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Renata Casser and Coliene Rentmeester sit in the yard
Renata Casser and Coliene Rentmeester sit in Coliene's yard at 3715 Rodeo Grounds.
John Drew Barrymore sits on a log in The Rodeo Grounds
John Drew Barrymore sits on a log by the Capra family's dog Marilyn in their yard at 3712 Rodeo Grounds.
People talk in front of the Topanga Ranch Market
People talk in front of the Topanga Ranch Market at 18717 PCH.
Bodybuilders stand in Topanga Creek dressed as barbarians
Unknown bodybuilders stand in Topanga Creek dressed as barbarians by the Rodeo Grounds bridge. One holds a sword. Actors Peter Paul and David Paul set up the photo shoot.
A girl holds two puppies on the dirt road in The Snake Pit
An unknown girl holds two puppies on the dirt road in The Snake Pit.
A woman helps people tow a pickup truck that got stuck
An unknown woman helps people tow a pickup truck that got stuck crossing Topanga Creek in The Rodeo Grounds. The Rodeo Grounds bridge is in the background.
An AmeriGas truck gets stuck crossing Topanga Creek, 2/2
An AmeriGas truck gets stuck crossing Topanga Creek while a dog watches. The Rodeo Grounds bridge is in the background.
An AmeriGas truck gets stuck crossing Topanga Creek, 1/2
An AmeriGas truck gets stuck crossing Topanga Creek in The Rodeo Grounds.
Bob Varnum leans on the counter of Wylie's Bait & Tackle
Owner Bob Varnum leans on the counter of Wylie's Bait & Tackle at 18757 PCH.
Fire burns behind the Topanga Ranch Market
The 1993 Old Topanga Fire burns behind the Topanga Ranch Market at 18717 PCH. A fire truck and a car from the Costa Mesa Fire Department (Battalion 8) are parked in front.
The Snake Pit burns in the 1993 Old Topanga Fire
The Snake Pit burns in the 1993 Old Topanga Fire. Firefighters spray water from hoses at the back of the Topanga Ranch Motel.
Odie sits by Michael Greene's house at 3726 Rodeo Grounds
Odie (the Capra family's dog) sits by Michael Greene's house at 3726 Rodeo Grounds
Torger Johnson does a wheelie on a Makaha skateboard
Torger Johnson (1951-1983) does a nose manual. Johnson was an original Makaha Skateboard Team member and then Hobie Super Surfer team member. He invented many freestyle tricks, including the "Spacewalk," a maneuver in which a rider balances on the…
Larry Stevenson created Makaha Skateboards
Venice lifeguard Larry Stevenson (1930-2012) designed and manufactured the first commercial skateboards in 1961, under his brand Makaha, and with the help of his wife Helen. He later worked with surfer Mike Doyle to develop his designs. The Makaha…
Topanga Canyon Blvd. descends into Girard (Woodland Hills)
Topanga Canyon Blvd. descends into Girard (Woodland Hills) and the San Fernando Valley.
Old Topanga Canyon Rd. intersects with Valley Dr.
Houses are seen at the intersection of Valley Dr. and Old Topanga Canyon Rd.
Houses in the Glenview neighborhood are seen from Blvd.
Houses in the Glenview neighborhood are seen from Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga Community Women's Club membership card
Billie Finn's laminated card shows an "honorary life" membership in the Topanga Community Women's Club. It is signed by President Kay Hoover and Treasurer Lois Mason.
Lifeguard T-shirt commemorates summer 2009
A surfer rides a wave on a T-shirt created for LA County Fire Department Ocean Lifeguards working at Area 27 (Topanga Beach) to commemorate summer 2009. The shirt says, "Never trust a guard who doesn't surf."
Aerial view of Topanga Beach, February 2025
Aerial view of Topanga Beach and Sunset Mesa shows damage from the Palisades Fire, the toxic-debris sorting station, Topanga Lane, The Rodeo Grounds, and the intersection of PCH and Topanga Canyon Blvd. This is a still from a drone video.
Shaleena Bertram, Gary Bertram, and Marilyn Morganroth
Shaleena Bertram sits with father Gary Bertram and mother Marilyn Morganroth by their house at 3767 Rodeo Grounds.
Ginny Haynes smiles at the counter of Wylie's Bait Shop
Ginny Haynes smiles at the counter of Wylie's Bait & Tackle (18757 PCH), across from Topanga Beach. Above her are fishing poles.
Mitt Seely painting, "Cthulhu at the Motel," 2020s
Mitt Seely's painting, "Cthulhu at the Topanga Ranch Motel," shows the H. P. Lovecraft monster standing under the sign.
Bob Dylan drawing, "Topanga Ranch Motel," 1990s
Bob Dylan's drawing, "Topanga Ranch Motel" (18711 PCH), shows the office door. The artwork belongs to his series "The Beaten Path," which features overlooked locations in the American landscape.
