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A fire destroys three Topanga Beach houses, 3/3

A fire destroys three Topanga Beach houses, leaving a dirt lot on W. Topanga Beach Rd. that allowed entry to the public. The house on the right, 18664 W. Topanga Beach Rd., belonged to Katherine Ottesen-Salkow.

"The fire started in this house…

A naked couple showers under a Topanga Beach house

Hippies sunbathe on a Topanga Beach house

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

A woman has a dog on the nude beach at Topanga Beach

A woman has a surf mat on the nude beach at Topanga Beach

The Yellow House was burned by surfers, 1/6

The Yellow House was burned by surfers to spare it the indignity of being bulldozed during the eviction of Topanga Beach by State Parks. A graffitied pillar says, "Free Tanya," referencing the convicted bank robber Patty Hearst and the name she used…

The Yellow House was burned by surfers, 2/6

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

George Trafton, Shane McMahon, Paul Lovas, Johnny Nation

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…

Perfectly shaped waves break by Topanga Beach houses

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

Something's Fishy Here ad, 1979

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

A bulldozer demolishes the Topanga Ranch Market, 1/3

A bulldozer demolishes the Topanga Ranch Market and liquor store at 18717 PCH. The sign still stands, advertising beer, wine, and deli sandwiches.

Gary Dannenbaum rides a wave on the nose

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

Gary Dannenbaum nearly gets covered up by a wave

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

Gary Dannenbaum raises his hands as he drops into a wave

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.

Darrell Giddens rides his horse Halifu on Topanga Lane

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

Lower Topanga teenagers take a photo on Topanga Beach

Lower Topanga teenagers take a group photo on Topanga Beach: Mia Matsura, Angel Kershner, Lily Van Meter, and Moonstar Greene.

The Yellow House was burned by surfers, 3/6

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

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

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

Matt Lasky's house floods at 3861 Topanga Lane

Matt Lasky in a wetsuit stands in water as his house floods at 3861 Topanga Lane.

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

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

Lesli Hamilton and J. Murf hug on Topanga Beach

Lesli Hamilton and J. Murf hug on Topanga Beach. He is shirtless. He is the leader of the surf-rock band Blue Juice.

Driftwood lines Topanga Beach houses and a volleyball court

Tim Harvey's Topanga Beach house had a lighthouse

High tide floods Topanga Beach by the lifeguard tower

J. Murf's house on Old Malibu Road

J. Murf's house on 3960 1/2 Old Malibu Road has turquoise-trim windows.

Carole Winter and Shane McMahon hug by burned houses

Carole Winter wears a swimsuit and sits on the railing of Sid and Marge Bernstein's burned house on Topanga Beach. Shane McMahon hugs her. The house next door is also burned.

A man stands with Laurie Lanaro by Topanga Beach houses

A man stands with Laurie Lanaro by Topanga Beach houses. Behind them is a catamaran.

Ray Casser walks on the Rodeo Grounds bridge, 1/2

Ray Casser walks on the Rodeo Grounds bridge over Topanga Creek with his dog and Ed Stalcup's dog Tom. Behind him are eucalyptus trees.

Ray Casser walks on the Rodeo Grounds bridge, 2/2

Ray Casser walks on the Rodeo Grounds bridge, anchored by crossed telephone poles, over Topanga Creek with his dog and Ed Stalcup's dog Tom. Behind him are eucalyptus trees.

Chuck Thayer, Ed Stalcup, Ray Casser, and Bud Skibitzke

Ed Stalcup hugs his dog Tom on the Rodeo Grounds bridge he helped build. Behind him in the group photo are Chuck Thayer (who led the construction), Ray Casser, and Bud Skibitzke (Thayer's architect friend from the Pacific Palisades who donated the…

Surfers wear jackets by the Topanga Beach fence

Surfers, wearing jackets, take a group photo on Topanga Beach, by the fence that kept trespassers from entering through the open lot.

They are Rick Hodgson, Ken "Kenman" Helms (with driftwood), Greg Jackson, Don MacVicar, George Trafton, Cindy…

A band plays on the deck of a Topanga Beach house, 2/2

A band plays on the deck at a Topanga Beach house party. Jeff Ort plays drums. Randall Zacuto plays harmonica. Michael DeTemple plays guitar.

A person carries an umbrella on the Rodeo Grounds bridge

A person carries an umbrella on the Rodeo Grounds bridge over Topanga Creek. Above are houses on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

The Yellow House was burned by surfers, 4/6

The Yellow House was burned by surfers to spare it the indignity of being bulldozed when State Parks took over Topanga Beach.

Doug Avery and Craig Halley appear to be at a party

Topanga Beach surfers Doug Avery and Craig Halley appear to be at a party.

People walk by Topanga Beach houses and catamarans

People walk by Topanga Beach houses and catamarans.

Jim Simonson and his dog Tank walk at center.
Al Wurtzel is to the left, holding a beer and wearing orange trunks.
Jeff Miller sits shirtless by surfboards that are leaning on a ledge.
Greg…

Sophia and Edith Ort sit in front of Jeff Ort's house

Sophia [SURNAME?] and Edith Ort sit on driftwood in front of the house of Edith's son, Jeff Ort.

