Browse Items (2126 total)

Cars are buried in mud after a flood in The Snake Pit

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Cars and a surfboard are buried in mud after a flood in The Snake Pit.

A surfer watches as his house floods in The Snake Pit

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A surfer in a wetsuit stands in water as his house floods in The Snake Pit.

A car is buried in mud across from Frank Lamonea's house

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A car is buried in mud across from Frank Lamonea's house, 3928 Topanga Lane, after a flood in The Snake Pit.

Surfers burn down The Yellow House

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Surfers burn down The Yellow House to spare it the indignity of being bulldozed after State Parks took over Topanga Beach.

Lower Topanga teenagers take a photo on Topanga Beach

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Lower Topanga teenagers take a group photo on Topanga Beach: Unknown, Angel Kershner, Unknown, Moonstar Greene.

Darrell Giddens rides his horse Halifu on Topanga Lane

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Stuntman Darrell Giddens rides his horse Halifu (Swahili for "disobedient," or close to that) on Topanga Lane.

Gary Dannenbaum raises his hands as he drops into a wave

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Gary Dannenbaum raises his hands as he drops into a wave on his 10'4" Glen Kennedy surfboard at Topanga Beach. He wears an ankle brace.

Gary Dannenbaum nearly gets covered up by a wave

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Gary Dannenbaum nearly gets covered up while riding an overhead wave on his 10'4" Glen Kennedy surfboard at Topanga Beach.

Gary Dannenbaum rides a wave on the nose

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Gary Dannenbaum rides a wave on the nose of his 10'4" Glen Kennedy surfboard at Topanga Beach.

A bulldozer demolishes the Topanga Ranch Market

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A bulldozer demolishes the Topanga Ranch Market and liquor store. The sign still stands, advertising beer, wine, and deli sandwiches.

Something's Fishy Here ad, 1979

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Something's Fishy Here seafood restaurant advertises sushi, chicken teriyaki, lobster, and clams at 18753 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, across from Topanga Beach.

Perfectly shaped waves break by Topanga Beach houses

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Perfectly shaped waves break on low-tide rocks by Topanga Beach houses and catamaran masts.

George Trafton, Shane McMahon, Paul Lovas, Johnny Nation

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Surfers George Trafton, Shane McMahon, Paul Lovas, and Johnny Nation sit on driftwood in front of The Yellow House. Paul is the author of "Topanga Beach Experience: 1960s-70s" (Brass Tacks Press, 2011). The lights on the balcony were used for surfing…

The Yellow House was scavenged and graffitied

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The Yellow House was scavenged and graffitied before being burned by surfers to spare it the indignity of being bulldozed when State Parks took over Topanga Beach. The walls show a drawing of a wave and the words "Last Tango," "Get Down," and "Chart…

The Yellow House was burned by surfers

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The Yellow House was burned by surfers to spare it the indignity of being bulldozed when State Parks took over Topanga Beach. A graffitied pillar says, "Free Tanya."

Hippies sunbathe on a Topanga Beach house

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Hippies sunbathe on a Topanga Beach house. The woman on the roof is nude.

A fire destroys three Topanga Beach houses, 2/2

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A fire destroys three Topanga Beach houses. The house on the left belonged to Katherine Ottesen.

"Fire started in this house [center] with a wall heater that was left on all night."
--Jim Fitzpatrick

A fire destroys three Topanga Beach houses, 1/2

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A fire destroys three Topanga Beach houses. The house on the left belonged to Katherine Ottesen.

"Fire started in this house [center] with a wall heater that was left on all night."
--Jim Fitzpatrick

View through fence on PCH shows a Topanga Beach party

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A view through the fence on PCH shows a Topanga Beach party, in a still from the surf film "Cosmic Children" by Hal Jepsen (1970).

Hippies dance at a Topanga Beach party

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Hippies dance at a Topanga Beach party in a still from the surf film "Cosmic Children" by Hal Jepsen (1970).

A friend and Jenny Wemple stand by the Malibu Feed Bin

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A friend and Jenny Wemple stand by the Malibu Feed Bin. Christmas decorations advertise, "Santa and his live reindeer."