Bob Dylan painting, "Topanga Ranch Motel," 1990s
Bob Dylan's painting, "Topanga Ranch Motel" (18711 PCH), shows a dog sitting by the office and an American flag waving by the front door. The artwork belongs to his series "The Beaten Path," which features overlooked locations in the American…
The Palisades Fire approaches the patio of The Reel Inn
The Palisades Fire burns in The Snake Pit as it approaches the patio of The Reel Inn seafood restaurant at 18661 PCH.
T-shirt for Natural Progression surfboards features J. Riddle
A T-shirt for Natural Progression surfboards features J. Riddle riding a wave.
Ronald Croci painting, "Topanga Anger," 2009
Ronald Croci's watercolor painting, "Topanga Anger," shows surfers fighting on Topanga Beach.
Surfers gather around the lifeguard tower, 2/2
Surfers, dogs, and a child gather around the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower. In the foreground, there is a pile of rubble. In the background, photographers have set up cameras on tripods.
Unknown man smokes a cigarette in The Snake Pit
An unknown man smokes a cigarette and drinks beer on the dirt road in The Snake Pit. Behind him, a couple kisses.
Matchbook from the Chart House restaurant
A matchbook for the Chart House restaurant at Topanga Beach (18412 PCH) shows a drawing of a ship and advertises "Fine Steaks" and "Cocktails."
Aerial view of Topanga Beach, circa 1985, 2/2
Aerial view of Topanga Beach shows the Malibu Feed Bin at the intersection of PCH and Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Aerial view of Topanga Beach, circa 1985, 1/2
Aerial view of Topanga Beach shows the Malibu Feed Bin at the intersection of PCH and Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Norton Wisdom drives his truck in The Snake Pit
Norton Wisdom drives his truck camper through the mud after a flood in The Snake Pit.
Amy Fleetwood and James Mathers sit in The Snake Pit
Amy Fleetwood and James Mathers sit in armchairs by a sunflower on the dirt road in front of his house at 3948 Topanga Lane (in The Snake Pit).
Gerry Gallant, Baretta, and Jim Dudman flood in Snake Pit
Gerry Gallant, Robert "Baretta" Overby, Jim Dudman, and an unknown neighbor drink Michelob beer after using shovels to protect The Snake Pit during a flood. Baretta wears a hat from Caesars Palace. Behind them is Norton Wisdom's truck camper.
An abstract painting hangs on Norton Wisdom's art studio
An abstract painting and trapezoidal sculptures decorate Norton Wisdom's art studio at 3948 Topanga Lane in The Snake Pit.
Robbie Dick shaped this surfboard for Miki Dora
Robbie Dick shaped this "Da Cat"-model, "Super Tanker" surfboard for Miki Dora at the Natural Progression surf shop in Malibu in 1985.
It's 8'10" long and has a square tail. The signature on the foam says, "85 583 R. Dick for M. S. Dora XXV."…
It's 8'10" long and has a square tail. The signature on the foam says, "85 583 R. Dick for M. S. Dora XXV."…
A T-shirt advertises the Reel Inn and Row Boat restaurants
A T-shirt advertises the Reel Inn and the Row Boat (Topanga Fish Market) seafood restaurants in Malibu and Topanga Canyon. It features artwork of a tugboat by Lance Roberts, and the phrases "Eat fish or die" and "Famous fish restaurants."
Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1980s
Aerial view of Topanga Beach shows Las Tunas Beach houses, the Topanga Lagoon, the lifeguard tower, the Chart House, PCH, and the entrance to Topanga Canyon.
Artist Norton Wisdom sits in his yard in The Snake Pit
Artist Norton Wisdom sits in his yard at 3948 Topanga Lane (in The Snake Pit). Nearby are an abstract painting, a trapezoidal sculpture, and a saber-toothed tiger skull on a Greek column.
Craig Halley rides a wave on a windsurfing board
Craig Halley rides a wave on a windsurfing board at Topanga Beach. A seagull flies by in the foreground.
An easel holds a painting in Michael Greene's art studio
An easel holds a painting of a reclining woman in Michael Greene's art studio at 3726 Rodeo Grounds.
Pablo, Lucas, and Sally Capra stand in The Rodeo Grounds
Pablo Capra and Lucas Capra take a group photo with their mother Sally Capra by their house at 3712 Rodeo Grounds. An apricot tree and a Bougainvillea flower bush are in the yard.
Dragon from film "Echo Park" stands in The Rodeo Grounds
A prop dragon from the film "Echo Park" (1986) stands by the house (and greenhouse) of art director Bernt Capra at 3712 Rodeo Grounds.
Scotty Dittrich rides a skateboard in The Rodeo Grounds
Scotty Dittrich rides a Santa Cruz Skateboard on the half-pipe ramp of the Capra family at 3712 Rodeo Grounds. Behind him is a greenhouse.
