Join us for an illustrated lecture on the history of Pacific Ocean Park with authors Christopher Merritt and Domenic Priore!

Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles' Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier - Lecture and Booksigning with authors Christopher Merritt and Domenic Priore

Friday, May 5 · 7pm
Philosophical Research Society
3910 Los Feliz Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Pacific Ocean Park -- or as it was commonly known in Los Angeles from the '50s through the '70s, P.O.P. -- was extraordinary in both its glamorous rise and spectacular fall. As a family-oriented attraction in the '50s with modernist-styled rides designed by Hollywood's best, P.O.P.'s attendance briefly surpassed that of Disneyland.



This illustrated lecture on the history of this Southern California icon with authors Christopher Merritt and Domenic Priore, whose spectacular book Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles' Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier includes hundreds of images, most of them unseen elsewhere, including original ride designs and illustrations, including Tiki-rich, space age, and nautical rides. P.O.P. was often widely seen in movies and television shows throughout the '60s. Its Cheetah auditorium hosted important early rock shows, including those by Ritchie Valens, The Doors, and Pink Floyd. P.O.P. was located at the dividing line between Santa Monica and Venice, the only spot during Prohibition-era Los Angeles where residents were allowed to dance and consort in a carnival-like atmosphere. The book also backgrounds the infamous "Dogtown" of the '70s in which surfers took advantage of big waves that rolled through P.O.P.'s rotting piers near homeless junkies.

Following the presentation, authors Christopher Merritt and Domenic Priore will sign copies of their book on Pacific Ocean Park, available right now on Amazon!



Ticket Price: $15 (in-person and Zoom options available)

For more info & to buy tickets, Click Here

This is what LA's coastline could have looked like had city planners from the 1950s/60s actually gotten their proposed futurist projects built. Historically these projects were blocked or defunded through protests, environmental concerns, and budget cuts.

Tonan finds one of his old surf trophies and reclls some good times with Christian Fletcher, Matt Biolos, and more....

Click Here for more Stories with Tonan



Check out Tonan's Clothing Line: Naybor Hoodiez

Surfboard Palooza is BACK- April 1st Mar Vista, 9 am - 3 pm

Over 70 used surfboards etc etc Slo | Studio ceramics open studio sneak peek Location:
Wasatch Ave. x Windward Ave.,
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, 90066

For more info, Click Here

Discover the fascinating history of America's Venice Beach in this video. Join us as we explore the life of Abbot Kinney, learn about the snowstorm that led to its creation, and the coin flip that changed Venice Beach forever. Discover the construction of the famous beach, how the canals worked, and why they became a nightmare. Find out what remains of the canals today and join us on a journey to retrace the lost canals under Venice Beach, Los Angeles roads.

The The Vintage Surfboard Collector Clubis holding a Vintage Surf Swap this Saturday 2/18 at Boardriders Malibu. Starting at 7am, check out awesome vintage surfboards (and bring your own!)

Boardriders Malibu
18820 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, Ca 80265
310 - 359 - 8274


Check out photos from a previous swap event: Topanga Vintage Surf Swap

Pictorial History of Venice, California, Coastal Beach community and suburb of Los Angeles. A documentary by Tom Sewell, a long term resident of Venice, Ca.

From Real Skate Stories:

"Tim Jackson put the "O" in O.G. In 1990 he was quietly innovating an entire repetoire of wall tricks, street moves and surf- inspired flatground that is untouched to this day."

From DjTyChannel:

"Surfing Venice Breakwater - North Side , Locals Only. Ty, B, Paul, Masao, Nick."

Malibu Beach Party (1940) - Jack Bunny (a spoof of Jack Benny) invites Hollywood celebrities to his Malibu house for a party.

Surfing is all about fun in the now and Andy Nieblas has a blast at a beautiful evening session at the longboard energy center of California, Malibu's iconic Surfrider Beach.

