The one and only Pike. I remember it well. Such an excellent job you have done with these photos. I went there often mid 60s to mid 70s. I remember taquitos, 2 for 50 cents, which included guacamole. And plenty of 5 cent pinball machines and a group of 1 cent pinball machines, very old, no flippers. I cannot figure out why these places go under. In Seattle, the "Fun Forest", here for 50 years, closed about a year ago, because the city did not renew their lease.
@SeattleLA Thank you so much!. I'm so glad you liked my video. I know how you feel because i don't understand why these historic amusment parks go under.
@SeattleLA Thanks so much. I grew up in Redondo Beach. It sure was different growing up in the 1960s. All of us kids were always outside riding our bikes or amagining we were going to Mars to fight the Martians. We were always doing something outside, especially in the summer time!. I'm so thankful for living in that era!!
@alexdelrio45 Wow, same era and location as me. My grandmother lived on Ave H, past Lucky's, near the Esplanade, and I went there often, 1967-74. There was Marineland, Alondra Park, Old Towne Mall, the outside Del Amo mall, (Newberry's, Sears, Singer Sewing Machine who sold 45s of hit records, and I wonder if you remember Jumping Bean Burrito. There is no question that growing up in the Southland during our era, was one of the best in history. My great aunt used to babysit all of the Beach Boys.
@SeattleLA What a small world! Marineland and The Old Towne Mall is long gone now. The Old Town Mall had an arcade fun zone, & I think it was called ' Wizard Of Oz '. I remember the ' SBC ' Newberry's had a cafeteria & so did Thriftys Drug Store. Thrifty's Drug Store cafe looked more like a 1950s small diner. In front of the north side of Newberry's was a very small Orange Julius stand. In the 60s, TacoBells had a fire pit in front of their buildings. That's so amazing about your great Aunt!!
@alexdelrio45 Hi. It is so, so fun to talk with people from Torrance/ Redondo, after 40 years. The Thrifty's next to "Magic Chef", where Del Amo is now, yes I really remember that diner. Sometimes even now, I have dreams that I am at that diner (?) I was the first person to walk though the doors, summer 1972, at the brand new addition to Del Amo Mall- the enclosed part. God, what a mall! The Aladdin's Castle, That great pet Store, ice cream dots. Of course now it is all different. (continued)
@alexdelrio45 But Olde Town Mall, so, so great. I went to that arcade quite a bit. The Taco Bell I went to most ,was near the Roadium Swap Meet, and I remember the fire pit. I worked there when I was ten (the Roadium) selling radios, cassettes, etc. I am trying to stretch my memory about a cafe in Newberry's. I remember the ladies sold us nuts or candy from the counter (Wards also) What is SBC? It all seems like yesterday. I lived only two blocks from Del Amo Mall.
@SeattleLA Hi. It is fun talking with people about the good day's. I think The Taco Bell near the The Roadium Swap Meet is still there. My mom & dad took me & my three sisters to The Roadium to see Planet of The Apes. That was in 1968! The SBC was the old South Bay Center loccated on the corner of Artesia & Howthorne Blvd. They had a May Co. and many other stores. In that same area was The South Bay Bowling & three movie theaters. The bowling alleys & the theaters are gone now. (continued)
@SeattleLA Across the street on the east side of the SBC was Wallach's Music City. It is now a Warehouse Records. I remember GEMCO was near Del Amo Mall. The other night I was thinking about years ago and how all the programs would end at midnight on television and they would play The Star-Spangled Banner! In 1969 I ask my dad if he could get me a Schwinn 5 speed bike for my birthday. He looked at the price tag and said, $80.00 dollars! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDED! I settled for a Pep Boys bike.
