Browse Items (1892 total)

A Nike missile stalls on its way to the Strawberry Festival

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A Nike Hercules anti-missile missile was stalled for several hours at the first turn up to the Community House, on its way to the Strawberry Festival. Vance Hoyt gives a helpful push.

A non-native tree is sprayed with blue herbicide Roundup

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A non-native arundo tree is sprayed with the blue herbicide Roundup by State Parks in the lower Topanga Creek bed. The health impacts of the glyphosate-based Roundup, as well as its effects on the environment, have been at the center of substantial…

A Pawlowski family picnic by Topanga Creek

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A Pawlowski family picnic by Topanga Creek. Peter and Pauline, with his parents Pelagia and Julius.

A prison camp in Lower Topanga housed a chain gang

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A prison camp in Lower Topanga housed a chain gang while they built the Topanga Canyon Road.

"The great dormitory sits in the center of what will soon be a beautiful garden. The prisoners have already marked off the plot for flower…

A shirtless man carries two children on his shoulders

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A shirtless man carries two children on his shoulders, one with a red umbrella, in the yard of a house on Topanga Lane.

A stagecoach raises dust in the S-Turns

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A stagecoach, drawn by six horses, raises dust on the dirt road through the S-Turns.

A surfer dips his head into a wave by a Topanga Beach house

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A surfer dips his head into a wave by the porch of 18664 W. Topanga Beach Rd. that has been surrounded by driftwood. Lori Salkow lived there, as well as Jim Fitzpatrick.

A surfer gets tubed while riding a wave in offshore winds

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A surfer gets tubed while riding a wave in offshore winds at Topanga Beach.

A surfer rides a big wave (maybe Miki Dora)

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This photo came from one of Miki Dora's personal albums, which were left in New Zealand when he made a hasty exit in the mid-1970s.

A surfer rides a wave on the nose with a dancer's grace

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A surfer in a wetsuit vest rides a wave on the nose with a dancer's grace.

A surfer stands backwards on the nose at Topanga Beach

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A surfer in a springsuit rides backwards on his surfboard, hanging heels on the nose, at Topanga Beach. It looks like a Saenz brother.

A surfer wearing a springsuit stands on the nose

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A surfer wearing a springsuit rides a wave while standing on the nose of his surfboard at Topanga Beach. It looks like a Saenz brother.

A surfer wears snow clothes and carries ski poles, 1/4

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A surfer-skier wears snow clothes and carries ski poles while standing with his surfboard at Topanga Beach. He was a friend of Jim Simonson, who lived on the east side of the beach.

A surfer wears snow clothes and carries ski poles, 2/4

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A surfer-skier wears snow clothes and carries ski poles while riding a wave at Topanga Beach. He was a friend of Jim Simonson, who lived on the east side of the beach.

A surfer wears snow clothes and carries ski poles, 3/4

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A surfer-skier wears snow clothes and carries ski poles while riding a wave at Topanga Beach. He was a friend of Jim Simonson, who lived on the east side of the beach.

A surfer wears snow clothes and carries ski poles, 4/4

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A surfer-skier wears snow clothes and carries ski poles while riding a wave at Topanga Beach. He was a friend of Jim Simonson, who lived on the east side of the beach.

A swimming hole in Topanga Creek, near Camp Wildwood

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The Greenleaf family stands beside a natural swimming hole in Topanga Creek, north of Camp Wildwood.

A temporary traffic light at Tuna Canyon Rd. and PCH, 2024

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A landslide closed Topanga Canyon Blvd. from March 9 to June 2, 2024, about three months. A temporary traffic light was installed at Tuna Canyon Rd. and PCH to manage the cars that had to detour.

A Topanga Lane resident wades across Topanga Creek

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A Topanga Lane resident wades across Topanga Creek, carrying a child on his shoulders and a bag. A cable holds a rescue basket that was fashioned out of a wicker chair.

A truck gets stuck in Topanga Creek

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A truck gets stuck in Topanga Creek while trying to drive into The Rodeo Grounds.

A Volkswagen Beetle parks in front of Hal Jepsen's house

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A Volkswagen Beetle, a convertible sports car, and a van are parked in front of Hal Jepsen's house on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

A window reflects Bill Cleary surfing at Topanga Beach

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"Surf Guide" photographer Dick Gustafson captures a window reflection of Bill Cleary surfing a wave in front of his own house, 18658 W. Topanga Beach Rd.

