In 1947, Joseph Drown bought the estate from Marion Davies and converted it into Oceanhouse, “America’s Most Beautiful Hotel,” with a limited-membership beach club called the Sand and Sea Club. Oceanhouse saw its fair share of celebrities, such as Jane Fonda, who in her biography, My Life So Far, fondly recalls sitting with her stepmother on the marble steps by the pool at the age of fourteen. By the time the State of California took over the property in 1956, the main house of the estate had been torn down. The state continued operating the club until 1962, when Doug Badt became the manager. He ran the club during the following two decades, after which the City of Santa Monica opened the property to the public, and to third-party filming projects, until it was severely damaged in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
Oceanhouse
In 1947, Joseph Drown bought the estate from Davies and converted the property into Oceanhouse, “America’s Most Beautiful Hotel.” After the Oceanhouse venture ended, the main mansion was demolished and the Sand and Sea Club, a limited-membership beach club, was established. The State of California took over the property in 1956 and the popular club continued to operate. The City of Santa Monica briefly operated the site in the 1990s until it was severely damaged in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
Santa Monica Mountains
Fire crews cast ryegrass
seed on a burned-out area of the Santa Monica Mountains in 1977. Wildfires are a constant and inevitable threat to the Santa Monica Mountains as the summer heat dries out plants before fall.
Santa Monica Pier
The world famous Santa Monica Pier is a beloved local landmark. This is a view from the Pier looking toward the shore and the Santa Monica Hotel in 1985–1986.
Sand and Sea
In her 2005 biography, My Life So Far, Jane Fonda warmly recalls having spent “the entire summer at the beach” in 1951, when she was fourteen. This summer included a stay at Oceanhouse with Susan, her stepmother, where “one perfect California evening, when the sun was setting red and the breeze was velvet and smelled of salt and kelp, she and I were sitting on the marble steps leading down to the pool.”
Sand and Sea
Dancing and parties have been part of the Santa Monica culture since the
early 1900s. Defense worker Ben Abrams performs a difficult dance move with his dancing partner at a party in Santa Monica in 1942. It
was Ben's last fling at a Saturday night, swing-shift dance before leaving for the Army the following Monday.
Muscle Beach
Bathing beauty competitions gained in popularity with the rise of Muscle Beach, like this one in 1954.
Muscle Beach
Located in Santa Monica just south of the Pier, the original Muscle Beach was a popular hangout for the Hollywood crowd in its heyday. Clark Gable, Kirk Douglas, and Jayne Mansfield would go to see the Mr. Muscles competitions. Pictured here bodybuilder Abbey Stockton works out on Muscle Beach in 1947, the first year for a Miss and Mr. Muscle Beach contest.
Lifeguarding
Hawaiian-born George Freeth introduced surfing to Southern California upon his arrival in Venice in 1907, and revolutionized life-saving and other water safety practices, leaving a legacy for lifeguards such as these Junior Girl Lifeguards on Santa Monica Beach in 1955.
Oceanhouse
Oceanhouse pool area, ca. 1950.
Credit: Courtesy of Abbey Sher
Muscle Beach
A Mr. Muscles contestant performs an acrobatic move on the original Muscle Beach as a crowd watches, ca. 1948.
Muscle Beach
Large crowds were drawn to the gymnastics and competitions held at the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica.
Muscle Beach
Large crowds were drawn to the gymnastics and competitions held at the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica.
Fun in the Sun
Fun in the sun is practically synonymous with Santa Monica State Beach. Popular beach activities are sunbathing, swimming, volleyball, and biking, like these cyclists pictured here in 1972.
Fun in the Sun
Surfing and skating dominated the Southern California scene in the 1970s. David Dollase cruises near Santa Monica Canyon on his skateboard with his surfboard tucked tightly under his arm.
Fun in the Sun
Sunbathing has long been a popular beach activity on Santa Monica Beach. This photo shows a beach crowd leisurely enjoying the sun in 1956.
Fun in the Sun
Many celebrities and socialites visited Santa Monica Beach. Among them were President John F. Kennedy, here surrounded by admirers in the surf in 1962.
Fun in the Sun
Three teenagers sunbathing on the hood of their stalled car on shoulder of Santa Monica Freeway, Calif., 1980.
Lifeguarding
Hawaiian-born George Freeth introduced surfing to Southern California upon his arrival in Venice in 1907, and revolutionized life-saving and other water safety practices, leaving a legacy for lifeguards such as these Junior Girl Lifeguards on Santa Monica Beach in 1955.
Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is part of the National Park system. This treasured land is comprised of a rare 153,000-acre Mediterranean ecosystem that occurs in only four other places around the world: the area bordering the Mediterranean Sea, central Chile, the Cape region of South Africa, southwestern and southern Australia, and northern Baja California.