Browse Items (1498 total)

Director of photography John Penner

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Director of photography John Penner holds a clapperboard on the set of the mystery/medical drama TV show "Quincy." Penner probably worked longer in film and TV than any other Topangan.

Divers searched here for the Ameco, off Topanga Beach

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Divers searched here for the Ameco, off Topanga Beach

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.

Dolores Trujillo drives a wagon through Topanga Creek

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Topanga pioneer Dolores Trujillo (probably in the left front seat) drives through Topanga Creek in a horse-drawn wagon, transporting the chain gang's road-building equipment back to the beach.

Don Hilston and Michael Horse in Pine Tree Circle

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Don Hilston and Michael Horse in Pine Tree Circle during Topanga Days. Don Hilston was a contractor who leased space in the Messenger office. Michael Horse was a jeweler who leased Jon Raymond's old studio, and an actor whose first roles were: as…

Don MacVicar, bassist of surf rock band Blue Juice

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Don MacVicar, bassist of surf rock band Blue Juice, pours a glass of beer at Madame Wong's West in Santa Monica.

Donkey Baseball in Bonnell Park

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The Topanga Riders and the American Legion play Donkey Baseball in Bonnell Park to determine "who slickered who" after tying in the first game.

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.

Dovid Weiss, Nechama Dina, and their children

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Rabbi Dovid Weiss, wife Nechama Dina, and their two children. Weiss brought a Chabad to Topanga in 2003.

Dr. Doug Roy

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Dr. Doug Roy, for decades Topanga's doctor.

Dr. Gerard "Gerry" Haigh

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Dr. Gerard "Gerry" Haigh, visionary President of the Topanga Historical Society, created a permanent home for its historical archives and offered his birding expertise to The Topanga Story.

Dr. Holly Scoren, Adrian Gendot, Nathalie Cordes

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Veterinarian Dr. Holly Scoren, assisted by Adrian Gendot and Nathalie Cordes, checks out a cat at her Topanga Center office.

Dragonfly Ranch

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Dragonfly Ranch was built in 1991 by architect Cary Gepner and actor-craftsman-owner James Judd Morgan. When it went on the market in 2004, its $7.5 million asking price was a record high for Topanga.

E. Roger Stearns fishes in Topanga Creek from his car

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Car salesman E. Roger Stearns made a publicity stunt out of fishing in Topanga Creek from the seat of his red Velie,

Ed Cummings ran the Enco gas station at Fernwood

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Ed Cummings ran the Enco gas station at Fernwood in the late 1960s, and organized the Strawberry Festival. He lived in Greenleaf Canyon.

Ed Lange (center) at Elysium Fields

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Ed Lange (center) at Elysium Fields. The nudist camp of the Elysium Institute opened in 1968 on 7.2 acres of the former Dutton Ranch on Robinson Road. It closed in 2001.

Ed Lange, owner of Elysium Fields

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Ed Lange, owner of the nudist resort Elysium Fields, which opened in 1968 on seven acres at the end of Robinson Road. Neighbors put up a huge protest, but over the years Ed became such a good neighbor the he was voted Topanga Citizen of the Year in…

Edith and Phyllis Feeney at home in Fernwood

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Edith Feeney and daughter Phyllis illustrate one means of coping with failing water supplies.

Edna Mae Spence with Adelia, Tom Jr., and Howard Evans

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Edna Mae Spence with nieces and nephews Adelia “Dee Dee”, Tom Jr., and Howard “Happy” Evans at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Edna Mae Spence with mother Florence, friend Jake Fields

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Edna Mae Spence with mother Florence and friend Jake Fields at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Eduardo Camões painting, "Arch Rock, 1905," 2017?

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A man drives a horse wagon through Arch Rock in 1905, in this painting accessed from the internet in 2017.

