Browse Items (3726 total)

Topanga Christmas Card, 1920s

Postcard shows a sunset over the sea, framed by California Holly (toyon berries) and California Poppies. The caption says, "Season's Greetings from Topanga, California."

Topanga Christian Fellowship Church

Topanga Christian Fellowship Church board members: BACK: Patricia Moore-Joshi, Larry Dunn, Bruce Boyle. FRONT: Pastor R. G. Murray, Janice Murray, Ellie Carroll, Luisa Dunn, Karen Moran, Nancy and John Williams.

Topanga Chamber of Commerce

In 1966, a conservative Topanga Chamber of Commerce tried to control hippies. From left: Albert Hoyt, President William C. Carter, Art Piner, Tim Graham, and John Seymour.

Topanga Canyon, the Alps of Southern California

"Topanga Canyon, the Alps of Southern California" was a map and real estate brochure put out by William C. Carter, with contributions by Charles Crutcher and Ernest M. Wilson. It includes photos of Potter's Topanga Trading Post, Trippet Ranch, the…

Topanga Canyon Video ad: "The store with a talking gorilla!"

Coming Soon! Topanga Canyon Video. Rentals, Sales, Fun. The only video store with a talking gorilla! 369 South Topanga Canyon Boulevard, in the Philips Realty Building next to Rainbow Village.

Topanga Canyon Road under construction

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

Topanga Canyon is covered by mud after the Palisades Fire

Topanga Canyon Blvd. is covered by mudslides from the first rain after the Palisades Fire.

Topanga Canyon Gallery opening party

Topanga Canyon Gallery throws an opening party in the Old Center. The gallery was founded by ceramists Jim and Sue Sullivan, and for many years featured local artists. It closed in 1995, but reopened five years later in Pine Tree Circle.

Topanga Canyon Gallery artists

Topanga Canyon Gallery artists Jon Burns, Ainsley Pryor, Kathleen Sullivan, Linda Bolhuis, Sue Sullivan, and Jim Sullivan.

Topanga Canyon Docents

Topanga Canyon Docents at Trippet Ranch Nature Center in Topanga State Park. KNEELING: Don Murchie, Lynne Haigh, Deborah Low, D. J. Nellis, Geri Kelly. STANDING: Gene Cheltenham, Patty Ward, Beverly Weil, Patty Hill, John Kuiper.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard gets washed out

Topanga Canyon Boulevard gets washed out in a flood near the AmeriGas office. This photo appears to be shot from the patio of the Topanga Fish Market.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard destroyed by flood

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

Topanga Canyon Blvd., Summit Valley, and storm clouds

An aerial view of Topanga Canyon and the Boulevard.

Topanga Canyon Blvd. descends into Girard (Woodland Hills)

Topanga Canyon Blvd. descends into Girard (Woodland Hills) and the San Fernando Valley.

Topanga Brownie Scout Troop 74

Topanga Brownie Scout Troop 74. SEATED: Janice Fitzgerald, Florine Smith, Karin Fester, Jolene Thomson, Barbara Hard. STANDING: Wise Owl Mrs. Worley, Norma Dowding, Judy Charlton, Marion Mannelion, Carol Worley, Kay Hansen.

Topanga Bombers surf club shirt, 2/2

The Topanga Bombers Surf Club formed at Topanga Beach in the winter of 1962-63. That summer, they threw a fundraising party to raise money for their club shirts. The Bombers were active until a big marijuana bust, around 1966.

David H. Stern and…

Topanga Bombers surf club shirt, 1/2

The Topanga Bombers Surf Club formed at Topanga Beach in the winter of 1962-63. That summer, they threw a fundraising party to raise money for their club shirts. The Bombers were active until a big marijuana bust, around 1966.

David H. Stern and…

Topanga Bombers Surf Club reunion T-shirt, 1991

Topanga Bomber Jim Fitzpatrick commissioned skateboard artist Sean Cliver to design this reunion T-shirt in 1991. It was printed at Powell-Peralta Skateboards.

Fitzpatrick asked Cliver to modify the logo of the Santa Cruz Surfers Union by adding a…

Topanga Bombers group photo, 3/3

Topanga Bombers surf club members flex their muscles at Topanga Beach.

