Identifier	post_00160
Title	Riding the tram cars, Venice, Calif.
Creator	unknown
Date Published	circa 1925
Subject (Topic)	Streets--California--Los Angeles; Central business districts--California--Los Angeles; Bathhouses--California--Los Angeles; Hotels--California--Los Angeles;
Subject (Name)	The Surf Bath House (Los Angeles, Calif.); Hotel Oceanic (Los Angeles, Calif.);
Subject (Place)	Venice (Los Angeles, Calif.);
Type	image
Form/Genre	Postcards
Physical Description	1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Institution	Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University
Country of Creation	US
Copyright Status	public domain
Copyright Statement	http://library.lmu.edu/collections/digitallibraryprogram/copyrightandreproductionpolicy/
Publisher	Pacific Novelty Co.
Place of Publication	San Francisco
Language	eng
Description	A view of Ocean Front Walk in Venice, California looking towards the south. The Plunge Bath House is visible in the center of the image. Tourists in early 20th century style clothing ride on two small open tram cars. Several signs for businesses are visible, including the Neptune Theatre, Crescent Ice Cream, the Bath House Store and the Hotel Oceanic.
Historical Background	Originally part of the Ocean Park district of Santa Monica, Abbot Kinney's vision of Venice in America was developed starting in 1904, complete with a canal system and singing gondoliers. Canal construction began in 1904, and in 1905 construction of an amusement pier began. Ocean Front Walk was developed in the early 1900s along with the rest of the Venice area. The Venice bathhouse opened on June 21, 1908 and featured a 100 x 150 foot heated salt water pool that could accommodate 2000 bathers. Venice formally disincorporated from Ocean Park in 1911, and in 1925, Venice was annexed to the city of Los Angeles. By 1929, many of the canals had been filled in and paved as roads due to health and engineering problems.
Publisher's Identifier	Series number: F1
Source	Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection