Browse Items (1482 total)

Bert Wilson selling native plants

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Bert Wilson selling native plants at the annual Resource Conservation District (RCD) event.

Bertha Corbett Melcher, Jessie, Mrs. Luther

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Bertha Corbett Melcher (right) sits with a woman (probably sister Jessie). Mrs. Luther is standing.

Bertha Melcher with Charlotte and baby Ruth

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Bertha Melcher was known as the "Madonna of the Mountains."

Bessie Greenleaf Averil

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Bessie Greenleaf Averil Photo

Betsy Moline's home ruined by Northridge Earthquake, 1994

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Betsy Moline sits in the ruin of her Nuez Way home after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Betty Lee Morales

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Betty Lee Morales established a national food supplement operation out of Eden Ranch, the former Barton School property in Old Topanga Canyon.

Beverly Jones, Karen Wood, Carol Knittle

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Topanga Elementary School, Sixth Grade Class Graduation, 1961

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.

Bikini girls eat popsicles at The Raft restaurant

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Two bikini girls eat popsicles at The Raft restaurant at Topanga Beach.

Bill and Pearl Sloan

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Bill and Pearl Sloan stand in a hole they dug for their septic tank. "There were no geological surveys required, no septic system percolation tests."

Bill and Pearl Sloan

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Bill and Pearl Sloan toast their 50th wedding anniversary.

Bill and Ruth Wylie's Bait and Tackle shop, 1946

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Bill and Ruth Wylie's Bait and Tackle shop. They lived in the house in back. The employee in the photo is unidentified.

Bill Buerge at The Mermaid

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Bill Buerge at The Mermaid, which he began restoring in the 1990s.

Bill Carter carries the Topanga Riders flag

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Bill Carter, at the first Donkey Baseball game in Bonnell Park, carries the Topanga Riders flag in uniform (red shirt, blue jeans, and a gray hat).

Bill Flaxman with day workers

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People Assisting Topanga Canyon with Helping Hands (PATCH) interpreter Bill Flaxman with day workers at the Topanga Labor Exchange.

Bill Sykes with his children Beverly and Dave

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Bill Sykes lies in the sand with his children Beverly and Dave at their house on Topanga Beach,

Billy Portman, Sara Baur, and Urs Baur

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Emcee Billy Portman, Sara Baur, and Urs Baur. The Baurs founded the Topanga Film Festival in 2004.

Billy Preston

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Musician Billy Preston often donated his services for local fundraisers.

Blues Ryders band: Johnny B., Rick Ryder, and David Sear

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The Blues Ryders band was made up of musicians including guitarist Johnny B., bassist Rick Ryder, guitarist David Sear, and singer Debbie Ryder (not pictured). Their song "Topanga Time" popularized the phrase "Livin' on Topanga time."

Bob "Bear" Hite and Spanky McFarlane at The Corral

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Canned Heat singer Bob "Bear" Hite and Spanky McFarlane at The Corral nightclub.

Bob and Doi DeWitt with their children

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Bob and Doi DeWitt with their children Eileen, Nora, and Bobby. The DeWitts were largely responsible for bringing folk music to the Topanga.

Bob DeWitt

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Bob DeWitt shows his ceramics, made from Topanga clay that he mixed with his bare feet.

Bob DeWitt drawing, "Wil Geer," 1970s

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"Wil Geer," a drawing of the actor and Theatricum Botanicum founder by Bob DeWitt.

Bob DeWitt drawing, "Woody Guthrie," 1950s

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"Woody Guthrie," a drawing of the folk musician in Topanga Canyon by Bob DeWitt.

Bob DeWitt in his art gallery

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Bob DeWitt in his art gallery. He was a realtor, artist, and club owner. He famously greeted his real estate clients barefoot.

Bob DeWitt real estate sign

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Bob DeWitt hand-painted his real estate signs.

Bob DeWitt, Los Angeles High School, 1932

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Bob DeWitt, Los Angeles High School, 1932, would become Topanga's first Beatnik.

Bob Hutton and Mort Allen smoke pipes

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Frequent guest Bob Hutton sits back to back with Mort Allen, "a man not given to unnecessary effort."

Bob Hutton in Greenleaf Canyon

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After Bob Hutton married, he built a home in Greenleaf Canyon out of homemade adobe bricks.

Bob Wiley, John Penner, and Jon Swenson

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American Legion leaders Bob Wiley, John Penner, and Jon Swenson at Froggy's restaurant. The Legion had leased Prier Hall to the restaurant but still held meetings there.

Bobby Driscoll and the Wood sisters

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Bobby Driscoll (actor) with Karen, Lannis, and Lynn Wood at the Wood stone house.

Bomber drops fire retardant

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Bomber drops fire retardant, 1993 fire.

Bonifacio Marquez and son Miguel, c. 1875

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Bonifacio Marquez and son Miguel, c. 1875, of the Rancho Boca de Santa Monica. Bonifacio inherited the Topanga portion of the ranch.

Boy Scout house on Trippet Ranch covered by snow, 1949

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The Boy Scout house on Trippet Ranch was a Quonset hut, near the start of Musch Trail. It survived the 1948 fire because it was made of metal. In 1949, it was covered by snow.

Boys play basketball at Topanga Elementary School

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Perry Lanaro (white shirt) plays basketball with friends on the upper playground at Topanga Elementary School.

Branch Railing in Foreground, Two Women in Background

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Black and white postcard of May Kneen sitting down at Kneen's Kamp circa 1920.

Breaking ground for the Community House

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Fire Chief Harvey Anderson and Mary Sopher watch as Dorothy Boehme breaks ground for the new Community House.

Bridge Building Books

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Kathleen Gildred opened Bridge Building Books in an old gas station on the property of the Inn of the Seventh Ray restaurant. Her metaphysical bookstore complemented the the restaurant's spiritual atmosphere. When her five-year lease expired, the…

Bridge near the old Post Office

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This 1920 bridge near the old Post Office was replaced when the road was realigned 10 years later.

Bridge over Topanga Creek, at the bottom of the S-Turns

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A man walks on the bridge over Topanga Creek, at the bottom of the S-Turns, where the water-level gauging station was.

Broken pilings from a 19th-century bridge near the lagoon

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Broken pilings from a 19th-century bridge protrude from the Topanga Creek bed near the lagoon.

Brothers Eric and Hans Wienberg with dog Duke

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Brothers Eric (holding gun) and Hans Wienberg with dog Duke at Topanga Beach.

Brothers John, Jim, and Peter York play in the snow

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Brothers John York, Jim York, and Peter York play in the snow on Colina Dr. with an unknown boy on the left.

Brothers Peter, John, James, and Andrew York

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Brothers Peter York, John York, James York, and Andrew York at home on Colina Dr.

Brownie Scout Troop 1667, led by Kay Saltman (Queen K.)

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Brownie Scout Troop 1667, led by Kay Saltman (Queen K.), at Topanga Beach.

Bud Luse and friends at the garage by the old Post Office

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At the garage by the old Post Office.

Kneeling: George Ortez, Charles Gammon.

Standing: Ken Douphner, Bud Luse, and Richard Flood.

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.

Building Camp Adelaide for Girl Scout overnights

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Building Camp Adelaide for Girl Scout overnights, across from School Road.

Buildings and Trees; Open Area in Foreground

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Black and white photo of buildings and trees with open area in the foreground at Kneen's Kamp circa 1920.

C. R. Tracy Insurance ad: "Are you fully covered?"

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A fireman is excited to find a nude woman after breaking down her door and interrupting her shower. "Are you fully covered?" asks this advertisement for General Insurance by C. R. Tracy, Topanga's District Agent. Topanga 2563.

