Pacific Ocean Park

AS a “theme park enthusiast” of sorts, the video of Pacific Ocean Park from class immediately caught my attention. I had never heard of the POP on the Pier, seeing as it was only around for roughly ten years. With the opening and overwhelming success of Disneyland in 1955, it seems only logical that Los Angeles would want to jump on the theme park bandwagon as well. From what we viewed in the clip, it was clear to see that they were trying to appeal to the idea of modernity that was prevalent during the 50s. But what I found interesting was the location chosen for this nautical yet futuristic park. The fact that it was placed on a pier made it reflect back on the pier theme parks and attractions of the East Coast, rather than creating its own Los Angeles identity. Was this intentional? Perhaps Los Angeles was trying to attract tourist crowds but also mirror the culture of the East Coast attractions as well. POP was initially met with high crowds and success but when Santa Monica began an urban renewal project of Ocean Park in 1965 it made it difficult for tourists to reach POP. This resulted in a drastic loss of attendance and the ultimate destruction of the park. Personally, I feel like the role of an amusement park in Los Angeles is unnecessary. LA is already an immensely popular tourist destination in itself, the addition of any major theme park, then or now, could seem superfluous.

--Reilly Wilson

image: pacific ocean park brochure
courtesy, robert huffstutter via flickr creative commons