Browse Items (464 total)

  • Collection: Lower Topanga

A bridge crosses the Topanga Lagoon

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A bridge crosses the Topanga Lagoon, near Cooper's Camp and De Long Cafe. Plans were afoot to replace the bridge, which happened in 1933. This photo comes from a 1930 report submitted to the Citizens' Committee on Parks, Playgrounds, and Beaches, by…

A prison camp in Lower Topanga housed a chain gang

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A prison camp in Lower Topanga housed a chain gang while they built the Topanga Canyon Road.

"The great dormitory sits in the center of what will soon be a beautiful garden. The prisoners have already marked off the plot for flower…

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.

Aldo Vidali

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In 1930, Aldo was born to an Italian family in Ixelles, Belgium. As a child he went to Italy and from there he began his life of traveling. His travels have taken him to almost every continent in the world. He has studied at the University of…

Surfer JoJo Perrin displays his artwork

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In the early 1980s, surfer JoJo Perrin (1950-2023) would spend the afternoons in the parking lot at Topanga Beach nearly every day, selling his artwork from his van.

JoJo was revered for his an innovative surfing style. In the 1960s and '70s, he…

Lucy and Charles Greenleaf and friends at Topanga Beach

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Photograph "when hearts were young and gay; Topanga pioneers live again in historian Nelson's fine picture of long ago" Ben Failor, Columbus (Moose) and Lucy Cheney, Mrs Ed Erdman, Claud Morton Allen

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.

Greek fishermen at Topanga Beach

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Greek fishermen at Topanga Beach.

1. Captain Spere Aneme [Speero Anegone] and partner Mike Leonadas [Mike Leonis] take a boat to their lobster traps.
2. Captain Spere throws back a baby lobster.
3. Captain Spere measures a lobster to see if…

Surfers Mike Perry and Craig Halley sit on a fence

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Mike Perry and Craig Halley sit on a fence on Topanga Beach Road.

The Rust family at Topanga Beach

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The Rust family at Topanga Beach.

FRONT:
Ellen Rust Penland, Joanne Simmons, Thais Rust, Ray and Leon Simmons, Ella Rust, Avis Wendill, Fern Rust, Raburn Stedman Rust.

MIDDLE:
Clayton Rust, Roy Rust, Claude Simmons, Edythe Rust, Fleta Rust,…

Ina and Clayton Rust at Rust’s Barbecue

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Ina and Clayton Rust at Rust’s Barbecue in Lower Topanga.

Thais Rust in Brookside

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Thais Rust as a teenager sitting on a '35 Ford Coupe in Brookside in Lower Topanga.

Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road

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Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road, before they were swept away by high waves in a February 1926 storm.

Garapatos School children at Arch Rock

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Lucy Cheney (standing left) and a teacher with Garapatos School children at Arch Rock at Topanga Beach.

Topanga Explorers, Kelp Devils at Topanga Beach

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Topanga Scout Post 220: Topanga Explorers, Kelp Devils, go skin diving in homemade wetsuits at Topanga Beach. STANDING: Bill Sloan (post committee member), George Schreder, Jon Sloan, Rick Hass, Tom Lennan, Star Soderstrom, Mark Squiers, Eugene…

The Rust family at Topanga Beach

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The Rust family at Topanga Beach. Ella Rust sits in the center of sons Archie and Don Rust and their families. Granddaughter Thais Rust is at right.

The Malibu Feed Bin and the Morehart family

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In 1961, Ace Smith created the Malibu Feed Bin at the corner of Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Pacific Coast Highway. In 1966, he sold it to Marty Morehart, pictured here with his wife Patricia and two daughters, Katie and Kasey, holding their own…

Potter's Topanga Trading Post

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A Christmas card showing Charlie Potter and Eleanor Potter in front of Potter's Topanga Trading Post.

Potter's Topanga Trading Post matchbook

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Potter's Topanga Trading Post matchbook. The grocery store advertises, "You don't get soaked here."

Topanga Canyon Road under construction

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A chain gang works on rebuilding and widening Topanga Canyon Road in the S-Turns.