Café Mimosa

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Arlette Morgan, from France, opened Café Mimosa opened in 1994. She sold it to Claire Cohn, also from France, in 2004.

Café Mimosa interior

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Arlette Morgan, from France, opened Café Mimosa opened in 1994. She sold it to Claire Cohn, also from France, in 2004.

Cali-Camp, a summer day camp

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Cali-Camp, a summer day camp in Old Topanga Canyon, opened in 1964.

California Senator Sheila Kuehl

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California Senator Sheila Kuehl attends a community meeting at the Topanga Elementary School Library.

Camp Wildwood

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Owner Oka Stewart supervises Camp Wildwood swim classes.

Camp Wildwood Swim Club membership card

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Camp Wildwood Swim Club membership card: "This certifies that [YOUR NAME] is an amateur athlete representing the Wildwood Swim Club Topanga, Calif., and is registered with the S.P.A.A.A.U. Bring this card with you to all competitions."

Canned Heat on Topanga Beach

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The band Canned Heat poses on Topanga Beach with driftwood.

Canned Heat on Topanga Beach

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The band Canned Heat poses on Topanga Beach with driftwood.

Car crosses 1980 Floodwaters

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This sports car's owner was actually lucky; many cars were lost to the creek in 1980.

Caroline Hansen at John Heron's cabin

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Caroline Hansen, whose parents owned the Outside Inn, at John Heron's cabin on a Saddle Peak slope.

Carolyn See, John Espey, and Lisa See Kendall are honored

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Carolyn See, John Espey, and Lisa See Kendall receive commendations from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley for "outstanding achievements in the writing of 'Lotus Land,' detailing the history of L.A."

Cars drive on a dirt road at Topanga Beach

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Cars drive on a dirt road at Topanga Beach near the former site of Arch Rock.

Cars float down Topanga Boulevard, 2004

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In the wettest season ever, cars float down Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Highvale Trail on December 31, 2004.

Cartoon shows a giant wave strike the Ameco

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Cartoon shows a giant wave strike the Ameco as it wallows in a sea trough.

The fishing boat "Ameco" capsized off Topanga Beach, and 16 people drowned on Memorial Day, May 30, 1930. This remains the worst boating accident in the Santa Monica Bay.

Casa Pequeña gate

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Tomas Braverman and his wife Kiyo spent many years crafting their home at 1135 Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Today the house is called Rosewood.

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.

Ceola Greenleaf

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Ceola Greenleaf Photo

Ceola Greenleaf

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Photograph of Ceola Greenleaf - oldest of Greenleaf children

Ceramicist Rebecca Andrews displays decorative tiles

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Ceramicist Rebecca Andrews displays decorative tiles from the business she created, Touchstone Ceramics. She moved to Topanga in the late 1960s with her husband and six children, often employing the latter and their friends to assist her. She…

Ceramists Jim and Sue Sullivan at their art studio

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Ceramists Jim and Sue Sullivan made fine art pieces at their studio and home at the end of Greenleaf Canyon. In the 2010s, they moved to Petaluma, CA.

Charles Farley under an Old Topanga bridge

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UCLA graduate Charles Farley wrote a legal brief that won him the right to live homeless under an Old Topanga bridge.

Charles Greenleaf, daughter Mabel, and grandchildren

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Charles Greenleaf, daughter Mabel, and grandchildren Charles and Janet.

Charles Hudson leaves Topanga Beach in a canoe

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A cartoon shows Charles Hudson leaving Topanga Beach in a canoe after boasting that he could reach Catalina Island.

Charlie Chaplin escapes from prison in "The Adventurer"

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Charlie Chaplin runs away from the chain gang and prison camp at Topanga Beach, in his film "The Adventurer," 1917

Charlie Chaplin with Topanga cameraman Roland Totheroh

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Charlie Chaplin with Topanga cinematographer Roland Totheroh (far right) and assistant cameraman Jack Wilson on the set of the silent film Gold Rush in Truckee, CA.