Claudia Lasky pulls a rowboat in the Topanga Lagoon

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Claudia Lasky pulls a rowboat in the Topanga Lagoon. Inside are an unknown girl, Dina (Claudia's sister), and Victoria Woodward. Beach houses are in the background.

Jarnell Wingard visits teenage friends in front of her house

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Christian Andersen, Unknown, Unknown, Jarnell Wingard, and Aurora Glassock sit in front of Jarnell's Topanga Beach house. A sign on the door says, "Hele mai / Ka hale," in Hawaiian.

Surfers hang out in front of The Yellow House

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Shane McMahon, Unknown (behind him), Cheryl Giefer, George Trafton, Unknown, and Rick Hodgson hang out by a yellow surfboard in front of The Yellow House at Topanga Beach.

The Chart House menu is written on a cutting board

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The menu for The Chart House restaurant at Topanga Beach is written on a cutting board. It advertises locations in California, Colorado, and Hawaii. Steaks are at the top, followed by kabob, Hawaiian chicken, lobster, and prime rib.

Carole Winter and friends stand in mud in The Snake Pit

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Carole Winter (center) takes a group photo with friends, standing in the mud after a flood in The Snake Pit. Alexandra "Sasha" Dillon holds a cigarette at right.

Carole Winter watches Topanga Creek flood The Snake Pit

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Carole Winter stands by the Topanga Creek as it floods Paul Lovas's house in The Snake Pit.

A flood damages Paul Lovas's house in The Snake Pit, 2/2

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A flood damages Paul Lovas's house in The Snake Pit. The house is boarded up and surrounded by mud.

A man stands with his colorful surfboards on the roof

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A man, wearing trunks, stands with his colorful surfboards on the roof of a house on Old Malibu Road.

A neon sign in the shape of an arrow says, "Topanga Beach"

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A neon sign in the shape of an arrow advertises the Topanga Beach Auto Court, aka the Topanga Ranch Motel.

Carole Winter stands with a man at a Topanga Beach house

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Carole Winter, wearing a bathing suit, stands with a man on the deck of a Topanga Beach house.

Carole Winter's Topanga Beach friends see her off

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Carole Winter takes a group photo with her Topanga Beach friends on the steps at LAX airport. She is moving to the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, and they are seeing her off.

BACK ROW:
Aricia Stanton (Halley), Claudia [SURNAME?], and Cindy "Cindy…

Tommy Bartee wears a puka-shell necklace

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Surfer Tommy Bartee wears trunks, sunglasses, and a puka-shell necklace by The Yellow House at Topanga Beach.

Two hippie couples stand by bushes in The Snake Pit

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Two hippie couples stand by bushes in The Snake Pit. They are Nicky Saenz, Janis [SURNAME?], Carole Winter, and Eddie Saenz.

John Clemens and Carole Winter embrace

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John Clemens and Carole Winter embrace in a Topanga Beach house. John is shirtless.

Bruce Brown stands on the roof of a Topanga Beach house

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The dog Bruce Brown stands on the roof of a Topanga Beach house.

A shirtless hippie leans on a pickup truck in The Snake Pit

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A shirtless hippie leans on a pickup truck in The Snake Pit. Hibiscus flowers grow behind him.

A man lies on a hill overlooking The Snake Pit

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A man and his dog lie on a hill overlooking houses in The Snake Pit. The back of the Topanga Ranch Motel is at top right.

Two Persian carpets adorn a house in the Snake Pit

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Two Persian carpets adorn a house in the Snake Pit. The word "Marijuana" is written on a barrel.

A man looks through the window of a house in the Snake Pit

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A man looks through the window of a house in the Snake Pit that has an Indian flag, a "Pacific Coast Highway" sign, and a curtain covering the door.

Two girls sit in a colorful trailer in The Snake PIt

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Two girls sit in the doorway of a colorful trailer in The Snake PIt.

A woman sits in a trailer in The Snake Pit

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A woman smokes a cigarette in the doorway of a trailer in The Snake Pit.

People and children gather at a house in The Snake Pit

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People and children gather at a house in The Snake Pit. A sign says, "Dead End Street." Two socks hang from a clothesline.

A hippie gives the peace sign in The Snake Pit

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A hippie gives the peace sign while balancing a piece of driftwood on a brick foundation in The Snake Pit. She wears a floral skirt that's open at the sides.

