The Western end of the whole shoreline amusement park, close to the L.A. River outlet to the ocean. Hello, Our family had been going to the park since it was opened. My dad took a photo of my mom and me at the Eastern end of the amusement park, near the Rainbow Lagoon circular pier, and the current Sports Arena. 1947 The area mentioned of the Chestnut Ave. and Ocean Blvd. was located at the far Western end towards the Long Beach Freeway and heading toward Terminal Island/San Pedro. Back then, there was no Long Beach Freeway, so, the Los Angeles River was the dividing physical line. 1947-48 early hot rod… My brother in a fire truck… I was in an open roadster with some cool headers… While we could walk to the Pike from all of our family lodgings, the trailer park was the closest as it was on the Eastside of the L.A. River. But, when we moved to a real house, we could still catch the bus or walk to the banks of the L.A. River and walk along the top down to the ocean. That was a fun walking trip as we got to see a lot of the river and surrounding things. It was usually in the summer and the center waterway was just a trickle, with beautiful white sand and greenery all over the place. In the winter, the walkway was slick with water and the river was flowing so fast towards the ocean, that it was actually dangerous to be so near to the water’s edge. By the time we walked on Ocean Blvd to the Western end, we had to walk past the “seedy” areas along the alley ways and small narrow streets that ran parallel to the Ocean Blvd. Why was it considered “seedy?” The area was not the high rise financial/banking business buildings as it is today. It was a few multi-story buildings, alleyways and apartments that drew the nearby naval sailors from the Terminal Island base and the harbor docking facilities. We all know about sailors and shore leave anywhere in the world. Well, this was one port that was close by and handy for relaxing. If we were walking, we had to go by this area and as little kids, not fun. As teens, we cruised down the narrow alleys and streets for fun and the sights. Talk about a city cruise with hot rods and cruising sedans… they were usually found honking horns and sometimes stopping for a confrontation with loud obnoxious folks that were hanging around the area. The Jungle, early ’60s. Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Public Library. “Near the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Golden Avenue in downtown Long Beach is a small green space called Santa Cruz Park. It’s a “tribute park,” on the site of the original Santa Cruz Park, a dimly lit 1920’s relic where, for decades, hapless sailors would get mugged and rolled after stumbling out of a vanished downtown neighborhood called The Jungle.” “… a warren of small, dark streets bordered by Magnolia Avenue on the East, Ocean Boulevard to the North, the ocean and the Los Angeles River to the South and West. The once-quaint little neighborhood was located right next to that epic slice of Americana, the Long Beach Pike.” The Jungle’s story echoes that of the Pike. Both started as idyllic seaside destinations and both were profoundly influenced by World War II and the establishment of Long Beach as a Navy town. “The Pike opened in 1902 and by the early ’20s had gained a reputation as the Coney Island of the West. Next to it, a new neighborhood of rental rooms, hotels and apartments with romantic sea-going street names like Neptune Place and Mermaid Place was becoming a popular summer destination. A block from the terminus of one of the Pacific Electric Red Car trolley lines, the new neighborhood and the Pike received visitors from all over L.A. and Orange County.” “In the late ’30s, the Navy presence began to increase, and the Pike’s wholesome, carnival-midway aura began to give way to something much darker and edgier. Tattoo parlors opened in the Pike and in the neighborhood next door. The Jungle became known as a red light district.” Jnaki We were all amused and interested in the development of the Pike area and throughout its sordid history, came to be well known all over the USA. By 1954 the amusement park was the leading attraction in the Los Angeles area and the fifth largest amusement attraction in the United States. The Plunge was the largest indoor pool in the Westcoast. It was the place to go if you wanted fresh water swimming with a high chemical smell on everything. But, it was water, in any weather and lots of fun. Although we all had to wear "their" funky trunks. We quit going there and when got access to the U.S. Navy base outdoor swimming pool and complex on Terminal Island. That was much better. No smells, being outdoors and a nice place overall. Plus, we got to go past tons of Navy ships in for some repair. So, what happened “the Jungle?” the city took over and decided to use the redevelopment coffers to clear the area of almost everything. Over the years, some spots were razed and new development came to light. for us, the Pike had lost is luster in all things entertainment. We went to the “Plunge” in the early days as it was the only large swimming pool in the whole area. That is, until we got clearance to go to the huge Navy Base Pool and outdoor facilities… that was no contest. The area south of Ocean and west of Magnolia now looks exactly like the 1961 Long Beach City Council hoped it would–gleaming office buildings, well-groomed foliage, and absolutely no trace of the decrepit seaside getaway that occupied those 20 acres for 50 years. 1968 closure of cyclone racer to 1979 beginning of the end The last photo taken at the Pike in the early morning of August 1968 by my wife. Still standing, but not for long... The last time we saw the famous Cyclone Racer was when my wife took this shot from the alley way near the now, closed Pike (and close to) the total destruction phase. As we walked around the barren, deserted walkway and alleys. My wife and I were messing around very early in the morning in August 1968 at the deserted Pike, taking photos and waiting for the 8:00 am draft board meeting that was going to take place just up the road. It was a scary time and very hectic in the world in 1968. It was a cool "beachy" morning and the Pike gave off an eerie feeling while walking around. (only left over trash, a couple of maintenance workers and us) But, afterwards, we had a great vacation drive up the California coast to San Francisco and through the middle of California. The old wooden roller coaster to 1968 LB Pubic Library New name for a steel roller coaster replacement ride from 1969 to 1979... Cyclone At the Queens Park Removed, Operated from 1969 to 1979 We were long gone by then, but frequented the Ocean Blvd drive to and from Long Beach when we visited our mom and dad, until we sold the last house in 1998. The area is fully developed and is called the Pike, but it is just not the same, but time marches on to what?
The Jalopy Journal