Potter's Topanga Trading Post

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Charles and Eleanor Potter stand in front of Potter's Topanga Trading Post in Lower Topanga, where The Feed Bin is today.

Topango Radiant Springs truck

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Distributor Harry "Sox" Kuhlmeyer stands with his Topango Radiant Springs truck. The company delivered water from a spring at the bottom of the S-turns. Joy Pierce was the manager.

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.

Aerial view of Topanga Beach, 1980s

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Aerial view of Topanga Beach, from Las Tunas Beach to the Charthouse Restaurant, along Pacific Coast Highway.

A flood engulfs a house in Lower Topanga

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The Topanga Creek flood engulfs a house and van in Brookside in Lower Topanga.

A fire burns to Topanga Canyon Blvd.

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Firemen watch as a fire burns to Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Lower Topanga.

The Topanga Creek flood piles cars against debris

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The Topanga Creek flood piles two cars against debris on Shady Lane in Lower Topanga Canyon.

Lower Topanga residents flee past downed telephone poles

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Lower Topanga residents flee along Topanga Canyon Blvd. from the storm danger, past downed telephone poles, some of them carrying pets. Numerous mudslides were reported during the 1969 storm.

A man watches a house wrecked by the flood

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A man watches a house that the Topanga Creek flood had carried for half a mile in Lower Topanga Canyon.

John Fondukas carries a girl across Topanga Creek flood

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John Fondukas [John Foundoukos] carries a girl across Topanga Creek during a flood in Lower Topanga Canyon. Firemen, deputy sheriffs, and private citizens used rowboats and swam to rescue those marooned by the 1941 rainstorm.

Bikini girls eat popsicles at The Raft restaurant

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

Ginger Snips Salon & Spa, Menu of Services

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Ginger Snips Salon & Spa. "A Magical Oasis." 18803 Pacific Coast Highway. Malibu, CA 90265. (310) 455-2460. Menu of Services. Body. Hair.

Woody Woodward does headstand on Makaha skateboard

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Woody Woodward, aka "Woody the King," does a headstand on a Makaha skateboard.

Molly Gordon at Topanga Beach

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Molly Gordon, a couple months before marrying Topanga Beach resident Larry Franklin.

Evelyn Franklin at Topanga Beach

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

The Berkeley family with wrestler Primo Carnera and friends

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TOP: Ted and Sylvia Berkeley, unknown. BOTTOM: Primo Carnera, Bob and Kay McLaughlin, unknown, Bunny and Dorothy Berkeley. At the Franklin family's house at Topanga Beach.

Sylvia and Ted Berkeley, with daughters Wendy and Bonnie

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Sylvia and Ted Berkeley, with daughters Wendy and Bonnie, pose with Ted's surfboard at Topanga Beach.

Christian Andersen holds a red surfboard at Topanga Beach

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Christian Andersen: "My mom's Hawaiian boyfriend had this surfboard made for me in Hawaii with my named stenciled on it in 1966. It was the first short longboard that any of the Topanga guys had seen."

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.

Actress Lindsey Wagner at Topanga Beach

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Lindsey Wagner starred in "The Bionic Woman," a TV show that aired from January 14, 1976, to May 13, 1978.

A beach house wrecked by a storm and big waves

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Just west of the Topanga Beach Lagoon, a house is wrecked by a storm and big waves.

Topanga Beach map, 1868

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Topanga Beach map, 1868, shows: Laguna de Topanga [Topanga Lagoon], a post in a mound of stone, Rocky Point (Mal Paso) [Arch Rock]

Topanga Beach map, 1874

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Topanga Beach map, 1874, shows: Arroyo Topango [Topanga Creek], a post in a mound of stone at Point Topanga [sic], a point of rocks (Mal Paso) [Arch Rock]

Topanga Beach map, 1877

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Topanga Beach map, 1877, shows: Tepango Canon [Topanga Canyon], Johnson Peak, and a kelp bed.

