Browse Items (3726 total)

Dick and Barrie Milan lived on Topanga Lane

Dick Milan (pronounced MY-LIN) and Barrie Milan lived on Topanga Lane with their two children. They are shown here one year after moving away.

Margaret Cohen crosses the Rodeo Grounds bridge

Margaret Cohen crosses the Rodeo Grounds bridge over Topanga Creek. She walks towards eucalyptus trees.

Magretha Lane and Maria Nation at 3727 Rodeo Grounds

Magretha Lane and Maria Nation look through the window of Jan-Michael Vincent's house at 3727 Rodeo Grounds. One of the dogs may be Jan's German Shepherd Sebastian.

Marty Nation buries himself in the sand at Topanga Beach

Marty Nation buries himself in the sand by Topanga Beach houses.

The Cohen family stands by their Topanga Lane house

Margaret Cohen and Lester Cohen take a group photo on their wedding day with their children Maria Nation, Marty Nation, and Johnny Nation. Their dog Duchess sits by them in the yard of their Topanga Lane house.

Alma Pitlinzer saws wood on her homestead

Alma Pitlinzer wears loose hair and men’s clothing, while sawing wood on her homestead. Allegedly, she was a jilted Cincinnati socialite who lived as a barefoot hermit in Topanga.

Bonnie Poorman's truck is stuck in Topanga Creek

Don MacVicar's car tows Bonnie Poorman's International Harvester Scout truck after it got stuck in Topanga Creek in The Rodeo Grounds.

Dave Sanderson's red pickup truck is parked in The Snake Pit

Dave Sanderson's red 1953 pickup truck is parked in The Snake Pit.

Bad Bunny drives by the Malibu Feed Bin and Oasis Imports

Singer Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) drives a 2003 Toyota Corolla car on PCH by the Malibu Feed Bin and Oasis Imports in his music video for "Yonaguni."

Shane McMahon walks across the Rodeo Grounds bridge

Kiel Martin holds a corkscrew in The Rodeo Grounds

Kiel Martin wears sunglasses and holds a corkscrew at his house at 3715 Rodeo Grounds.

Sally Capra stands by the Topanga Central gas station

Sally Capra holds an Andy Warhol book by the Topanga Central gas station (Pine Tree Circle).

Karin Stermole stands on the Rodeo Grounds berm

Au pair Karin Stermole hugs the Capra family's dog Odie on the Rodeo Grounds berm.

Bonnie Vincent hugs her dog in The Rodeo Grounds

Bonnie Poorman Vincent hugs her dog Blue in The Rodeo Grounds.

The Villa Leon stands above South Topanga Beach houses

South Topanga Beach houses lead to Castle Rock. The Villa Leon stands above them. Locals called this Dixon's Beach.

Caption: "Summer shacks on the beach, Santa Monica, CA."

The Kaiser of Chalk Hill

In 1920 Ventura Boulevard was still a relatively unpopulated stretch of roadway. The long and narrow (no more than 14 feet in width) road was a difficult byway, particularly as it approached the Brant Rancho. Travelers from Los Angeles encountered a…

Aerial view of Topanga Lagoon, 1950s

Aerial view shows PCH, Jim Dandy Cafe, Malibu Shoreline (La Mer restaurant), Rainbow Plaza, Topanga Beach Auto Court, Marinos' (Caracol restaurant), Old Malibu Road, The Gulch (The Snake Pit), the Topanga Lagoon bridge, and Topanga Beach houses.

A car drives by South Topanga Beach houses

The Palisades Fire approaches the Topanga Ranch Motel

The 2025 Palisades Fire approaches the abandoned Topanga Ranch Motel at 18711 PCH.

The surf-rock band Blue Juice began as Eclypse, 1/2

The surf-rock band Blue Juice began as Eclypse in The Rodeo Grounds with (clockwise from top) Bob Gordon (bass), J. Murf (guitar), Robert Bailey (“Bullet”) (drums), and George Trafton (guitar).

Shane McMahon and George Trafton at their beach house

Shane McMahon and George Trafton wave from the balcony of their Yellow House at Topanga Beach.

Jim, Wimpy, and John surf a wave at Topanga Beach

Jim Larronde, George "Wimpy" Weston, and John Larronde surf a wave at Topanga Beach.

Surfers meet at the Three J's Inn on Old Malibu Road

Surfers take a group photo at the "Surfriders Stage," aka the Three J's Inn (the home of John Larronde, Jim Larronde, and Juanita Larronde), on Old Malibu Road, across from Topanga Beach.

BACK:
Chuck Spurgin, Jim McGrew, Pete Woodruff, Lewis…

A blue T-shirt advertises Natural Progression surfboards

An orange T-shirt advertises Natural Progression surfboards

Marshall Bernes added a hang glider to his Zodiac raft, 2/2

Marshall Bernes added a hang glider to his Zodiac raft at Las Tunas Beach.