William A. Roach's Topanga Beach house

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In the 1950s-1960s, William A. Roach lived in The Yellow House with his wife and son Tim.

From 1940 until about 1946, Edward Carrere lived there with his wife Helen and son Leon Robert “Bobby” Carrere.

The earliest known owners of The Yellow…

Sig Wingard's Topanga Beach house

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Sig and Paulina Wingard lived on Topanga Beach with their children Jarnell and Eddie.

From 1941-1954, Louis and Evelyn Franklin owned the house, and used it on weekends with their children Lawrence “Larry,” Samuel “Sam,” and Elizabeth “Beth.”

Eddie Saenz's Topanga Beach house

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In the 1960s, Eddie Saenz, a former football player with the Washington Redskins, lived at 18638 W. Topanga Beach Rd. with his wife Helen and their children Timmy, Nicky, Eddie, Felix, Liza, Peter, Juan de la Cruz, Joey, and Michael

Colby Crotzer…

Michael Hamilburg's Topanga Beach house

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Michael Hamilburg, a literary agent, lived here.

In the early 1960s, Royce Diener and his son Rob used the house for vacations. Royce was married to Wilhelmina Rentmeester, the sister of Coliene and Co.

Bob Barrow's Topanga Beach house

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Bob Barrow, a teacher at John Adams Middle School, lived here.

The previous owner was Lorraine [SURNAME?]. She had two young boys, and they moved to Serra Retreat in Malibu in 1963.

Doug Meredith's Topanga Beach house

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Doug Meredith moved downstairs around 1961. He married Reva Berry, and they later moved to New Zealand.

Norton Wisdom drawing, "Blue Juice," 1980

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Norton Wisdom depicts the Topanga Beach surf-rock band Blue Juice as African animals. A hippopotamus plays guitar (J. Murf), a crocodile plays drums (Jeff Ort), a flamingo plays bass (Don MacVicar), and a jackal leans on a guitar (George Trafton).

Aerial view of Topanga Beach houses, 1970s

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach houses shows The Yellow House, The Raft, and PCH.

CLOSE-UP 1:
George's Market and the Topanga Ranch Motel.

CLOSE-UP 2:
Woody Woodward's house and the paddle-tennis court where he skateboarded.

CLOSE-UP 3:
Paul…

Bill Flaxman rides Moon at Topanga Beach

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Bill Flaxman rides Moon (King Zimmerman's horse, which had been in the 1976 Olympics) at Topanga Beach.

George Trafton, J. Murf, and Unknown play as Blue Juice

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George Trafton (guitar), J. Murf (vocals, guitar), and an unknown man (saxophone) perform in the surf-rock band Blue Juice.

Peter Townend and Allen Sarlo surf at Topanga Beach

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Peter Townend ("PT") and Allen Sarlo (the "Wave Killer") surf together at Topanga Beach.

Lizanne and John Fowler sit by arundo on Topanga Beach

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Lizanne [SURNAME?] and John Fowler sit by arundo on Topanga Beach, wearing bathing suits. John smokes a cigarette.

Stephanie, Jarnell Wingard, Philly Brooks, Aurora Glassock

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Stephanie [SURNAME?], Jarnell Wingard, Philly Brooks, and Aurora Glassock share a table at The Spaghetti Joint restaurant, across from Topanga Beach.

Natural Progression ad shows George Trafton getting tubed

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An ad for Natural Progression surfboards shows a yin-yang symbol with George Trafton getting tubed by a wave on one side, and holding his surfboard on the other.

Woody Woodward, Shane McMahon, and Lisa

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Woody Woodward, Shane McMahon, and Lisa [SURNAME?] sit by a Topanga Beach house. Woody smokes a cigarette.

George Trafton looks into his truck camper

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Surfer George Trafton looks through the open door of his truck camper by Topanga Beach houses.

Aurora Glassock plays drums, George Trafton plays guitar

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Aurora Glassock plays drums and George Trafton plays guitar before George's show with his band Blue Juice at the Ramada Inn in Santa Monica.

Woody Woodward carries a fishing pole at Topanga Beach

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Woody Woodward carries a fishing pole as he walks by a catamaran at Topanga Beach.