@alexdelrio45 Yes, I went to that music store, as well as I think Marshall's Music, which was by an Alpha Beta, I think. I remember Gemco. The old mall at PV was good. I bought a nice Schwinn, in 1969, at the Swap Meet. It was used, but I paid from my own money, $34. Banana seat, of course. After about a year, someone stole it out of our closed garage. The Torrance Police allowed me to have another one which no one had claimed, but it was not a Schwinn and not nearly as good. (cont)
@alexdelrio45 yes TV ended at midnight. I played AYSO for two years and the founder's son was on my team. We played at the LA Coliseum; championship game, 1970. Those were the days of good beach life. It was fun to go to Redondo, on the beach or water. The pier, before the fire, was great, and of course, downstairs in a grotto, there was and still is, a great arcade.
It was not nice of Sea World to steal our Marineland. I helped my grandma at the Country club in PV.
I now own the exact bumper car pictured at 2:50. It has no grille and has all the same dents as the one in the picture. It's cool to have picture documentation of this car! Thanks!
@pullmyfinger59 Thats amazing!! That bumper car goes back many years! I remember the bumper car ride was next door to the Crazy Maze house of mirrors.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I always wanted to see The Jergins Subway. I think it was in the late 1980s when they tore down the beautiful Jergins building. I'm so thankful they didn't destroy the subway! It was closed up for years! I totally agree with you and hope they will restore it!
Yes I have the restraints issue covered. For 29 years the Cyclone Racer had none what so ever. After a few of those "SPLASHES" they added restraints for the last 9 years it ran. There were no more "SPLASHES" after that. As far as the bamboo slide... That was taken out because bamboo makes splinters when it gets worn/old. Since you sat on the sack which was directly in contact with the bamboo you can just imagine what kind of splinter one would recieve. This is why it was taken out.
There was a hall of mirrors. One night it was shut down with broken glass all over the place. Daddy asked what happened. Apparently some drunk guy got mad that he couldn't find his way out and started kicking "a path to freedom".
I was told tales of the Pike for years. There was a carny in operation that had a Wild Man of Borneo cage that had a shell-shocked vet from War World I. He couldn't find another job, so had to take that one. A gal came up and started screaming "He's fake!!!! It's not real!!!!" Well, that through him into a fit, tossed his mind back to the foxholes in Europe and he took his fake club and beat her over the head. Daddy used to "hot foot it" down there from the Dominguez Hills, where he lived.
Perhaps not all lost. I am pushing for the Cyclone Racer in Long Beach again since i have worked 15 years on reverse eingineering it. Look at the Cyclone Racer article on LBReport.: I just did a press release on the rebirth of the Cyclone Racer in LB on 9-17-11.
@worldsgreatestride If you restore the Pike(Daddy's Pike) with the coaster, you'll have to have some form of restraints. Some navy guys, during World War II, were drunk, stood up messing around like drunks often do, and went SPLASH. Could you also bring back the bamboo slide. It was eighty feet high. They put you in a gunny sack, tied it up at your neck and then put you in the slide. You would go very fast at the beginning and slow down at the end.
Thank so much worldgreatestride for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video of the Pike. No, that wasn't my Trans Am. If the city of Long Beach kept the Pike and restored the rides and especially kept The Cyclone Racer, The Pike would of been a historical land mark!! And bring in $millions of dollars in revenue!!! People from all over the world of come to see The Pike.
I spent most of my youth at the Pike. It saddened me to watch this and see what became of a wonderful memory for me. At least I still have my memory of it...
My grandfather, who died in 1968, worked at the parking lot at the Pike, and I think I spotted his little office in these photos! That "laughing woman" mannequin at the Fun House always scared the heck out of me when I was little!
Thank you alex for making me both happy and sad at the same time. My grandmother lived near 7th and Ximeno Ave. When I was an early teen in the 70s we would go visit on weekends and I always got the chance to go to the Pike hours. I had a blast mainly just going to the penny arcades. I loved pinball. I distinctly remember at the end of their demise that a couple of these arcades had some sort of "activity" going on in the back that kids were not allowed. Yeah, I knew what it was, but ... So sad
my mother is 84 and is very ill. i was born in 1961 - 50 years ago. we would take the greyhound bus from the seedy downtown l.a. greyhound station on saturday mornings to go to the pike. it was a magical place for a little kid and it is the best place i can think of when my mother was young and beautiful. she stll is of course but those were the days for me for sure. i would love to get photos. is that possible? thank you.
