Yeah…This was 1959 after they totally remodeled the pier. It reopened in 1959 and Lawrence Welk did a t.v. show from POP, it shows many rides and attractions. I have show that as well and will post it soon after I edit it down. Sadly POP only lasted until 1968 then it closed and sat vacant for years before several fires occured and it was completly gone by early 1975 and demolished.
The Ocean Park pier (ie Pacific Ocean Park) was diabotically known for having fires. I know because i lived in the Santa Monica area for many years. There have been many street people hanging around under the pier for a long time,and i suspect that that is how alot of the fires got started. I used to go to Pacific Ocean Park on weekends and bithdays with my friends and had a great time each time.
actually lawrence welk did his broadcast from the aragon ballroom which was adjacent to the pop pier I belive,the same spot that spade cooley did his show earlier in the 50′s
nothing I’ve written has been posted but I’ll try again.Lawrence Welk broadcast his show from the aragon ballroom adjacent to pop,same place spade cooley did his show in the 50′s
Fantastic! The first time I ever had the sh*t scared out of me was here on the Flying Dutchman Ghost Ship ride! A few yeasr later I saw the Doors (and met Jim Morrison!) at the nearby Cheetah Club. Ah, those were the days. Thanks for posting this gem. Bring back POP!
I remember visiting that place several times and thinking it was much more fun than Disneyland — more like an old-style, slightly tacky seaside amusement park. Unfortunately, P.O.P. was done in by a combination of several successive owners, poor management, spotty maintenance, and an unattractive location.
BTW, if I’m not mistaken, the narrator in the video is Vic Perrin, who was the Control Voice in the original “Outer Limits” TV series and did voice work for several “Star Trek” episodes.
POP is gone. The amusement park you are thinking of is on Santa Monica Pier. POP was located about 1 and 1/2 miles south of Santa Monica Pier. The videos I am posting are of Pacific Ocean Park (aka POP). POP is completely gone now. For more info on the history of Santa Monica and Venice, CA goto Jeff Stantons website it is the best site of seen for history of Santa Monica. The website is in my comments posted for each of my videos.
What wonderful childhood memories this brings!!! I remember riding the trolley from Venice to Santa Monica with my parents. As soon as I could see lot’s of bubbles in the air I knew we were close to POP. I had to take a double-take of the little girl in the video with the cotton candy to see Was That Me? :) Dorothy
Oh wow……. My wife and I remember going here as kids. I use to hop on the back on the Tram from Santa Monica Pier to POP and climb over the fences for free admission as a teenager…… Thank you so much for the memories….
You are correct.I was born in Culver City and Lived on Wade st.I remember the Charlie Brown slide,and that Ferris wheel is still there.But the pier is not as big as it used to be.
Thank you so very very very much for this video. I was born in California in 1958. I remember when my parents would take me to POP, but over the years I could not remember the name. I have been searching for 25 years trying to find a picture or reel footage showing the “buckets” as I so called them in my younger years that went out over the ocean. I loved that ride the most. This footage brought tears to my eyes. It was so wonderful to see this again.
what the… I never knew POP had all that! THanks for the vid :)
Thanks for sharing this with people who never got to experience it.
woah! & this was all before it burned down right?
Yeah…This was 1959 after they totally remodeled the pier. It reopened in 1959 and Lawrence Welk did a t.v. show from POP, it shows many rides and attractions. I have show that as well and will post it soon after I edit it down. Sadly POP only lasted until 1968 then it closed and sat vacant for years before several fires occured and it was completly gone by early 1975 and demolished.
how did the fire happen?
I’m so old I remember this shit! Thanx
The Ocean Park pier (ie Pacific Ocean Park) was diabotically known for having fires. I know because i lived in the Santa Monica area for many years. There have been many street people hanging around under the pier for a long time,and i suspect that that is how alot of the fires got started. I used to go to Pacific Ocean Park on weekends and bithdays with my friends and had a great time each time.
actually lawrence welk did his broadcast from the aragon ballroom which was adjacent to the pop pier I belive,the same spot that spade cooley did his show earlier in the 50′s
nothing I’ve written has been posted but I’ll try again.Lawrence Welk broadcast his show from the aragon ballroom adjacent to pop,same place spade cooley did his show in the 50′s
Fantastic! The first time I ever had the sh*t scared out of me was here on the Flying Dutchman Ghost Ship ride! A few yeasr later I saw the Doors (and met Jim Morrison!) at the nearby Cheetah Club. Ah, those were the days. Thanks for posting this gem. Bring back POP!
I remember visiting that place several times and thinking it was much more fun than Disneyland — more like an old-style, slightly tacky seaside amusement park. Unfortunately, P.O.P. was done in by a combination of several successive owners, poor management, spotty maintenance, and an unattractive location.
BTW, if I’m not mistaken, the narrator in the video is Vic Perrin, who was the Control Voice in the original “Outer Limits” TV series and did voice work for several “Star Trek” episodes.
i used to go there quite a bit in the 1960′s
Not like that today. Not much rides. No seals what so ever today. But it is still a good park.
POP is gone. The amusement park you are thinking of is on Santa Monica Pier. POP was located about 1 and 1/2 miles south of Santa Monica Pier. The videos I am posting are of Pacific Ocean Park (aka POP). POP is completely gone now. For more info on the history of Santa Monica and Venice, CA goto Jeff Stantons website it is the best site of seen for history of Santa Monica. The website is in my comments posted for each of my videos.
I went there a couple of times back in the 1960′s. That place was great. I’ll never forget it.
God I LOVED POP. What a wonderful time I had there and at the PIKE in LOng Beach. Thank you sooooo much for this!!!!
wow wee…..memories..so true we remember climbing under pier 2 sneak in to pop…..that is when fun was fun …..po lol booper56
What wonderful childhood memories this brings!!! I remember riding the trolley from Venice to Santa Monica with my parents. As soon as I could see lot’s of bubbles in the air I knew we were close to POP. I had to take a double-take of the little girl in the video with the cotton candy to see Was That Me? :) Dorothy
hey dor HI from elko…booper56
hey dor hi from elko booper56
Oh wow……. My wife and I remember going here as kids. I use to hop on the back on the Tram from Santa Monica Pier to POP and climb over the fences for free admission as a teenager…… Thank you so much for the memories….
You are correct.I was born in Culver City and Lived on Wade st.I remember the Charlie Brown slide,and that Ferris wheel is still there.But the pier is not as big as it used to be.
I meant that Merry Go Round is still there
Thank you so very very very much for this video. I was born in California in 1958. I remember when my parents would take me to POP, but over the years I could not remember the name. I have been searching for 25 years trying to find a picture or reel footage showing the “buckets” as I so called them in my younger years that went out over the ocean. I loved that ride the most. This footage brought tears to my eyes. It was so wonderful to see this again.
Its sad a lot of it got burned down.