Find results with:

Add another field

Search by date

to

Searching collections:

Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection

Add or remove collections

Home Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection Fire damage at Ocean Park Pier

Reference URL

Share

To link to this object, paste this link in email, IM or document

To embed this object, paste this HTML in website

Fire damage at Ocean Park Pier

View Description

Download

small (250x250 max)

medium (500x500 max)

large ( > 500x500)

Full Resolution

Print

Loading content ...

you wish to report:

Your comment:

Your Name:

Submit

Cancel

...

Back to top

Powered by CONTENTdm®

Order Number	00096911
Title	Fire damage at Ocean Park Pier
Collection ID	Herald Examiner Collection
Location/Accession	HE box 1583.
Date	Circa 1924
Physical Description	1 photographic print :b&w ;13 x 17 cm. on board 14 x 18 cm.
Notes	Photograph was edited for publication purposes.; Title supplied by cataloger.
Historical Data	The fire at Ocean Park Pier in the early morning hours of January 6, 1924 was believed to have started in the Ritz Cafe kitchen. The fire broke out shortly after 9:00 am and before it was brought under control five hours later, the great funnel of flame and smoke had threatened time and again to spread to the business and residential areas of the beach city. Luckily the Dome Theater's concrete structure at the northeast corner of the pier contained the fire and prevented it from leaping across Ocean Front Walk. Nearly 100,000 spectators watched as ten fire companies fought the blaze. When it was over, the losses were enormous, estimated anywhere from $1,000,000 to $3,500,000, with only $100,000 insured. Both the Dome and Rosemary Theaters were destroyed along with all the pier's rides and attractions. The Dome Theater was valued at $500,000; the Rosemary Theater, valued at $250,000; the entire Lick Pier, valued at $1,000,000; the Bon Ton Ballroom, constructed at a cost of $200,000, and the Fraser Pier, known as Fraser Amusement Pier, were all razed. In addition to the larger buildings, the many numerous concessions operated by private individuals and worth more than $750,000, fanned by a vigorous southwest wind, were razed by the conflagration. The large municipal auditorium building, constructed at a cost of $350,000 was partially destroyed. No one was seriously hurt, but there were several minor casualties. In 1912 the same region was swept by fire and a loss estimated at several thousands of dollars sustained. Three years prior to this fire, the Venice amusement zone was razed by fire in a similar manner and the entire pier valued at $1,500,000 was completely destroyed.
Description	View of the destruction caused by a fire at Ocean Park Pier in the early morning hours of January 6, 1924. The Ritz Cafe, where the fire is speculated to have started, is visible mid-photo.
Subject	Fires--California--Santa Monica. Amusement parks--California--Santa Monica. Piers--California--Santa Monica. Restaurants--California--Santa Monica. Lost architecture--California--Santa Monica. Ocean Park Pier (Santa Monica, Calif.). Ocean Front Promenade (Santa Monica, Calif.). Ocean Park (Santa Monica, Calif.). Herald-Examiner Collection photographs.
Format	Photographic prints
Reproduction Information	Images available for reproduction and use. Please see the Ordering & Use page at http://tessa.lapl.org/OrderingUse.html for additional information.
Sub-Collection Name	Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection