In the Old Days:
Windward Avenue
Arielle Haze
Venice Photos
Arielle Haze views
Beach Art
Scott Shellstrom
Venice art
Dale Hartman
snapshots
Venice
Paintings by
Pat Hartman
Ehrlich buildings
Homage to Old Venice
Unpainting the Town:
lost murals
Helen K. Garber photos
Art at the Rose Cafe'
New Venice Sign
In the Old Days:
1921 Amusements
"The disks that carry these chairs roll about at random over the floor..."
"The cars, suspended at the end of these long arms, go around in a circle and at the same time pitch up and down as though riding the waves..."
"The short cars of the roller coaster..."
"General view of the Dodge-Em (Early Bumper Cars), the object of which is to steer the highly unmanageable car about the floor without collision"
"Close up of one of the Dodge-Em Cars"
SOME NEW MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICES
16-page article in October 15, 1921 issue
"The recent announcement of a Venice, Cal., amusement promoter to the effect that his new pier would have all new pleasure devices was not taken particularly seriously until the place in question was thrown open to the public. Then, for the first time, the amusement seekers realized that he had made good his promise and that the pier housed one of the most startling collections of mechanically ingenious contrivances yet built...
A device known as the 'Dodge-Em' is a clever piece of electrical and mechanical work. Small cars, fitted with steering wheels, are placed on a polished hardwood floor. A trolley connects each little car with an electrically-charged mesh and screening overhead. The car is mounted on casters. When all the cars are occupied, the current is turned on and the passengers endeavor to ridge around the floor without colliding with other cars. As the steering wheel operates only the trolley, and as the wheels are independent of each other, the steering is only relative and it requires extreme ability to dodge the other fellow's car. A foot pedal is provided to control the car and stop it when necessary. Collisions occur every few seconds, but as there is a heavy iron bumper around the base of each car, no damage is done and the riders get lots of fun out of the thing..."