Browse Items (1482 total)

Oka Stewart's Topanga Yacht Club sailboat

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Oka Stewart's Topanga Yacht Club sailboat. His boats were Imp, Starlite, and Marlin. The man in the water is probably him. He sometimes raced with his son Bert for ballast.

Topanga Yacht Club membership cards, 1933-1936

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Topanga Yacht Club membership cards, signed by Oka Stewart (member), Helene Raymond and Henry Gledhill Jr. (secretaries), and Vesey O’Davoren (commodore).

Potter's Store, aka "The Skyscraper," hit by a mudslide (3/4)

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Potter's Store at Topanga Beach was nicknamed "The Skyscraper." After it was damaged by floods, Charles Potter rebuilt it, then moved it across the street, and renamed it Potter's Topanga Trading Post. On the second floor was the office of the Title…

Potter's Store, aka "The Skyscraper," hit by a mudslide (2/4)

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Potter's Store at Topanga Beach was nicknamed "The Skyscraper." After it was damaged by floods, Charles Potter rebuilt it, then moved it across the street, and renamed it Potter's Topanga Trading Post. On the second floor was the office of the Title…

Potter's Store, aka "The Skyscraper," hit by a mudslide (1/4)

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Potter's Store at Topanga Beach was nicknamed "The Skyscraper." After it was damaged by floods, Charles Potter rebuilt it, then moved it across the street, and renamed it Potter's Topanga Trading Post. On the second floor was the office of the Title…

A couple stands by the chimney of their house lost to fire

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A man and woman stand by the chimney of the house at Brookside that they lost to the 1938 fire.

Lucille Way searches the ruins of Marmont Studio after a fire

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Lucille Way searches the ruins of Marmont Studio in Brookside after the 1938 fire. Her sister was the owner, Laura Way Mathiesen.

Laura Way searches the ruins of Marmont Studio after a fire

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A woman searches the ruins of Marmont Studio in Brookside after the 1938 fire. She is probably the owner, Laura Way Mathiesen, whose paintings were burned.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1938

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach shows the motel, Topanga Lagoon, Old Malibu Road, Topanga Lane, Shady Lane, and the Rodeo Grounds.

Topographical Sheet map, 1933

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Topographical Sheet map shows houses on Topanga Beach and Las Tunas Beach.

Topanga Yacht Club race off Topanga Beach

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Topanga Yacht Club races promoted the cause of a Topanga Yacht Harbor at Topanga Beach. Emmett Harvey of Los Angeles won this race in his Vagabond. Second was Dr. Fred Ott of Inglewood in his Goat. Floyd Alexander was third in Sea Horse.

Where Topango Creek meets the ocean

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"Where Topango Creek meets the ocean".... The view shows the last turn before the Topanga Lagoon

A diver searches for the Ameco, off Topanga Beach

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A diver searches for the Ameco, off Topanga Beach.

The fishing boat "Ameco" capsized off Topanga Beach, and 16 people drowned on Memorial Day, May 30, 1930. This remains the worst boating accident in the Santa Monica Bay.

Divers searched here for the Ameco, off Topanga Beach

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Divers searched here for the Ameco, off Topanga Beach

The fishing boat "Ameco" capsized off Topanga Beach, and 16 people drowned on Memorial Day, May 30, 1930. This remains the worst boating accident in the Santa Monica Bay.

Cartoon shows a giant wave strike the Ameco

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Cartoon shows a giant wave strike the Ameco as it wallows in a sea trough.

The fishing boat "Ameco" capsized off Topanga Beach, and 16 people drowned on Memorial Day, May 30, 1930. This remains the worst boating accident in the Santa Monica Bay.

A 1930 map marks Lower Topanga as a future park

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A 1930 map ("Diagram of Beach Frontage") marks Lower Topanga as the site of a future park, and the Santa Monica / Venice coastline as a future harbor.

The fishing boat Ameco sank off Topanga Beach, killing 16

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The fishing boat "Ameco" capsized off Topanga Beach, and 16 people drowned on Memorial Day, May 30, 1930. This remains the worst boating accident in the Santa Monica Bay.

Spence's Cabins motel sign on the Pacific Coast Highway

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Spence's Cabins motel sign on the Pacific Coast Highway points to Topanga Lane.

Marion Spence, unknown, Florence Spence by a trailer

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Marion Spence, unknown, Florence Spence by a trailer in the backyard of Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Siblings Thomas and Marion Spence at Spence's Cabins

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Siblings Thomas and Marion Spence sit on a car in front of Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Marion Spence leans on a car in front of Spence's Cabins

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Marion Spence leans on a car door in front of Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Edna Mae Spence with Adelia, Tom Jr., and Howard Evans

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Edna Mae Spence with nieces and nephews Adelia “Dee Dee”, Tom Jr., and Howard “Happy” Evans at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Tom Evans with Marion, Roberta, William, Florence Spence

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Tom (maybe), wife Marion Evans (Spence), Roberta, William, and Florence Spence gather by a trailer in the backyard of Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Florence Spence, Jake Fields, William Spence, dog Skippy

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Florence Spence, Jake Fields, William Spence, and dog Skippy at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Edna Mae Spence with mother Florence, friend Jake Fields

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Edna Mae Spence with mother Florence and friend Jake Fields at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Florence, William, and Edna Mae Spence with dog Skippy

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Florence, William , and daughter Edna Mae Spence with dog Skippy at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Saxifragaceae and Chaparral Currant

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Saxifragaceae and Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium) plants.