Long Beach didn't just tear down the Pike, they tore down most of Downtown Long Beach. Still, as bad as it is, it's a darn sight better than what they're doing to San Pedro.
remember the ride "laugh in the dark" the mummy turned out to be a REAL dead body ! Later investigated by the police.
flyingfishdreams 5 days ago
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The one and only Pike. I remember it well. Such an excellent job you have done with these photos. I went there often mid 60s to mid 70s. I remember taquitos, 2 for 50 cents, which included guacamole. And plenty of 5 cent pinball machines and a group of 1 cent pinball machines, very old, no flippers. I cannot figure out why these places go under. In Seattle, the "Fun Forest", here for 50 years, closed about a year ago, because the city did not renew their lease.
SeattleLA 2 months ago
@SeattleLA Thank you so much!. I'm so glad you liked my video. I know how you feel because i don't understand why these historic amusment parks go under.
alexdelrio45 2 months ago
@alexdelrio45 Hi! You are welcome. You did really an excellent job. Did you grow up there? I grew up in Torrance.
SeattleLA 2 months ago
@SeattleLA Thanks so much. I grew up in Redondo Beach. It sure was different growing up in the 1960s. All of us kids were always outside riding our bikes or amagining we were going to Mars to fight the Martians. We were always doing something outside, especially in the summer time!. I'm so thankful for living in that era!!
alexdelrio45 2 months ago
@alexdelrio45 Wow, same era and location as me. My grandmother lived on Ave H, past Lucky's, near the Esplanade, and I went there often, 1967-74. There was Marineland, Alondra Park, Old Towne Mall, the outside Del Amo mall, (Newberry's, Sears, Singer Sewing Machine who sold 45s of hit records, and I wonder if you remember Jumping Bean Burrito. There is no question that growing up in the Southland during our era, was one of the best in history. My great aunt used to babysit all of the Beach Boys.
SeattleLA 2 months ago 2
@SeattleLA What a small world! Marineland and The Old Towne Mall is long gone now. The Old Town Mall had an arcade fun zone, & I think it was called ' Wizard Of Oz '. I remember the ' SBC ' Newberry's had a cafeteria & so did Thriftys Drug Store. Thrifty's Drug Store cafe looked more like a 1950s small diner. In front of the north side of Newberry's was a very small Orange Julius stand. In the 60s, TacoBells had a fire pit in front of their buildings. That's so amazing about your great Aunt!!
alexdelrio45 2 months ago
@alexdelrio45 Hi. It is so, so fun to talk with people from Torrance/ Redondo, after 40 years. The Thrifty's next to "Magic Chef", where Del Amo is now, yes I really remember that diner. Sometimes even now, I have dreams that I am at that diner (?) I was the first person to walk though the doors, summer 1972, at the brand new addition to Del Amo Mall- the enclosed part. God, what a mall! The Aladdin's Castle, That great pet Store, ice cream dots. Of course now it is all different. (continued)
SeattleLA 2 months ago
@alexdelrio45 But Olde Town Mall, so, so great. I went to that arcade quite a bit. The Taco Bell I went to most ,was near the Roadium Swap Meet, and I remember the fire pit. I worked there when I was ten (the Roadium) selling radios, cassettes, etc. I am trying to stretch my memory about a cafe in Newberry's. I remember the ladies sold us nuts or candy from the counter (Wards also) What is SBC? It all seems like yesterday. I lived only two blocks from Del Amo Mall.
