Jeffrey Stanton Santa Monica Pier A History from 1875 to 1990, Donahue Publishing: Los Angeles, CA, 1990, 1935, 1930s
"Santa Monica assumed control over their Municipal Pier on April 17, 1934. G. T. Mills, deputy pier manager. Commissioner H.C. Sanborn . . . p. 82
" . . .
"The breakwater was dedicated on Sunday August 5, 1934 . . . Congressman John Dockweiler spoke . . .
" . . . speeches by Mayor Carter, County Supervisor Quinn and Congressman Dockweiler. "The plaque ritual, conducted by Charles A. Koenig, grand president of the Native Sons of the Golden West . . ." p. 84
"SERA (Social Economic Recovery Act) funds were used to pay workers to repaint and repave the pier.
"Leases were granted to Morris Pleasure Fishing, Hernage and Bray, Kern and Tedford, and Charles Arnold. Santa Monica Bait and Tackle and later Frank Volk offered fishing supplies. Both Union Oil and Standard Oil serviced the fishing fleet, piped from tanks buried on the beach.
" . . .
"The city, in need of a convention center, leased the La Monica Ballroom in October to serve as a 4000 seat convention hall. It was a two year lease . . . The building would also be used to house the lifeguard headquarters, offices for the harbor and the city's publicity departments, and concessions catering to fishermen and yachtsmen.
"In some ways it was a sad fate for the famous ballroom, but hard times had hit the financially strapped Santa Monica Amusement Co. Pier patrons had little money to spend during the Depression and company had to close virtually all their amusements except the carousel, shuffleboard and shooting gallery concessions. Ernest Pickering resigned at the end of the 1934 season when the amusement conpany couldn't afford his salary. The company eventually declared bankruptcy the following spirng.
"SERA carpenter crews began the remodeling job shortly before Christmas with lumber salvaged from motion picture studios. They began work on the lifeguard headquarters and sleeping quarters located on the northeast corner of the building. The guards planned to furnish their offices with used nautical gear from a salvage company in San Pedro . . .
"Offices, concessions, and conference rooms facing inwards were built in a square around the huge dance hall floor. Each conference room resembled houses of different countries and periods, complete with roofs and chimneys. The row of cottages on the east side included a Swiss Chalet, and English cottage, Pompeian reception room, Italian room, and a garden room. A stage accomodating 300, sixty feet long and forty foot deep, was constructed at the south end of the ballroom. Offices for the convention center as well as for the California Naval Militia, the Santa Monica Sailing Club, and lifeguard services were on the mezzanine level. Six store-fronts were built along the north side of the auditorium and leased out to defray rent of the entire building." p. 87
" . . . The Wrigley interests approached the city about inaugurating an experimental line if the city was willing to build pier docking facilities. Commissioner Sanborn conferred with Captain W.H. Leisk of the steamer Cabrillo and determined that it involved extending the lower deck by eighteen feet so that tidal surges wouldn't throw the steamship against the pilings . . .