Norton Wisdom's art studio in the Snake Pit

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A painting and sculptures decorate Norton Wisdom's art studio in the Snake Pit.

Surfers Mike Perry and Craig Halley sit on a fence

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Mike Perry and Craig Halley sit on a fence on Topanga Beach Road.

Aricia Halley, Woody Stuart, Carole Winter, Mike Perry

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Aricia Halley, Woody Stuart, Carole Winter, and Mike Perry sit on the sand in front of a beach house.

Albert Hoyt and Judge John Merrick at the first THS meeting

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Albert Hoyt, temporary president of the newly formed Topanga Historical Society, looks over a book with Judge John J. Merrick (right), president of the Malibu Historical Society. The book, "Happy Days in Southern California" by Frederick Rindge of…

Anderson and Silvernale families, neighbors on Robinson Rd.

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Neighbors on Robinson Rd.: Larry Anderson, Jerry Anderson, Lee Silvernale, Molly Anderson, Nancy Anderson, and Sally Silvernale.

Surfer Jono Fadriquela and friends in the parking lot, 2/2

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Unknown, Cathy Kersford, Ross Terranova, Jono Fadriquela, and Heidi Von Meter in the Topanga Beach parking lot

Surfer Jono Fadriquela and friends in the parking lot, 1/2

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Jono Fadriquela, Cathy Kersford, Kurt Armand (behind), Ross Terranova, Jimmy Allard, unknown, and Heidi Von Meter in the Topanga Beach parking lot

Woody Woodward, John Murphy, and Jeff Horseman

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Woody Woodward, John Murphy (J. Murf), and Jeff Horseman in the Topanga Beach parking lot

The Turning Point Ramp became a dome house

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The Turning Point Ramp was a capsule-shaped skateboard ramp invented by Scotty Senatore in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1979. Built from Lexan and aluminum, it raised up on a hydraulic stand. It appeared at exhibitions around the country, and in the…

Topanga Beach surfers sit on driftwood

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Rick Hoffman (left), Woody Woodward (smoking), Mike Bernstein (guitar), J. Riddle (guitar), Mark Martin, Matt Lasky, Sherry Sharp, and Laurie Lott sit on driftwood at Topanga Beach. The house with the arundo belonged to Dr. Schweiger.

Skaters Kent Senatore and Stacy Peralta at Topanga Beach

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Skateboarders Kent Senatore and Stacy Peralta appear in a scene at Topanga Beach, in the film "Skateboard Madness" (1980), directed by Julian Pena, and produced by Hal Jepsen.

Larry Anderson assists with re-seeding by helicopter

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Larry Anderson assists his father, Topanga Fire Captain Harvey Anderson, in re-seeding by helicopter after the 1948 fire. This photo was taken at the future site of the Topanga Community House.

Kenneth C. Graham, Stuart Van Hook, Donald W. Graham

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Kenneth C. Graham, Stuart Van Hook (with rifle), and Donald W. Graham stand in the dry Topanga Creek bed across Topanga Canyon Blvd. from Kneen's Camp. Don eventually moved to Topanga in 1950, where he raised his family from 1950 to 1971. His wife,…

Artist Paul Dubosclard (1892-1974)

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Artist Paul Dubosclard (1892-1974), born in Paris, France, created serigraph postcards (silk-screen postcards) depicting Malibu and Topanga in the 1940s.

Home of Edwin and Laura Julian on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

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Edwin and Laura Julian lived in this house on Topanga Canyon Blvd,, near Sylvia Park, from 1911-1964.

The "White" house on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

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The "White" (family?) house at 1475 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Brothers Eric and Hans Wienberg with dog Duke

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Brothers Eric (holding gun) and Hans Wienberg with dog Duke at Topanga Beach.

Woody's Shack at the Theatricum Botanicum

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Artist James Mathers stands on the doorstep of Woody's Shack at the Theatricum Botanicum. Folk singer Woody Guthrie lived here in 1952.

Bob DeWitt, Los Angeles High School, 1932

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Bob DeWitt, Los Angeles High School, 1932, would become Topanga's first Beatnik.

Guitar-shaped swimming pool of The Malibooz

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The guitar-shaped swimming pool on Entrada Rd. was built by John Zambetti. His surf band, The Malibooz, filmed the music video for their song “Hot Summer Nights" around the pool... one of the first videos aired on MTV.

Nike Hercules Missile launching site

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The Nike Hercules Missile launching site of Battery B. 3rd Battalion, 57 Artillery, was located on Rambla Pacifico Road, between Malibu and Topanga. The commanding officer was Captain Raymond Ashwill.