Pacific Ocean Park

[TL250Rider]

In Fish Kooky You see Ocean Park in the distance. Fish Hooky was filmed at Venice Amusement Pier AKA Abbott Kinney Pier.

[DA90027]

Awesome video thanks for posting. I don't understand why anyone would get uptight about a 50 year old video being posted. People are stupid.

[FylthyBeest]

@kptn6 And, I'm sure while some may be impressed with your command of the English vocabulary, others, such as me, are disappointed that you incorrectly capitalized the word, "gentrification". Speak plain English.

[Blahblobify]

I remember going to POP right after it opened, immediately thought it was WAY better than Disneyland, especially being on the pier over the ocean.

Then in 1964 the city of Santa Monica closed all the streets going to it to renovate them, effectively killing the park because no one could park near it..

So sad.

[rjsmth]

Thank you for posting fond memories of POP. Great video...

[muspobear]

I'm SURE the Sea Serpent Coaster, (That's what Pop renamed it) was Super-Modified from the old coaster when POP opened?

[JosephR4570]

I love the "modern roller coaster" comment - it was built in 1926 which made it already ancient when POP opened.

[TL250Rider]

In Fish Hooky You see The Ocean Park in The Background The Main Pier is the Venice Pier at Winward Ave. Then the Beloved Some Kick Rollercoaster on the end of the Venice Pier

[BubbaBouy]

The whole family enjoyed P.O.P. also known as Pay One Price. Then came the Cheetah Club for the night entertainment. Then came the separate cost for the roller coaster, then came the closure of the park and the high tower condos developed. Oh what fun in the earlier years. The same happened to the Nu-Pike in Long Beach.

[cherylmoseley]

Oh, how I loved POP. Such fabulous memories all throughout Mark Twain '59-61, and Venice High (graduated in '64). Used to go there with parents, girlfriends, boyfriends, and club activities. It was after Santa Monica started remodeling, that it wasn't as easy to get there. And of course, Marina del Rey took much of the activity, as well. All wonderful years growing up. Thank you so much for posting this.

[Victor1930]

I have memories of my grandmother taking to me POP when I was so young they almost feel like dreams! Thanks so much for posting!!

[TheJomogogo]

Most kids preferred POP to Disneyland, it's a shame the city of Santa Monica drove POP out of business by remodeling the streets and effectively cutting off public access to the park. They took so long to do it POP went bankrupt, Santa Monica should have done something to keep the park open during their lenghty downtown reconstruction.

[MrTonyVision]

The people who loved and went to POP wish to say a big "Thank You". It is unfortunate that certain people wish to ruin the memories and fun.

[tiranchula]

Does anyone know where, at one time, was a small replica of the Queen Mary? It had seals hanging around it, and you could buy food for them at a near by fish market? I know it was not at fisherman's wharf? My dad used to buy fresh seafood there and always bought me a little bag of food for the seals so I could feed them? I was very little, so I don't remember at all!

[darrylhaynes]

im 54...thanks for taking me back to the good old days.

[kathrynleboye]

I moved near by to POP after it closed. I would walk by it all the time wishing I could go in. It looked enchanting to me. I just recently moved back to the Los Angeles area & started thinking about my childhood & remembered POP. What a great thing to discover this video and get to see the inside of POP. Thanks for putting this up to see.

[barmtrail]

What ever happened to So. Cal? Kids back then dressed properly, they had hair cuts, the girls wore dresses and looked normal. The kids listened to their parents.

I can remember around 69 or 70 i really started to see the change in people. MAybe it was the drugs? Hair grew longer, cussing became normal speach, parents were considered square if they disaplined you. It never made any sense to me, everyone became afraid of their own shadows. People became, "sue happy" very sad state indeed.

[hatelibs1]

Thats when people were decent. notice the crowd......

[lizardsy]

@hatelibs1 Well yeah, everyone was white :)

[darrylhaynes]

you are so right.....no street gangs...

[muspobear]

Pike was rough to boot! LOL

[muspobear]

@turnoutjim. I sure do remember the Pike! I only got to go to POP once in 1965. That was a shame. Was slated to go one more time in 1967, but my guardians deemed it unsafe. It did get a rough edge with the bikers and such at the end...

[vavoomddd]

I grew up at POP. Almost every weekend for years my parents or just my Mother wld take us. I can remember being let loose with my sister to just run around the park. We wld be going on the rides and running around and then we wld see our Mom sitting on a park bench talking to one of the vendors. I have great memories of POP. Some people don't even know what POP was. What a pity. Love the memories.