Alan Haigh, Mickey Moriarty, and Jeff Ort play music

Alan Haigh (flute), Mickey Moriarty (guitar), and Jeff Ort (drum) play music on Topanga Beach.

Teresa Mix sits on the steps of Mickey Moriarty's house

Teresa Mix (Rodgers) sits on the steps of Mickey Moriarty's house, across from Topanga Beach.

The surf band Blue Juice rehearses in The Yellow House

The surf-rock band Blue Juice rehearses in The Yellow House at Topanga Beach.

They are Jeff Ort (drums), Don MacVicar (bass), Richard "Book" Brooks (vocals), George Trafton (guitar), and J. Murf (vocals, guitar).

View from the ocean shows Topanga Beach houses, 1970s

View from the ocean shows Topanga Beach houses.

1. Wheeler Coberly's house
2. Dr. Schweiger's house
3. Lloyd Ahern's house (The Yellow House)
4. Skip Smith, Bruce Lucoff, and Robbie Dick's house
5. John Puklus's house
6. Victoria Andersen's…

Surfers sit by driftwood at Topanga Beach

Surfers sit by driftwood by the Topanga Beach house of Dr. Schweiger. They are Jan-Michael Vincent (holding a script), Greg Jackson, Mark Barker ("The Mate") (maybe), Anne Fuchs ("Bunny") (drinking), Jeff Ort (hat), and Kit [SURNAME?} (Bunny's…

Surfer Jeff Ort rides Gitano on Topanga Beach

Surfer Jeff Ort rides the horse Gitano (Spanish: "Gypsy") on Topanga Beach.

Jimmy Allard, Hymie Marr, and Christian Andersen

Jimmy Allard, Hymie Marr, and Christian Andersen take a group photo by the Wingard house at Topanga Beach.

Jim and Nancy Lane rest on a catamaran

Married couple Jim and Nancy Lane rest on a catamaran on Topanga Beach.

Topanga Lane descends into The Snake Pit

Topanga Lane descends from Pacific Coast Highway into The Snake Pit. The back of The Reel Inn restaurant is at right.

Paul Lovas's house in The Snake Pit is swept away

Paul Lovas's house in The Snake Pit is swept away as Topanga Creek floods. Paul is the author of "Topanga Beach Experience: 1960s-70s" (Brass Tacks Press, 2011).

Residents walk their dogs by Topanga Beach houses

Residents walk their dogs by Topanga Beach houses.

They are John Menelson, Nancy Wood, Doris Ollestad, Clyde Wood, Wheeler Coberly, Maggie Coberly, Dick Steele, Marge Bernstein, and Syd Bernstein.

The three-legged dog at right is Sunshine.

View from Sid Bernstein's Topanga Beach house

The view from Sid Bernstein's Topanga Beach house shows a garden of potted plants, a surfboard leaning on a fence, and a surfer riding a wave in an offshore wind.

Terry and The Pirates hang out at their Topanga Beach house

Terry and The Pirates sit on the deck of their Topanga Beach house. Terry Ward watches as Puki opens her mouth to receive what looks like a pill from Lance [SURNAME?] wearing a bandana.

Herb Thacker and Paul Lovas sit with a marijuana plant

Surfers Herb Thacker (shirtless) and Paul Lovas sit at a table with a potted marijuana plant, on the deck of a Topanga Beach house.

John Marrow and Cynthia Ho sit on driftwood

John Marrow (in hat) and Cynthia Ho (in bikini) sit on driftwood at Topanga Beach. Behind them are others in swimsuits.

Robbie Dick prays on a circle of surfboards

Shaper Robbie Dick prays while lying on his surfboards, which have been arranged in a circle like flower petals or a mandala, in his yard at 3843 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Robbie Dick holds a surfboard in his shaping room

Robbie Dick holds a surfboard with an off-center stripe in his shaping room at 3843 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Geoffrey Dillon skates a ramp on W. Topanga Beach Rd., 1/2

Geoffrey Dillon rides a G. & S. Fibreflex skateboard on a ramp on W. Topanga Beach Rd. He wears a Gordon & Smith T-shirt. Behind him is a boarded-up beach house.

Geoffrey Dillon skates a ramp on W. Topanga Beach Rd., 2/2

Geoffrey Dillon rides a G. & S. Fibreflex skateboard on a ramp on W. Topanga Beach Rd. He wears a Gordon & Smith T-shirt.

Deputy sheriffs make people dress on the nude beach

Deputy sheriffs make people dress on the nude beach at Topanga Beach. At right is a Daniel Wenger Cube furniture sculpture.

People lie on the nude beach by Topanga Beach houses

Aurora Glassock and Ed Weber lean on each other

Aurora Glassock and Ed Weber lean on each other at a Topanga Beach house.

A man in a Speedo swimsuit stands on the nude beach

A man in a striped Speedo swimsuit stands on the nude beach at Topanga Beach.

People walk over rocks on Topanga Beach

People walk over rocks. In the background are Topanga Beach houses and The Chart House.

