A sketch of Santa Monica and the Pier, 1875An early Santa Monica Pier, 1877The pier with Pacific Park on the left, 2006Anglers on the Santa Monica Pier, 2009Santa Monica Pier at dusk, 2010View of the pier and Pacific Park from the beach at night, 2012The Ferris wheel and roller coaster lights at night, 2009View of the Municipal Pier from the Ferris wheel, 2013In 2018
Santa Monica has had several piers; however, the current Santa Monica Pier is made up of two adjoining piers that long had separate owners. The long, narrow Municipal Pier opened September 9, 1909,[6] primarily to carry sewer pipes beyond the breakers[7] and had no amenities. The short, wide adjoining Pleasure Pier to the south, also known as Newcomb Pier, was built in 1916 by Charles I. D. Looff and his son Arthur, amusement park pioneers.[8] Attractions on the Pleasure Pier eventually included the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome building (which now houses the current carousel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places), the Blue Streak Racer wooden roller coaster (which was purchased from the defunct Wonderland amusement park in San Diego), the Whip, merry-go-rounds, Wurlitzer organs, and a funhouse.
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company built the Carousel, PTC #62, in 1922. It features 44 hand-carved horses. It was rebuilt in 1990 inside the Hippodrome. A calliope provides musical accompaniment.
The La Monica Ballroom opened on July 23, 1924. Designed by T. S. Eslick with a Spanish façade and French Renaissance interior, it was the largest dance hall on the west coast, accommodating 5,000 dancers on its 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) hard maple floor. Country music star Spade Cooley began broadcasting his weekly television show from the ballroom in 1948, where the program remained until 1954. In the summer of 1955, the Hollywood Autocade opened at the La Monica with one-hundred famous and unusual cars, including Jack Benny's Maxwell and a Rumpler Drop Car.[9] From 1955 until 1962, the ballroom served as a roller skating rink; first as Skater's Ballroom, and later as the Santa Monica Roller Rink, where the speed skating club won many state and regional championships and later Champion speed skater Ronnie Rains become a Roller Derby star. The rinks operator was Jack Goodrich who was a former vaudeville and silent film star. The operators daughter Michelle Goodrich later became a showgirl in the Ice Capades.[citation needed] The La Monica Ballroom was demolished in 1963 as a result of the Newcomb family waiting too long to start repairs.(reported by Michelle Goodrich 7-2024)
The Pleasure Pier thrived during the 1920s but faded during the Great Depression. During the 1930s, most of the amusement park facilities were closed down and its attractions sold off.[10] A breakwater was built in 1934 that provided docking for up to 100 fishing and pleasure boats near the pier.[11]
The bridge and entry gate to Santa Monica Pier were built in 1938 by the federal Works Project Administration, and replaced the former grade connection.[12]
The Newcomb Pier was privately owned until it was acquired by the city in 1974.[13][14] During the 1960s and 1970s, various plans were proposed that would entail removal of the pier. The most extensive included the construction of an artificial island with a 1,500-room hotel. It was approved by the City Council, but citizens formed "Save Santa Monica Bay" to preserve the pier.[15] The order to raze the pier was revoked by the city council in 1973. Within that same year, the Carousel and Hippodrome were locations for the film The Sting.
Storms swept away the protective breakwater in 1982.[11] During storms in early 1983, the pier experienced a significant loss. On January 27, there were reported swells of 10-feet during this winter storm.[citation needed] When the storm was over, the lower deck of the pier was destroyed.[16] The City of Santa Monica began repairs on March 1, 1983, when another storm rolled in. A crane which was being used to repair the west end was dragged into the water and acted as a battering ram against the pilings. Over one-third of the Pier was destroyed.[11]
On October 9, 2023, part of the pier was forced to evacuate after a man who claiming to have a bomb climbed onto the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park. He was then arrested and taken into custody.[18]
The City of Santa Monica created a non-profit in response to the damage and called it Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation (SMPRC). SMPRC is headquartered Hippodromes second floor, with former apartments being converted into offices, and conducted the daily operations of the Santa Monica Pier, such as managing events, filming, promotions, tenants, and street performers.[19] SMPRC has produced the Santa Monica Pier Paddle Board Race and the Twilight Summer Concert Series. Also, in 2011, SMPRC changed the company name to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation (SMPC).[citation needed]
In the popular book series The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare, the fictional Los Angeles Institute overlooks the Santa Monica pier. Most of the major plot is set in this vicinity.
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., "The Mother Muffin Affair" (1966), though set in London, climax features action scene on the carousel, the arcade room, and several pier locations.
The Mod Squad, "Home Is in the Streets", Season 4, Episode 3 (1971).
The Rockford Files Season 1, episode 1. In the series' opening scene, a city bus pulls up alongside the pier in the adjacent parking lot.
Columbo, in "The Most Crucial Game", the private detective Dobbs goes to meet Columbo at a restaurant ("Ocean Side East Cafe") at the end of the pier on the lower deck.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Cromartie tries to track down John Connor on the Pier, who steals a pair of sunglasses and a cap from a Pier vendor to disguise himself.
NCIS: Los Angeles: The pilot begins with Agent G. Callen waking up in his small apartment overlooking the pier.
24: Jack tracks Fayed to the pier, and Gredenko gets shot and dies under the pier.
Gilmore Girls, when Jess goes to California to find his father. His father works at the pier.
FlashForward, when Olivia and Charlie are out at the pier without Mark. In the final episode, it also appears briefly in the background in one shot.
Castle, in Season 3 Episode 22, "To Love and Die in L.A.", when Beckett takes down Ganz.
Chuck, when Chuck defuses a car bomb rigged by Laszlo underneath the pier (he first meets Laszlo while playing in one of the arcades on the pier).
The fourth seasonofHannah Montana Forever takes place in Santa Monica instead of the Malibu setting of previous seasons, and the pier is frequently shown as Lilly works at a game booth.
The fourth season of Liv and Maddie takes place in California. At the intro's season, there's a shot of the Santa Monica Pier sign, as well as on the season in general.
A distant view of the Santa Monica Pier at sunset, 201490210, where several scenes are shot at the pier throughout the series. The pier is frequently shown whenever the characters visit the pier or the Beverly Hills beach club.
Monk, in the episode "Mr. Monk and the Birds and the Bees", in which detective Adrian Monk chases a criminal throughout the park, who tries to get rid of evidence that could prove him guilty. Eventually, he is arrested after being caught on the pier.
Goliath: The series is shot in Santa Monica and throughout the series the pier and Pacific Park are prominently featured among other Santa Monica landmarks.
Stitchers, in Season 1, Episode 3, "Connections", and Season 1, Episode 10, "Full Stop".
Lucifer, in Season 2, Episode 18, "The Good, the Bad and the Crispy".
