Browse Items (1501 total)

Herta Ware, Will Geer, and Anne Lanaro at the parade

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Grand Marshall Will Geer waits with ex-wife Herta Ware and Anne Lanaro for the start of the Topanga Days Parade.

Grand Marshall Will Geer at Topanga Days

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Grand Marshall Will Geer presides at Topanga Days. Penny Peterson is next to him in a blue dress.

In the background are Jan Moore in a blue shirt, and Michelle Christensen with blond hair under the "Topanga Days" sign.

In the foreground is…

Strawberry Festival Cash Report 1961

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Strawberry Festival cash report by Everett T. Plumer August 17, 1961

State Parks's Lower Topanga "Battle Plan" cartoon

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A political cartoon shows State Parks's "Battle Plan" to evict the Lower Topanga community. Rangers in camouflage target the Malibu Feed Bin and say, "To subdue Malibu—first you 'take out' their landmarks!"

George Demont Otis painting, "Topanga," c. 1920s

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George Demont Otis painting, "Topanga," oil on canvas, 30" x 36 1/4".

George Demont Otis painting, "Topanga Canyon," c. 1923

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George Demont Otis painting, "Topanga Canyon," c. 1923, oil on canvasboard, 12" x 16".

Megan Rice

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Megan Rice with her book "A Brush with Cancer," which combines journal excerpts with images of her artwork.

Sheila Kuehl, Pat Mac Neil, and Cruz Bustamante

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State Senator Sheila Kuehl, Pat Mac Neil (being named State of California Woman of the Year), and Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante.

Gordon Butcher painting, "Topanga Threads"

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"Topanga Threads" painted by Gordon Butcher. This used clothing store in the Pine Tree Circle was owned by J. R. Ball.

A hiking group walks down Topanga Canyon Blvd.

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A hiking group walks down Topanga Canyon Blvd. to the Time Tunnel.

Mail carriers Jack Wood and Joe Robison

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Post Office mail carriers Jack Wood and Joe Robison in the S-Turns. Mail carriers also transported passengers.

Cheney Ranch House

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Black and white postcard of a small child on Cheney Ranch porch 1920

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.

An outdoor bed at Topangster Ranch

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Three dogs guard an outdoor bed ("Mountain Bed") at Topangster Ranch in Old Topanga Canyon.

Topanga Day barbecue

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Topanga Day barbecue, prepared by Jim Buerckle.

Gun-toting Mary West picnics with her daughters

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Gun-toting Mary West picnics with her daughters on Topanga Beach. The caption says, "Mary A. West with Elizabeth West in front and Frances West in rear. That rifle being held by Mrs. West was given to me in Lordsburg, N.M. about 1894 by the assistant…

Cave in the Santa Maria area

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Hikers stand in a cave in the Santa Maria area, near where Native American pictographs were found.

Stella and Ed Ellis watch "The Old Topanga Incident" Fire, 1993

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In the early hours of "The Old Topanga Incident" fire of 1993, Stella and Ed Ellis watching from Summit Valley are dwarfed by a mushroom cloud of smoke.

Viewridge Estates, fire company basecamp, 1993

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Day 2 of the 1993 fire, fire companies from throughout the Western U.S. line up at the Viewridge Estates neighborhood.

TASC board members stand above Summit Valley

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Topanga Association for a Scenic Community board members stand above Summit Valley. FRONT: Rabyn Blake, David Totheroh, Andrew Sheldon, Herbert Petermann. BACK: Ken Mazur and son, Ron Fomalont, Dan Larson, Steve Hoye, Roger Pugliese, Kay Austen, Joan…

Lizard

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The common lizard is uncommonly beautiful in this photo, which won a National Park Service award.