People lie on the nude beach by the Topanga Lagoon

People lie on the nude beach by the bluff and Topanga Lagoon. Dogs are present. In the background is the Lasky house.

Rabyn Blake’s “Mudpool” appeared on the cover of "WET"

Rabyn Blake’s seminal video, “Mudpool” [1976], came out of many artistic and environmental concerns. With the help of her artistic assistant David Allen, she dug a hole in the ground at her Topanga home and invited artists, family and friends to…

People, children, and a dog enjoy the nude beach

People, children, and a dog enjoy the nude beach by Topanga Beach houses. At right is the Daniel Wenger Cube, a furniture sculpture.

Steve Spina plays ping-pong at his Topanga Beach house

Steve Spina plays ping-pong, shirtless, at his Topanga Beach house.

A couple walks on the nude beach at Topanga Beach

Tim Harvey sits on the deck of his Topanga Beach house

A boy drinks from a hose at Topanga Beach

Women sunbathe on the nude beach at Topanga Beach

Women sunbathe on the nude beach at Topanga Beach, near the lifeguard tower.

Women sunbathe on nude beach by Topanga Beach houses

Mike and Margaret Shultz walk dogs on Topanga Beach

In a Speedo and bikini, Mike and Margaret Shultz walk dogs by Topanga Beach houses. The Chart House is in the background.

Rick Hodgson, Mary Richardson, and Woody Woodward

Rick Hodgson, Mary Richardson, and Woody Woodward sit on the railing of a Topanga Beach house. The boys wear trunks, a wetsuit hangs to dry, and there's a surfboard on the roof.

The Raft seafood restaurant advertises "Shore Dinners"

The Raft seafood restaurant, across from Topanga Beach, advertises "Shore Dinners" and cocktails on its signs. Volkswagen beetles are parked in front. A figurehead stands by the entrance.

John Clemens wears a wetsuit top and carries a surfboard

John Clemens wears a wetsuit jacket and carries a blue surfboard by The Yellow House at Topanga Beach.

Bob Levy smokes with a woman at a Topanga Beach house

Bob Levy, in trunks, smokes with a woman, in a bikini, on the deck of a Topanga Beach house. On the table are snacks -- including cheese, chips, beer, and cigarettes -- and James Thurber's book "The Years with Ross" (1959).

Nina, Vincent, Doris, Lloyd, and Mary Ann at Topanga Beach

Nina Ahern (Lloyd's sister), Vincent McEveety (director), Doris Ollestad (Lloyd's wife), Lloyd Ahern, and Mary Ann McEveety (Vincent's wife) take a group photo on Topanga Beach. They are holding cocktails and a beer.

Gary Graham and Alan Burks return a catamaran

Gary Graham and Alan Burks wear life jackets while dealing with the ropes and sail of a catamaran by a Topanga Beach house.

Charlie, Reagan, Bernie, Dave, and Crumpet in The Snake Pit

Charlie [SURNAME?], Reagan [SURNAME?], Bernie Consten, Dave Sanderson, and John "Crumpet" Dabrowski give the middle finger in The Snake Pit. They are standing by a pickup truck.

The sign for The Zoo nightclub hangs outside The Raft

The sign for The Zoo nightclub hangs outside The Raft seafood restaurant, across from Topanga Beach, in a still from the surf film "Cosmic Children" by Hal Jepsen (1970).

The sign for The Raft seafood restaurant has an anchor

The sign for The Raft seafood restaurant, across from Topanga Beach, has an anchor, in a still from the surf film "Cosmic Children" by Hal Jepsen (1970).

Colleen, Charlie, Paul, Cookie, Eartha, and Reagan

Colleen Baker (petting Paul's dog Dakota), Charlie M., Paul Sanderson, Cookie M., and Reagan H. sit by the front door of Paul's red house in The Snake Pit. The girl in pink is Eartha Bonita.

[SURNAMES MISSING]

Norton Wisdom drawing, "SS Topanga," 1970s

Norton Wisdom drawing, "SS Topanga," shows the chef of "The State Café" cooking Topanga Beach in a frying pan. The meal includes amorous lions in swimsuits, palm trees, surfboards, a catamaran, a movie camera, and The Yellow House with lights on the…

Wheeler, Craig, Woody, Lloyd, and Spence with girlfriends

Wheeler Coberly, Unknown, Craig Halley, Unknown, Woody Woodward, Unknown, Lloyd Ahern, and Spence Lehman (with his dog Rogan) take a group photo in front of Paul Randall's Topanga Beach house, which became the lifeguard tower. Three of the men hold…

Tim Harvey sits on his couch with his dog

Tim Harvey sits on his couch with his dog in his Topanga Beach house

Aerial view of Old Malibu Road and Topanga Creek, 1970s

Aerial view of Old Malibu Road, PCH houses, and Topanga Creek shows businesses the Flying “A” gas station, The Spaghetti Joint, Wylie's Bait and Tackle shop, Jim Dandy Cafe, and Red Carpet Realtors. Tuna Canyon is at top left. The Topanga Ranch Motel…

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