Malibu is the most iconic, relevant, and revered break in all of longboard surfing. Housed in history and home to timeless style, it’s the perfect spot to host the deciding event on tour - the Cuervo Classic Malibu Longboard Championship. With the title on the line, the top surfers descend on First Point to end the year in style and decide the 2022 Longboard World Champions

A perfect day in Malibu...again! Start off the day with a morning surf. Then, Kyle, Brian, Brandon, and I get rowdy at first point. We end the evening with full on Golden Hour at third point. Author Patrick presents the history of George Freeth who brought surfing to Venice Beach and all of Southern California. In the early 1900s, Freeth taught surfing and swimming, including coaching legendary waterman and Olympian Duke Kahanamoku. While working for visionary Abbot Kinney in Venice, and at beaches and bath houses in San Diego, Long Beach, Redondo, and Santa Monica, Freeth established modern lifeguarding practices still in use today. He transformed the beach into a destination for fun, sport, and excitement.

The book is currently avaliable on Amazon:

The legendary Allen Sarlo recently came across previously unseen Super 8 surfing footage from the 1970s (including Venice, POP, and the North Shore). Working with an editor, he cut it all together beautifully . He screened the film with a Q & A session at Venice Beach. .

"Breakline" is short documentary film about the history of African American surfers in Venice. "Breakline" was an official selection of the All American High School Film Festival 2018.

Made in 2016-2017 by the Direct This class, students ages 12-16

The legendary Allen Sarlo recently came across previously unseen Super 8 surfing footage from the 1970s (including Venice, POP, and the North Shore). Working with an editor, he cut it all together beautifully and has graciously offered to premiere the new film for the Venice Surfing Association (VSA).

The film will screen on Thursday, September 29th at The Waterfront in Venice.

This will be the first official screening of Sarlo's Super 8 Time Capsule and will feature a Q&A session with Allen and Guy Okazaki.

Venice Beach, CA early 90's

Some great authentic footage of the quarterpipe at the Venice Beach Pavilion in the summer of 1987.

September 2, 1945 Santa Monica beaches set a new attendance record with an estimated 250,000 folks hitting the shore seeking relief from a heatwave.

"Heat refugees, fleeing from 100-degree weather at most inland points yesterday, set a new Santa Monica beach attendance record. An estimated 250,000 Labor Day holiday pleasure seekers thronged Santa Monica beaches throughout the day as other thousands were detoured around the congested area by traffic police." - photographer Emerson Gaze

Skateboarding legend Tony Alva's longtime friend Chuck Ames unearthed a rare 8mm film he made of Tony Alva, Ted Deerhurst, and John Davison surfing, and skating at Linclon Jr. High School, the Santa Monica Jetty, and Bixby Ranch in Santa Barbara, back in 1971.

1971 Lincoln Jr. High Santa Monica: I pulled these crispy 8mm movies from deep storage. I was into filming then. Wind up grip camera. Ha! Tape cassette for music. I think the full length movie showed in the school auditorium. 8th graders surfing and skating. 1st Jetty, the Ranch, and Revere. Short board revolution well underway. Beavertails flapping. No “strings”.

Skating: Our boards made in woodshop. Clay wheelz. Ball bearings everywhere! Side walk surfing to surfskating!! Revere was fire. Only Tony Alva was making the drop and transition on the big hill! Ranch trips were epic. Lord Ted Deerhurst was part of our crew. Check him freeing Alva from his wetsuit…last clip.

You wanted to be one of Jay Stones “shimpies” on the Blue Cheer team. Thinking that is a clean Mike Perry shape washing up on the beach at 1st jetty. John Davison is the surfer in all clips and second skater alongside Tony (really clean style early on!!!). Some really early Dogtown stuff here! Stoked to see it come to life after all this time! -Chuck Ames

This sweet little edit by Melissa Ames

Original edit with help of Peter Miller

Original Art and production help: John Davison…Rick Griffin inspired Murfy. Mom and Dad for the ranch trips…we definitely pushed their boundaries!