The Topanga Story, Contents

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The Topanga Story: Expanded Edition

Contents

Preface by Kenneth H. York
Introduction by Buz Tarlow
Foreword by Al Martinez
1. The Natural Canyon
2. The First Inhabitants
3. 1880-1900: The First Families
4. 1900-1920: Resorts & Ranches
5.…

View of San Fernando Valley from Topanga Summit

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View of San Fernando Valley from Topanga Summit, with The Topanga Story's Preface by Kenneth H. York, and Introduction by Buz Tarlow.

The boat house ("Mother S’hippo") at Topangster Ranch

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Heidi Staun and her children built the boat house ("Mother S’hippo") at Topangster Ranch around their mobile home after a fire burned their house in Old Topanga Canyon.

Vance Hoyt on Red Rock Trail

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Vance Hoyt on Red Rock Trail, near his home. He arrived in Topanga in 1910.

Katherine's Kitchen Collapses

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Boards support Katherine's Kitchen at the entrance to Sylvia Park, weakened by storms in the early 1930s. It collapsed soon afterward.

Saint Jarlath's Catholic Church Altar Society tea

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Saint Jarlath's Catholic Church Altar Society tea: Elinor Covington, Lillian McCarter, Winnie Watkins, Dora Bruyere, Mae Conners, two unknowns, Ann Allen, Nora Collins, two unknowns, Father Gallagher, and Mrs. Shaw (seated).

Santa Ynez Canyon aerial view

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Santa Ynez Canyon and Palisades Highlands aerial view, with Topanga at the upper left.

Trippet Ranch

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Topanga State Park

1980 Flood Topples House

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House in the 700 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard is toppled from its foundation by the February 1980 flood.

Topanga Beach Auto Court

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Topanga Beach Auto Court, with James Talmadge's Deusenberg. James was the son of Buster Keaton and lived on Tuna Beach.

Sooki Raphael, fastest Topanga woman, runs the 10K

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Sooki Raphael, fastest Topanga woman in the Tough Topanga 10K, won this category more than anyone.

Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach, 1/4

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Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach. The band played the soundtrack for the surf film "The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun" (1970). From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach., 2/4

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Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach. The band played the soundtrack for the surf film "The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun" (1970).From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach, 3/4

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Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach. The band played the soundtrack for the surf film "The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun" (1970).From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach, 4/4

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Farm plays on a porch at Topanga Beach. The band played the soundtrack for the surf film "The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun" (1970).From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Bonnie Vincent rides a horse by the Yellow House

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Bonnie Vincent rides a horse with daughter Amber by the Yellow House at Topanga Beach. Surfboards lean against the porch.From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Victoria Anderson sunbathes at Topanga Beach

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Denny Aaberg plays guitar with friends at Topanga Beach

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Joe Pleshe lived across the creek near Brookside

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

The dining room at Jim Ganzer's Topanga Beach house

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Jan-Michael Vincent, Ronne Troup, and Jim Ganzer

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Jan-Michael Vincent, Ronne Troup, and Jim Ganzer in Ganzer's Topanga Beach house.From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Robbie Dick in his surfboard shaping room

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Jan-Michael Vincent wears a military hat at Topanga Beach

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Ronne Troup watches TV in her Topanga Beach house

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Ronne Troup wears a bathrobe and watches TV in her Topanga Beach house. On the wall is a poster by John Van Hamersveld.From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Hippie friend visits Ronne Troup at her Topanga Beach house

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Jim Ganzer waxes his surfboard at Topanga Beach

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Jan-Michael Vincent rides a horse at Topanga Beach

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From the book Life Lived by Jim Ganzer (Indoek, 2024).

Garapatos School Children

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1953 Topanga Journal Newspaper Clipping: "Topanga School 25 Years Ago..., 1923 or 1924"
(But annotated "1910s (photo)")
14 childern of "Canyon pioneers" are named. Histories of some are provided.
Teacher: Miss Alma Seaton
"Photo courtesy Jimmy…

Frederico Joseph Mazet's restored vineyard

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A deer passes by homesteader Frederico Joseph Mazet's 19th-century vineyard (recently restored) and winery in Old Topanga Canyon.

