Pacific Ocean Park
The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles' Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier
Pacific Ocean Park—or as it was commonly known in Los Angeles from the '50s through the '70s, P.O.P.—was extraordinary in both its glamorous rise and spectacular fall.
As a family-oriented attraction in the '50s with modernist-styled rides designed by Hollywood's best, P.O.P.'s attendance surpassed that of Disneyland.
Christopher Merritt and Domenic Priore's spectacular history includes hundreds of images, most of them unseen elsewhere, including original ride designs and illustrations, including Tiki-rich, space age, and nautical rides. P.O.P. was often widely seen in movies and television shows throughout the '60s. Its Cheetah auditorium hosted important early rock shows, including those by Ritchie Valens, The Doors, and Pink Floyd.
P.O.P. was located at the dividing line between Santa Monica and Venice, the only spot during Prohibition-era Los Angeles were residents were allowed to dance and consort in a carnival-like atmosphere. The book also backgrounds the infamous "Dogtown" of the 70's in which surfers took advantage of big waves that rolled through P.O.P.'s rotting piers near homeless junkies.
Buyers will be able to download audio files heard from all P.O.P.'s attractions.
Christopher Merritt currently designs amusement parks in Asia and also co-wrote Knott's Preserved.
Domenic Priore also co-wrote the celebrated volumes Riot on Sunset Strip, Pop Surf Culture, and Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece.