Marshall Bernes added a hang glider to his Zodiac raft, 1/2

Marshall Bernes added a hang glider to his Zodiac raft at Las Tunas Beach.

Morning Van Meter sits under the lifeguard tower

Morning Van Meter sits under the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.

Joanne Robinson and Jimmy Allard hug at Topanga Beach

Teenagers Joanne Robinson and Jimmy Allard hug at Topanga Beach.

A catamaran's sail is taller than Topanga Beach houses

Mick and Shane McMahon windsurf at Topanga Beach

Mick McMahon windsurfs with his son Shane McMahon at Topanga Beach

A Volkswagen Beetle is stuck in the Topanga Lagoon

A Volkswagen Beetle is stuck in the mud after a flood at the Topanga Lagoon.

Topanga Beach houses line the cove

Topanga Beach houses line the cove. The Malibu Feed Bin is across the street, at right.

Lloyd Ahern, Rick Hodgson, and Walter Lehman fix a fence

Lloyd Ahern, Rick Hodgson, and Walter Lehman fix a fence by the Topanga Lagoon bridge to prevent surfers from sneaking onto the beach. They are shirtess. The La Mer restaurant is across the street.

Brandy Lasky holds an axe over Shane McMahon on PCH

Surfer Brandy Lasky pretends to chop off Shane McMahon's head with an axe for dropping in on him. They are on PCH across from The Raft.

Cliff Reed carries a grocery bag on Topanga Beach Rd.

Lifeguard Cliff Reed carries a grocery bag on Topanga Beach Rd.

Marianne Ewing smiles by a palm tree at Topanga Beach

Marianne Ewing smiles by a palm tree at Topanga Beach. A man rides a bicycle behind her.

Norton Wisdom sits by the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower

Lifeguard Norton Wisdom sits by the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower, wearing sunglasses.

Shane McMahon and Lisa Etlinger hug at the Yellow House

Shane McMahon and Lisa Etlinger hug on the balcony of the Yellow House at Topanga Beach.

Norman Dyhrenfurth and Sherpas visit Topanga Beach

Mountain climber Norman Dyhrenfurth and his team of Sherpas visited the Fitzpatrick family at Topanga Beach after he led the first successful American Mount Everest Expedition of 1963.

"Sherpas don't have a word for 'ocean.' The surf was huge this…

John Puklus, John Orlando, and John Marrow

John Puklus, John Orlando, and John Marrow hold surfboards by a van on Old Malibu Road.

A T-shirt advertises La Fruit Stand at Topanga Beach

A T-shirt advertises La Fruit Stand, at the corner of Topanga Canyon Blvd. and PCH (Topanga Beach, Malibu). It shows a woman eating a banana.

A flyer advertises National Woody Guthrie Day, 1967

A flyer advertises National Woody Guthrie Day, a folk-music concert at Woody's shack at the Theatricum Botanicum (1419 Topanga Canyon Blvd.) on September 3, 1967. "Bring your axe and lunch."

PERFORMERS:
Will Geer
Gil Turner ("Leatherlungs")…

The Inn of the Seventh Ray's tables are set for a wedding

The Inn of the Seventh Ray restaurant's patio is set up for a wedding.

Woody, Shane, Craig Colich, Craig Halley, and Nalota Herms

Woody Woodward, Shane McMahon, Craig Colich, Craig Halley, and Nalota Herms take a group photo, possibly in Pacific Palisades.

Topanga Bombers surf club shirt, 2/2

The Topanga Bombers Surf Club formed at Topanga Beach in the winter of 1962-63. That summer, they threw a fundraising party to raise money for their club shirts. The Bombers were active until a big marijuana bust, around 1966.

David H. Stern and…

Topanga Dick and Tony Bennett sit at The Corral

Richard Ludwig ("Topanga Dick") sits with Tony Bennett, probably at The Corral nightclub, which Ludwig managed in the mid-1960s. The photo is signed, "To my boy Topanga Dick. Life, happiness, love, joyful pleasures. 'Skipper Joe' with Tony Bennett."

J. Murf and George Trafton party at the Community House

J. Murf (afro) and George Trafton (spring eyeball glasses) write the name of their band, "Blue Juice," on a chalkboard at a Halloween costume party at the Topanga Community House.

David Hayward and Vince Wallace play jazz at El Gordo

David Hayward (trumpet) and Vince Wallace (saxophone) play in a jazz band on the patio (The Zoo) of El Gordo Mexican restaurant at 18661 PCH.

A Flanders Six car parks at the entrance to Topanga Canyon

A. W. Crippen, salesman for the H. O. Harrison Motor Company, takes a group photo with two staff members of the "Los Angeles Tribune" in a Flanders Six car. They are parked at the southern entrance to Topanga Canyon.

