Coin Slot Magazine - #080 - 1981 - October [International Arcade Museum]
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By Stephen P. Alpert
Amusement areas have always been popular in
beach and waterfront communities. In the greater Los
Angeles area, amusement zones sprung up in two
main areas in the early part of this century— at Venice,
Ocean Park, and Santa Monica (to the west of Los
Angeles), and 30 miles to the south at Long Beach
(south of LA). Attractions such as amusement arcades,
fun houses, midway game booths,and carnival rides
appeared at several locations, primarily amusement
oriented piers.
In 1905, tobacco millionaire Abbot Kinney founded
Venice of America,
on marshland south of Santa
Playland Arcade is the only amusement arcade left in
the Venice, Ocean Park and Santa Monica area. It is on
the Santa Monica Pier. This 1973 photo was taken just
before opening time. This arcade just began using
tokens to operate the machines, most of which are
manufacturer stock tokens, but some tokens reading
"Playland Arcade, Santa Monica" were just issued a
few months ago.
Monica. He modelled the city after Venice, Italy, com
plete with canals (a few still remain) and gondolas. But
instead of the dignified beach community Kinney had
in mind, a seaside amusement, carnival and gambling
atmosphere developed and made Venice the west
coast version of Coney Island. In 1906, side shows, fun
houses, and other midway attractions (direct from the
1904 St. Louis World's Fair and the 1905 Lewis& Clark
Exposition in Portland) set up alongside the canals. In
later years they moved onto piers featuring amusement
rides and attractions.
There were numerous piers off Venice, Ocean Park,
and Santa Monica, as well as Long Beach and its
suburbs. Many of the piers fell prey to fires. Some piers
were rebuilt several times, often changing names,
leading to confusion in trying to study the history of the
piers. The very first pier, "Pleasure Pier" was built in
1895 in Ocean Park (now the southern part of Santa
Monica) by Abbott Kinney. The first real amusement
pier in Ocean Park was Fraser's Million Dollar Pier,
built in 1910 by wealthy realtor A.R. Fraser. It burnt
down in 1912, was rebuilt in 1913, and burnt again in
1924.
Continued on page 44
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COIN
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© 42-THE
The International
Arcade
Museum
October 1981
http://www.arcade-museum.com/