Big money encroaches on Topanga, Jody Roberts, 1992

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Artist Jody Roberts drew this comic map for the "Messenger" newspaper, showing "Big Bucks Estates" and "Big Development" encroaching on Topanga.

Dave Sykes poses with his redwood "Topanga" surfboard

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Dave Sykes poses with his redwood "Topanga" surfboard.

Surf pioneer Joe Quigg said:
"[Dave] Sykes was the best surfer I had seen at that time because he lived there [at Topanga Beach] and surfed all day, every day. He could just glide and…

Dave Sykes surfs at Topanga Beach

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Dave Sykes surfs a balsa-redwood surfboard at Topanga Beach.

Surf pioneer Joe Quigg said:
"[Dave] Sykes was the best surfer I had seen at that time because he lived there [at Topanga Beach] and surfed all day, every day. He could just glide and…

Jim Talmadge stands beside a "Topanga" surfboard at Malibu

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Surfer Jim Talmadge at Malibu's Surfrider Beach stands beside a redwood surfboard that has the word "Topanga" written on it. Jim was the son of actor Buster Keaton. The board probably belonged to Dave Sykes.

Map of Topanga homesteads in 1908

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A map of homesteads in 1908 along Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Old Topanga Canyon Road, drawn by John H. Mac Neil, Licensed Land Surveyor: Hiram Montgomery, Tony Von Arnswaldt, Frederick Mazet, Topanga Tavern, John Heron, Frederick Post, Templer Allen,…

Map of Topanga Subdivisions and Points of Interest, 1930s

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A map of 1930s Topanga Subdivisions and Points of Interest, drawn by John H. Mac Neil, Licensed Land Surveyor: Fernwood, Topanga Oaks, Veteran Springs, Lida Park, Sylvia Park, Bonnell Park, Post Office Tract, Topanga Canyon Blvd., Old Topanga Canyon…

Trujillo Ranch gate

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Trujillo Ranch gate built by grandson John Wiley in 2001

Jerry Cibilich sculpture, "Crystal Radio Antenna," 1991

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Jerry Lee Cibilich (1957-2011) worked as a California lifeguard in the summer, and studied art in Italy in the winter under famous artists like Marco Gastini and Mario Merz. The ocean, found its way into his work through the use of salt, waves of all…

West Topanga Beach Road, 18622 to 18722

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West Topanga Beach Road was a private driveway serving the homes 18622 to 18722.

Dorothy Lilley walks daughter Sue on W. Topanga Beach Rd.

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Dorothy Lilley walks daughter Sue on the family car on W. Topanga Beach Rd.

Evan “Gramps” Harrison (glasses) and friend with surf mat

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Evan “Gramps” Harrison (glasses) stands with a friend holding a surf mat. Surfboards lean on a beach house in the background.

The Discovery Inn Restaurant

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The Discovery Inn restaurant opened in 1961 at 156 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Topanga Peace Alliance

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The Topanga Peace Alliance held Friday vigils against the Iraq War, like this one at Topanga Canyon Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway, in front of Oasis Imports and the Malibu Feed Bin.

Marge and Richard "Rich" Dehr

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Marge and Richard "Rich" Dehr opened the Discovery Inn restaurant at 156 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Buddha mural on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

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"Buddha on the Wall," a mural on Topanga Canyon Blvd., designed by poster artist Liz Shepherd and painted with Kedric Wolfe and David Totheroh, on Labor Day 1982.

Cheese Rock in Old Topanga Canyon

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Cheese Rock in Old Topanga Canyon Narrows is gouged with holes or "tafoni" caused by differential weathering.

Topanga Days Memorial Day Parade

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Kids ride in the shovel of a pink tractor.

Marie Janisse at Topanga Days

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Marie Janisse, once greeter at The Corral, at Topanga Days.