[merciless68]

For my 11th bday (1965) my Dad took a girlfriend and me to POP. We had been there quite a few times. We rode The Octopus (which I don't see anywhere on here) and the ride fell apart while we were on it! 5 large rubber bands flew off, and then a giant steel wheel rolled off! The ride was tipping over into the ocean (from what I remember!) and my Dad and many others came and held onto the tentacles which had a little cup you sat in at the end of it and they had to get us off with ladders!

[turnoutjim]

anyone remember the Pike in Long Beach? similar stuff

[artsyadvancement]

How... how do you people know me

WHAT ARE YOU FREAKS

[muspobear]

I love this place! I remember going there in the summer of 65! We had to leave early cause my Sister had injured herself on the coaster, it was nothing serious, but we left anyway, I was nit a happy camper to say the least! I remember POP open for the last time in the summer of 67. We were to go to POP, but my elders did not like the looks of the crowd at Neptune's Garden ticket booth, so we never went! Again, not to happy a feller of 7! A year later, the powers to be demolished the Cyclon

[TL250Rider]

When comming up in the diving bell your stomach stayed at the bottom. I had no Idea that the tank was that deep.

What a great place. Now just a memory.

Thank you for this wonderful listing.

[MrMartymusic]

"A whole day's fun for a dollar ninety-one!"

[TL250Rider]

God Bless you for this wonderful site

2008 Ford Ranger LIC PIER

1990 Ford Bronco LIK PIER

[beachpupp]

P.O.P. baby!

[stdelgado]

Who remembers this?

[stdelgado]

Who remembers this?

[willobird]

I remember the Flying Dutchman ride. At the time it looked so scary, I wouldn't go on it.

[waynegabi]

I can still remember the radio jingle: "More fun than anything, Pacific Ocean Park"!

[loron91423]

God Bless P.O.P.

[Verdoux007]

What a creepy clown.

[tunatwo]

great memories! wow, I can remember the excitement of coming here... a couple times... about 1960? one ride the floor dropped out and you stuck to the wall, and the house of mirrors with some fun stuff at the end, and the bumper cars... great stuff! thanks!

[mickindanny]

The floor dropping out! I agree, that was the best ride. I had a no-count, but fun uncle who used to take me there. My aunt would send him to the grocery store, and he would use the money to buy a six-pack and we'd go to P.O.P. for the day. Not the greatest American Dream story, but at least I got to go! We had so much fun--some of the best memories of my life. THE BEST PARK EVER!

[Frijo1]

I always wanted to go to POP in Santa Monica when I was six years old but my parents always told me that they didnt have no money to take me, than several years later I heard that POP burned down. I always wish POP was still around so I could Of taken my children there since my parent could 'nt afford it.

[NellyFrittata]

I grew up in Santa Monica and there was a period of time where POP went for "Pay One Price"...where you just paid at the gate and could go on all the rides with no extra tickets...my mom would drop us kids off there in the morning and pick us up at the end of the day. Great memories!

[FlyMcGee]

where exactly is it now?

i want to stand there

[Oldbluelightjackson]

Thanks for the great video! I have never seen films of POP. This has brought back great memories. I remember the excitement when my parents mentioned going to POP, and getting the heck scared out of me when my Dad took me on the roller coaster. Those were definately "the good 'ole days".

[kokaneeb]

when i was @ 5 i fell off the inside of the barrell ride, a couple of sailors or marines ( can't remember which) saved me from falling thru the bottom of the ride, they helped me to the center post.

[TL250Rider]

Fish Hooky Abott Kinney Pier.

The Beloved Some Kick Roller Coaster.

One Land Mark left

The Breakwater at the end of Windward.

Thank you for your comment.

[mountainman99999]

POP can also be seen in the 1964 Twilight Zone episode, In Praise of Pip

and in the Little Rascals, Fish Hooky, from 1933.

[lorenmadsen]

Nice video. I ran the diving bell at POP for a couple of years before about 8-10 years after this film was made. This brought back some memories. Thanks.

[barmtrail]

wow. what a place. what ever happened to so. cal? people were once that normal? girls wearing dresses? boys with haircuts like that?

what ever happened? good lord save us from ourselves. arnold tried, but he found out just how messed up this state is.

[ArthurWA]

That is a wonderful video. It brought many fond memories. I am old enough to remember the old Ocean Park Pier and its conversion to Pacific Ocean Park. I loved them both. I lived in Ocean Park as an infant and grew up in Mar Vista, not all that far away. It was easily accessible for me. I worked there for two summers, making hot dogs on sticks and pizza in Fisherman's Cove. Thanks for the memories.