Rancho Boca de Santa Monica map, 1851

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Rancho Boca de Santa Monica map, 1851, specifically a diseño (a rough map required to accompany Spanish and Mexican land grant petitions), shows: Punta de Topanga [Topanga Point], Lomas Alta [high hills of the Pacific Palisades], Santa Hermonica…

Topanga Beach map, 1876

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Topanga Beach map, 1876, shows: Tepango Canon [Topanga Canyon], Johnson Peak, and kelp bed.

Painter George Demont Otis paints Topanga Creek

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Painter George Demont Otis paints Topanga Creek. The back of the photo says, "Given to Mavis by Mrs. G. Otis -- Clara. Topango Canyon 1923"

Topanga Beach, 1924

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Topanga Beach, 1924, showing beach houses, tents, Cooper's Camp, and cars on the highway.

Las Tunas Isle Motel brochure

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From the brochure for the Las Tunas Isle Motel, located on Las Tunas Beach: "On the Ocean Side at famous Malibu, Las Tunas Isle Motel offers the ultimate in comfort and relaxation for the casual and commercial traveller, The Las Tunas has been the…

Surfer George Trafton in Blue Cheer ad "Cheer Up!"

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Surfer George Trafton in "Cheer Up!" ad for Blue Cheer surfboards, 3112 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Horse, carriage, and three men at Arch Rock, c. 1880

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Horse, carriage, and three men at Arch Rock, c. 1880. Two more carriages approach in the background.

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.

Topanga Beach map, 1881

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Topanga Beach map, 1881, showing Arch Rock ("Rocky Point Mal Paso") and markers in stone mounds.

Topanga Beach map, 1881

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Topanga Beach map, 1881, showing Arch Rock ("Arch in conglomerate rock," "Rocky Point Mal Paso") and markers in stone mounds.

Land allotted to Bonifacio Marquez in 1883

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Land allotted to Bonifacio Marquez in 1883 from the Rancho Boca de Santa Monica.

Rancho Boca de Santa Monica cattle brands

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Rancho Boca de Santa Monica cattle brands belonging to Francisco, Ramona, Francisca, Bonifacio, and Ysidro Marquez.

Topanga Beach map, 1895

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Topanga Beach map, 1895, shows a Mexican's house at Las Tunas Beach, a house in Tuna Canyon, and plowed land in Peña Canyon.

Topanga Beach map, 1896

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Topanga Beach map, 1896, shows a Mexican's house at Las Tunas Beach, a house in Tuna Canyon, and plowed land in Peña Canyon.

Two men with rifle under Arch Rock, 1890s

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Two men with rifle under Arch Rock, 1890s. Stereoscope image.

Arch Rock drawing, 1894

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Arch Rock drawing, 1894. "The wonderful Arch Rock of Santa Monica."

Armand Riza's surfboards at Las Tunas Beach

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Armand Olaf Riza's surfboards, at his home on Las Tunas Beach, are covered by a banner that says, "Malibu Surf & Sail, 18904 Pacific Coast Highway." The better-looking boards are for windsurfing. The others have weathered yellow and brown.

Armand Riza, Las Tunas Beach

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Armand Olaf Riza, Las Tunas Beach resident, wears wetsuit and windsurfing gear. Behind him are a boat and his neighbor's house, La Esperanza.

Horse carriage at former site of Arch Rock

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A man drives a horse carriage on the rocks at Topanga Beach. In the background is the former site of Arch Rock, which collapsed on March 23, 1906. Three women follow, including possibly May Rindge and her daughter Rhoda.

The Rust family builds snowmen in Topanga

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The Rust family builds snowmen in Topanga. From left: unknown, Clayton Rust, unknown (seated), Cleo Rust Wendill, Avis Wendill, Ina Rust, Mary Kays

Topanga Beach map, 1903

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A Topanga Beach map from 1903 shows four houses and the "Natural" Arch Rock.

The White Squadron pauses for lunch in Brookside

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The White Squadron pauses for lunch in Brookside. The trip of 15 steam cars, carrying 67 people, was organized by Col. F. C. Fenner of the “White garage.”

A woman in a dress stands under Arch Rock

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A woman in a dress stands under Arch Rock. The retaining wall has been erased from the colorized version of this photo.