Browse Items (1409 total)

Pine Tree Circle and Old Topanga Canyon

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Pine Tree Circle and Old Topanga Canyon. The structure at bottom center is the Topanga Post Office and General Store.

Red Rock Canyon

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Iron oxide turns the Lower Sespe conglomerate in Red Rock Canyon to rust.

Water tank in the shape of a milk bottle

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Thomas W. ("Bill") Kneen built this water tank on Red Rock Road in the shape of a milk bottle in the 1930s.

Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry flowers

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Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry flowers (Ribes specidsum saxifragaceae)

Saxifragaceae and Chaparral Currant

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Saxifragaceae and Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium) plants.

Chevy Metal

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The Chevy Metal band at Abuelitas restaurant: Taylor Hawkins (also in the Foo Fighters), Achim "Dange" St. Dangersfield, and Wiley Hodgden.

A Nike missile stalls on its way to the Strawberry Festival

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A Nike Hercules anti-missile missile was stalled for several hours at the first turn up to the Community House, on its way to the Strawberry Festival. Vance Hoyt gives a helpful push.

A boulder fell on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

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A boulder fell on Topanga Canyon Blvd. after heavy rains on January 9, 2005. Pictures of this "rock star" appeared in the news around the world.

Heidi Staun and her children at their Topangster Ranch

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Heidi Staun and her family sit on a Land Rover car at their Topangster Ranch in Old Topanga Canyon.

BACK ROW:
Noble Staun , Heidi Staun, Sage Staun
FRONT ROW:
Evita Staun, Beau Staun, Soleil Staun

"Thank you" sign for Firefighters

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"Thank you" sign for 1993 firefighters.

Ellen Mills at Topanga Days

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Ellen Mills works the bar at Topanga Days.

Architect Bob Bates with the tools of his trade

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Architect Bob Bates moved to Topanga in 1956 and opened an office here in 1963. He was a founder of the Topanga Association for a Scenic Community (TASC). There is "no front or back" to his houses. They "bring the outside in and vice versa," making…

Barton School Hand-drawn Map

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Map of school property and buildings (1932-1948) drawn from memory in 1984

Aerial Tanker Douses 1960 Fire

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The October 1960 fire on Hillside Drive was put down in record time. An aerial tanker is seen reflected against the smoke, dropping borate-fortified water.

Barbara Anahita King painting, "Eagle Rock," 2004

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"Eagle Rock, Topanga State Park," a painting by Barbara Anahita King.

Kristen Hansen, Gina Merchant, and Kailani Hector

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Kristen Hansen, Gina Merchant, and Kailani Hector protest the Canyon Oaks development at Disney studios in Burbank.

"Save Topanga" protest sign

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A protester trying to save Summit Valley from the Canyon Oaks development.

Supervisor Ed Edelman

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Supervisor Ed Edelman, who led the effort to fund a park at Summit Valley, at its 1990s dedication.

Molly Hogan, owner of The Nature of Wildworks

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Molly Hogan, owner of The Nature of Wildworks, a non-profit wildlife care center that opened in 1995. She is pictured with Phoenix, her mountain lion.

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 drawing, "Wil Geer," 1970s

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

Day laborers ride their float in the Topanga Days Parade

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"Day Laborers of Topanga" ride their float in the Topanga Days Parade.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard destroyed by flood

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1400 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard destroyed by flood. Pedestrians take the high road.

Rose Wiley and Julia Stewart mark Trujillo boundary

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Rose Trujillo Wiley and Topanga Historical Society Julia Stewart place a plaque on an oak tree marking the Trujillo homestead boundary.

Albert Hoyt and Judge John Merrick at the first THS meeting

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Albert Hoyt, temporary president of the newly formed Topanga Historical Society, looks over a book with Judge John J. Merrick (right), president of the Malibu Historical Society. The book, "Happy Days in Southern California" by Frederick Rindge of…

Third Santa Maria Ranch House - 1985

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Photograph of 1930's Santa Maria house entry and front yard. "Santa Maria - Taconis 1985" Photo by Bob Wiley.

Abalone Shell Arch 1985

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Color Photograph of Santa Maria Ranch "Abalone" arch and yard. "Old Santa Maria Ranch - Taconis"

Abalone Shell Arch 1985 with Donkey

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Color Photograph of Santa Marina Abalone Arch and yard (with donkey)
"Santa Maria Ranch - Taconis"
"Photo by Bob Wiley"
"1984"

Third Santa Maria Ranch House with Louise York and Atze Taconis

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Color photograph of 1930's ("3rd") Santa Maria Ranch house with Louise York and Atze Taconis.
Annotated: " 8/84
Louise York + Atze Taconi
3rd Santa Marina house
built 30s
Photo by Bob Wiley"

Belly dancers perform at Earth Day in Topanga State Park

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Belly dancers from the Melanie Kareem Middle Eastern Dance School perform at Earth Day in Topanga State Park. The local dance school enrolled 450 local women and girls.

Kneen's Kamp Corporation Grant Deed

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Kneen's Kamp Corporation Grant Deed, 1924, Granted to Thomas W. Kneen and May Kneen

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.