Elena, Jesus Santa Maria and Son Adrian by Abalone Shell Arch

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Black and white photo taken circa 1920 of Jesus and Elena Santa Maria and son Adrian by abalone shell arch, kettle made in Spain for San Diego mission

Elinore Hughes was in a beauty pageant at the Elks Rodeo

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Elinore Hughes was in a beauty pageant at the 1923 Elks Rodeo (Round-Up) at Topanga Beach.

Elkhorn Camp sign on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

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A car drives by Elkhorn Camp's sign and picnic benches on Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Lower Topanga.

Elks ride in a wagon to the Topanga Beach rodeo

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Prominent members of the Santa Monica Elks Lodge are shown riding in a wagon pulled by reindeer to the Topanga Beach rodeo. The photographic cartoon was created by Fred Coffey

Ellen Geer and mother Herta Ware

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Ellen Geer, artistic director of the Theatricum Botanicum, and mother Herta Ware stand by "Woody's Shack," once home to Woody Guthrie.

Ellen Mills at Topanga Days

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Ellen Mills works the bar at Topanga Days.

Elmer Wachtel painting, "Misty Sunlight, Topanga," c. 1925

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Elmer Wachtel (1864-1929), "Misty Sunlight, Topanga," oil on canvas, 24x32 in.

Elmer Wachtel painting, "Winter in Topanga," c. 1925

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Elmer Wachtel (1864-1929), "Winter in Topanga," oil on canvas, 30x40 in.

Elysium Fields nudist camp

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Elysium Fields, the nudist camp of the Elysium Institute, opened in 1968 on 7.2 acres of the former Dutton Ranch on Robinson Road. It closed in 2001.

Elysium Fields nudist camp ad

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Elysium Fields, the nudist camp of the Elysium Institute, opened in 1968 on 7.2 acres of the former Dutton Ranch on Robinson Road. It closed in 2001.

Elysium Fields nudist resort

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Elysium Fields nudist resort opened on Robinson Road in 1968. After owner Ed Lange's death in 1995, his daughter kept the business going until 2001.

Emil Zimmerman, the Woods, and the DeWitts

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Nature Boy Emil Zimmerman in loincloth and sandals raising an old shed to the second story of a new extension to the Wood stone cottage in Hondo Canyon. In the foreground are... Back row: Vera Wood, Iky DeWitt, Doreen "Doi" DeWitt (holding baby Billy…

Entrance to Topanga

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Entrance to Topanga shows Shell Gas Station, Rust's Barbecue, Los Angeles Athletic Club office, fire station, and Potter's Store.

Entrance to Topanga

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Entrance to Topanga shows Step Inn Cafe, Shell gas Station, Rust's Barbecue restaurant, Los Angeles Athletic Club office, and fire station.

Entrance to Topanga, 1931

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Entrance to Topanga shows Shriner’s Wayside Stand restaurant, Shell Gas Station, and Potter's Store

Entrance to Topanga, looking towards beach

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Entrance to Topanga, looking towards beach, shows Shell gas station and Rust's Barbecue restaurant,

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.

Evelyn Franklin at Topanga Beach

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Evelyn Franklin sitting on the bench that Charles Pritchard built at Topanga Beach

Evelyn McGovern Surveys Fire Damage, 1958

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Evelyn McGovern, her son Michael and daughter Patricia survey the ruins of their home after the fire of 1958.

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, 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).

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).

Fernwood Market, 1949

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Fernwood Market, 1949. Evelyn Russell, Paul Gripp, Joe Baker, Bill Smith, Mr. Crawford, Paula Crawford, Jim Lucas, and Mike Evans.

Fernwood Pacific Drive

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Fernwood Pacific Drive was built to encourage 1920s development. Considered strategic, it was widened during World War II.

Filmmakers Barbara Trent and David Kasper

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Oscar-winning documentarian Barbara Trent and director David Kasper.

Fire of 1943, Old Topanga Canyon

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Flames in the 1943 fire were halted 100 yards from the Defense Headquarters, situated at the junction of Old and New Topanga Canyons.

Fire Station 69

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Firemen show off new fire trucks at Fire Station 69.

Firefighters

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Firemen fighting flames in Old Topanga Canyon, during the Fire of 1943.

