25 Years Ago in Venice

from Call Someplace Paradise and
Ghost Town: A Venice California Life

July 1983

The LA Reader describes the 4th of July celebration of 1981 at Venice Beach, "the traditional Holiday War Zone." It says people were on top of the roofs of the buildings along the boardwalk tossing cherry bombs into the crowd which, "choking and howling (supposedly with merriment) ran for cover in the smoke-clogged night."

The Reader also tells about the nation's largest facility of its kind, the Westside Community for Independent Living at 12901 Venice Blvd. They teach the disabled about personal hygiene, homemaking, mobility, etc. and have a computer training program, housing referrals, and assistance in obtaining government benefits. The Reader also carries news of what SPARC is up to: still painting the world's largest mural at Tujunga Wash. It depicts all of the history of California, and to date has employed 185 youths who work under the direction of professionals. Also they have a "portable mural" project, of which "Venice on the Half Shell" is one. Apparently it will not stay at the Pavilion but will be moved at some point.

4th of July in Oakwood: it was real quiet in the neighborhood all day. The people next door on both sides had company. Around 5:00 firecrackers started to pop sporadically. Monroe got back from Vegas, and upstairs started to rev up for another party. After dark we watched the Santa Monica Pier fireworks from the landing. Dale and I spent some time on the porch of the front house. Kids were all over the place and so many firecrackers it looked like a thick fog had rolled in. Guyette tore up and down the street on a bicycle doing wheelies and shrieking. A white man with a child in his arms ran down the middle of the street, probably the safest method of foot travel around here. A car went over the bumps in the intersection and sent up a huge shower of sparks. Leander came out and talked with us for a while. Like Dale, he used to live in Oakland. Leander was there for a couple of years and worked as an exotic dancer. He told us about Beatrice's very mature-looking girlfriend who has a crush on him, but he told her to stay away because he doesn't need that kind of trouble. He had a nifty-looking cigarette holder made from a turkey bone and told us how to make one like it. Dale thinks somebody has been sleeping in the abandoned Dodge out back, he's been hearing the car door, and a voice talking. Leander said it would be fun to put on a horrible mask and go out there at 3 a.m., shake the car around and scare the hell out of them.

I saw a man being picked up by the paramedics over by the old railroad tracks on Electric Avenue. Two female street people were very distressed. One was of normal height but had a body proportioned like a dwarf. This morning I rode the bike path to Santa Monica Pier. Near Rose Avenue, a lone guitarist stood near the water and serenaded the ocean.

The LA Reader says a group called the International Network Society plans to build a geodesic dome hostel near South Venice Boulevard to house 52 people for the Olympics. It will be like a condo. Supposedly each investor will buy a room and then rent it out. A Venice woman has retained Marvin Mitchelson to sue a Spanish bullfighter for palimony. She says her 12-year-old son is the fruit of a five-year affair they had in Spain.

There has been a renewal of gang warfare between Venice and Culver City (actually Mar Vista, since the Mar Vista Gardens housing project is the center of their activities.) Each side has chalked up one fatality so far.

Dale and I drove to Will Rogers Park to get away from the neighborhood and all kinds of hassles at home. We climbed to a place called Inspiration Point: great view, nature, birds singing. On top of the hill there's a single park bench, and what is carved in large letters across its back? VENICE.