SeattleLA 2 months ago
@SeattleLA Hi. It is fun talking with people about the good day's. I think The Taco Bell near the The Roadium Swap Meet is still there. My mom & dad took me & my three sisters to The Roadium to see Planet of The Apes. That was in 1968! The SBC was the old South Bay Center loccated on the corner of Artesia & Howthorne Blvd. They had a May Co. and many other stores. In that same area was The South Bay Bowling & three movie theaters. The bowling alleys & the theaters are gone now. (continued)
alexdelrio45 1 month ago
@SeattleLA Across the street on the east side of the SBC was Wallach's Music City. It is now a Warehouse Records. I remember GEMCO was near Del Amo Mall. The other night I was thinking about years ago and how all the programs would end at midnight on television and they would play The Star-Spangled Banner! In 1969 I ask my dad if he could get me a Schwinn 5 speed bike for my birthday. He looked at the price tag and said, $80.00 dollars! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDED! I settled for a Pep Boys bike.
alexdelrio45 1 month ago
@alexdelrio45 Yes, I went to that music store, as well as I think Marshall's Music, which was by an Alpha Beta, I think. I remember Gemco. The old mall at PV was good. I bought a nice Schwinn, in 1969, at the Swap Meet. It was used, but I paid from my own money, $34. Banana seat, of course. After about a year, someone stole it out of our closed garage. The Torrance Police allowed me to have another one which no one had claimed, but it was not a Schwinn and not nearly as good. (cont)
SeattleLA 1 month ago
@alexdelrio45 yes TV ended at midnight. I played AYSO for two years and the founder's son was on my team. We played at the LA Coliseum; championship game, 1970. Those were the days of good beach life. It was fun to go to Redondo, on the beach or water. The pier, before the fire, was great, and of course, downstairs in a grotto, there was and still is, a great arcade.
It was not nice of Sea World to steal our Marineland. I helped my grandma at the Country club in PV.
SeattleLA 1 month ago
Comment removed
SeattleLA 2 months ago
Comment removed
alexdelrio45 3 months ago
I now own the exact bumper car pictured at 2:50. It has no grille and has all the same dents as the one in the picture. It's cool to have picture documentation of this car! Thanks!
pullmyfinger59 3 months ago
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@pullmyfinger59 Thats amazing!! That bumper car goes back many years! I remember the bumper car ride was next door to the Crazy Maze house of mirrors.
alexdelrio45 3 months ago
Thank you so much for your kind words! I always wanted to see The Jergins Subway. I think it was in the late 1980s when they tore down the beautiful Jergins building. I'm so thankful they didn't destroy the subway! It was closed up for years! I totally agree with you and hope they will restore it!
alexdelrio45 4 months ago
This is really fantastic. People Like you keep the History Alive.
on 11/03/2011 I was in the Famous Jergins Subway. It was sad to see this Landmark in very bad shape.
I hope the restore it
Thank You again for this wonderful site
TL250Rider 4 months ago
Thanks so much GilbertLA63.
alexdelrio45 4 months ago
Do I remember the pike. I'm from Long Beach, Signal Hill, really, so this brings back great memories. Thanks for posting!
GilbertLA63 4 months ago
Thank you so much Kingman OldDude!
alexdelrio45 4 months ago
Excellent job putting this video together...
KingmanOldDude 4 months ago
Yes I have the restraints issue covered. For 29 years the Cyclone Racer had none what so ever. After a few of those "SPLASHES" they added restraints for the last 9 years it ran. There were no more "SPLASHES" after that. As far as the bamboo slide... That was taken out because bamboo makes splinters when it gets worn/old. Since you sat on the sack which was directly in contact with the bamboo you can just imagine what kind of splinter one would recieve. This is why it was taken out.
worldsgreatestride 4 months ago
There was a hall of mirrors. One night it was shut down with broken glass all over the place. Daddy asked what happened. Apparently some drunk guy got mad that he couldn't find his way out and started kicking "a path to freedom".