Crumpet, Jeff Miller, and John Fowler play monkeys

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John "Crumpet" Dabrowski, Jeff Miller, and John Fowler reenact the Japanese proverb, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," at Topanga Beach. The proverb is often depicted with three monkeys.

Davey Hilton and Woody Woodward stand by arundo

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Davey Hilton and Woody Woodward stand by arundo at Topanga Beach.

Jarnell Wingard and Aurora Glassock

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Jarnell Wingard and Aurora Glassock stand by Jarnell's Topanga Beach house.

Two red-haired women in bikinis eat chips on Topanga Beach

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Two red-haired women in bikinis eat Fritos corn chips on Topanga Beach by surfboards.

Rodger Horsey shapes a surfboard

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Rodger Horsey wears a surgical mask after shaping a surfboard. He is covered in foam dust.

Unknown, Crumpet, and Jeff Miller sit on beach chairs

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An unknown woman, John "Crumpet" Dabrowski, and Jeff Miller sit on beach chairs at Topanga Beach with a dog.

George Trafton, Shane McMahon, and Rodger Horsey

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Surfers George Trafton, Shane McMahon, and Rodger Horsey stand by the ice machine at George's Market, across from Topanga Beach

An old surfboard hangs on a driftwood structure

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An old surfboard hangs on a driftwood structure at Topanga Beach

A fishing boat passes by as a surfer rides a wave, 2/2

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A fishing boat passes by as a surfer rides a wave. The foreground shows Topanga Beach houses (including The Yellow House), and W. Topanga Beach Rd.

A fishing boat passes by as a surfer rides a wave, 1/2

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A fishing boat passes by as a surfer rides a wave. The foreground shows Topanga Beach houses (including The Yellow House), and W. Topanga Beach Rd.

Two girls ride a horse by a boat called "The Answer"

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Two girls ride a horse by a film crew that has been shooting at a Topanga Beach house and at a boat called "The Answer."

View from a Topanga Beach house window shows a surfer

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The view from a Topanga Beach house window shows a surfer riding a wave.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1979

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach shows The Snake Pit, The Rodeo Grounds, Sunset Mesa, and the entrance to Topanga Canyon shortly after the beach houses were demolished.

Jeff Ort does gymnastics at Craig Halley's beach house

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Jeff Ort does gymnastics, spinning around a bar on the deck of Craig Halley's Topanga Beach house. A friend watches.

Ken "Kenman" Helms gives the finger at Topanga Beach

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Ken "Kenman" Helms, wearing trunks, gives the finger at Topanga Beach.

Aricia Halley embraces Doug Smith at Topanga Beach

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Aricia Halley embraces Doug Smith on W. Topanga Beach Rd. The dog Spot is at right.

Woody Woodward, Davey Hilton, Lizannne, Claudia Lasky

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Woody Woodward lies on the deck of a Topanga Beach house. Craig Halley sits behind him. Davey Hilton stands by an unknown woman in a white bikini, who lies by an unknown black dog. Lizanne [SURNAME?] and Claudia Lasky sit by the brown dogs Ione and…

Mike Perry and Craig Halley sit on a fence

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Surfers Mike Perry and Craig Halley sit on a fence in the backyard of a house on W. Topanga Beach Rd.

Two naked girls walk on the nude beach, 2/2

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Two naked girls walk on the nude beach at Topanga Beach. One holds a stick.

Mike Howell, Austin McCann, and Skip Short walk on beach

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Mike Howell (glasses), Austin McCann (hat), and Skip Short (flower trunks) hold beers and cigarettes while walking with two other friends on Topanga Beach.

Mike Shultz spikes a volleyball at Carl Barlow

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Mike Shultz, wearing a Speedo bathing suit, spikes a volleyball at Carl Barlow on Topanga Beach.

Mickey Moriarty and Jon Vogel's house, 2/2

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"This was such a fun place to live. We bought it from an old character named Joe back in 1969. When we bought it the house was condemned.... It had a lower rental unit that we rented out that paid all of our costs. We had lots of animals just like…

A man stands on the balcony of The Yellow House

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A man stands on the balcony of The Yellow House. Other residents sit on the roof or deck of their Topanga Beach houses.