Fireman sets a backfire, 1993

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A fireman sets a backfire to save Old Topanga Canyon homes on the first day of the 1993 "Old Topanga Canyon Incident" fire.

Fireman Tom Cheney sprays hose

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Fireman Tom Cheney sprays hose of Topanga's first fire truck. Cecil Gehr (center) became Los Angeles Fire Department Chief in 1952.

Firemen after dousing a guesthouse fire

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Station 69 Firemen after dousing a guesthouse fire. Nolan Feldman, Captain Chase, Steve Ford, Scott Greenelch, and Jay Fernandez.

Firemen fight a structure fire

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Firemen fight a structure fire that spread into the brush. Captain Steven Floyd led the crew.

First surfboard shaped by Dave Sweet and Howard Terrill

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First surfboard shaped by Topanga Beach surfers Dave Sweet and Howard Terrill from balsa wood in the 1940s. Dave Sweet became a pioneer of shaping foam surfboards in the 1950s.

First Topanga Gymkhana, 1956

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The first Topanga Gymkhana was a horse show at the Topanga Riders Club arena, near The Outside Inn.

Fisherman Spere Aneme mends his net

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Captain Spere Aneme [Speero Anegone] mends his net. He lived at Topanga Beach with fellow Greek fishermen John Foundoukos and Mike Leonadas [Mike Leonis]. They opened a fish market there around 1923.

Five men in bathing suits sit on Topanga Beach

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Five men in bathing suits sit on Topanga Beach: Jake Fields, unknown, unknown, Louis Ranberg, and Thomas Spence.

Five men in suits pose beside Topanga Creek

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Five men in suits pose beside Topanga Creek in Lower Topanga. A jacket is draped over their car.

Flames Cross Topanga Canyon Boulevard, 1973

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Flames cross Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Twin Poles area on October 31, 1973

Flames engulf home, 1977

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Flames engulf home in the Sylvia Park area, May 14, 1977.

Florence Spence gives Edna Mae Spence a bath

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Florence Spence gives Edna Mae Spence a bath at their home on Topanga Lane, which would become Spence's Cabins.

Florence Spence, Jake Fields, William Spence, dog Skippy

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Florence Spence, Jake Fields, William Spence, and dog Skippy at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Florence, William, and Edna Mae Spence with dog Skippy

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Florence, William , and daughter Edna Mae Spence with dog Skippy at Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Floyd Palmaymesa with aunt Hazel and friend

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Floyd Palmaymesa with aunt Hazel and friend in Old Topanga Canyon.

Flutist Gretel "G.G." Shanley

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Flutist Gretel "G.G." Shanley, co-founder of the Topanga Symphony

Flyer for Mohn Springs

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Advertising flyer for Mohn Springs

Folk musician Burl Ives

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Folk musician Burl Ives was a regular at the Theatricum Botanicum.

Folk musician Wally High

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Folk musician Wally High protests the Canyon Oaks development

Folk musicians Frank Miller and Rich Dehr

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Frank Miller and Rich Dehr sing the latter's new folk song "Memories are Made of This." Dehr was known for his fine voice.

Forestry Crew Prepares to Reseed Hills, 1958 Fire

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In the aftermath of the 1958 fire, a Los Angeles Fire Department forestry crew prepares to take off in a helicopter from the Speer Ranch to reseed the hills.

Founders of The Messenger newspaper

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Founders of The Messenger newspaper. From left: Sid Francis, Pamela Auer, Flavia Potenza, Emily Karnes, Nico Van den Heuvel, Mary Colvig with baby, Bill Hess, Judee McBride, Merrick Davidson, Suzie Walczak. Karnes and Potenza kids play in front.…

Four Men Stand by Ranch House

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Black and white photo of four men standing by Cheney house by dam, dam built in 1895, drained in 1918, photo taken in 1914

Four People Stand in Front of Topanga Tavern

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Black and white photograph of four people standing in front of Topanga Tavern 1911