Pete Stein, Chuck Gates, Terry Flanagan, Nicky Saenz in front, Denny "Wally" Waldman, Eddie Saenz (lying down), Bart Loy, Timmy Saenz.

Denny Waldman: "The unidentified guy…

Topanga Bombers group photo, 2/3

Topanga Bombers surf club members goof off at Topanga Beach.

Danny Bernstein (cut off on the left side), Denny "Wally" Waldman, Bart "Box" Loy (unknown person behind him), Juan de la Cruz Saenz, Woody Woodward, John Roberts grabbing Michael…

Topanga Bombers group photo, 1/3

Topanga Bombers surf club members pile on top of each other at Topanga Beach.

Juan de la Cruz Saenz screams. Bart "Box" Loy stands in front. Chuck Gates and Micky Mills are behind them. John Roberts presses down Denny "Wally" Waldman's head.

Topanga Bombers confront non-local surfers, 2/2

Topanga Bombers throw rocks at non-local surfers, "Vals," sneaking onto the beach through the Topanga Lagoon. The beach house on the bluff belonged to surf photographer and dentist Dr. Don James in the 1960s-70s.

Topanga Bombers confront non-local surfers, 1/2

Topanga Bombers prevent non-local surfers, "Vals," from sneaking onto the beach through the Topanga Lagoon by Joseph J. Lilley's house.

Topanga Beach, 1924

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

Topanga Beach Tent City and Bungalows ad

Topanga Beach Tent City and Bungalows ad. 100 feet from the ocean. Bungalows accommodating four persons. Tent cabins accommodating two or three. Dance floor for guests. Mrs. Lillie Fields, proprietor.

Topanga Beach teenagers smoke pot in "LIFE" magazine, 3/3

Topanga Beach teenager George Trafton smokes a joint in the "LIFE" magazine article about marijuana: "Stoned Kids Think They Can Handle It" by Albert Rosenfeld (1967-07-07). The photo was shot at the house of Skylar and Sirkka Hayden.

Topanga Beach teenagers smoke pot in "LIFE" magazine, 2/3

Shirtless Topanga Beach teenager Woody Woodward blows a soap bubble in the "LIFE" magazine article about marijuana: "Stoned Kids Think They Can Handle It" by Albert Rosenfeld (1967-07-07). The photo was shot at the house of Skylar and Sirkka Hayden.

Topanga Beach teenagers smoke pot in "LIFE" magazine, 1/3

Woody Woodward, George Trafton, and unknown Topanga Beach teenagers smoke from a hookah in the "LIFE" magazine article about marijuana: "Stoned Kids Think They Can Handle It" by Albert Rosenfeld (1967-07-07). The photo was shot at the house of Skylar…

Topanga Beach residents take a photo at the 1994 reunion

Former residents take a group photo at the 1994 Topanga Beach reunion to remember the neighborhood that was demolished in 1979.

Topanga Beach residents hold a community meeting, 3/3

Topanga Beach residents hold a community meeting at the house of Sid Bernstein. Bob Levy sits on a table and speaks through a megaphone. Behind him are "Beer Can Larry" Wright and Sid Bernstein.

Topanga Beach residents hold a community meeting, 2/3

Topanga Beach residents hold a community meeting at the house of Sid Bernstein. Bob Levy sits on a table and holds a megaphone. Behind him are "Beer Can Larry" Wright and Sid Bernstein. Bob Hite (from the band Canned Heat) wears a red shirt and sits…

Topanga Beach residents hold a community meeting

Topanga Beach residents hold a community meeting at the house of Sid Bernstein (holding a megaphone). Mike Schultz wears purple shorts. Bob Levy sits on a table.

Topanga Beach residents gather for a group photo, 2/2

Topanga Beach residents gather for a group photo

STANDING:
Peter Smith (left, white long-sleeve shirt)
Wheeler Coberly (left, striped pants)
"Tennis Shoe Ernie" Ford (left, in back)
Reva (sunglasses) and Doug Meredith (center left)
Foster…

Topanga Beach residents gather for a group photo, 1/2

Topanga Beach residents gather for a group photo.

