In the Old Days:
Windward Avenue
In the Old Days:
Canals, Bridges
In the Old Days:
Gondolas
In the Old Days:
Lagoon and Midway
In the Old Days:
Miniature Railroad
In the Old Days:
Market Street
In the Old Days:
Mecca Buffet
In the Old Days:
Night Scenes
In the Old Days:
1921 Amusements
In the Old Days:
Cabrillo Ship Cafe'
In the Old Days:
Venice Pier
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:
Thompson's Scenic Railway
This attraction was built in 1910. The Ocean Front Walk side looked something like a mountain, resting on the north side of the pier next to the dance hall and pavilion. The tracks extended out into the ocean supported by a wooden structure. It had a mile and a half of track.
(right) This view looks more or less toward the south. The structure on the right is the Auditorium on the Pier.
(below) The ocean end of the Scenic Railway. The rounded structure is the Bathhouse and Plunge.
Looking toward the north, past the attractive camoflage paint job on the Scenic Railway. On the right is the Ocean Front Walk facade of the Bathhouse, whose ocean side was seen in the previous picture.
This is how the Thompson Scenic Railway looked inside. Not quite Space Mountain, but getting there.
Right:
The arcaded building on the left side of the picture, with the fancy brickwork,
is at the corner of Market Street on the inland side of Ocean Front Walk.
It started out as the Mecca Buffet, and much later became the infamous
beatnik hangout, the Gas House.
Below:
From a slightly different angle, looking southward, the Mecca Buffet building
is also included here. The building with the point on top is the Bandstand.
Below, right:
Almost the exact same view, only lit up at night. This was somewhere between
1910 and 1913.
Right:
In 1913 the Scenic Railway was remodeled both functionally and cosmetically.
Steeper dips for the coaster, a modern new entry for the Ocean Front Walk
side. On the left, the building with the triangular facade is the Neptune
Theater. This postcard was postmarked 1916.
In 1920 the Scenic Railway was torn down so the thrilling Big Dipper coaster could be built in its place.
