Remembering POP

This is a history of the colorful Ocean Park Piers dating back to 1895 and ending with the closure of Pacific Ocean Park, known as POP., in 1967. Today there is no trace of those popular amusement piers on the Ocean Park Beach or the adjacent neighborhood that was the victim of urban renewal in 1965. We should create something that honors the piers and the neighborhood, places where people once had a good time. Throughout the video the spot where the Memorial structure will be, is marked YOU ARE HERE. The surrounding landscape may look very different in pictures that go back in time, but the spot is still marks the same place.

[@edwardsteiner8086]

As a child I went to POP. My favorite ride was Flight To Mars. I will always remember POP. Excellent Video!

[@oddjobs3025]

Thanks. I was born a block from POP. So...thanks.

[@ranklarin6137]

Brilliant video and inspirational. Let's do it Richard---I was a kid in the POP days and it was better than Disneyland.

[@ChannelBJGZ]

Wasn't in LA back then and never saw it, but for past 13 years that exact spot is where we take the kids to the beach. Always wondered why there wasn't some landmark and amazed by the fact no trace of it exists. What a story. Hope you succeed with the plan!

[@rkmklz7562]

I was there when I was a kid.... there is a picture of me sitting at entrance...1066-1970.... Mission to Mars.....the tram over the island....POP should have been kept...it would be a gold mine today.... There is a remake of it....but not like the original....now it is 2024....the city of Santa Monica should build a new one like the old...it would be fantastic 😊

[@larrypalomares6011]

I remember going there as a kid's it was so much fun taking the trams from Venice. When we go older after it closed we'd go in side and party I remember talking LSD inside the fun house or just trippin around. I wish I would have gotten some stuff from inside before it caught fire

[@mr.bnatural3700]

I remember when a teen lost their head on the roller coaster. My parents would go back after "the beatniks" took it over.

[@rafaellewis4528]

Fantastic idea!

[@tracymears8230]

My family, Mears and Howells, settled in this area around 1910 and many are buried at Woodlawn. So many lived on one street in the area it was nicknamed Howell Hill. Wish I had been born early enough to have experienced those years.

[@fredlawson9394]

I Remember riding the Rollercoaster.. As a Kid ..🎢

[@richardorton3881]

Correction: Sorry I got the history wrong about the early pier I show in the video. it wasn't built by the Santa Fe Railroad. The first wharf in this location was the Kinney and Ryan Pier built in 1898 on top of Santa Monica’s first outfall sewer pipe through a special arrangement with the city.

[@rogerhammer166]

Richard, when POP was developed was it on top of a mostly completed pier infrastructure from OP Pier?

[@deepsevenstudios8418]

Nice idea! Went there as a kid and later became the last person to work outside on the pier as a parking attendant at Jack's at the beach. By '74 a very sketchy location for a high end restaurant. For six months witnessed the POP carcass demolished board by board.

[@user-ib6tb9yn7l]

Thank you so much to all who put this together!!! POP was basically my childhood playground. Lived just off Speedway and Sunset from '55 to '65 and watched it being built then it became my home away from home and some of the best years of my life. I feel sorry for those who missed the experience and now only see sand where the magic used to happen each and every day. I was Susan DeHuff back then.

[@normagomez1322]

I loved POP. Spent many happy times there.

[@hermanprez]

I have a bunch of 35mm photos I took shortly after the fire with what was left of some of the attractions in the surf. It was a sad sight.

[@rogerhammer166]

I’d love to see your pics, Herman.

[@atatterson6992]

I believe there were about a dozen fires...

[@BeachLife66]

The city should absolutely install the landmark kiosk

[@sherryvicente8252]

I definitely agree with a landmark it’s part of my history

[@ps.iloveyou4ever]

This is a great video.❤😊❤

[@Bwilliams2]

My grandparents lived in California and we lived in ohio and we didn’t get out there very often. But when we did we visited POP. I remember it as a very magical place. Thanks for this video.

[@rkmklz7562]

I was there in the 1960s and 1970s....King Neptune and Mission to Mars I do remember....Thay should of kept this going!!!

[@neferazure]

park was completely gone by the 70s, it closed down in 1967. So how were you there in the 70s?

[@rkmklz7562]

@@neferazure I was there in 1966.....it was still open....in 1971..it was closed and left decaying..so 😭

[@MountainFisher]

Went there one time in 1864 I think it was. Rode the coaster and that gondola over the ocean thinking I cannot swim that far to the shore.

[@atatterson6992]

I hope you mean 1964;-)

[@musicformonsters]

Great stuff Richard.... long deserving of a memorial -

[@cleokey]

Born and raised about a block away

[@marknelson2-ih6sq]

So that's why our father took us to every amuesement park in CA besides that

[@johnnyenglish6751]

What's with all the fires? Geez! Put a sprinkler system in or something! I know it was back in the day but after a few whole pier fires you'd think they would come up with something! Smh

[@snarflatful]

This is an interesting report. You don't need that awful music though.