Santa Monica Pier

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The landmark entrance to Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.[1]

Contents

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Pacific Park

The pier contains Pacific Park, a family amusement park with a large Ferris wheel.

[edit] Other Attractions

It also has a carousel from the 1920s, an aquarium, shops, entertainers, an arcade, a trapeze school, a pub, and restaurants. The end of the pier is a popular location for anglers.

[edit] History

The pier with Pacific Park on the left (notice the ferris wheel was different and the roller coaster track was purple, not yellow.)
Anglers on the Santa Monica Pier
Dusk
The Ferris wheel and coaster lights as shown at night

Santa Monica has had several piers over the years, however the current Santa Monica Pier is actually two adjoining piers that long had separate owners. The long, narrow Municipal Pier opened September 9, 1909, primarily to carry sewer pipes beyond the breakers, and had no amenities. The short, wide adjoining Pleasure Pier to the south, a.k.a. Newcomb Pier, was built in 1916 by Charles I. D. Looff and his son Arthur, amusement park pioneers.

The Carousel was built in 1922 on the Pleasure Pier and features 44 hand-carved horses. It was rebuilt in 1990 inside the Looff Hippodrome. A calliope provides musical accompaniment.

The La Monica Ballroom opened in 1924 and closed in 1962. The La Monica Ballroom became home to Spade Cooley in the early fifties. From 1958 until 1962 it served as a roller skating rink, first as Skater's Ballroom and then Santa Monica Roller Rink. The speed skating club won many state and regional championships. The bridge to the pier and entry gate were built in 1938 by the federal Works Project Administration, and replaced the former grade connection.

The Looff Pier, then known as Newcomb Pier, was acquired by the city in the 1953. In the 1960s various plans were proposed that would entail removal of the pier. The strangest one called for the construction of an artificial island with a 1500-room hotel. It was approved by the City Council, but citizens formed "Save the Santa Monica Bay" to preserve the pier.[2] The outstanding order to raze the pier was revoked by the city council in 1973. That same year the Carousel and Hippodrome were memorable sets in the film The Sting, although the story was set in Chicago.

In the 1950’s Enid Newcomb suggested to family friend Morris “Pops” Gordon that his two sons, George and Eugene, purchase and operate the Pier’s arcade. It didn’t take much persuasion, for the Gordons instantly took to the Pier and ultimately made Playland Arcade into the Pier’s longest running enterprise offering the day’s contemporary games alongside those of yesterday, providing inexpensive entertainment to a diverse crowd. George’s daughters Marlene and Joanie have kept the business within the family, and the next generation of Gordons is already in training to maintain the family tradition.

[edit] In popular culture

[edit] Films

Tillie's Punctured Romance, Night Tide, Bean, The Sting, A Night at the Roxbury, Miracle Beach, Titanic, Forrest Gump (there is a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurant on the pier, owned by the company that produced the film), Not Another Teen Movie, Iron Man, Desperate Teenage Lovedolls, Dark Ride, Cellular, The Hottie and the Nottie, Ruthless People, Falling Down, Love Stinks and in The Hannah Montana Movie during the scene with Lilly's birthday party, were all filmed at this pier. During the Earthquake of 2012 (film) the pier can be seen sinking beneath the waves. At the end of Hancock, two of the main characters take their young son through the park when they receive a phone call from the title character. In the film This Means War, Tom Hardy and Reese Witherspoon's characters share a date together on the pier.

[edit] Summer Promos

[edit] Television

[edit] Video games

[edit] Music videos

[edit] Weather

The temperature in Santa Monica is generally lower than inland areas by about 10°F (5°C), but that difference can increase to 30°F or more compared to the nearby valleys. Even in the summer months, the breeze can be relatively cool in the mornings and evenings, especially during periods of overcast called "June Gloom".

[edit] Monthly temperatures

Santa Monica, California
1/1/1937 to 2/28/2010
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
2.8
 
64
49
 
 
3.1
 
64
50
 
 
2.1
 
63
51
 
 
0.7
 
65
53
 
 
0.2
 
65
56
 
 
0
 
68
58
 
 
0
 
71
61
 
 
0.1
 
72
62
 
 
0.2
 
72
61
 
 
0.3
 
70
58
 
 
1.4
 
68
54
 
 
2.1
 
65
50
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: DRI

[edit] Photo gallery

A panorama of Santa Monica beach and pier viewed from the end of the Pier
The pier and its environs seen from above

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 34°00′31″N 118°29′55″W / 34.00861°N 118.49861°W / 34.00861; -118.49861

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