in 1900 to build the 'Venice of America' . . . He then began negotiations with Henry E. Huntington's newly organized Pacific Electric Company . . . Huntington constructed the Lagoon Line south from Santa Monica in 1901 and the following year began grading an entirely new route, the Venice Short Line, directly from downtown Los Angeles." (p. 77)
"Ocean Park was Abbot Kinney's first real estate development on Santa Monica Bay. Concentrating on providing resort facilities and vacation housing along the beach, he and his partners constructed a small community in less than five years on land that was formerly sandy waste. In 1901, Ocean Park was a village of 200 cottages with a post office, stores, a pleasure pier (extending 1,250 feet into the ocean), an auditorium, a race track and a casino. The development of Ocean Park coincided with a major influx of newcomers from the midwestern states and, at the same time, a boom in home construction. When the town was incorporated in 1904, there was every indication of rapid growth as a year-round residential area as well as a resort. Despite the immediate success of this venture, Kinney was not satisfied. Being a romantic, he began to concentrate on his dream city, the 'Venice of America.'
"Looking more like a movie set, the Ocean Park Bath House was one of the most talked about buildings of its day-and a great draw for the beach area. The lavish indoor plunge (heated for those who didn't take to cooler ocean swimming) was built by A.R. Fraser, who earlier had been a partner with Abbot Kinney and others in the Ocean Park Improvement Company. The bath house is shown here just before completion in 1905." page 68 [picture on pp. 68 and 69]
"Gateway to the Ocean Park Pier, ca 1905. This promenade of casinos, cafes, and game parlors, eventually became Pier Avenue. View looking east." (p. 70)
"Ocean Park's first beach houses along the boardwalk, ca 1900. The small white building, just below the crest of the hill (left center) is the original Washington School, located at Fourth Street and Ashland." p. 71
"Ocean Park Casino, 1902. It was considered 'the' place for tennis and teas." p. 73
"With Ocean Park and Venice taking up the 'carnival spirit,' Santa Monica began emphasizing ease of living, the quiet home life . . . it had a reputation for being a tough town. 'Passengers on the Balloon Route should be blindfolded while passing through Santa Monica.' The town was wide open. Saloons flourished. Park benches and street corners were 'strewn with unsavory characters.'
"By . . . 1906 Santa Monica no longer catered to beach crowds who had abandoned it in favor of Ocean Park and Venice. (p. 82)
[p. 86 picture of the Ocean Park Fire House & Hose Cart, 1902.]
"Santa Monica's reputation . . . as a placid community was shattered in 1908 . . . the movie industry . . . " p. 88
[Pictures on page 93 shown some Ocean Park building detals.]