1958debs 4 months ago
I was told tales of the Pike for years. There was a carny in operation that had a Wild Man of Borneo cage that had a shell-shocked vet from War World I. He couldn't find another job, so had to take that one. A gal came up and started screaming "He's fake!!!! It's not real!!!!" Well, that through him into a fit, tossed his mind back to the foxholes in Europe and he took his fake club and beat her over the head. Daddy used to "hot foot it" down there from the Dominguez Hills, where he lived.
1958debs 4 months ago
Perhaps not all lost. I am pushing for the Cyclone Racer in Long Beach again since i have worked 15 years on reverse eingineering it. Look at the Cyclone Racer article on LBReport.: I just did a press release on the rebirth of the Cyclone Racer in LB on 9-17-11.
worldsgreatestride 5 months ago
@worldsgreatestride If you restore the Pike(Daddy's Pike) with the coaster, you'll have to have some form of restraints. Some navy guys, during World War II, were drunk, stood up messing around like drunks often do, and went SPLASH. Could you also bring back the bamboo slide. It was eighty feet high. They put you in a gunny sack, tied it up at your neck and then put you in the slide. You would go very fast at the beginning and slow down at the end.
1958debs 4 months ago
Comment removed
worldsgreatestride 5 months ago
Thank so much worldgreatestride for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video of the Pike. No, that wasn't my Trans Am. If the city of Long Beach kept the Pike and restored the rides and especially kept The Cyclone Racer, The Pike would of been a historical land mark!! And bring in $millions of dollars in revenue!!! People from all over the world of come to see The Pike.
alexdelrio45 5 months ago
Beautifully put together. Is that your ’79 Trans AM?
worldsgreatestride 5 months ago
I remember it as Nu-Pike in the late 60's but yes it was the Pike one of the best amusement parks in California in it's day.
denny906 5 months ago
I spent most of my youth at the Pike. It saddened me to watch this and see what became of a wonderful memory for me. At least I still have my memory of it...
SingingSmile45 6 months ago
My grandfather, who died in 1968, worked at the parking lot at the Pike, and I think I spotted his little office in these photos! That "laughing woman" mannequin at the Fun House always scared the heck out of me when I was little!
louisa1832 6 months ago
Thank you alex for making me both happy and sad at the same time. My grandmother lived near 7th and Ximeno Ave. When I was an early teen in the 70s we would go visit on weekends and I always got the chance to go to the Pike hours. I had a blast mainly just going to the penny arcades. I loved pinball. I distinctly remember at the end of their demise that a couple of these arcades had some sort of "activity" going on in the back that kids were not allowed. Yeah, I knew what it was, but ... So sad
redsqwirl 6 months ago
Hi Mondovila, Thank you so much for your comment. Yes, you can get photos of The Long beach Pike. Just go to YouTube and type in Long Beach Pike.
alexdelrio45 8 months ago
my mother is 84 and is very ill. i was born in 1961 - 50 years ago. we would take the greyhound bus from the seedy downtown l.a. greyhound station on saturday mornings to go to the pike. it was a magical place for a little kid and it is the best place i can think of when my mother was young and beautiful. she stll is of course but those were the days for me for sure. i would love to get photos. is that possible? thank you.
mondovila 8 months ago
Thank you TL250Rider for your comment! I really miss that place!
alexdelrio45 9 months ago
Great Job
TL250Rider 9 months ago
Portions of Downtown Long Beach and the Pike can be seen in the closing chase scene of It's a Mad, mad, mad, mad, World
Patequi 10 months ago
Long Beach didn't just tear down the Pike, they tore down most of Downtown Long Beach. Still, as bad as it is, it's a darn sight better than what they're doing to San Pedro.
Gryphonalia 10 months ago
Thank so much for your comment. I miss it to!.
alexdelrio45 1 year ago
How sad, I loved going to the Pike when we visited Long Beach. It really was the "good old days" for me.
MrDanlj 1 year ago
Comment removed
alexdelrio45 1 year ago
awsome before and after pics..........its been a long time, thanks
felchyou 1 year ago