1915 Ocean Park pier fire

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1915 Ocean Park pier fire
"Ruins of the Ocean Park Pier fire" The Los Angeles Times, published 1915-12-28.jpg
"Ruins of the Ocean Park Pier fire" (Los Angeles Times, December 28, 1915)
DateDecember 27, 1915 (1915-12-27)
Coordinates 33°59′49″N118°28′58″E / 33.997°N 118.4827°E / 33.997; 118.4827

The 1915 Ocean Park pier fire broke out about 1 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 1915, during the pier's mid-winter festival event in Ocean Park, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The fire destroyed about a third of Fraser's pier, including the dance hall, much of the Ben Hur roller coaster, a concession building, and part of the scenic railway on the north side of the pier. [1] [2] The explosion of a 100 U.S. gal (380 L; 83 imp gal) gasoline tank on the pier contributed to the destruction. [3]

Concessions damaged or destroyed included Paris by Night, [2] the Bollinger Baby Little Elizabeth, [2] small Japanese-owned shops, [2] a bowling alley, [2] Esquimaux [Eskimo] Village, [2] Puzzletown, [2] Arabian Village, [2] candy shop, [4] a palm-reader's room, [4] cigar store, [4] and a "midget village." [4] The Davis soda fountain within the dance hall was also a total loss. [5] The Breakers Café was saved. [2]

The fire was likely started by an incompletely extinguished cigarette igniting the dance hall, [6] or possibly faulty wiring. [4] Among the people rescued by firefighters was an "Eskimo babe" who lived in an Eskimo village attraction on the pier. [2] The Eskimo village usually had huskies on exhibit but they were not present at the time of the fire because they were being used on a film shoot in the mountains. [5] There were eight monkeys or apes living on the pier at the time of the fire; they were released to fend for themselves when the fire broke out. [5] Five monkeys were recovered by the following day. [5]

Map showing locations of Santa Monica, Ocean Park, and Venice in 1914 Automobile boulevards from Los Angeles to Venice and Santa Monica, 1914 (AAA-SM-003439).jpg
Map showing locations of Santa Monica, Ocean Park, and Venice in 1914

See also

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The 1924 Ocean Park fire destroyed several amusement piers and dance halls at Ocean Park, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The fire of Sunday, January 6, 1924, burned Pickering's Pier, Lick's Dome Pier, and Fraser's Pier, as well as the Dome Theater, Rosemary Theater, Bon Ton Dance Hall, and Giant Dipper roller coaster. In addition to the piers, the fire destroyed an apartment building, two novelty shops, and a drugstore. The fire, believed to have begun around 9:30 a.m. in a fish stand at the foot of Fraser's Pier, burned for about three hours before it was extinguished. Two people had to be rescued after they jumped in the ocean to escape the blaze, but there were no serious injuries. The blaze drew an estimated 75,000 spectators from neighboring communities.

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The Dome Pier on the Pacific Ocean at Ocean Park, Los Angeles County, California, United States, stood from 1922 until it was destroyed in the 1924 Ocean Park pier fire. Built by businessman Charles J. Lick, the amusement pier was also known as Lick's Dome Pier and was home to the Dome Theater and Bon-Ton Ballroom. The pier stood on what was then the borderline between Venice and Santa Monica, with the pier being mostly in Venice "except for six feet of dressing room space" in the Dome Theater, which stood in Santa Monica.

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References

  1. "The Ocean Park Pier Damaged by Fire". Evening Vanguard. December 27, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Beach Resort Town Once More Visited by Disastrous Fire". Press-Telegram. December 27, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  3. Goodman, Jeff (December 28, 2015). "December 1915: Flames engulf Ocean Park pier (Santa Monica history)". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dances in Ashes of $175,000 Blaze". The Bulletin. December 28, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Fire the Toll of Cigarette?". The Los Angeles Times. December 28, 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  6. "Ocean Park Pier Burns". Evening Vanguard. December 27, 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-05-16.