The Topanga Beach stairs burned in the Palisades Fire

The garden by the Topanga Beach stairs burned in the Palisades Fire.

The Topanga Ranch Motel burned in the Palisades Fire

The Topanga Ranch Motel and the Reel Inn along PCH burned in the Palisades Fire.

Flyer for the Blue Juice show on July 8, 1977

Hand-drawn flyer for the Blue Juice show at the Roman Inn (Santa Monica) on July 8, 1977, says, "You have been selected out of a cast of thousands to attend the maddest gathering of hatters this side of Wonderland." The band members were George…

Flyer for the Blue Juice show on January 13, 1978

Hand-drawn flyer for the Blue Juice show at the Roman Inn (Santa Monica) on January 13, 1978, says, "Rock in the New Year!" It has a drawing of a topless witch and a cocktail. The band members were John Murphy ("J. Murf"), Robert Bailey ("Bullet"),…

Blue Juice: Jeff, George, Don, Riddle, and Murf

The surf-rock band Blue Juice takes a group photo: Jeff Ort (drums), George Trafton (guitar), Don MacVicar (bass), J. Riddle, and J. Murf (guitar).

J. Murf founded the surf-rock band Blue Juice

J. Murf has windswept hair at Topanga Beach. He founded the surf-rock band Blue Juice in 1972.

Blue Juice: Jeff Ort, J. Murf, George Trafton, Don MacVicar

The surf-rock band Blue Juice takes a group photo on the Escondido Palisades in Malibu: Jeff Ort, J. Murf, George Trafton, and Don MacVicar.

George Cheney rides his horse Commanche

The Palisades Fire burned Topanga Beach Rd.

The Palisades Fire burned the hillside along Topanga Beach Rd. A blue lifeguard tower was unharmed.

Metro Bus Line 434 schedules came in different colors

New schedules were printed in different colors for Metro Bus Line 434, which connected downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Malibu.

LA Superior Court judges enjoy the Tom Mix Rodeo

Los Angeles Superior Court judges enjoy the Tom Mix Rodeo, presented in their honor in The Rodeo Grounds by the cowboy actor and Archie Cooper (of Cooper's Camp) on September 30, 1923. Pictured are Carlos S. Hardy, Ira F. Thompson, John L. Fleming…

Edythe Cooper rides a trick pony on the Topango Ranch

Cowgirl Edythe Cooper, 14, rides a trick pony on the Topango Ranch, which was owned by her father Archie Cooper and uncle Miller Cooper (of Cooper's Camp). She is practicing for the Moose Rodeo, which was held in The Rodeo Grounds on September 8-9,…

Skeet Johnson rides a bucking steer in The Rodeo Grounds

Cowboy Skeet Johnson, from Arizona, rides a bucking steer in The Rodeo Grounds. He is practicing for the Elks Rodeo, which was held on June 2-3,1923.

Jeff Ort surfs a wave with a feathering lip at Topanga Beach

John Clemens's garden grows at his Topanga Beach house

John Clemens's garden grows at Dr. Schweiger’s Topanga Beach house.

Carole Winter and friend hang out by Topanga Beach house

Carole Winter (right) and an unknown friend hang out on the rocks in front of Dr. Schweiger’s Topanga Beach house.

Jeff Ort crouches on the wall of a wave at Topanga Beach

Surfer Jeff Ort crouches on the wall of a wave at Topanga Beach.

Woody Woodward turns on a wave at Topanga Beach

Woody Woodward makes a top turn while surfing a wave at Topanga Beach.

Canyon Care takes a field trip to The Rodeo Grounds

A Canyon Care Preschool class takes a group photo in the yard of the Capra family at 3712 Rodeo Grounds. The children are on a field trip.

BACK ROW (Teachers):
Linda Hinrichs, Coco [SURNAME?], Esther Goodman

MIDDLE ROW:
Michael [SURNAME?],…

Steve Hilton holds his Skateboarding Hall of Fame trophy

Steve Hilton accepts his 2025 award trophy at the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum in Simi Valley, CA.

Steve Hilton skated for the Hobie / Vita-Pakt Super Surfer skateboard team with his brother Davey. They traveled around the country doing…

A car fell from PCH onto Topanga Beach in a car accident

A Chevrolet Camaro hit a parked car on PCH, and the force of the collision knocked the Camaro off the road and onto Topanga Beach. A tow truck driver works to pull the Camaro back up again. The driver was hospitalized with slight injuries and would…

Topanga Lagoon Restoration plan shows a 200-foot bridge

The Topanga Lagoon Restoration plan, Alternative #2, preferred by the Resource Conservation District, is superimposed on an aerial view of Topanga Beach. It shows...