[eddieinhb]

damn this place looks like it was fun!

[gringochoppers]

hey theres little tony alva in his stroller at 0:30 ha ha,,yeah this was the playground for the lords of dogtown.

[georgekunz]

ertert

[garys737]

When America was descent...............

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

Thank you!

George Vreeland Hill

[dmoreaux]

I have removed all of my other videos due to a email from YouTube on copyright infringement with the exception of this one. I did not intend to cause any problems to anyone. My intent was to share Pacific Ocean Park to everyone. That is why I never uploaded complete versions of anything, just the POP portions of the show. This video will remain as it is open video to everyone. Thanks to all who enjoyed Pacific Ocean Park for this time. -Dave

[CatapultYourMom]

@dmoreaux You're a hero. Screw those guys.

[TL250Rider]

Whillie2nd there are some books on ocean front Parks

POP was fantastic One Car I own LIC PIER The other Car LIK PIER

So Much History Good History Thank you Abbott Kenny and friends

[willies2nd]

I can't say I remember POP but what I do remember is a similar park in San Francisco that my mother referred to as "Playland" anyone ever hear of it? She took my brothers and I all that was left was the diving bell. She was very upset that the park had deteriorated so much. What I do remember though, a very treasued day for my brothers and myself. Watching this video has reminded me of how much I missed!

[TL250Rider]

You must be very young. and you saw the ruins of POP I fee bad you feel this way. This place was wonderful. Now it is a great memory.

Thank you again Alas the Jeep is gone the New Truck has LIC Pier on it.

I fee bad you have nitamres The Music ON KIISFM Gives me nitmares. Now KRTH Is the same

[Korea4Me]

Sorry, but this place still gives me the creeps. No criticism to those who still have happy memories of the place but it still inhabits my nightmares. :-(

[TL250Rider]

POP was the best. The whole History of Venice Ocean Park Santa Monica is Priceless. I loved Davey Jones Locker "Tonnerville" The Fun House. The Sea Serpent High Boy was the first Big Roller Coaster I ever rode. I here it is in Oregon but never put back together.

I have a Jeep and a Bronco The Jeep LIC PIER The Bronco LIK PIER aka Lick Pier. God Bless all of you people that loved POP Like I did.

[thesethingz]

"Toonerville" my friend not "Tonnerville". POP ruled!

[thelosthills]

Priceless! Roller coaster was 25 cents extra. The place was cheesy but I loved it. It was never that crowded in the mid 60's. Loved the racehorse game, too.

[barflewk]

Santa Monica started renovating the streets surrounding POP in 1965 and made it hard to get to the park, which ruined their attendance and made them go broke. Prior to that POP was pulling in as many people as Disneyland.

[barflewk]

POP ruled, I prefered it to Disneyland, the rides were thrillers and the ocean was a better setting than Anaheim anyday. I saw the Wallenda family do their high wire act there, before the accident that finished them.

[MARTS54]

Thanks for posting this video. I only remember bits and pieces of POP, like the diving bells. But one memory that will never leave me is the "smell" of one of the indoor attractions where a man and woman sang... I'll never forget the peculiar smell of that attraction. Can't remember the name of the attraction and can't even describe the smell... just a different smell from anything else I've smelled. Thanks for bringing back the memories. Too bad it was gone too quickly.

[dmoreaux]

Thanks to everyone who have responded to my videos. So many great memories as I read through the responses, It is great. POP was a wonderful place. The uploads will resume in the next couple of weeks. Next, will be "I Spy" with Bill Cosby and Robert Culp. There is 18 minutes of POP that shows so many rides and the pier. Everybody take care and God Bless. -Dave

[NODISCOonkrth]

I use to go to POP with my Church. The Place was the best. I am so glad that the PC Computer keeps POP alive.

11/07/65 was the last time I was there when it was open I remember hearing One Track Mind by the Knickerbockers on Radio station KRLA playing at the Dart Game. Davey Jones Locker "Toonerville Fun House. Great memories Great Site Thanks

[davecox48]

I was born in 1958 also and remember POP! The diving bell, the balls that went out over the ocean and the spinning barrel where I got all of dad's change when it was sucked out of his pockets. Very cool memories, thanks!

[Mmewster]

thanks for sharing about the diving bell. my favorite ride was the barrel that spun around and pinned you to the wall..it was great.. we both comeom a good era I think!

[Mmewster]

I went there all the time for free as my mom was the secratary to the owner.. no lie. We lived oon 10th street in santa monica. I went to a catholic school there. Yes, It is sad there is not so much of a plaque stating it was there.