STANDING:
Peter Smith (left, white long-sleeve shirt)
Wheeler Coberly (left, talking to a woman)
Foster Sherwood (center, long blond hair and beard)
Bob Schiller (center, puffy parka)
Jack…

Topanga Beach residents gather at a Christmas party, 2/2

Topanga Beach residents take a group photo at a Christmas party at Carl and Margaret Barlow's house in Fernwood.

FRONT:
Woody Stewart
Connie Bantilan Smith
Doug Smith

MIDDLE:
Drew Ho
Margaret Barlow (Margaret Warren)
John Marrow
Judy…

Topanga Beach residents gather at a Christmas party, 1/2

Topanga Beach residents take a group photo at a Christmas party at Carl and Margaret Barlow's house in Fernwood.

FRONT:
Paul Lovas
Connie Bantilan Smith
Doug Smith

MIDDLE:
Matt Lasky
Drew Ho
Margaret Barlow (Margaret Warren)
John…

Topanga Beach required face masks during COVID-19

Surfers ride waves two weeks after Los Angeles County partially ended their COVID-19 pandemic, beach closure on May 13, 2020. Lying or sitting on the sand was still prohibited. Walking was only allowed with face masks.

Topanga Beach reopens to surfing during COVID-19

Topanga Beach reopened to surfing when Los Angeles County partially ended its COVID-19 pandemic, beach closure on May 13, 2020. Lying or sitting on the sand was still prohibited. Walking was only allowed with a face mask.

Santa Monica is in the…

Topanga Beach Rd. and PCH

Topanga Beach Rd. and PCH intersect by the Step Inn Cafe and the Shell gas station.

Topanga Beach panorama, 1928

Topanga Beach panorama shows Potter's Store, Topanga Service Station, billboards for Union Gasoline and Lightning Gasoline, a bathhouse, the De Long Cafe, Cooper's Camp, and the bridge over the lagoon.

Topanga Beach neighbors pet dogs

Topanga Beach neighbors take a group photo while petting dogs. Marge and Sid Bernstein are at right.

Topanga Beach map, 1925

Topanga Beach map, 1925, shows Brookside Drive, Shady Lane, The Rodeo Grounds, Topanga Lane (Topanga Canyon Lane), Old Malibu Road, and the former site of Arch Rock (Natural Arch).

Topanga Beach map, 1903

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

Topanga Beach map, 1896

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

Topanga Beach map, 1895

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, 1881

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

Topanga Beach map, 1881

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

Topanga Beach map, 1877

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

Topanga Beach map, 1876

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

Topanga Beach map, 1874

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, 1868

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 is empty on a nice day

Topanga Beach is empty on a nice day. Mastro's Ocean Club is in the background.

Los Angeles County partially ended their COVID-19 pandemic, beach closure on May 13, 2020. Lying or sitting on the sand was still prohibited. Walking was only allowed…

Topanga Beach is empty and the ocean is flat

Topanga Beach is empty and the ocean is flat. A sandbar has formed by the lifeguard tower.

Topanga Beach is crowded after COVID-19 restrictions end

Topanga Beach is crowded two months after Los Angeles County began offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all adults on April 10, 2020, and two weeks after lifting most pandemic restrictions on June 15, 2021. The new freedom allowed...

- No limit on…

Topanga Beach houses with broken windows

Topanga Beach houses with broken windows will be demolished in January or February 1979, according to a handwritten note lamenting, "They did it!" A catamaran is parked in front.

Topanga Beach houses line the cove

Topanga Beach houses line the cove. The Malibu Feed Bin is across the street, at right.

Topanga Beach houses in ruins

The headline on the cover of the "Messenger" newspaper asks, "Topanga Beach: Did Anyone Win?" which was also the title of an article by Donna Dunwoody criticizing State Parks' eviction of the residents. A photo shows beach houses and a volleyball net…

Topanga Beach houses are bordered by catamaran masts

Topanga Beach houses are bordered by catamaran masts on one side and telephone poles on the other.

Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road

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

Topanga Beach house has a kitchen with a brick floor

The Topanga Beach house of Jim Ganzer and Ronne Troup has a kitchen with a brick floor.

Topanga Beach graffiti tells surfers to "Go to Sunset"

Graffiti on the stairs tells beginning surfers to "Go to Sunset." Mounds are piled by the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower for a sand replenishment project. The rocks are out at low tide.