Sally Powell Giedd and daughter Lily

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Sally Powell Giedd and daughter Lily at Sienna Skin Care in Rainbow Village.

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.

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.

J. Murf, leader of surf rock band Blue Juice

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J. Murf, leader of surf rock band Blue Juice, smiles with Lori at Madame Wong's West in Santa Monica

Native American pictographs in Santa Maria Canyon

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Native American pictographs appear on the wall of a cave in Santa Maria Canyon. The rock art was discovered by UCLA teacher Alex Apostolides and high school student Dan Larsen in 1965.

The White Turkey sandwich stand

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The White Turkey sandwich stand at Horseshoe Bend.

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.

Fred Tackett plays at The Corral

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Fred Tackett plays at The Corral. He joined Little Feat after the death of Lowell George.

Riding horses in Topanga Creek

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Bill Flaxman rides Moon (King Zimmerman's horse, which had been in the 1976 Olympics), his wife Geraldine rides Mare (Dean Skipworth's horse), and they are followed by their dog Spunky (and Judy's dog Melody), in the Rodeo Grounds, on their way home…

Bobby Driscoll and the Wood sisters

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

Dan Mazur's Canyon Comix

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"...No one's going to believe we saw a Republican!"

Cynthia Scott and Adriane Allen

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Cynthia Scott and Adriane Allen stand by the design of the Topanga Library they championed.

Dan Mazur's Canyon Comix

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"...those fat Yuppie house pets make great coyote chow!"

Community House baseball field dedication

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Community House baseball field dedication. Kevin Jussila, Susan Nissman, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and former Dodger great Steve Yeager.

Dan Mazur's Canyon Comix

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21st century Topangans facing a draconian State plan to regulate septic systems yearned for a hero named "Septic Man," drawn by cartoonist Dan Mazur.

Dan Mazur's Canyon Comix

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Meaning of Life, as disclosed by "Canyon Comix" comic strip creator Dan Mazur.

Dan Mazur's Canyon Comix

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"eBay and the Great Buffalo Springfield Drug Bust"

Listening to the song "Topanga Road" by Jim and Jean, the author learns about the arrest of Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton in Old Topanga Canyon in 1968. "Sadly, the incident marked…

Dave Sanderson, Mayor of the Snake Pit

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Dave Sanderson, unofficial Mayor of the Snake Pit, at home, with a bougainvillea plant and two cats.

Robert Campbell and Pablo Capra, The Rodeo Grounds

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Robert Campbell (1951-2004) shows Pablo Capra his graphic novel On a Purple Spiral Floating in The Rodeo Grounds in 2002, the year they cofounded Brass Tacks Press. Capra celebrated the 20th anniversary in 2022 by publishing Robert Campbell:…

Renate and Ray Casser at home in The Rodeo Grounds

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Renate (1939-2022) and Ray Casser (b. 1934) were both from Westphalia, Germany. Ray, a gardener, moved to Topanga Canyon Lane in Lower Topanga in 1960. Renate, a nanny, married him a short time after. They moved to higher ground in The Rodeo Grounds…

Ami Kirby, Kathy Hitchcock, and Hillevi Storer

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Topanga Cooperative Preschool leaders: President Ami Kirby, Kathy Hitchcock, and first long-term teacher Hillevi Storer.

Writer Carolyn See

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Writer Carolyn See wrote many critically acclaimed books. She moved to Topanga in 1963, and speaks of her early days in the Canyon through the voice of Edith Langley in the 1987 novel "Golden Days."

Cinematographer Max Penner

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Cinematographer Max Penner followed after his father John's profession. He is shown here on a film location in Cape Town, South Africa.

Mailbox at Cheney Drive and Topanga Road

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Mailbox at Cheney Drive and Topanga Road, a rustic barrel set on a post by Joe Santa Maria, was used by upper canyon residents.

The Big Snow, January 12, 1949

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Cars sliding on Entrada

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.

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…

Joe Ruzicka performs at the Country Fair

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Joe Ruzicka of Old Topanga Canyon performs at the Country Fair

Beekeeper Russell Whittemore

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Beekeeper Russell Whittemore won blue ribbons for his sage honey at the Los Angeles County Fair.

Harriet Swenson and her piano students

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Harriet Swenson celebrates with her piano students as they are inducted into the Topanga chapter of Pi Mu. Michael Morales, Terri Scott, Sherry and Sheryl Gwaltney, Sharon Clow, unknown, Vicki Cepin, Harriet Swenson, Adrienne Just, Connie Clark,…

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.

Halloween parade, Topanga Elementary School, 1966

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Students participate in a Halloween parade at the Topanga Elementary School playground in 1966. Laurie Lanaro wears a witch costume. Her brother Perry Lanaro wears a Daniel Boone costume.

Halloween parade, Topanga Elementary School, 1966

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Students participate in a Halloween parade at the Topanga Elementary School playground in 1966. Laurie Lanaro wears a witch costume. Her brother Perry Lanaro wears a Daniel Boone costume.

Anne Lanaro with kids Perry and Laurie on Webb Trail

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Mrs. Lanaro with kids Perry and Laurie in front of their house on Webb Trail

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