Pacific Ocean Park, Los Angeles c. 1960

[publicitypunk]

GREG MAY of Orlando, FL says: "Judy Garland used to take her kids here in the early 60's!"

[Surfwriter2]

I was one of the SAMOHI students who dressed up in costumes (mine was a bear) and marched in the opening parade. To say thanks POP gave us free tickets to a concert staring The Big Bopper and RIchie Vallens. They were killed in a plane crash, along with Buddy Holly, a few weeks later. @melodydaily - my favorite parts of POP was Neptunes Kingdom and the diving bell.

[melodydally]

My father was the General Contractor when this was built, for all the rides, interior/exterior, we where lucky enough to be taken in to the park, during construction,My favorite /the most difficult to paint per dad was Neptunes Undersea Kingdom, as it was all glitter, jewels,refective paint, that glowed in the dark,with special lighting, I hugged Neptune, who was about 10 ft tall,If anyone remembers, the logo was a seahorse,the coaster jumped its tracks /crashed in sea, real trajedy,

[melodydally]

My father was the General Contractor when this was built, for all the rides, interior/exterior, we where lucky enough to be taken in to the park, during construction,My favorite /the most difficult to paint per dad was Neptunes Undersea Kingdom, as it was all glitter, jewels,refective paint, that glowed in the dark,with special lighting, I hugged Neptune, who was about 10 ft tall,If anyone remembers, the logo was a seahorse,the coaster jumped its tracks /crashed in sea, real trajedy,

[melodydally]

My father was the General Contractor when this was built, for all the rides, interior/exterior, we where lucky enough to be taken in to the park, during construction,My favorite /the most difficult to paint per dad was Neptunes Undersea Kingdom, as it was all glitter, jewels,refective paint, that glowed in the dark,with special lighting, I hugged Neptune, who was about 10 ft tall,If anyone remembers, the logo was a seahorse,the coaster jumped its tracks /crashed in sea, real trajedy,closed

[melodydally]

My father was the General Contractor when this was built, for all the rides, interior/exterior, we where lucky enough to be taken in to the park, during construction,My favorite /the most difficult to paint per dad was Neptunes Undersea Kingdom, as it was all glitter, jewels,refective paint, that glowed in the dark,with special lighting, I hugged Neptune, who was about 10 ft tall,If anyone remembers, the logo was a seahorse,the coaster jumped its tracks /crashed in sea, real trajedy,then closed

[muspobear]

You had to love the classic Late 50's, Early 60's Art-Modern entrance and theme of this phenominal park! But to be honest, even if it was not closed Super-PREMATURLY, it would never have lasted in this great form! They would have "Modernized" it and distroyed what we all loved about this place in the mid to late 70's! Also, the storms would have eventually done a number on it as well! We have our memories!!!!! Long live them!!!!!

[TheRealScottFree]

God I loved this place!!!!!! I was taken their first when I was like 7 and didn't want to go home. Subsequently I went there many times having grown up in Southern California...the magic that was POP will live forever in my memory...thank you for posting this!

[WookietheChowChow]

It's so sad this place is gone. This is why everyone should video tape their historic places in their city, because one day all that will be left is video tape. LA doesn't value it's historic places....

[loron91423]

Great stuff!

[charterloungeparty]

The entryway was truly a work of art. I think it's the best ever at any theme park. It sets the mood- and makes you want to see what's inside. I remember the SOUND too- all that rushing water- bubbles and the smell of the  ocean. Amazing.

[Webflare]

I remember as a kid insisting that I wanted to ride the largest roller coaster of it's time, the one at POP. Once it started down the first hill I remember SCREAMING that I wanted to GET OFF!!!

[cndisue58]

Wow, awesome. You should add music....The Beach Boys had a song about P.O.P. I think! Love it.

[slobinski]

" Amusement Parks U.S.A. " from The Beach Boys Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) album released in 1965.

[racer500gp]

I remember this so well too. As a little kid in my parents used to take my older brother and I to POP on a regular basis until it closed when I was 7 in 1967. What great memories!!!

[LAKompany]

Too cool. Thanks for posting. I love it.

[vegascece]

WOW! What memories!  I grew up in So Calif and remember this so well. P Oh P! Neptune and something do do with Flight to Outer Space were my favorites. Thanks for the memories!

[tonygumbah]

my father told stories of working at POP in 1963 he was a ride operator, he also ran something called the Mahi Mahi

untill now ive never been able to see what it looked like there

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

Love it.

George Vreeland Hill

[lalessing]

I grew up with the old ocean park pier prior to its becomming pop.Later I worked at pop from 62 until 65.Great to see it moving again.I have some pictures of surfing on the south side of the pier that I've posted on the internet and will put that here in a bit

[denny906]

I sure miss POP.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

So nice!

You have posted a piece of history!!

George Vreeland Hill

[Girlwerks]

Bravo!!! and in COLOR!!!!

More more....

[Zilly2dope]

Beautiful stuff!

[dmoreaux]

Great footage of POP. I am so glad we are getting to some home movies of POP. There has got to be so many more. Everybody start getting out those old 8mm home movies of POP and post for everyone to see. Thanks for posting this one, it is AWESOME!

[denny906]

Thank you for this wonderful 8mm film tour of POP. Three years later in the summer of 1963 my dad took the family and we also got a lot of 8mm film footage similar to yours.

[PismoBeach]

Please post your POP film and/or sell it to us on a DVD

[PismoBeach]

I'm still amazed by your wonderful view of the place I loved so much. Could I buy a DVD of it from you?

[Distorian]

Am compositing a dvd and will let you know when it is ready---thank you for your positive comments!

[PismoBeach]

Fantastic. Please include absolutely every frame of P.O.P. you shot. I'm so eager for it, I don't care if that extra footage is lightstruck or even out of focus.

(What you uploaded here was wonderful).

[PismoBeach]

I still want to buy that.

Please let me know when I can.

[PismoBeach]

Yours is the best color footage of the entrance I've ever seen. And you may have the ONLY film of the barnyard area. I'm so pleased - and grateful - you shared this.

[crazypfunk]

cool thats the pier from Dogtown