Sally and Pablo Capra stand by the lifeguard tower
Sally Capra and son Pablo Capra make fists by the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
Map of Lower Topanga, 1980s
Map of Lower Topanga shows houses on Old Malibu Road, Topanga Canyon Lane (Topanga Lane, The Snake Pit), The Rodeo Grounds, the historical Shady Lane, Topanga Canyon Blvd., PCH, and Topanga Creek.
Addresses include:
3681 Topanga Canyon…
Addresses include:
3681 Topanga Canyon…
Grant Rohloff carries Thea Armand across Topanga Creek
Grant Rohloff holds onto a rope and carries Thea Armand across Topanga Creek after the Rodeo Grounds bridge washed out in a flood. This is a still from a home movie by Scott Dittrich.
Pablo and Lucas Capra play in the sand at Topanga Beach
Brothers Pablo Capra and Lucas Capra play in the sand at Topanga Beach. The Chart House is in the background.
Lifeguard Michael Morales wears goggles under the tower
Lifeguard Michael Morales wears goggles under the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
A long wave breaks in offshore winds at Topanga Beach
A long wave breaks in offshore winds at Topanga Beach. People walk on the rocks at low tide.
Sally Capra leans on a mural of women at Topanga Beach
Sally Capra leans on a mural of naked women that was painted on the foundation of a demolished house at Topanga Beach.
A high tide floods Topanga Beach
A high tide floods Topanga Beach near the lifeguard tower. The Chart House is at right.
A bulldozer demolishes the first lifeguard tower, 2/3
A bulldozer demolishes the first lifeguard tower, Paul Randall's former Topanga Beach house.
Lucas and Pablo Capra climb a tree in The Rodeo Grounds
Brothers Lucas Capra and Pablo Capra (above) climb a tree in their yard at 3712 Rodeo Grounds.
Sandy Ignon and Herb Bermann play ping-pong
Sandy Ignon and Herb Bermann play ping-pong by Herb's house at 3719 Rodeo Grounds.
Grant Rohloff edits a surf film in The Rodeo Grounds
Surf filmmaker Grant Rohloff works on an editing machine at his house at 3719 Rodeo Grounds. On the wall are his photos of big waves in Hawaii.
Grant Rohloff's Topanga Lane house floods
Grant Rohloff stands on the damaged deck of his Topanga Lane house as Topanga Creek floods.
The Capra family sits in their yard in The Rodeo Grounds
Sally Capra, Lucas Capra, Pablo Capra, and Bernt Capra take a group photo in their yard at 3712 Rodeo Grounds. Bernt wears a Heineken beer shirt.
Robert Campbell painting, "Capra House," 1980s
Robert Campbell's watercolor painting shows the Capra family's house at 3712 Rodeo Grounds.
Michael Hutter and Matt Lasky eat lunch at La Esperanza
An unknown woman, Michael Hutter ("The Prince"), a child, and Matt Lasky eat lunch and drink wine off a surfboard table at the Las Tunas beach house "La Esperanza" at 18862 PCH.
Michael Hutter carries his surfboard and a wineglass
Michael Hutter carries his surfboard and a wineglass by the the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
Claudia Lasky wears a costume by Norton Wisdom paintings
Claudia Lasky wears a bull costume by the paintings in Norton Wisdom's art studio in The Snake Pit.
Chris Rohloff and Mike Kope sit under the lifeguard tower
Teenagers Chris Rohloff and Mike Kope sit by their surfboards under the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
Chris Rohloff sits on his surfboard at Topanga Beach
Chris Rohloff sits on his surfboard in the ocean at Topanga Beach.
A man walks across the Rodeo Grounds bridge in the rain
A man wearing a pancho walks across the Rodeo Grounds bridge in the rain. Soon Topanga Creek would flood and wash the bridge away.
A woman watches a girl and the surfers at Topanga Beach
A woman watches a girl and the surfers at Topanga Beach near the lifeguard tower.
Fred Goodich & Donna Reznick lived in The Rodeo Grounds
Cinematographer Fred Goodich lived in The Rodeo Grounds with his wife Donna Lee Reznick and their sheep dog Che-Cha.
Chris Rohloff, Ricky Shaffer, and Norman Ollestad
Teenagers Chris Rohloff, Ricky Shaffer, and Norman Ollestad (holding a surfboard) take a group photo by the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
Coliene Rentmeester's backyard has a corral
Coliene Rentmeester's backyard at 3715 Rodeo Grounds has an abandoned corral.
Coliene Rentmeester's portrait hangs in her living room
Coliene Rentmeester's living room in her house at 3715 Rodeo Grounds is decorated with lamps, carpets, a bookshelf, and a photo of herself.