- A 200-foot, Topanga Lagoon bridge
- The removal of 11.7 acres of earth,…

Surf cam: Surfers increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

Surfers crowd the water at Topanga Beach. A boat is at top. The number of new surfers notably increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Palm trees grow by tents and the Topanga Lagoon

Palm trees grow by tents and a Topanga Beach house. The Topanga Lagoon is at left.

Topanga Creek dries up by The Rodeo Grounds

The Reel Inn's blackboard says, "Surf Report: OMG"

A man puts his surfboard back into his van by The Reel Inn at 18661 PCH. The blackboard says, "Surf Report: OMG," on a day with big waves.

Boardriders has a surfboard conveyor belt on the ceiling

Boardriders has a surfboard conveyor belt on the ceiling at 18820 PCH.

James Mathers sits by his trailer at 3726 Rodeo Grounds

James Mathers sits on an easy chair by his airstream a trailer at 3726 Rodeo Grounds.

The hills are burned around the Topanga Lagoon

The hills are burned around the Topanga Lagoon bridge after the 2025 Palisades Fire.

The gas station at 18541 PCH is abandoned

A pink sunset illuminates the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower

The Malibu Feed Bin has banners hanging on it

The Malibu Feed Bin has banners that say, "Gifts," and "Pray for our troops," at 3931 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Hiro surfs near people paddling at Topanga Beach

Hiroshi Konishi ("Hiro") surfs near people paddling over his wave at Topanga Beach.

Reel Inn ad boasts that it has the best puns on PCH, 2018

Reel Inn ad boasts that it has the best puns on "P Sea H" (PCH). The seafood restaurant's neon sign stands at 18661 PCH. The wet-erase blackboard says, "Nice Bass" (Nice Ass).

People celebrate the opening of Boardriders

Aerial drone view shows people in the parking lot celebrating the grand opening of Boardriders at 18820 PCH. The surf shop has a wave mural.

George Trafton skates for Makaha and Hobie / Vita-Pakt

George Trafton skates for the Makaha and the Hobie / Vita-Pakt Super Surfer skateboard teams. He appeared in the article "Surfer/Skateboarder," published in the second issue of "Skateboarder" magazine (1965), where he is shown hanging heels on a…

Steve Hilton skated for Hobie / Vita-Pakt

Steve Hilton skated for the Hobie / Vita-Pakt Super Surfer skateboard team with his brother Davey. They traveled around the country doing demos and showing people what skateboarding was.In the photo, Steve sits on the steps and watches Hobie Alter…

The blue jacket of the Makaha Skateboard Club has a patch

The blue jacket of the Makaha Skateboard Club has striped sleeves and a patch that depicts a crouching surfer.

Makaha introduced clay wheels and Chicago trucks

Makaha skateboards introduced two revolutionary components: clay wheels and Chicago trucks (the first, double-action, adjustable trucks).

People take a photo in the baseball field at Topanga Days

People take a group photo in the baseball field in front of the bar at Topanga Days.

A man boards the bus at Topanga Beach

Google Maps' street view shows a man boarding the Metro Line 534 at the bus stop on PCH at Topanga Beach.

Cars park at Ted's Rancho at South Topanga Beach

Cars park at Ted's Rancho at South Topanga Beach. The seafood restaurant was considered to be the borderline of Malibu.

Bunny crouches through a section while surfing

Anne Fuchs ("Bunny") crouches through a section while surfing a wave at Topanga Beach.

Matt Doolin rides a skateboard down the S-Turns

Matt Doolin rides a skateboard down the S-Turns while Topanga Canyon Blvd. was closed for months due to a mudslide.

Rose Wiley wears a swimsuit at Topanga Beach

Dirt road passes by Frank Lamonea's house in The Snake Pit

Cactus grows around Frank Lamonea's house at 3928 Topanga Lane (The Snake Pit). The dirt road passes by. The sign for the Reel Inn restaurant is at right.

A man swings on a rope at 3712 Rodeo Grounds

A man swings on a rope in the yard at 3712 Rodeo Grounds. A boy leans on a hammock.

James Mathers stands in his studio at 3726 Rodeo Grounds

James Mathers wears a clown hat in his art studio at 3726 Rodeo Grounds. He stands by his paintings for "Bagdad Cafe, the Musical" (based on the 1987 film), which depict the main character, Jasmin Münchgstettner.

People gather at a day party at 3726 Rodeo Grounds, 15/15

People gather in the yard at James Mathers's party at 3726 Rodeo Grounds.

Jeffrey Indiana Schwartz ("Paperboy") listens to music
Andrew Calder ("Project") holds an iPod.
James Mathers is shirtless. He wears a headband with horns and a chain…

James Mathers's art studio is vandalized 4/4

James Mathers's art studio at 3726 Rodeo Grounds is vandalized after the eviction of the Lower Topanga community by State Parks. Graffiti says, "Where's James?"