WHERE WERE WE IN THE SIXITIES?

By : Cozette Vergari

September 2022

Hurry time travelers, we are boarding our time travel machine for a ride back to the 1960s, where more and more expansion and transformation of the Westchester Playa del Rey communities is happening. There are two extensive projects happening that will immensely change the complexion of our small sleepy neighborhoods of Westchester and Playa del Rey. To some degree it parallels the metamorphosis going on in the U.S. in general. That will be another visit to come.

Our first stop is on the southern most edge of Westchester and Playa del Rey, where we witness the ongoing expansion of the Los Angeles International Airport, taking many homes through eminent domain. We see that families’ homes are to be purchased by the airport at a designated value. We also hear families being given another option of  actually relocating their house, by transporting it over streets  to some other empty plot of land they can find in the region of Los Angeles. Most families, not happily in all cases, are choosing to sell. Some are moving their structure to some other location. A couple of families are refusing to leave. 

On the positive side, we are observing the final construction of the iconic Theme Building, which is being dedicated on June 25, 1961 by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive white building resembles a flying saucer that has landed on its four legs. The initial design was created by James Langenheim, of Pereira & Luckman, subsequently taken to fruition by a team of architects and engineers headed by William Pereira and Charles Luckman, that also included Paul Williams and Welton Becket.

We are learning, as we are traveling into the beginning of the Space Age, the building will later be considered an example of how aeronautics and pop culture, design and architecture were coming together in Los Angeles in the 1960s. We now know the Los Angeles City Council designated the Theme Building an historic-cultural monument in 1993. 

Buckle up, our time machine is now taking us to the northern edge of the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities, as we look down over our other 1960s expansion project, which is also changing the complexion of our quiet little community. Where there were once oil wells and the southernmost remnants of the original Venice Canals, built in 1905, construction of what we now know as Marina del Rey is in full swing. 

We are learning that nearly 50 years of discussion at the county, state and federal levels, regarding the development of this geographic footprint for use as a harbor, went on until, in 1953, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized a $2 million loan to fund construction of the marina. Since the loan only covered about half the cost, the U.S. Congress passed and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 780, making construction possible. Groundbreaking began shortly thereafter.

With construction almost complete, we are witnessing  the marina in danger from 1962 through 1963 due to winter storms. The storms are causing millions of dollars in damage to both the marina and the few small boats already anchored there. As a result, we see a plan unfolding to build a jetty at the mouth of the marina. We are able to observe the meeting at which the L.A. County Board of Supervisors are approving another $2.1 million to build the jetty. On April 10, 1965, Marina del Rey was formally dedicated. We also see the first restaurant being constructed, then Charley Brown’s, which we now know as Tony P’s. 

Stay tuned for our next time travel adventure…

Due to the many positive responses to our articles on the history of the Giant Holiday Candles, the  Holiday Candle Making Workshops are already “sold out.” If you are still interested in making your own red or blue giant holiday candle to display in your front yard, please contact us at info.wphistorical@gmail.com. We will place you on a waiting list. We do plan to offer this again next year.

The Westchester/Playa Historical Society Discovery Center, located in the Westchester Triangle at  6207 W. 87^th St.,  is open to the public on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. VISIT OUR CURRENT EXHIBIT “MAPS: Telling the story of a city, a community and its people.”