A loom stands in Coliene Rentmeester's house
Coliene Rentmeester's living room in her house at 3715 Rodeo Grounds is decorated with wooden furniture, carpets, and a loom.
Norton Wisdom and Robert Hernandez hug
Lifeguard Norton Wisdom and Robert Hernandez hug by the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
Geraldine & Bill Flaxman ride horses up Topanga Creek, 2/2
Geraldine Flaxman rides Mare (Dean Skipworth's horse) and her husband Bill rides Moon (King Zimmerman's horse, which had been in the 1976 Olympics) at Brookside, up Topanga Creek.
Men run from a wave in the parking lot of the Chart House
Men run from a breaking wave in the parking lot of the Chart House restaurant at 18412 PCH.
Bill Flaxman holds his son Adam on the cable bridge, 2/2
Bill Flaxman holds his son Adam on the platform of the cable bridge at Brookside, which transported people in a lawn chair.
Moms have a "Baby Beach Club" party at Brookside, 2/2
Malibu moms from Mariane Saodo's preschool have a "Baby Beach Club" party by Topanga Creek at Brookside. The cable bridge is in the background.
Bill Flaxman holds son Adam and Tyler [SURNAME?].
Nidia [SURNAME?] wears sunglasses (became a…
Bill Flaxman holds son Adam and Tyler [SURNAME?].
Nidia [SURNAME?] wears sunglasses (became a…
Moms have a "Baby Beach Club" party at Brookside, 1/2
Malibu moms from Mariane Saodo's preschool have a "Baby Beach Club" party at the Flaxman house at Brookside.
Marianne Saodo (in hammock)
Liz [SURNAME?] (red shirt)
Nidia [SURNAME?] (striped shirt, became a politician in Malibu)
Geraldine…
Marianne Saodo (in hammock)
Liz [SURNAME?] (red shirt)
Nidia [SURNAME?] (striped shirt, became a politician in Malibu)
Geraldine…
Gabriel Flaxman rides a horse led by Bill Flaxman
Nephew Gabriel Flaxman rides a horse led by Bill Flaxman, who holds his son Adam in the other hand. Patches the dog follows. Behind them are the steps leading to the cable bridge.
Friends gather for a birthday party at a corral at Brookside
Friends gather for Adam Flaxman's birthday party at a corral at Brookside.
Steve Saodo
Andy Stewart (guitar)
Dr. Roger Feldman (a dentist)
Michael Framer (white pants)
his daughter (striped shirt)
unknown blond girl
Tyler [SURNAME?]…
Steve Saodo
Andy Stewart (guitar)
Dr. Roger Feldman (a dentist)
Michael Framer (white pants)
his daughter (striped shirt)
unknown blond girl
Tyler [SURNAME?]…
Geraldine Flaxman and her son Adam lie in hammock
Geraldine Flaxman and her son Adam lie in hammock in their yard at Brookside.
Bill Flaxman holds his son Adam on the cable bridge, 1/2
Bill Flaxman holds his son Adam on the steps to the cable bridge at Brookside, which transported people in a lawn chair.
Aerial view of George's Market, 1980s
Aerial view of George's Market also shows the Topanga Ranch Motel, the Reel Inn, PCH, and the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
A big wave catches surfers on the inside at Topanga Beach
A big wave catches surfers on the inside at Topanga Beach. According to the photographer, "Pro surfer Shaun Tomson showed up and was streaking across walls."
Karl Conrad rides a big wave in muddy water after a flood
Surfer Karl Conrad rides a big wave in muddy water after a flood at Topanga Beach. "Half the decks from Malibu were floating in the line-up."
Norton Wisdom feeds the horse Whitney from his window
Norton Wisdom feeds the horse Whitney from the window of his house at 3948 Topanga Lane in The Snake Pit.
Members of the punk band Panic stack hands on a beer
Members of the punk band Panic stack hands on a beer bottle: Snakepit Eddie Edwards (vocals, saxophone), Zam Johnson (drums), and Norton Wisdom (performance painting). Norton worked as the lifeguard at Topanga Beach.
Sally Capra sits with her sons in The Rodeo Grounds
Sally Capra sits with her sons Pablo Capra and Lucas Capra in their yard at 3712 Rodeo Grounds.
Aerial view of the entrance to Topanga Canyon, 1983
Aerial view of the entrance to Topanga Canyon shows PCH, Topanga Canyon Blvd., the Malibu Feed Bin, the gas station, Topanga Lane, The Rodeo Grounds, the Topanga Beach Pump Station, and Sunset Mesa.
Bill Powers jumps from the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower
Lifeguard Bill Powers holds a rescue can and jumps from the second floor of the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
Girls walk by Norton Wisdom's car in the Snake Pit
Girls walk by Norton Wisdom's Volkswagen Karmann Ghia car in the Snake Pit. In the background is the Topanga Ranch Motel.
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