Topanga Beach cover of the "Topanga New Times"

The cover of the "Topanga New Times" newspaper shows a woman carrying a surfboard between palm trees along a Copacabana boardwalk by the Topanga Lagoon.

Topanga Beach Cantina ad, 2/2

In Topanga, beachcombers eat our Shells.

And our Fajitas. Enchiladas. Huevos Rancheros. And mucho, mucho more.

Or try one of our house specialties, Tacos de Carne Asada, garnished with freshly made Pico de Gallo and the freshest seasonal fruits…

Topanga Beach Cantina ad, 1/2

Come Celebrate the Opening of
Topanga Beach Cantina

Fine Mexican Cuisine at a New Location
[Drawing of a sombrero]
Open 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

WEEKDAY LUNCH SPECIALS
$3.25

MONDAY & TUESDAY NIGHT SPECIALS
Dinner Combos $3.95
Corona…

Topanga Beach before the automobile age

Topanga Beach had only one house "before the automobile age." This photo was taken from Sunset Mesa.

Topanga Beach appears on NBC News after Palisades Fire

Topanga Beach appears in a still from an NBC News video: "LA Metro partially restores bus service on Line 134 (after the Palisades Fire)." The lifeguard tower is at left, and the toxic-debris sorting station is at right.

Topanga Arts Council at Earthworks studio

Topanga Arts Council members in front of Earthworks, Esther and Bud Bruder's studio. Standing: Esther Bruder Raucher aka Esther Terrestrial, Sue Weber aka Sky and Wonder Woman, Helena LeBrun, three unknown, Myra Schegloff, Kathy Kaminsky, unknown.…

Tony Whipple's house on Old Malibu Road is abandoned

Tony Whipple's house at 3964 Old Malibu Road is abandoned after the eviction of the Lower Topanga community by State Parks. Graffiti on the fence says, "My fondest memories made here XOXO."

Tony Knox plays music at La Esperanza at Las Tunas Beach

Tony Knox sings and plays guitar with his punk rock band Fallujah 71 at La Esperanza (18862 PCH), a Las Tunas Beach house. Robert Overby ("Baretta") watches from a chair. Billy Zane watches from behind a gate.

Toni Dragon smiles and John Kane smokes a cigarette

Toni Dragon smiles and John Kane smokes a cigarette outside the Sherwoods' Topanga Beach house.

Tommy Bartee's RV flies an American flag at Topanga Beach

Tommy Bartee's RV flies an American flag at Topanga Beach. Traffic cones protect the car from PCH.

Tommy Bartee wears a puka-shell necklace

Surfer Tommy Bartee wears trunks, sunglasses, and a puka-shell necklace by The Yellow House at Topanga Beach.

Tommy Bartee sculpture, "Turtle," 2018

Tommy Bartee carved his relief sculpture, "Turtle," onto a wooden post that marks the perimeter of the Topanga Beach dirt lot.

Tommy Bartee sculpture, "Smiling Man," 2018

Tommy Bartee carved his relief sculpture, "Smiling Man," onto a wooden post that marks the perimeter of the Topanga Beach dirt lot.

Tommy Bartee sculpture, "Dolphin," 2018

Tommy Bartee carved his relief sculpture, "Dolphin," onto a wooden post that marks the perimeter of the Topanga Beach dirt lot.

Tom Hogston collected signs at Koontz Korner in Glenview

Koontz Korner was the name for the collection of signs that Tom Hogston displayed in his yard at the corner of Koontz Way and Canon Dr. in Glenview. It was featured in the series of cards called "Typical Topanga."

Tom Evans with Marion, Roberta, William, Florence Spence

Tom (maybe), wife Marion Evans (Spence), Roberta, William, and Florence Spence gather by a trailer in the backyard of Spence's Cabins motel on Topanga Lane.

Tom Dewitt guides a horse to rear up on its hind legs

Tom Dewitt, shirtless, guides a horse to rear up on its hind legs in front of Michael Greene's house, 3726 Rodeo Grounds.

Tom Cheney, Pasqual Shampay and George Cheney

Black and white photograph of Tom Cheney, Pasqual Shampay and George Cheney holding guns and a dead dear.