A woman in a dress carries a surfboard on her head

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A woman in a dress carries a surfboard on her head at Topanga Beach.

A woman in a dress stands under Arch Rock

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A woman in a dress stands under Arch Rock. The retaining wall has been erased from the colorized version of this photo.

A woman sits on her couch on Topanga Lane

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A woman (Alison?) sits on her couch on Topanga Lane, where she lives with her husband and baby.

A woman stands on a hill above the Topanga Lagoon

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A woman stands on a hill above the Topanga Lagoon, holding flowers.

A woman stands on the porch of a Topanga Beach house

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A woman stands on the porch of a Topanga Beach house with an umbrella in the yard.

A yucca plant flowers in the snow on Sycamore Drive

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A yucca plant flowers in the snow on Sycamore Drive, overlooking George Williams's Topanga Hardware store on Old Topanga Canyon Rd. at center, and Firman Gray's house on the left.

Abalone Shell Arch

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Black and white photo of abalone shell arch and "wedding cake rock turned" circa 1920

Abalone Shell Arch 1985

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Color Photograph of Santa Maria Ranch "Abalone" arch and yard. "Old Santa Maria Ranch - Taconis"

Abalone Shell Arch 1985 with Donkey

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Color Photograph of Santa Marina Abalone Arch and yard (with donkey)
"Santa Maria Ranch - Taconis"
"Photo by Bob Wiley"
"1984"

Actor David Janssen starred in the TV series "The Fugitive"

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Actor David Janssen walks by Topanga Beach houses and driftwood. He is best known for starring in the television series "The Fugitive" (1963–1967).

Actor Jan-Michael Vincent kisses his wife Bonnie

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Actor Jan-Michael Vincent kisses his wife Bonnie Poorman Vincent while they walk horses on Topanga Beach.

Actor Rusty Lane is rescued from the flood, 1/3

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Actor Rusty Lane is rescued from the flood by being pulled over Topanga Creek in a basket at Topanga Lane.

Actor Rusty Lane is rescued from the flood, 2/3

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Actor Rusty Lane is rescued from the flood by being pulled over Topanga Creek in a basket at Topanga Lane.

Actor Rusty Lane is rescued from the flood, 3/3

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Actor Rusty Lane is rescued from the flood by being pulled over Topanga Creek in a basket at Topanga Lane.

Actor Will Geer

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Actor Will Geer moved to Topanga to escape the Hollywood blacklist. He supported himself by growing and selling vegetables and plants.

Actors read Ziff's Magazine at the Topanga Post Office

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Cowboy actors, from Westwood Pictures, pose in an apparent advertisement for Ziff's Magazine (March 1925 issue) at the Topanga Post Office and General Store, at Pine Tree Circle. Ziff's Magazine was an irreverent joke book published in Chicago, IL…

Actress Lindsey Wagner at Topanga Beach

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Lindsey Wagner starred in "The Bionic Woman," a TV show that aired from January 14, 1976, to May 13, 1978.

Actress Natalie Talmadge's house on Las Tunas Beach

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A lit cigarette, left on the couch, set ablaze the Las Tunas Beach house of actress Natalie Talmadge (1896-1969) on September 25, 1943, at 2:30 a.m. Fire Captain Tom Cheney concluded this because the couch burned through the floor.

Natalie’s…

Actress Sara Anderson Lane is rescued from the flood

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Actress Sara Anderson Lane is rescued from the flood by being pulled over Topanga Creek in a basket at Topanga Lane.

Actress Sara Russell Lane is stranded at home during a flood

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Actress Sara Russell Lane, 3839 Topanga Lane, is stranded at home with a cat during a flood.

Ad for Laura Way Mathiesen's Marmont Studio

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Marmont Studio
Topanga Canyon, One-Half Mile From the Beach
LAURA WAY MATHIESEN
ORIGINAL PAINTINGS
Montana, Yellowstone Park, Colorado, California
For Tourists—Souvenirs that are “different.’
For Residents—Home decorations that recall…

Adelaide Gibbon at her stone house

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William and Adelaide Gibbon built this stone house, which featured her wood carvings.

Adrian Santa Maria with Hunted Deer

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5"x9" photograph of Adrian (Teet) , age 12, with rifle and "1st deer"

Aerial photograph with close-ups, 1962

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Aerial photograph with close-ups of Fernwood, Pine Tree Circle, Trippet Ranch, and Hillside Drive.

