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., 1963, 1950s, 1926, 1925, 1924, 1923, 1922, 1921, 1920s
"With the dawn of the '20s, following World War I, the rush of people into Southern California turned into a flood. Los Angeles had two booming industries, oil and motion pictures. Venice and Ocean Park were the 'fun capitals'{sic} of the coast-if not the world. Santa Monica was being reborn with a new civic spirit . . . the most natural center for 'refined pleasures.' . . . In 1921, a group . . . formed the All-Year Club to promote the virtues of the Southland. . . . Overnight, the town lost its staid, provincial and exclusive character. A full-scale amusement pier, one to rival those down the shore, was born and the beach club era was about to begin. In 1922, ornate clubs started to blossom up and down the beach from Ocean Park to Santa Monica Canyon and by 1923 more than 15 membership organizations were flourishing. . . . " p. 110.
[Pictures on pages 112 and 113 of Santa Monica Blue Streak Roller Coaster and Venice, Oean Park and Santa Monica Piers. ca 1922.]
[Between pages 133 and 114 is a four page layout of the Ocean Park Pier from Rose Avenue, 1921. On the back of this are several photos, one of the Municipal buses at Hendrick's Corner (Lincoln and Pico Blvds., now a dry cleaners and restaurant.]
[Pages 122 through 129 are photos taken from atop a power pole at the intersection of Fourth and Marine Streets beginning with Culver City and moving west all the way through Malibu to Westwood.]
[p. 137 A Corner of Ocean Park looking toward the amusement area, 1924.]
[pp. 138 and 139 Ocean Park Pier ablaze in 1924.][
[p. 140 Pier and Speedway 1924 Hotel Edmond Phone 63151 Ocean Park]
[p. 141 Main and Navy 1924 W.L. Heinickle Lincoln Ford Fordson Phone 61007 Venice]
[p. 142 Lake and Rose 1924 Patten & Davies Lumber Phone 61963 Venice]
[p. 143 116 Pier 1924 Fullerton & Campbell Ocean Park]
[p. 144 ca 1925 Merritt Jones Hotel Ocean Park]
[p.144 "Looking toward Santa Monica from Rose and Main Streets, early twenties]
The La Monica Ball Room: Excels in Beauty and Splendor: Spectacular Lighting Effects; finest Dance Floor in America; 5,000 can dance with comfort; room for 5,000 spectators
[see photos on pages 128, 146, 147. 148, 149, 150]
"The La Monica Ballroom on Santa Monica Pier was billed as the largest ballroom in the world (it could accommodate 10,000 persons easily-with room to roam). Inside, with its ornamental carvings, gilt chandeliers, carved ballastrades(sic) and upholstered settees, the setting was palatial, reminescent (sic) of some exotic far-off land (the vogue in silent movies of the day). Outside, with its stylized Byzantine domed turrets, the building looked strangely fascinating as it 'floated' on pilings above the surf-a giant arena from another time and place. (page 146).
"In 1924, the La Monica Ballroom was open for dancing at 7:30 pm every night of the year-with afternoon matinees scheduled for 2:30 pm. Loge seating was available around the perimeter of the dance floor for spectators and reservations were necessary. The resident orchestra of 18 musicians was conducted by Don Clark." p. 147
"South side of the La Monica Ballroom, 1926. In later years when its glory days as a dance palace had faded, other attractions such as country-western shows lured customers to the then renamed Santa Monica Ballroom. Ultimately, the building was transformed into a roller rink. After several bouts with fire, it was torn down in 1963." p. 147
"As it does today, this grassy oasis-on-the-beach offered visitors in 1926 a comfortable place to relax and play. The park, with its colonnaded arbor, is located just south of Pico Boulevard. The Crystal Beach pier is seen in the background." p. 152
"Advertising 1926: Ocean Park: The Unsurpassed All Year 'Playground of the West' Because the miles of natural silver strand bathing beach The Mammoth Indoor Ocean Park Plunge Always courteous Attendants and Efficient Swimming Instructors The Ideally Beautiful and Alluring Egyptian Ballroom And innumerable high-class attractions on the Ocean Park Pier 'The Playground of the West' All Steel and Concrete Construction-Absolutely Fireproof." p. 154
"Buy Now Before its to (sic) Late: Santa Monica Mountain Acreage 'We know the Mountains'
Louis T. Busch Co. Ocean Ave. at Pico, Phone 24430" p. 156
"Crystal Beach Made Famous by Celebrites (sic) Billy Cox's Orchestra 10--Pieces--10 Rendezvous Ball Room The Home of Refined Dancing Crystal Beach, Santa Monica Phone 62801." "Crystal Beach, mid-way between Santa Monica and Ocean Park Piers, was a popular place to relax-if you could find a spot. The Crystal Beach Bath House and Plunge, an open-air attraction located at the foot of Hollister Avenue, was removed in the '50s." p.160
"Advertising, 1928 Plumbing: "Hurry!" "Right Away, Madam." When your plumbing gets jamed (sic) you can get us on the wire.
Theodore I. Cooney, 2901 Main St., Ocean Park, Calif. Phone 62669." "Hendricks Corner, Pico and Lincoln Boulevards" pp. 168 and 169
[The corner looks like a combination mini-mall and Mooresque Fantasy.]