[hkins]

My sister was scared of the sky ride at POP. We assured her that it was perfectly safe, and finally managed to convince her to get on. Well, just as we got out over the water, we looked down, and, yes, two of the cars were lying in the sand with water running over them...

I loved that place!

[mountainsgirl]

A lot of fun rides in the 60's, a lot of people there too. When Disneyland opened, along with Knotts Berry Farm, seems like POP began slip sliding away... didn't need much money (for a teenager) to spend at least half a day there. Wonder if Marina del Rey had something to do with POP's times up.

[florange00]

Oh, Man! What a walk down Memory Lane. Some of my best memories as a kid were going to POP. Thanks for sharing.

[slinscome]

Thanks for posting. I was 12 in '65 when I had my first roller coaster ride at POP. Davy Jones diving bell("surface!,surface!" is still fresh(?) in my memory plus the walk thru underwater experience and the ride where you are spun around against the wall and the floor lowers. In 90's, I ate at a nearby restaruant and nobody ever heard of the place. They were all born after it was completely removed.

[efountain1]

My mom would take my brother and me there by bus from Huntington Park in the early 60's. I remember the Mahi-Mahi ride and the "spider webs" on the Mystery Island ride. Great place. Video brought back lots of fun memories. Thanks for posting!

[denny906]

I used to go there as a kid in the early 60's. POP was on Ocean Park Pier about a mile north of the Venice Pier.

[angelgoulet]

Awesome video. Great memories. But for the folks who think this pier still exists along with a merry-go-round are wrong. That is all on the Santa Monica pier, not the POP. The POP pier is completely gone.

[angelgoulet]

I used to go there as a child. It was located directly across from the two tall apt buildings (twin) Santa Monica Towers. It just north of where the Venice Boardwalk begins.

[DiverseLA]

where exactly was this located? i'm assuming where Ocean Park Blvd. meets the beach... near the border of Santa Monica and Venice beach... sad to see this place go. there was also an amusement park at what is now the "graffiti pit" at venice beach

[muspobear]

Disneyland WAS afraid of POP! They HELPED in the demise ofPOPnd the demise of another great "REAL" fun park in Long Beach. Disneyland wanted "NOTHING-MORE" than TOTAL monopoly in Southern Calif. Amusements...Disneyland and other Extortionist (Fee)SO CALLED amusement centers and the like spelt the end of RESONABLE priced Mom and Pop(no pun intended) save a few nickles and dimes FUN-TIMES places!

[klpeekl2000]

POP and Disneyland were fierce in terms of competition. For example, soon after the Submarine Walk through opened at POP, Walt Disney has his Imagineer's develop the Submarine Voyage.

[waxlipsproductions]

I remember this place and the old Santa Monica Pier.

[adbartels]

Oh My God. Competition with Disneyland was what that place was about.LOL. Disney was not and should not have been scared. POP was around for 9 years. Disneyland has been around for 52 years and hundreds to go. That place looked tight though

[oneandatwo]

I liked the bubble ride. There was a jungle ride, a trip to mars, an autopia with the cars Walt Disney turned down for Disneyland; there was a pirate ride too.

[kevinbean911]

Its sad a lot of it got burned down.

[icegirll]

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.

[koolbossjock]

I meant that Merry Go Round is still there

[lastgaspfilm]

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....

[BOOPER56]

hey dor HI from elko...booper56

[dorgamboa]

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

[BOOPER56]

hey dor hi from elko booper56

[BOOPER56]

wow wee.....memories..so true we remember climbing under pier 2 sneak in to pop.....that is when fun was fun .....po lol booper56

[ohsotony]

God I LOVED POP. What a wonderful time I had there and at the PIKE in LOng Beach. Thank you sooooo much for this!!!!

[teacher694]

I went there a couple of times back in the 1960's.  That place was great. I'll never forget it.

[Emberstone87]

Not like that today. Not much rides. No seals what so ever today. But it is still a good park.

[dmoreaux]

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.

[koolbossjock]

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.

[carolstothart]

i used to go there quite a bit in the 1960's

[scotpens]

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.

[jonsilence]

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!

[lalessing]

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

[lalessing]

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

[dukeyflyswatter]

I'm so old I remember this shit! Thanx

[poopookid]

how did the fire happen?

[carolstothart]

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.

[lonerboom]

woah! & this was all before it burned down right?

[dmoreaux]

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.

[dvdtranslations]

Thanks for sharing this with people who never got to experience it.

[filmfreak11]

what the... I never knew POP had all that! THanks for the vid :)