Aerial Tanker Douses 1960 Fire

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The October 1960 fire on Hillside Drive was put down in record time. An aerial tanker is seen reflected against the smoke, dropping borate-fortified water.

Aerial view and map of Lower Topanga, 1970

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Lower Topanga aerial photo and map show Topanga Beach, the Snake Pit, the Rodeo Grounds, Brookside, and Sunset Mesa.

Aerial view of entrance to Topanga Canyon, 2022

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Aerial view of entrance to Topanga Canyon shows Oasis Imports, the Malibu Feed Bin, and 7-Eleven gas station.

Aerial view of landslide, April 2024

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A landslide closed Topanga Canyon Blvd. from March 9 to June 2, 2024, about three months.

Aerial view of landslide, March 2024

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A landslide closed Topanga Canyon Blvd. from March 9 to June 2, 2024, about three months.

Aerial view of Lower Topanga, 1926

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Aerial photo of Lower Topanga, 1926, showing Cooper's Camp (motel) and the Rodeo Grounds.

Aerial view of Lower Topanga, 1927

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Aerial photo of Lower Topanga, 1927, showing Cooper's Camp (motel) and the Rodeo Grounds.

Aerial view of Lower Topanga, 1928

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Aerial photo of Lower Topanga, 1928, showing Cooper's Camp (motel) and the Rodeo Grounds.

Aerial view of Lower Topanga, 1997

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Lower Topanga aerial photo shows Topanga Beach, the Snake Pit, the Rodeo Grounds, Brookside, and Sunset Mesa.

Aerial view of the Topanga Center, 1968

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Aerial view of the Topanga Center, location of the Pine Tree Circle and the Post Office.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1924 (3/3)

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Aerial photo of Topanga Beach and Las Tunas Beach, 1924 (3/3)

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1925

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach, which is called "the probable future site of the finest Pacific coast estates."

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1926

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach, Cooper's Camp, and Rodeo Grounds

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.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1940

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An aerial view of Topanga Beach shows the auto court motel, Topanga Lane, and the Rodeo Grounds.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1964

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach, Old Malibu Road, Topanga Lane, The Rodeo Grounds, Sunset Mesa development, and the Topanga Auto Court motel.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1972

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An aerial view of Topanga Beach shows the Topanga Lagoon, Sunset Mesa, Las Tunas Beach, and the entrance to Topanga Canyon.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1980s

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach, from Las Tunas Beach to the Charthouse Restaurant, along Pacific Coast Highway.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, circa 1979

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach, circa 1979.

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The dirt lot was created by a fire and by the demolition of beach houses.

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The Malibu Feed Bin and Gulf gas station were at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Blvd. and…

Aerial view of Topanga Canyon, c. 1925

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Aerial view of Topanga Canyon, with close-ups of Cooper's Camp motel, the Rodeo Grounds, and Paxson’s Cafe.

Agnes Venneman

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Agnes Venneman reared eight children in Topanga.

Aimee Semple McPherson's Las Tunas Beach house

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Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson's recuperated from a nervous breakdown in this Las Tunas Beach house in 1930.

Al Martinez stands on a bridge

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Al Martinez stands on a bridge crafted by wood carver Barry Lysaght.

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…

Aldo Vidali

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In 1930, Aldo was born to an Italian family in Ixelles, Belgium. As a child he went to Italy and from there he began his life of traveling. His travels have taken him to almost every continent in the world. He has studied at the University of…

Alice Anderson and children play in the snow

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Alice Anderson and children play in the snow in the Winfield Road pasture. The children include Molly Anderson, Carol Haines, Lynn Haines, and Bruce Haines.

Alice Anderson skis in the Winfield Road pasture

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Alice Anderson skis in the Winfield Road pasture after The Big Snow. Children from left: Carol Haines, Lynn Haines (above), Molly Anderson, and Bruce Haines.

Alva Gustavus at his Little Brown Church in the Wildwood

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Retired Baptist Minister Alva Gustavus stands by his "Little Brown Church in the Wildwood" behind Horseshoe Bend Inn.

Alyn Ranson, Rosagua Trujillo, Eddie Gripp, and Pat Rasbury

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Alyn Ranson, Rosagua Trujillo (Rose Wiley), Eddie Gripp, and Pat Rasbury at Lee's Hitching Post in Fred Solomon's shopping center, a hangout for teenagers.