The pier contains Pacific Park, a family amusement park with a large ferris wheel. It also has a carousel from the 1920s, an aquarium, shops, entertainers, an arcade, a pub, and restaurants. At the end of the pier, anglers may pursue their hobby. During the summer months, a free Thursday Twilight Dance Series is held. Free open-air film screenings occur from early August to late September.
Santa Monica has had several piers over the years, however the current Santa Monica Pier is actually two adjoining piers that long had separate owners. The long, narrow Municipal Pier opened September 9, 1909 primarily to carry sewer pipes beyond the breakers, and had no amenities. The short, wide adjoining Pleasure Pier (AKA Newcomb Pier) to the south was built in 1916 by Charles I. D. Looff and his son Arthur, amusement park pioneers.
The Carousel was built in 1922 on the Pleasure Pier and features 44 hand-carved horses. Santa Monica Pier Tickets. It was rebuilt in 1990 inside the Looff Hippodrome. A calliope provides musical accompaniment.
The La Monica Ballroom opened in 1924 and closed in 1959. The bridge to the pier and entry gate were built in 1938 by the federal Works Project Administration, and replaced the former grade connection. Santa Monica Events and Tickets.
The Looff Pier, then known as Newcomb Pier, was acquired by the city in the 1953. In the 1960s various plans were proposed that would entailed removal of the pier. The strangest one called for the construction of an artificial island with a 1500-room hotel. It was approved by the City Council, but citizens formed Save the Santa Monica Bay to preserve the pier. The outstanding order to raze the pier was revoked by the city council in 1973. That same year the Carousel and Hippodrome was a memorable setting in The Sting, (although it was set in Chicago).
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